Daily Current Affairs 2025  

17/03/2026

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CA-17/03/2026

• Location: Primarily held at Shreedham Thakurnagar, Thakurbari, in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
• Organizer: The event is organized by the All India Matua Mahasangha.

• Founded in the mid-19th century by Shree Shree Harichand Thakur in Orakandi (now in Bangladesh).
• It originated as a reformation movement among the Namasudra (traditionally oppressed) community to fight caste discrimination.
• The philosophy emphasizes Bhakti (devotion), equality, and education over complex rituals.

• Baruni Snan: Devotees take a holy dip in the Kamana Sagar pond, believing it fulfills their heart's desires.
• Shanti Shova: Monthly meetings held in the name of Santi Devi (Harichand Thakur's wife) to spread peace.
• Instruments: Traditional music involving Danka (drums), Kashor (cymbals), and Nishan (flags) is central to the celebrations.
• Scale of Event: It is one of the largest religious gatherings in West Bengal, often drawing millions of devotees from India and Bangladesh.

• Initially available across six major metro cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

• 24 Speed Post: Guaranteed next-day (D+1) delivery for urgent documents and parcels.
• 48 Speed Post: Assured delivery within two days (D+2).

• OTP-Based Delivery: Enhanced security with One-Time Password verification at the time of handover.
• Real-Time Tracking: End-to-end tracking with SMS alerts for customers.
• Logistics Priority: Enabled through dedicated processing windows and priority air transmission.

• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL): Credit facility for business accounts.
• Free Bulk Pickup: No-cost collection for large shipments.
• Digital Integration: API integration for e-commerce platforms and centralised billing.
• Limitations: The premium parcel service recently applies to shipments up to 5 kilograms, with charges calculated based on volumetric or gross weight.

• Announcement of Winners: The Sahitya Akademi revealed winners in all 24 recognized Indian languages, covering genres such as poetry, novels, short stories, and memoirs.
• Upcoming Ceremony: The awardees are scheduled to be formally honoured at a ceremony in New Delhi on March 31, 2026. 

• English: Navtej Sarna for Crimson Spring (Novel).
• Hindi: Mamta Kalia for Jeete Jee Allahabad (Memoir).
• Other Notable Winners: Includes Prasun Bandyopadhyay (Bengali), Sa. Tamilselvan (Tamil), Nandini Sidha Reddy (Telugu), Pritpal Singh Betab (Urdu), and N. Prabhakaran (Malayalam). 

• Total Winners: 24 authors recognized across diverse genres, including poetry, short stories, novels, and memoirs.
• Prize: Each winner receives a copper plaque, a shawl, and ₹1 lakh.
• Selection Process: Chosen by independent juries of three experts per language.

• Kalakshetra Foundation (Chennai): Trains in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music; organizes Sunadam, Kathakali Festival, and Annual Art Festival.​
• South Zone Cultural Centre (Thanjavur): Promotes folk/tribal arts, Koodiyattam, Pulikali, and Shadow Puppetry via festivals like Onam and Dasara.​
• Sangeet Natak Akademi: Supports nationwide performances of South Indian forms like Kathakali, Kuchipudi, and Yakshagana.
• Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram: Under the Sangeet Natak Akademi, this center works to preserve and promote Koodiyattam, the ancient Sanskrit theatre of Kerala.

• Financial grants for training, workshops, research, and documentation of traditional arts.​
• Artist support includes honorariums, travel, and accommodation for folk/tribal performers.​
• Cultural exchange programs showcase South Indian heritage across India and abroad.
• Zonal centres (including Thanjavur) document endangered arts through audiovisual projects and Guru-Shishya schemes.

• Expansion of Sanctions: As of March 2026, the Ministry has sanctioned a total of 125.15 lakh houses nationwide, including 13.67 lakh specifically under the new PMAY-U 2.0 phase.
• Social Trends: Reports in March 2026 highlight the emergence of the "boomerang generation," where urban youth in cities like Bengaluru are increasingly returning to parental homes due to rising rental costs, pushing the demand for affordable housing policies.
• Budget 2026 Impact: The Union Budget 2026 recently increased the allocation for PMAY-Urban 2.0 tenfold to ₹3,000 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

• Young adults and working professionals with an annual household income up to ₹9 lakh are eligible.
• Beneficiaries can receive a 4% interest subsidy (up to ₹1.8 lakh) on housing loans up to ₹25 lakh.
• The maximum house value for this subsidy is capped at ₹35 lakh.

• A dedicated vertical under PMAY-U 2.0 focuses on affordable rental complexes near workplaces to reduce travel time and costs for young professionals and students.
• More than 12,800 rental homes have already been cleared for urban migrants and working women as of March 2026.

• An adult earning member (married or single) is treated as a separate household for the scheme, provided they do not already own a 'pucca' house anywhere in India.
• Mandatory Women Ownership: To promote social equity, the house must be registered in the name of a female head of household or under joint ownership with a woman member.

• The subsidy is now released in five equal annual instalments of ₹36,000 each, rather than as a single upfront credit.
• The loan must remain active (not an NPA) for the release of subsequent instalments. 

• Portals: Applications are handled via the PMAY-Urban 2.0 Portal with Aadhaar-based verification.
• Offline Mode: Eligible candidates can also apply through Common Service Centres (CSCs) for a nominal fee.

• Biodiversity Milestone: With this find, the total number of Drawida species reported from India has risen to 83, with 55 of those located in the Western Ghats.
• Scientific Publication: The discovery was documented by researchers from Christ College (Irinjalakuda) and Mahatma Gandhi University (Kottayam) and published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. 

• Location: Discovered in the Vazhani Dam area within the Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary in Thrissur, Kerala.
• Classification:
  • Genus: Drawida (naturally restricted to South, Southeast, and East Asia).
  • Family: Moniligastridae.
  • Group: Member of the Barwelli species group, which typically features small-bodied earthworms.
• Physical Characteristics:
  • Characterized by a small body size.
  • Possesses unique anatomical features including a grooved male genital field and a kidney- or bean-shaped prostate gland.
  • Features a narrow tubular C-shaped prostatic capsule.
• Ecological Significance: Like other earthworms, it plays a vital role in soil aeration, nutrient cycling, and maintaining the overall health of the forest ecosystem.
• Conservation Context: Experts have used this discovery to highlight the threat of habitat destruction in Kerala's midlands, noting that very few protected forest areas remain outside of sanctuaries like Peechi-Vazhani.

• The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body under India's Ministry of Women and Child Development, established in 1990 and governed by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• It serves as the nodal agency for regulating in-country and inter-country adoptions of orphan, abandoned, or surrendered children.
• CARA is India's Central Authority under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (1993), ratified in 2003.

• Promotes in-country adoptions and facilitates inter-state processes via coordination with State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs).
• Regulates inter-country adoptions, authorizing foreign agencies for NRIs/OCIs/foreign parents.
• Monitors entities like Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs), Authorised Foreign Adoption Agencies (AFAAs), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), and District Child Protective Units (DPCs).
• Maintains a centralized database (Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System - CARINGS) for children and prospective parents.​
• Frames regulations, conducts research, sets uniform standards, and establishes counseling centers.

• Ensures adoptions prioritize the child's best interest, family rights under Section 56 of the JJ Act.
• Streamlines processes digitally, boosts legally free children for adoption, and tracks statistics (record highs in 2024-25).​
• Safeguards adoptee privacy and enables future access to records.

• Formula: CH₃OCH₃ (C₂H₆O), simplest aliphatic ether, colourless gas with faint ethereal Odor.
• Liquefied under vapor pressure for storage; highly flammable, vapours heavier than air, can cause frostbite on liquid contact.​
• High cetane number (>55) makes it diesel-compatible; lacks C-C bonds, reducing particulate emissions.​

• Primarily from methanol dehydration; emerging sustainable routes from biomass, biogas, or coal.
• India's CSIR-NCL tech focuses on scalable, low-cost synthesis for LPG blending.​

• LPG blending for cooking fuel to enhance energy security.
• Diesel alternative in engines (near-identical efficiency, eliminates particulate filters but needs larger tanks due to lower energy density).​
• Aerosol propellant, refrigerant, and precursor for chemicals like dimethyl sulphate or acetic acid.

• Global market grew to $7.04B in 2025; projected at $10.06B by 2030 (9.4% CAGR), driven by clean fuel policies and emissions regulations.​
• Rising in aerosols, refrigerants, and low-emission fuels.

• Major Botanical Breakthrough: The rediscovery after nearly two centuries is a significant milestone for botanical research in the Eastern Himalayas.
• Government Recognition: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu publicly congratulated the BSI team, noting that the find highlights the state's extraordinary biodiversity and "ecological treasures".
• Conservation Focus: The rediscovery has sparked new discussions on the need to protect fragile ecosystems in Northeast India, especially as the region faces pressure from infrastructure development. 

• Endemic Status: It is a rare flowering plant species that is endemic to Arunachal Pradesh, meaning it is found nowhere else in the wild.
• Classification:
  • Family: Gesneriaceae (a family of flowering plants typically found in tropical and subtropical regions).
  • Genus: Henckelia, which is naturally restricted to parts of South, Southeast, and East Asia.
  • Habitat: A perennial herb that thrives in humid, moist, and shaded forest environments.

• Stems & Leaves: Features upright or slightly trailing stems and simple leaves that are typically ovate or lance-shaped.
• Flowers: Produces axillary inflorescences with one or more tubular or funnel-shaped flowers, often with delicate colouration.
• Fruit: Develops as elongated capsules containing numerous tiny seeds, aiding effective reproduction in its specific ecological niche.
• Historical Context: Originally discovered in the Mishmi Hills in 1836, the species had remained elusive to scientists for generations until this recent breakthrough.

• Focus: Ocean protection and restoration.
• Purpose: Recognize individuals, organizations, and governments leading efforts against pollution, climate change, and habitat degradation in marine ecosystems.
• Significance: Oceans are critical for biodiversity, climate regulation, and livelihoods, yet face mounting threats.
• Impact: Winners will influence global policy and inspire grassroots action, continuing a tradition of honoring environmental trailblazers for over two decades.

• Adopted at: UNEA-7 (December 2025), but formally spotlighted in March 2026.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Last major UNEP strategy before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline.
  • Designed to intensify efforts on the environmental dimension of sustainable development.
• Features:
  • Concise, accessible, and stakeholder-friendly.
  • Builds on previous strategies while addressing emerging challenges like climate resilience, pollution reduction, and biodiversity loss.
• Role: Shapes UNEP’s global agenda and guides member states in aligning national policies with international environmental priorities.

• Urgency: With only four years left until 2030, UNEP is intensifying efforts to meet SDG targets.
• Ocean focus: India, with its long coastline and reliance on fisheries, will be directly impacted by global ocean protection initiatives.
• Policy relevance: Countries like India can align national strategies with UNEP’s framework to strengthen climate resilience and sustainable development.

• Coordinate global responses to environmental challenges like pollution, resource depletion, and ecosystem management.
• Provide policy advice, scientific assessments (e.g., Global Environment Outlook), and capacity-building for countries.
• Promote treaties on chemicals, waste, and transboundary pollution; host secretariats for environmental agreements.

• Publishes reports like Emissions Gap Report and supports emergency responses to disasters.
• Engages governments, NGOs, private sector, and indigenous communities for whole-of-society action.
• Advances nature economy, digital transformation, and green economic development.
• UNEP leaders at the 2022 Biodiversity Conference, highlighting ongoing global collaboration on ecological goals.

1. It is associated with Harichand Thakur.
2. It is mainly held in Odisha.
3. It emphasizes equality and Bhakti over rituals.

1. Guaranteed next-day delivery
2. OTP-based delivery system
3. Available initially only in rural areas

1. Awards are given in 24 Indian languages.
2. Each award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.
3. Winners are selected by independent juries.

1. It can be used as an alternative to diesel fuel.
2. It contains carbon-carbon bonds.
3. It has a high cetane number.

1. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
2. It regulates both in-country and inter-country adoptions.
3. It was established under the Constitution of India.

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