CA-23/03/2026

• Established by UN in 1993, held every March 22 to advocate for freshwater access, WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene), and SDG 6 by 2030.
• Addresses issues like scarcity, pollution, climate impacts, and unequal access; 2020 added COVID-19 hygiene focus.​
• Annual UN World Water Development Report released around the day.​

• Inspire global action on water-related challenges and sustainable management.
• Promote human rights to safe drinking water/sanitation, reducing inequalities especially for women/girls.
• Push for women's leadership in water governance, climate-resilient services, and inclusive decision-making.

• Early Life: Born as Bhai Lehna in 1504 at Matte Di Sarai, Punjab. He was originally a devout worshiper of Goddess Durga before meeting Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
• Succession: Impressed by his humility and selfless service (Sewa), Guru Nanak chose him as his successor over his own sons, renaming him Angad (meaning "part of one's own body") to signify their spiritual unity.
• Gurmukhi Script: He is best known for standardising and popularising the Gurmukhi script, making the Guru’s teachings accessible to common people in their native Punjabi language rather than Sanskrit.

• Langar: He, along with his wife Mata Khivi, expanded the institution of Langar (community kitchen), making it a powerful symbol of equality where everyone ate together regardless of caste.
• Education: He established schools to teach children the Gurmukhi script and Punjabi literature.
• Physical Fitness: He started the tradition of Mall Akharas (wrestling arenas) to encourage physical fitness alongside spiritual development.

• Literary Contribution: He composed 62 or 63 Saloks, which are now part of the Guru Granth Sahib. He also compiled the first authorized biography of Guru Nanak.
• Foundation of Goindwal: He laid the foundation of the town of Goindwal Sahib, which later became a major Sikh pilgrimage centre. 

• Significance: It marks the arrival of the Adivasi New Year and the beginning of spring. The name "Sarhul" is derived from Sarai (Sal seed/tree) and Hul (worship/grove), literally meaning "worship of the Sal tree".
• Core Belief: It symbolizes the sacred union of the Sun (represented by the male priest, Pahan) and the Earth (represented by his wife), which is believed to be essential for fertility and life.
• Worship of the Sal Tree: The Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is venerated as the home of Sarna Maa, the deity who protects the village from natural calamities.
• Agricultural Cycle: New agricultural activities, such as ploughing and sowing seeds, only begin after the Sarhul rituals are completed.

• Rainfall Prediction: The Pahan (priest) places water in three clay pots; the water level the next morning is used to predict the year's rainfall.
• Offerings: Sal flowers, fruits, and roosters are sacrificed to deities including Singbonga or Dharmesh.
• Phool Khonsi: The priest distributes Sal flowers to villagers, who place them on their roofs as a blessing.

• Dance & Music: Community members perform traditional dances like Jadur, Gena, and Por Jadur to the beats of instruments like the Mandar, Nagara, and Dhol.
• Traditional Attire: Men wear the Karia and women wear the Khanria (or traditional white and red sarees).
• Cuisine: The festival features Handia (rice beer), Dhuska (fried rice pancakes), and seasonal forest produce like mushrooms and Mahua flowers.

• Celebrating Tribes: Primarily observed by the Oraon, Munda, Ho, and Santhal tribes. 

• Pakistan's Top Rank: Pakistan recorded 1,139 deaths and 1,045 incidents in 2025, its deadliest year since 2013.
• India's Improvement: India is ranked 13th in the 2026 index (up from 14th in the 2025 report), showing a continued trend of improved security despite remaining in the "high impact" category.
• Global Decline: The report highlights a sharp 28% drop in global terrorism deaths (to 5,582) and a 22% decrease in incidents (to 2,944) in 2025, reaching the lowest levels since 2007.
• Map Controversy: The report faced backlash in India due to a graphic that appeared to place parts of Jammu and Kashmir within China.

• Top 5 Most Affected Countries:
  1. Pakistan (Score: 8.574)
  2. Burkina Faso
  3. Niger
  4. Nigeria (deaths rose 46% to 750)
  5. Mali
• Epicentre of Terrorism: Sub-Saharan Africa remains the global epicentre, accounting for over half of all global terrorism deaths, with six of the top ten most-impacted countries located in this region.
• Deadliest Groups: Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates remain the deadliest globally, followed by JNIM and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
• TTP Surge: The TTP was responsible for 56% of terrorism deaths in Pakistan in 2025, driven by a 24% increase in attacks near the Afghan border.
• Western Trends: Terrorism fatalities in the West rose 280% (to 57 deaths) in 2025, largely driven by lone-actor attacks motivated by political tensions and hate speech.
• Technology & Tactics: Groups like FARC in Colombia and ELN have increasingly adopted drone warfare, inspired by innovations seen in the Ukraine conflict.
• Methodology: Published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the index ranks 163 countries based on fatalities, incidents, injuries, and hostages over a five-year weighted average. 

• Provides 60% guarantee coverage by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) on term loans up to Rs. 100 crore for machinery/equipment purchases.
• Targets MSMEs with valid Udyam Registration; now includes service sector MSMEs.​
• Minimum project cost for machinery reduced to 60% (from 75%); 5% upfront fee refundable (1% annually from year 4, if loan performs well).​
• Guarantee valid for 10 years; applies to loans over 4 years or until Rs. 7 lakh crore cumulative guarantees.​

• Borrowers: Eligible MSMEs (micro, small, medium) via Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) like banks and NBFCs registered with NCGTC.​
• Loans: Collateral-free; repayment up to 8-12 years (with 2–3-year moratorium); interest as per MSME guidelines.​
• Application: MSMEs apply through MLIs; lenders assess credit, get guarantee approval, disburse funds; covers default risk.​

• Boosts Make in India by enhancing collateral-free credit, aiming to raise manufacturing GDP share to 25%.
• Supports job creation (MSMEs employ over 27 million); improves global competitiveness for exporters.

• Biodiversity Addition: Its discovery increases the global count of Actinidia species to 56, with only a few recently known to occur in India.

• Geographical Location: It was recorded exclusively in the Lower Subansiri district, near the Ziro Valley, at an elevation of approximately 1,725 metres.
• Habitat: The plant thrives along forest edges in a biologically rich transition zone between temperate and subtropical forests.

• Growth Form: It is a perennial climbing shrub that grows between 2 to 4 metres in height.
• Stems and Leaves: Characterised by densely hairy young branches and large ovate leaves.
• Flowers: Produces white to creamy flowers measuring 4–6 cm.

• Produces globose, olive-green fruits measuring 2.5–4 cm.
• Unique Feature: A key identifying trait is the reticulate lenticel pattern on the fruit's surface, which distinguishes it from other species in the Actinidia genus.

• Scientific Team: The discovery was led by a team from the Central National Herbarium, including Dr. S.S. Dash, Dr. Umeshkumar L. Tiwari, and Mr. Rohan Maity. 

• Classification: It is a powerful, non-migratory sub-species of the Peregrine Falcon native to the Indian subcontinent.
• Physical Features:
  • Appearance: Distinctive dark upperparts with a white throat and a bold dark vertical stripe (malar stripe) running from the eye down the side of the face.
  • Size: The female is generally larger and more powerful than the male.
• Speed: Renowned as the fastest bird in the world, it can reach diving speeds (stoops) exceeding 300 km/h to strike prey in mid-air.
• Habitat & Distribution:
  • Natural: Traditionally found on high mountain cliffs, rock pinnacles, and river valleys across South Asia, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Urban: Increasingly nesting on man-made structures like high-rise buildings and mobile phone towers.
• Diet: Primarily hunts medium-sized birds like pigeons, parrots, and parakeets.
• Conservation Status:
  • Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • Faces threats from habitat degradation, pollution, and the loss of traditional cliff nesting sites.
• Cultural Significance: Often referred to as the "king of birds" (Shaheen in Persian), it is a symbol of strength and freedom in South Asian poetry, notably in the works of Allama Iqbal.

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