• 02 Mar 2026

Kaziranga Identified as a Key Stronghold for the Fishing Cat

Why in News?

The first scientific assessment has established that Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is a major stronghold of the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), highlighting the ecological importance of its wetland ecosystems.

Key Points:

• Scientific Assessment: The data collected during the All-India Tiger Estimation documented 57 unique fishing cat individuals across over 450 sq km of the tiger reserve, indicating a healthy and breeding population.
• Habitat: Kaziranga’s floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, including wetlands, marshes, oxbow lakes (beels) and wet alluvial grasslands, provide ideal habitat conditions for the semi-aquatic fishing cat.
  • Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for high densities of rhinos, tigers and a rich array of mammals, birds and reptiles.
• Characteristics: The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat adapted to aquatic environments, known for its ability to swim and hunt fish in wetlands.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Status: Vulnerable
  • WPA Status: Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, provides the highest degree of legal protection in India.
• Threats: Major threats to the species include wetland degradation, habitat loss due to urbanisation and agriculture, human-wildlife conflict, and decline of freshwater ecosystems.
• Significance: The findings expand Kaziranga’s conservation value beyond its famous populations of one-horned rhinoceros and tigers, reinforcing the importance of integrated wetland conservation strategies.

Read More: Kaziranga National Park, Brahmaputra River, UNESCO World Heritage Site, IUCN, WPA, Wetlands

Champawat Saras Corbett Festival 2026 in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, virtually inaugurated the Champawat Saras Corbett Festival 2026, a week-long cultural and tourism event aimed at promoting the region’s heritage, culture and adventure tourism.

Key Points:

• Venue: The event is being held in Champawat district, located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
  • The festival celebrates the unique cultural identity of the Champawat region, particularly the Holi traditions of Kali Kumaon, which include Baithki Holi, Khadi Holi, Chaufulla, rhythm, melody and various folk arts.
• Tourism Focus: The edition is also designated as the Winter Corbett Festival, aimed at boosting winter tourism.
  • The festival will feature adventure activities like paragliding, rafting, trekking and mountain biking to boost tourism and create employment for local youth.
• Local Art and Handicrafts: Exhibitions have been set up to promote traditional Kumaoni handicrafts, handloom products, and local agricultural produce. 
  • These initiatives are expected to support local artisans, producers and self-help groups, aligning with the “Vocal for Local” vision.
• Significance: The Champawat Saras Corbett Festival 2026 reflects Uttarakhand’s efforts to blend cultural heritage, natural beauty and adventure tourism to drive economic growth, preserve regional traditions and put Champawat on the national tourism map.

Read More: Self-help groups, Vocal for Local” vision

J&K Clinch First-Ever Ranji Trophy Championship

Why in News?

The Jammu & Kashmir cricket team created history by winning their first Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season.

Key Points:

• Historic Victory: Jammu and Kashmir clinched their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season.
  • The final match ended in a draw, and J&K won the title on the basis of a 291-run first-innings lead over Karnataka.
• Venue: The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final was held at the KSCA Cricket Stadium, Hubballi, Karnataka.
  • Winner: Jammu and Kashmir cricket team
  • Runner-up: Karnataka cricket team
  • Title Won After: 67 years
• Captain: The Jammu and Kashmir cricket team was led by Paras Dogra during their historic 2025-26 Ranji Trophy title-winning campaign.
• Man of the Match: Shubham Pundir — awarded for his crucial century (121 runs) in the first innings of the final, which laid the foundation for Jammu and Kashmir cricket team’s victory. 
• Player of the Tournament: Auqib Nabi Dar — recognised for his exceptional bowling performance throughout the season, finishing as the leading wicket-taker.
• Long Wait Ends: The debut Season of J&K was in the 1959-60 season. 
  • This landmark triumph ends a 67-year wait for the prestigious domestic championship in Indian first-class cricket. 
• Significance: This victory not only marks the first time Jammu and Kashmir have been crowned Ranji champions but also highlights the growth and resilience of cricket in a region long viewed as a peripheral player in Indian domestic cricket.

Read More: Ranji Trophy

President Inaugurates National Arogya Fair 2026 in Maharashtra

Why in News?

Droupadi Murmu, President of India, inaugurated the National Arogya Fair 2026 in Shegaon, Buldhana district, Maharashtra in February 2026, emphasising the role of traditional health systems in promoting holistic wellness and public health.

Key Points:

• Organising Body: The National Arogya Fair was organised under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH to promote India’s traditional systems of medicine.
  • The President highlighted the invaluable contribution of traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) to citizen health and well-being.
• Objective: The fair aims to spread awareness about preventive healthcare, natural therapies and lifestyle-based disease management.
  • Senior traditional healers (Vaidyas) were honoured for their lifelong contribution to Indian systems of medicine.
  • The event showcased medicinal plants, traditional remedies, wellness products and research initiatives related to AYUSH systems.
• Significance: The National Arogya Fair serves as a platform to promote integrated health practices and raise awareness about preventive and lifestyle-based approaches to health. 
  • It reinforces government efforts to integrate traditional wellness systems into mainstream healthcare, supporting public health goals and community well-being.

Read More: AYUSH,  Traditional medicine

NGT Orders Restoration of Suav as River in UP

Why in News?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to correct the official classification of the Suav from a drain/nullah to a river in revenue records and gazette notifications.

Key Points:

• Classification: The NGT ordered the Balrampur district magistrate to amend official records within three months, restoring the Suav’s legal status as a river instead of a drain, and to publish the correction in the Official Gazette and local newspapers.
  • The tribunal barred new construction or infrastructure in identified floodplain areas of the Suav until the active flood zone is properly demarcated. 
• Importance: The Suav is a tributary of the Rapti River in Balrampur district. 
  • It plays a vital role in flood mitigation and groundwater recharge by nourishing wetlands, lakes and ponds along its approximately 120 km course before joining the Rapti, itself part of the Ganga basin.
• Identity: The tribunal referred to early twentieth-century gazetteers that described the Suav as a significant tributary, noting that decades of land reclamation, encroachments and development led to its misclassification as a nullah.
• Monitoring: The NGT asked pollution control authorities to monitor water quality, including treated sewage and industrial effluents, and directed District Ganga Committees to adopt community-led river rejuvenation models to restore the Suav’s ecology.
• Legal Consequences: The tribunal warned that non-compliance with its orders would be an offence under Section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. 

Read More: National Green Tribunal (NGT), Ganga basin

Iran Appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as Interim Supreme Leader

Why in News?

Following the reported death of Ali Khamenei in a joint United States-Israeli airstrike, the Islamic Republic of Iran has appointed Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as a key member of the interim Leadership Council, effectively positioning him as the acting Supreme Leader during the transitional period.

Key Points:

• Leadership Council: Under Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, a three-member interim body now governs the Islamic Republic. 
  • It includes Arafi alongside the President and the Chief Justice, ensuring continuity of authority amid the unprecedented leadership vacuum.
• Role and Authority: The interim Leadership Council assumes the constitutional duties of the Supreme Leader until a permanent successor is chosen by the Assembly of Experts.
  • The Supreme Leader in Iran is the highest authority, overseeing the armed forces, judiciary, state broadcasting, and key policy decisions.
• Background of Arafi: He is a senior Shia cleric and has held key positions in Iran’s religious establishment, including membership in both the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts. 
  • He has also led major seminaries in Qom.
  • Qom is Iran’s principal centre of Shia Islamic scholarship, and Arafi’s association with its seminaries strengthens his clerical standing.
• Continuity of Governance: The interim council ensures that executive, military, and judicial authority remains uninterrupted during the transition period.
• Significance: Alireza Arafi’s appointment to the interim leadership council is a key moment in Iran’s political transition, highlighting constitutional procedures for leadership succession amid heightened regional tensions.

Read More: Iran-Israel Conflict

Giriraj Singh Inaugurates Two-Day International Textiles Conference

Why in News?

The Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh, inaugurated a two-day International Textiles Conference at a college in Bhiwani, highlighting India’s ambitions to become a global hub for textiles, apparel and technical textiles.

Key Points:

• Conference and Venue: International Conference on Advanced Textile Structural Composites and Geosynthetics (ATSCG-2026) held at the Technological Institute of Textile and Sciences (TIT&S), Bhiwani, Haryana.
• Focus: The conference, organized by TIT&S in association with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), focused on emerging trends in advanced textile composites and geosynthetics.
• Government Support: The event received backing from the Ministry of Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
• Strategic Collaborations: Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with international institutions to bolster Research & Development (R&D) in the technical textiles sector.
• Global Participation: Experts from 14 countries participated, sharing knowledge on innovative designs for aerospace, defense, and infrastructure applications.
• Financial Allocation: The Minister highlighted an additional allocation of ₹1,500 crore by the Central Government to upgrade the textile industry and promote R&D.
• Market Vision:
  • Global Exports:Current global textile exports are valued at $800 billion, with technical textiles accounting for $200 billion.
  • Indian Consumption: Consumption of composite materials in India is currently low at 300 grams per person, compared to 11 kg in advanced countries.
• PLI Scheme: A total of ₹10,500 crore has been allocated to the sector under the PLI Scheme to boost high-value production.

Read More:PLI Scheme, National Technical Textiles Mission

Goonj 2026 Launched in Jammu

Why in News?

Recently, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 3rd edition of the multi-genre youth festival, “Goonj-2026,” at the University of Jammu. 

Key Points:

• Guiding Theme: The festival operated under the vision of “Dissolving Boundaries, Evolving Education,” emphasizing trans-disciplinary collaboration and synergy between departments.
• New Addition: A significant new component this year was the Exhibition of Rare and Best-Selling Books, aimed at fostering a reading culture among students.
• Podcast Launch: During the inaugural ceremony, the LG launched the podcast "JU Vaachan," an initiative by the University’s Department of Journalism and Media Studies. 
• Major Segments: The festival comprised three primary pillars:
  • Sports: Promoting physical health and discipline.
  • Cultural Activities: Showcasing creative talents and J&K’s vibrant heritage.
  • Best Practices Showcase: Departments set up exhibition stalls to present research initiatives, academic mandates, and innovative practices.
• Wide Scale: Over 600 students registered from University teaching departments, offsite campuses, affiliated colleges, and neighboring institutions.
• Vision for Youth: LG Manoj Sinha emphasized that the youth are the architects of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, urging them to lead through innovation and research.

Rajasthan Reclaims Ancient Nomenclature for Key Tourist Hubs

Why in News?

In a major move to restore historical identity and shed colonial legacies, the Rajasthan State Government officially renamed three key towns: Mount Abu, Kaman, and Jahazpur.

Key Points:

• Cultural Restoration: The decision announced in the State Assembly, aligns with the broader national trend of "decolonisation" and cultural reclamation.
• Mount Abu — Renamed Abu Raj: Located in Sirohi district, Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s sole hill station, known for its cooler climate, scenic landscapes and architectural heritage — including the world-famous Dilwara Jain temples. 
  • The new name Abu Raj is intended to reflect the region’s historical identity, suggested to be rooted in ancient references to Arbuda and signifying a regal or sovereign legacy.
• Kaman — Renamed Kamvan: Situated in Bharatpur district, Kaman lies within the Braj cultural region and is mentioned in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and Skanda Purana. 
  • The revised name Kamvan restores reference to the ancient Kamavan, a mythological forest associated with the early life of Lord Krishna.
• Jahazpur — Renamed Yagyapur: In Bhilwara district, Jahazpur has historical links to Vedic traditions and fire rituals (yagya). 
  • By adopting Yagyapur, the government seeks to foreground the town’s spiritual heritage and Vedic cultural roots.
• Significance:The renaming fits into a larger national context where states revisit place-names to strengthen regional pride, linguistic roots and cultural memory.