#1ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Mongolia & Regional Desertification Conference

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Recently, the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change held high-level bilateral meetings with South Asian counterparts on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held at Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Mongolia is a landlocked country located in north-central Asia, bordered by China to the south and Russia to the north. It features an extreme continental climate due to its high latitude and elevation. The country transitions across four main vegetation zones: forest-steppe, steppe, semidesert, and desert. Major geographical landmarks include the Altay, Khangai, and Khentii mountains, alongside the Orkhon River valley (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Hovsgol Nuur, a major freshwater lake on the Russian border. Mongolia also holds vast mineral reserves of coal, fluorite, copper, and gold.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Hosting multilateral environmental summits in Central Asia enhances India's diplomatic outreach with landlocked economies and bolsters regional cooperation on combating land degradation, dust storms, and desertification under global UN frameworks.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State/District: International Relations / Central Asia
  • Capital: Ulaanbaatar
  • River: Orkhon River
  • Lake: Hovsgol Nuur
  • Global Treaty: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
  • Mineral Wealth: Fluorite, Coal, Copper
#2ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Dihing Patkai National Park Tiger Sighting

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Recently, a male tiger was successfully camera-trapped in Assam's Dihing Patkai National Park, marking a significant wildlife milestone for the protected rainforest landscape.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Located across the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam, Dihing Patkai is situated at the foothills of the Patkai Hill Ranges on the banks of the River Dehing (a major southern tributary of the Brahmaputra). It represents the largest stretch of tropical lowland rainforests in India characterized by a dipterocarp-dominated deciduous/semi-evergreen canopy. The park is home to indigenous communities including the Tai Phake, Khamyang, Singpho, and Ahom, and shelters diverse fauna such as the slow loris, capped langur, and Asian elephant.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

The photographic evidence of a resident tiger underlines the ecological restoration success and corridor connectivity of the Dehing Patkai Landscape with neighboring reserves like Namdapha, validating strengthened conservation initiatives in Northeast India.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State: Assam
  • Districts: Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
  • River: Dehing River (Brahmaputra Tributary)
  • Protected Status: Upgraded to National Park on December 13, 2020
  • Tribal Communities: Tai Phake, Singpho, Khampti, Ahom
  • IUCN / Biodiversity: Tropical Lowland Rainforest Ecosystem
#3GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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Adi Vaani Platform: AI-Powered Tribal Language Translator

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs inaugurated the National Conclave on Tribal Languages & Museums in Mysuru, Karnataka, where the full-fledged Adi Vaani PlatformтАФIndiaтАЩs first AI-powered tribal language translatorтАФwas launched.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Developed by a national consortium led by IIT Delhi along with BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Nava Raipur in collaboration with various Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), Adi Vaani utilizes advanced AI language models like No Language Left Behind (NLLB) and IndicTrans2. It features real-time text/speech translation, optical document conversion, audio-to-text transcription, and speech-to-speech support for indigenous languages like Santali, Mundari, and Bhili.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

The platform acts as a vital digital bridge to curb linguistic marginalization, preserve vanishing oral folklores, and ensure seamless delivery of welfare schemes, healthcare communication, and civic education to remote tribal populations.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • Development Consortium: IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Nava Raipur
  • Core AI Models: NLLB and IndicTrans2
  • Target Languages: Santali, Mundari, Bhili, and other low-resource dialects
  • Objective: Preservation of tribal heritage and digital inclusion
#4GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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Dak MITRA and Dak Sewa Apps Modernization

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Union Minister for Communications launched the revamped Dak Sewa App and upgraded Dak MITRA App in New Delhi to modernize India PostтАЩs vast grassroots digital infrastructure.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Developed indigenously by the Centre for Excellence in Postal Technology (CEPT) under the Advanced Postal Technology platform (DoP IT 2.0), Dak MITRA serves as a unified operational interface for over 1.4 lakh Branch Post Offices, facilitating paperless transactions, Aadhaar-based e-KYC, and Core Banking. Meanwhile, the Dak Sewa App extends 24x7 citizen services including tracking, PIN code locators, and financial calculators supporting 23 Indian languages via BHASHINI.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

These apps mark a paradigm shift in rural financial inclusion, transforming traditional post offices into tech-enabled fintech and governance hubs for remote citizens.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Nodal Agency: Centre for Excellence in Postal Technology (CEPT)
  • Platform Integration: BHASHINI (for 23 scheduled languages)
  • Reach: Over 1.4 lakh Branch Post Offices
  • Key Services: Aadhaar e-KYC, Core Banking, Doorstep Delivery
#5SCIENCE & SPACE
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Lead Toxicity and Neuronal Recycling Disruption

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Researchers at the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad, have discovered that environmental exposure to lead significantly disrupts the natural waste-clearing and recycling mechanisms of nerve cells.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Lead (chemical symbol Pb, from Plumbum) is a naturally occurring, soft, silvery-white heavy metal found in Group 14 of the periodic table, primarily extracted from mineral ores like galena (PbS), cerussite, and anglesite. Highly resistant to corrosion, it is extensively used in lead-acid batteries, radiation shielding, and ammunition. Toxicologically, lead targets multiple organ systems, crossing the blood-brain barrier to trigger severe neurodegenerative damage and inhibit cellular autophagy.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Highlighting chronic environmental heavy-metal contamination, this finding underscores the urgent need for stricter industrial emission standards, occupational safety regulations, and public health interventions to mitigate neurological disorders.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Research Body: ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad
  • Chemical Symbol: Pb (Plumbum)
  • Primary Mineral Ore: Galena (PbS)
  • Primary Industrial Use: Lead-acid batteries, Radiation shielding
  • Health Impacts: Neurotoxicity, disruption of cellular autophagy
#6INDIAN ECONOMY
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SEBI Information Technology Resilience Index (ITRI)

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced the Information Technology Resilience Index (ITRI) specifically for market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) to fortify digital operational frameworks.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The ITRI evaluates the IT resilience of stock exchanges, depositories, and clearing corporations using a uniform set of nine parameters computed half-yearly. Availability and security carry the highest weightage of 20 percent each, followed by integrity, governance, reliability, business continuity, and modularity at 10 percent each. MIIs must also implement an Early Warning System (EWS) to detect system vulnerabilities proactively.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

As high-frequency trading and algorithmic platforms dominate modern stock markets, ITRI ensures robust cyber-defense mechanisms, preventing flash crashes, technical glitches, and systemic financial shocks.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Regulatory Body: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
  • Target Entities: Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs - Stock Exchanges, Depositories, Clearing Corporations)
  • Key Parameters: Availability (20%), Security (20%), Integrity, Governance, Business Continuity
  • Compliance Frequency: Half-yearly reporting to Standing Committee on Technology (SCOT)
#7ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Doronicum sanctum: New Plant Species Discovery in Arunachal Pradesh

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

Researchers from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) have discovered a brand-new plant species, named Doronicum sanctum, in the high-altitude wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae), this marks the first documented instance of the Doronicum genus (commonly known as LeopardтАЩs bane) in Northeast India. Discovered at an elevation of approximately 4,086 meters near the spiritually revered Chumi Gyatse Waterfalls in Tawang district, the species features pubescent ray cypselae, caducous pappus, vibrant yellow flowers, and heart-shaped leaves.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

The discovery enriches India's floral taxonomy within the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, underlining the critical ecological value of high-altitude unmapped ecosystems requiring stringent conservation laws.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State: Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang District)
  • Research Institution: CSIR-IHBT
  • Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
  • Common Name: LeopardтАЩs bane
  • Altitude of Discovery: ~4,086 meters near Chumi Gyatse Waterfalls
  • Biodiversity Hotspot: Himalaya
#8GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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GENESIS Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Cohort 3

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), has launched the Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS) Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Cohort 3.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

GENESIS is a flagship initiative with a total outlay of тВ╣490 crore designed to discover and accelerate startups across India's Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The EIR component provides direct financial assistance of up to тВ╣10 lakh per startup for innovators at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1-4. Focus domains include Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Semiconductors/VLSI, Quantum Technologies, Cybersecurity, and Blockchain.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

By decentralizing the startup boom beyond metropolitan hubs into emerging semi-urban clusters, the scheme fosters inclusive deep-tech entrepreneurship and supports grassroots economic self-reliance.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • Executing Body: MeitY Startup Hub (MSH)
  • Total Outlay: тВ╣490 crore
  • EIR Financial Grant: Up to тВ╣10 lakh per startup (TRL 1-4)
  • Target Region: Tier-II and Tier-III Indian cities
#9ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Guggal Plant Restoration in Kutch Grasslands

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

A Kutch-based non-profit organization has undertaken large-scale plantation of Khara and Mitha Guggal across community grazing lands to revive native medicinal heritage and dryland biodiversity in Gujarat.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Scientifically known as Commiphora wightii, Guggal is a spiny shrub or small tree belonging to the Burseraceae family. Native to India, Arabia, and Pakistan, it thrives in arid, rocky tracts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The plant is drought- and salinity-resistant, surviving in poor, sandy loam soils. Its resin, known as guggul gum, targets the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) to regulate cholesterol and is highly prized in Ayurvedic therapeutics for treating nervous and inflammatory disorders.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Given its slow maturation period (around 10 years) and poor seed germination rates, targeted conservation by the National Medicinal Plants Board is vital to save this endangered species from overexploitation.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Scientific Name: Commiphora wightii
  • Family: Burseraceae
  • States Found: Gujarat (Kutch), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka
  • Key Medicinal Target: Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) for cholesterol regulation
  • Conservation Priority: National Medicinal Plants Board
#10ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Waterspout Weather Phenomenon over the Brahmaputra

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

A rare meteorological weather phenomenon resembling a waterspout was recently observed swirling over the Brahmaputra River in AssamтАЩs Barpeta district.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

A waterspout is a large rotating column of air and water mist forming over a water body, typically lasting about five minutes with wind speeds reaching up to 100 km/h. They are classified into two main types: tornadic waterspouts (tornadoes forming over water associated with severe thunderstorms) and fair-weather waterspouts (weaker columns developing upwards from the water surface along cumulus clouds under calm atmospheric conditions).

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Documenting such localized hydro-meteorological occurrences improves regional atmospheric tracking and disaster awareness for inland water navigation along major river systems like the Brahmaputra.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State: Assam (Barpeta District)
  • River: Brahmaputra River
  • Classification: Tornadic Waterspouts & Fair-Weather Waterspouts
  • Wind Speed: Up to 100 km/h
#11GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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Gorkhaland Political Solution & Committee Formation

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) convened a tripartite meeting with the West Bengal Government and Gorkha leaders, constituting a special committee headed by Pankaj Kumar Singh to formulate a permanent political solution for the Gorkhaland issue.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The Gorkhaland movement is a century-old demand for a separate political unit for the Nepali-speaking Gorkha population in the Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars regions of West Bengal. Rooted in ethno-linguistic identity distinct from the Bengali plains, historical milestones include petitions by the Darjeeling Hillmen's Association (1907) and GNLF agitations in the 1980s. Institutional experiments like the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC, 1988) and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA, 2011) faced financial and legislative limitations.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Resolving the Gorkhaland crisis is critical for national security given the region's proximity to the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor ('Chicken's Neck') connecting mainland India to the Northeast, as well as international borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State: West Bengal (Darjeeling Hills, Terai, Dooars)
  • Committee Head: Pankaj Kumar Singh
  • Geopolitical Sensitivity: Siliguri Corridor ('Chicken's Neck')
  • Constitutional Anchor: Nepali language included in 8th Schedule (71st Amendment Act, 1992); potential Sixth Schedule review
  • Previous Bodies: DGHC (1988), GTA (2011)
#12INDIAN ECONOMY
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India's 1st Non-GMO High-Expansion Popcorn Maize Hybrid Seed

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Vice-President of India launched the countryтАЩs first indigenous, non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seedsтАФKrisna459 and Godari234тАФat Musunuru, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Developed via conventional cross-breeding by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR) in collaboration with Gourmet Popcornica, these seeds eliminate reliance on imported hybrid tech. Maize (Zea mays), a Poaceae family cereal, is India's third most important food crop. Production reached a record 55.09 million tonnes in 2025-26, with cultivation shifting increasingly toward peninsular India and rabi seasons.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

This innovation advances the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission, conserves foreign exchange, and fulfills global food processing mandates requiring non-GMO ingredients.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State/District: Andhra Pradesh (Eluru District)
  • Research Bodies: ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR)
  • Hybrid Varieties: Krisna459 and Godari234
  • Crop Rank: 3rd most important food crop in India after rice and wheat
  • Top Producer State: Madhya Pradesh (followed by Karnataka, Maharashtra)
#13ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Regenerative Agriculture Framework for Climate-Resilient India

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

India is aggressively scaling up regenerative agriculture frameworksтАФintegrating natural farming, agroforestry, micro-irrigation, and scientific soil managementтАФto combat intensive cultivation vulnerabilities and achieve climate resilience.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Unlike sustainable agriculture which aims merely to maintain status quo, regenerative agriculture actively restores soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. Key government interventions driving this transition include the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) providing тВ╣4,000/acre incentives, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), and the Soil Health Card Scheme which has generated over 25.89 crore cards based on 12 soil parameters.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

By reversing chemical degradation, reducing input costs for smallholders, and advancing carbon sequestration, regenerative practices directly contribute to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and long-term food security.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Core Schemes: NMNF, PKVY, PDMC, Soil Health Card Scheme, PM-RKVY Agroforestry
  • NMNF Incentive: тВ╣4,000 per acre per year for two years
  • Soil Health Parameters: 12 critical soil properties and nutrient metrics
  • Global Goal Alignment: Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action - Target 13.1)
#14ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY
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Supreme Court Interim Ban on Construction Near Jojari River

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The Supreme Court imposed an interim ban on all construction and development activities within 100 meters of the edge of the Jojari River in Rajasthan, alongside a 500-meter buffer zone restriction for hazardous industries.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The Jojari is a seasonal river originating near Pandalu village in Nagaur district, Rajasthan, flowing through Jodhpur to join the Luni River near Khejarla Khurd. It is historically notable as the only major right-bank tributary of the Luni that does not originate in the Aravalli Range. Severe industrial effluent discharge from the Pali industrial cluster has heavily contaminated the Jojari, Bandi, and Luni river ecosystems.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

The ruling mandates the formation of an Integrated Coordination Group (ICG) headed by the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, balancing industrial growth with strict ecological safeguards for vulnerable desert river networks.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • State: Rajasthan (Nagaur, Jodhpur, Pali districts)
  • Rivers Involved: Jojari River, Luni River, Bandi River
  • Geographical Fact: Only major right-bank tributary of Luni not originating in Aravallis
  • Judicial Directive: 100m construction ban, 500m buffer for hazardous industries
#15INDIAN ECONOMY
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Supreme Court Verdict on 'Industry' Definition Under Industrial Relations Code 2020

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a fractured verdict in the State of Uttar Pradesh v. Jai Bir Singh case, ruling on the interpretation of the term 'industry' under Indian labour law.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

The Court held that the expansive worker-friendly 'Triple Test' established in the landmark 1978 Bangalore Water Supply judgment will govern pending disputes under the repealed Industrial Disputes Act 1947, but will not automatically apply to the newly enacted Industrial Relations Code (IRC), 2020, providing a legal 'clean slate'. Central trade unions have expressed deep concern over the exclusion of charitable and philanthropic institutions from the new definition.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

This judgment redefines the equilibrium between Ease of Doing Business and workers' collective bargaining rights, necessitating careful legislative oversight to prevent exploitation in non-profit and outsourced sectors.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Landmark Precedents: Bangalore Water Supply (1978) vs State of U.P. v. Jai Bir Singh (2026)
  • New Code Framework: Industrial Relations Code, 2020
  • Triple Test Elements: Systematic activity, employer-employee cooperation, production/distribution of goods and services
  • Constitutional Articles: DPSP Articles 43 (Living wage) and 43A (Worker participation)
#16GOVERNANCE & SCHEMES
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Bihar Raises Concerns Over Renewal of Farakka Water Treaty

ЁЯФ╣ Why in News & Recent Development

The impending expiration of the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (Farakka Treaty) in December 2026 has triggered intense policy debates in Bihar regarding upstream siltation and flood management.

ЁЯФ╣ Key Conceptual & Analytical Details

Signed on December 12, 1996, the 30-year treaty regulates the sharing of Ganga waters at the Farakka Barrage (constructed in 1975 in Murshidabad district, West Bengal) during the lean dry season (January 1 to May 31). While built primarily to divert water through a feeder canal into the Hooghly River to maintain Kolkata Port's navigability, Bihar has argued that the barrage causes severe 'flood-and-parch' cycles, raising riverbed levels and worsening monsoon flooding in districts like Bhagalpur and Munger.

ЁЯФ╣ Strategic Importance & Future Impact

Any treaty renewal negotiations must incorporate regional hydro-logical impact studies and Bihar's projected water requirements up to 2050 to ensure cooperative federalism in transboundary river basin governance.

ЁЯФ╣ UP PCS / STATE PCS HIGH-YIELD VALUE ADDITION

  • Bilateral Treaty: India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996 - expiring Dec 2026)
  • Barrage Location: Farakka Barrage, Murshidabad District, West Bengal
  • Primary Purpose: Regulating dry-season lean water flow (Jan 1 - May 31) & feeder canal diversion to Hooghly River
  • Impacted State: Bihar (Bhagalpur, Munger districts)