20 March 2025; Daily Current Affairs Updates

Navroz ; GS-1 (Culture)

▪️ Why in the News:

PM Modi has greeted everyone on the occasion of Navroz.

Meaning and Significance:

• Navroz, also known as Nowruz, signifies the Iranian and Persian New Year.

• The term is derived from two Persian words: 'Now' (new) and 'Roz' (day), collectively meaning 'New Day.'

• It marks the arrival of spring and is widely celebrated by the Parsi community across the world with great enthusiasm.

When is Nowruz celebrated?

Nowruz celebrates the coming of spring. Spring starts with the vernal equinox, which in 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere falls on March 20.

Historical Origins:

o The festival is linked to King Jamshed, a Persian ruler who is credited with the creation of the Shahenshahi calendar. o It is believed that Nusservanji Kohyaji, a wealthy merchant from Surat in the 18th century, introduced the celebration of Nowruz in India after being inspired by its observance in Iran.

• Recognition and Observance: Navroz has been recognized by

UNESCO and is included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list for India.

PEPSU Muzhara Movement; GS-1 (History) ▪️Why in the news:

March 19 commemorated the anniversary of the Muzhara movement, a significant agrarian struggle in Punjab

> PEPSU Muzhara Movement:

• The PEPSU. Muzhara Movement was an agrarian struggle led by landless tenant farmers, known as muzharas, in Punjab.

• It aimed to secure land ownership rights for muzharas who were oppressed by feudal landlords, known as biswedars.

• The movement originated in the 1930s and gained momentum after India's independence, particularly in the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).

• About Muzharas:

• Muzharas were tenant farmers who were required to share one-third of their agricultural produce with landlords.

Originally, many of them were small landowners, but they lost their land due to British land policies.

• They were subjected to severe exploitation under the feudal system controlled by the biswedars.

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative; GS-2 (International Relations) ▪️Why in the news:

PM Modi welcomed New Zealand's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans

Initiative (IPOI).

> About:

• India introduced the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) in November 2019 during the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Bangkok.

It builds upon the foundation of the "Security and Growth for All in the Region"

(SAGAR) initiative, which was launched by the Prime Minister in 2015.

• Objective:

• The primary goal of IPOI is to promote collaboration for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.

• It aims to strengthen security, stability, and development within the maritime domain.

• IPOI is a voluntary and non-treaty-based initiative that fosters regional cohesion and integration through shared understanding and collective efforts.

> Structure and Key Pillars:

• IPOI is organized into seven thematic pillars, with different countries taking the lead in specific areas. Participation is voluntary, allowing for flexible engagement.

The seven pillars and their respective lead nations are:

Maritime Security - Led by India and the United Kingdom.

Maritime Ecology - Led by Australia and Thailand

• Maritime Resources - Led by France and Indonesia.

Capacity Building and Resource Sharing - Led by Germany.

National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP); GS-3 (Environment and Ecology) ▪️Why in the news:

The Centre is reviewing an interim draft of a National Wildlife Health Policy

(NWHP) that has proposed integrated wildlife disease surveillance, research and setti up of new diagnostic labs.

• Introduction:

• The National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) was introduced by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to enhance wildlife health management and address zoonotic diseases.

• It is an essential component of the National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) and follows the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

> Key Institutions and Initiatives under NWHP:

• National Referral Centre for Wildlife (NRC-W):

Established in Junagadh, Gujarat, NRC-W functions as a central hub for wildlife health management

It is the first dedicated facility in India for wildlife disease diagnostics and research.

• The centre focuses on investigating wildlife mortalities, monitoring disease outbreaks, and developing treatment strategies.

• National Wildlife Health Information System:

This proposed initiative under NWHP aims to streamline disease reporting and surveillance across various regions.

• It will work in coordination with the National Animal Disease Referral Expert Syste and the National Animal Disease Reporting System to predict and mitigate potential disease outbreaks.

• Central Zoo Authority (CZA):

The CZA is a statutory body established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

‹ It was set up in 1992 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).