23 MARCH 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS Paper-1: Art & Culture

⭐ Chapchar Kut

⭐ Why in the News

Mizoram’s largest spring festival, Chapchar Kut, has recently concluded after a week-

long series of cultural celebrations.

⭐ Nature of the Festival

• Chapchar Kut is a traditional spring festival of Mizoram.

⭐ Historical Background

• The festival is believed to have originated between 1450–1700 AD.

• Its roots are traced to a village known as Suaipui.

⭐ Timing & Significance

• Celebrated annually in the month of March.

• It marks the completion of the jhum (shifting) cultivation cycle, especially:

• Clearing of forests

• Burning of vegetation

GS Paper-3: Environment / Ecology

⭐ Hypercapnic Hypoxia in Mangroves

⭐ Why in the News

A recent study highlights that many mangrove ecosystems are already experiencing

mild to severe hypercapnic hypoxia.

⭐ Meaning and Nature

• Hypercapnic hypoxia is a condition marked by:

• Elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels

• Reduced oxygen availability

• This creates significant chemical stress in estuarine ecosystems.

⭐ Occurrence Conditions

• Commonly develops during low tide conditions.

• More prevalent in areas with low salinity.

• Frequently observed in warm tropical regions.

⭐ Causes

• Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels linked to climate change.

• Increasing temperatures, which intensify oxygen depletion.

⭐ Impact on Biodiversity

➤ Ecological Effects

• Threatens fish nursery habitats in mangrove ecosystems.

• Leads to:

• Decline in biodiversity

• Degradation of habitat quality

➤ Socio-Economic Impact

• Negatively impacts fisheries.

• Affects the livelihoods of communities dependent on mangrovees.

GS Paper-3: Social Indicators / Reports

⭐ World Happiness Report 2026

⭐ Why in the News

The UN-backed World Happiness Report 2026 highlights that excessive social media

usage is negatively impacting the well-being of young people across several

countries.

⭐ Nature of the Report

• The World Happiness Report is a global assessment of well-being across countries.

• It evaluates quality of life and suggests ways to improve happiness levels.

⭐ Publication Details

• Released annually by the Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford.

• Prepared in collaboration with:

• Gallup

• UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

⭐ Methodology

• Based on survey responses where individuals rate their lives on a scale of 0 to 10.

• 0

• 10

worst possible life

best possible life

• Rankings are derived from responses of

around 100,000 individuals

across 140 countries.

GS Paper-3: Science & Technology

⭐ Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) Magnets

⭐ Why in the News

A pilot plant for manufacturing Nd-Fe-B rare earth permanent magnets has been

established at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy

and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad.

⭐ Nature of the Magnet

• NdFeB magnets are considered the strongest type of permanent magnets

available.

• They possess a tetragonal crystal structure and are primarily composed of:

• Neodymium

• Iron

• Boron

⭐ Composition

• Core elements include neodymium, iron, and boron.

• Additional elements may be added to improve performance:

• Cobalt

• Dysprosium

• Praseodymium

⭐ Types of NdFeB Magnets

➤ Sintered NdFeB Magnets

• Account for the largest share of production.

• Most widely used type within the NdFeB category.

➤ Bonded NdFeB Magnets

• These are relatively low-cost variants.