UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 1/2 :
• Transforming Representation into Real Change by 2029
Transforming Representation into Real Change by 2029
GS Paper 3:
• India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity
India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• NITI Aayog–UNICEF Statement of Intent on Nutrition and Health
NITI Aayog–UNICEF Statement of Intent on Nutrition and Health
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Raisina Dialogue 2026
Raisina Dialogue 2026
• Government Launch Mascots for Census 2027
Government Launch Mascots for Census 2027
• Appointment of Governors
Appointment of Governors
• Gravity Bomb
Gravity Bomb
• The Striped Hyena
The Striped Hyena
Mapping:
• The Kurds
The Kurds
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026
GS Paper 1/2 :
Transforming Representation into Real Change by 2029
Source: TH
Subject: Women Issues/Vulnerable Section
Context: The discussion around the Women’s Reservation Act has intensified as India prepares for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, which will see the first-ever implementation of 33% seat reservation for women.
About Transforming Representation into Real Change by 2029:
What it is?
• The core of this movement is to ensure that the 2029 Parliament—the most gender-diverse in India’s history—addresses the invisible crises affecting women, such as the lack of a gendered framework for India’s rapidly ageing population and the disproportionate burden of unpaid caregiving.
Data/Facts on Representation of Women in India:
• Current Parliament: In the 18th Lok Sabha (2024), women constitute only about 13.6% of the total members, far below the global average.
• The 2029 Shift: The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) will mandate 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
• Panchayati Raj Success: At the local level, India already has over 1.4 million elected women representatives due to the 73rd and 74th Amendments.
• State-Level Variance: Some states like Chhattisgarh have higher female representation in assemblies, while others remain in the single digits.
• Ageing Invisibility: Parliamentary records show a near-total absence of Private Member Bills or Committee reports specifically addressing the needs of ageing women.
Need for More Women Representation in India:
• Prioritizing the Care Economy: Women are more likely to advocate for public infrastructure in elder care and childcare.
Example: Advocacy in Maharashtra led to the launch of menopause clinics across 580 facilities in 2026, serving 31,000 women in weeks.
• Addressing Gender-Specific Health: Issues like maternal health, menstruation, and menopause require female perspectives for effective legislation.
Example: Women legislators were instrumental in pushing for the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, increasing paid leave to 26 weeks.
• Legislating for Safety: Increased representation leads to stricter implementation of laws against gender-based violence.
Example: Post-2012, increased female political pressure led to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, broadening the definition of sexual assault.
• Economic Empowerment: Women leaders often focus on self-help groups (SHGs) and female labor force participation (FLFP).
Example: The expansion of the Lakhpati Didi scheme has been a major focus of women leaders to make 3 crore women financially independent.
• Inclusive Urban Planning: Female representatives ensure that public spaces are designed with the safety of women and the elderly in mind.
Example: The Pink Toilets and Pink Bus initiatives in cities like Delhi and Noida were driven by local female political mandates.
Measures Taken So Far:
• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023): The landmark constitutional amendment providing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
• 73rd & 74th Amendments: Provided 33% (and in many states 50%) reservation for women in rural and urban local bodies.
• Candidate Pipelines: Political parties have begun internal grooming of female candidates to prepare for the 2029 delimitation exercise.
• Lakhpati Didi & Drone Didi: Schemes targeting rural women to build leadership and technical skills at the grassroots level.
• Gender Budgeting: India has institutionalized Gender Budget Statements since 2005 to ensure funds specifically benefit women’s development.
Challenges Associated:
• The Sarpanch-Pati Syndrome: Men often exercise actual power while the elected woman remains a figurehead.
Example: In many rural blocks of MP and UP, male relatives are frequently seen attending official meetings on behalf of elected women.
• Internal Party Barriers: Patriarchal structures within parties often deny women tickets for winnable unreserved seats.
Example: Historically, even major parties have struggled to cross 10-12% female candidacy without legal compulsion.
• The Double Burden: Women politicians face the second shift, balancing intense political work with traditional domestic care roles.
Example: Reports indicate that female MPs have significantly lower socializing time with constituents compared to males due to domestic duties.
• Lack of Disaggregated Data: Policy cannot be made for what is not measured, especially regarding elderly women.
Example: The National Policy for Older Persons (1999) fails to provide specific financial safety nets for women who have no assets in their names.
• Online Harassment and Violence: Female leaders face disproportionate character assassination and cyber-bullying.
Example: High-profile women Ministers and MPs frequently report coordinated trolling campaigns intended to silence their legislative interventions.
Way Ahead:
• Capacity Building: Training programs for potential 2029 candidates on legislative procedures, budgeting, and gendered policy-making.
• Gendered Elder Care Policy: Drafting a specific national framework for ageing women, accounting for their longer life expectancy and lower savings.
• Transparent Budgets: Implementing mandatory gender-disaggregated reporting for all state spending on elder care and social security.
• Manifesto Commitments: Forcing political parties to include specific, measurable goals for women’s life-arc (from childhood to dignified ageing) in manifestos.
• Digital Data Census: Conducting a specialized census to capture data on women’s unpaid care work and their specific health needs in old age.
Conclusion:
Representation is the first step, but true empowerment lies in utilizing that seat to voice the concerns of the most vulnerable, especially India’s rapidly growing population of elderly women. By 2029, the focus must shift from simply counting women in Parliament to ensuring those women hold the power to redesign the state’s care infrastructure. If done right, India can transform a demographic shift into a legacy of dignity for all its citizens.
Q. “Access alone does not guarantee empowerment.” Discuss its relevance for women in India with reference to economic participation, decision-making, and social influence. (15M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026 GS Paper 3:
India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Source: DTE
Subject: Environment
Context: India has officially submitted its 7th National Report (NR7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), marking the first comprehensive assessment since the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
About India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity:
What it is?
• The NR7 is a mandatory periodic submission by member nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It serves as a national report card to track progress toward the 23 global biodiversity targets set for 2030. In India, this report was coordinated by the MoEFCC and the National Biodiversity Authority, utilizing 142 national indicators to assess ecosystem health, species recovery, and policy alignment.
Key Achievements:
According to the report, India has shown robust progress in planning and specific ecological recoveries:
• Policy Alignment: India has successfully updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to fully align with global 2030 goals.
• Land-Use Planning (NBT1): This target is officially on track, with forest and tree cover reaching 25.17% of India’s total geographical area.
• Ecosystem Restoration (NBT2): Also on track, India has restored or put under restoration 24.1 million hectares of land, nearing its 26-million-hectare Bonn Challenge pledge.
• Flagship Species Recovery: The tiger population has reached 3,167, alongside increases in Asiatic lions and stable one-horned rhino populations.
• Carbon Sequestration: Forest carbon stock increased by 81.5 million tonnes, showcasing the role of biodiversity in climate mitigation.
• Wetland Management: National-level inventories of wetlands are complete, providing a baseline for the conservation of Ramsar sites and local water bodies.
• Digital Governance: The launch of PARIVESH 2.0 has streamlined environmental clearances, integrating biodiversity data into infrastructure planning.
Challenges Associated:
• Persistent Land Degradation: Despite restoration efforts, 29.77% of India’s land remains degraded.
Example: Large tracts in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat continue to face desertification despite active afforestation programs.
• Data Gaps for Non-Flagship Species: There is a severe lack of quantitative data on lesser-known taxa (insects, fungi, small mammals).
Example: While we have precise counts for Tigers, we lack standardized trend data for the Great Indian Bustard or endemic amphibians in the Western Ghats.
• Conservation Coverage Gaps: Formal Protected Areas cover only about 5% of India, far from the 30×30 global target.
Example: Expanding marine protected areas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands faces hurdles due to developmental and security interests.
• Invasive Species and Pollution: Monitoring protocols for invasive species and agricultural runoff are not yet standardized.
Example: The spread of Lantana camara in forests like Bandipur continues to displace native forage, yet a national-scale eradication map is missing.
• Climate Change Pressures: Increasing frequency of extreme weather events is undoing conservation gains.
Example: Recent forest fires in Odisha and Uttarakhand have destroyed restored habitats, complicating long-term biodiversity stability.
Way Ahead:
• Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Integrate biodiversity targets into the budgets of non-environmental ministries like Agriculture and Urban Development.
• Strengthening OECMs: Accelerate the identification of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (like community forests) to meet the 30% coverage goal.
• Standardizing Data: Develop a unified national digital database for real-time monitoring of all 142 biodiversity indicators.
• Incentivizing Agroforestry: Expand the Trees Outside Forests (TOF) initiative to enhance connectivity between fragmented wildlife habitats.
• Community-Led Conservation: Empower Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the village level to document and protect local traditional knowledge.
Conclusion:
India’s 7th National Report highlights a strong foundation in policy and success in protecting charismatic megafauna like the tiger. However, the transition from planning to outcome remains slow for over 90% of the national targets. To meet the 2030 deadline, India must bridge the gap between forest restoration and preventing new land degradation while broadening its focus to include all levels of biological diversity.
Q. “Declining carbon-use efficiency points to weakening forest resilience”. Discuss. How should India adapt its climate policy to this emerging challenge? (10 M)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
NITI Aayog–UNICEF Statement of Intent on Nutrition and Health
Context: NITI Aayog and UNICEF India have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to strengthen nutrition and health outcomes in India’s aspirational regions.
About NITI Aayog–UNICEF Statement of Intent on Nutrition and Health:
What it is?
• The Statement of Intent (SoI) is a collaborative framework between NITI Aayog and UNICEF India to support strategic interventions aimed at improving nutrition and health outcomes in underserved districts and blocks.
• Improve maternal and child nutrition indicators in aspirational districts and blocks.
• Strengthen implementation systems for health and nutrition programmes at the grassroots level.
Key Features:
• CSR Mobilisation through I4N Platform: UNICEF’s IMPAct4Nutrition (I4N) platform will help channel CSR investments from businesses and industry bodies into nutrition initiatives.
• Strengthening Anganwadi Infrastructure: Focus on improving facilities and service delivery through the Integrated Child Development Services system.
• Capacity Building of Frontline Workers: Training and support for Anganwadi workers and other field-level health staff to improve programme delivery.
• Community Engagement and Nutrition Literacy: Promoting awareness campaigns to improve utilisation of nutrition and health services.
• Knowledge Sharing and Best Practices: Creation of platforms to identify and scale successful models of nutrition and health interventions across aspirational regions.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper II – Governance & Social Justice
• Government policies and interventions for health and nutrition Role of international organisations and partnerships in development Aspirational Districts Programme as a model of data-driven governance
• Government policies and interventions for health and nutrition
• Role of international organisations and partnerships in development
• Aspirational Districts Programme as a model of data-driven governance
• GS Paper III – Economic Development
• Public–private partnerships and CSR in social sector development Human capital development through improved health and nutrition
• Public–private partnerships and CSR in social sector development
• Human capital development through improved health and nutrition
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Raisina Dialogue 2026
Source: PIB
Subject: International Relations
Context: Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi on 5 March 2026, with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb delivering the keynote address.
About Raisina Dialogue 2026:
What it is?
• The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier multilateral conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, focusing on global governance, strategic affairs, and emerging international challenges.
• It serves as a platform for dialogue among world leaders, policymakers, military commanders, academics, and industry experts to discuss global strategic issues.
Established in:
• Launched in 2016.
• Hosted annually in New Delhi by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
History and Evolution:
• The first Raisina Dialogue was held 1–3 March 2016 with the theme Asia: Regional and Global Connectivity.
• Over time, it has evolved into India’s most prominent strategic affairs conference, comparable to global forums such as the Munich Security Conference and Shangri-La Dialogue.
• The name Raisina comes from Raisina Hill, the seat of the Government of India in New Delhi.
Theme of Raisina Dialogue 2026: Saṁskāra – Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.
Six Thematic Pillars (2026):
• Contested Frontiers: Power, Polarity and Periphery
• Repairing the Commons: New Groups, New Guardians, New Avenues
• White Whale: The Pursuit of Agenda 2030
• The Eleventh Hour: Climate, Conflict and the Cost of Delay
• Tomorrowland: Towards a Tech-topia
• Trade in the Time of Tariffs: Recovery, Resilience, Reinvention
Aim of the Dialogue:
• To shape global conversations on geopolitics, geo-economics and international cooperation.
• To strengthen India’s role as a convening power in global diplomacy and strategic policy discussions.
Key Features of Raisina Dialogue 2026:
• 11th edition held from 5–7 March 2026 in New Delhi.
• Around 2700 participants from 110 countries attended in person.
• Participation includes ministers, former heads of state, parliamentarians, military leaders, think tanks, technology leaders, and youth delegates.
• Discussions conducted through panels, closed-door sessions, and multilateral strategic dialogues.
• Proceedings are broadcast globally through digital platforms, reaching millions of viewers.
Government Launch Mascots for Census 2027
Source: PIB
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: Union Home Minister unveiled the mascots Pragati and Vikas and soft-launched digital tools for Census 2027 in New Delhi.
About Government Launch Mascots for Census 2027:
What it is?
• The Government of India has launched two official mascots for Census 2027 to increase public awareness and participation in the census exercise.
• These mascots will act as communication ambassadors, helping disseminate information about the census process across diverse communities.
Mascot Names:
• Pragati – Female enumerator mascot
• Vikas – Male enumerator mascot
Theme of the Mascots:
• The mascots symbolize equal participation of women and men in nation-building.
• They represent the spirit of inclusive development and collective participation in achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Key Features of Census 2027:
• World’s Largest Census Exercise: Census 2027 will be the largest population enumeration exercise globally, involving more than 30 lakh enumerators, supervisors and officials.
• First Fully Digital Census in India: Data collection will be conducted using secure mobile applications and digital platforms, replacing traditional paper-based enumeration.
• Self-Enumeration Facility Introduced: Citizens can submit household information online through a secure portal in 16 languages before the door-to-door survey.
• Two-Phase Census Process: Phase 1 – Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO): Data on housing conditions and amenities. Phase 2 – Population Enumeration (PE): Collection of demographic, social and economic details.
• Phase 1 – Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO): Data on housing conditions and amenities.
• Phase 2 – Population Enumeration (PE): Collection of demographic, social and economic details.
• Four Digital Platforms Launched: Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC): Web-based mapping tool using satellite imagery. HLO Mobile Application: Offline mobile app for enumerators to collect field data. Self-Enumeration Portal: Secure platform for citizens to submit census data online. Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS): Real-time monitoring dashboard for administrators.
• Houselisting Block Creator (HLBC): Web-based mapping tool using satellite imagery.
• HLO Mobile Application: Offline mobile app for enumerators to collect field data.
• Self-Enumeration Portal: Secure platform for citizens to submit census data online.
• Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS): Real-time monitoring dashboard for administrators.
• Caste Data Collection: The Population Enumeration phase will include caste-related questions, making it a significant data exercise for social policy planning.
Appointment of Governors
Source: News on Air
Subject: Polity
Context: President of India has executed a major administrative reshuffle by appointing and transferring several Governors and Lieutenant Governors across States and Union Territories.
About Appointment of Governors:
What is the Office of the Governor?
• The Governor is the Constitutional Head (Titular Head) of a State and acts as a vital link between the Union Government and the State Government. While the Governor is the executive head of the state, they generally act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
Key Articles Associated:
• Article 153: Mandates that there shall be a Governor for each State. However, the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 allows for the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States.
• Article 154: Vests the executive power of the State in the Governor.
• Article 155: Specifies that the Governor of a State shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
• Article 156: States that the Governor holds office during the pleasure of the President, typically for a term of 5 years.
• Article 157 & 158: Outline the qualifications (must be a citizen of India and at least 35 years old) and conditions of the office.
Procedure of Appointment:
• The Governor is neither directly nor indirectly elected. Instead, they are nominated by the Central Government and formally appointed by the President. This ensures that the Center can maintain a degree of supervision over the state administration.
• Two major conventions are usually followed (though not legally binding):
• The person should be an outsider (not belonging to the state they are appointed to).
• The President often consults the Chief Minister of the concerned state to ensure smooth functioning.
Functions of the Governor:
Executive Functions:
• Head of State Administration: All executive actions of the State Government are formally taken in the Governor’s name.
• Key Appointments: The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and, on their advice, the other Ministers. They also appoint the Advocate General of the State and the Chairman and members of the State Public Service Commission.
• Constitutional Role: They recommend the imposition of Constitutional Emergency (President’s Rule) in a state to the President under Article 356 if the state machinery breaks down.
Legislative Functions:
• Summoning the House: The Governor has the power to summon or prorogue (end a session) the State Legislature and dissolve the State Legislative Assembly.
• Addressing the Legislature: They address the State Legislature at the commencement of the first session after each general election and at the first session of each year.
• Veto Power over Bills: When a bill is passed by the state legislature, the Governor can: Give assent to the bill. Withhold assent. Return the bill (if it is not a Money Bill) for reconsideration. Reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.
• Give assent to the bill.
• Withhold assent.
• Return the bill (if it is not a Money Bill) for reconsideration.
• Reserve the bill for the consideration of the President.
• Ordinance Making Power: Under Article 213, the Governor can promulgate ordinances when the state legislature is not in session, which have the same force as an act.
Judicial Functions:
• Pardoning Power: Under Article 161, the Governor possesses the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment for offenses against state laws.
• Consultation on Judges: The Governor is consulted by the President when appointing judges to the State High Court.
• District Courts: Appointments, postings, and promotions of District Judges are made by the Governor in consultation with the State High Court.
Discretionary Functions:
While the Governor generally acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, the Constitution implies certain situations where they act at their own discretion:
• Selection of Chief Minister: When no single party has a clear majority in the State Assembly.
• Dismissal of Ministry: If the Council of Ministers loses the confidence of the Legislative Assembly but refuses to resign.
• Reservation of Bills: Deciding which bills should be sent to the President for oversight.
Gravity Bomb
Source: IE Subject: Security
Source: IE
Subject: Security
Context: U.S. Defense Secretary announced a tactical shift to using 500, 1,000, and 2,000-pound precision gravity bombs against Iran, signaling that Iranian air defenses have been sufficiently degraded to allow direct aerial bombardment.
About Gravity Bomb:
What is a Gravity Bomb?
• A gravity bomb, often referred to as a free-fall or dumb bomb, is an unpowered munition that does not possess an internal propulsion system or engine. Unlike a missile, which flies under its own power, a gravity bomb relies entirely on the laws of physics and the momentum of the aircraft to reach its target.
Composition:
A gravity bomb typically consists of three main components:
• The Warhead (Body): A streamlined steel casing filled with high explosives (such as Tritonal or Composition H6). The current U.S. campaign utilizes the Mark 80 series (Mk 82, Mk 83, and Mk 84).
• The Fuse: A device (mechanical or electronic) located in the nose or tail that triggers the explosion upon impact or at a specific altitude.
• The Guidance Kit (JDAM): A modern add-on tail section that includes GPS receivers and steerable tail fins to turn a dumb bomb into a smart precision weapon.
How It Works?
• Release: The pilot flies the aircraft to a specific release point. Once dropped, the bomb begins a free-fall trajectory.
• Ballistics: Its path is initially dictated by the speed and altitude of the aircraft, combined with gravity and aerodynamics.
• Guidance Correction: In the modern precision version, the JDAM tail kit uses GPS coordinates to adjust the steerable fins during flight, gliding the bomb toward the target.
• Impact: The bomb strikes the target, and the fuse detonates the explosive fill, creating a blast and fragmentation effect.
Key Features:
• Cost-Efficiency: They are significantly cheaper than missiles. A gravity bomb with a JDAM kit costs roughly $25,000 to $30,000, compared to millions for a Tomahawk missile.
• Versatility: They come in various weights for different targets: 500-lb (Mk 82): For soft targets like radar or light vehicles. 1,000-lb (Mk 83): For reinforced structures and bridges. 2,000-lb (Mk 84): Bunker-busters for deeply buried military complexes.
• 500-lb (Mk 82): For soft targets like radar or light vehicles.
• 1,000-lb (Mk 83): For reinforced structures and bridges.
• 2,000-lb (Mk 84): Bunker-busters for deeply buried military complexes.
• High Volume: Because they are inexpensive and easy to transport, they allow for sustained, heavy bombardment once air supremacy is achieved.
• Platform Compatibility: Can be deployed by a wide range of aircraft, from tactical stealth fighters (F-35) to heavy strategic bombers (B-52).
The Striped Hyena
Source: DTE
Subject: Species in News
Context: Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have formally proposed including the striped hyena in Appendix I and II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) at the upcoming CMS COP15 in Brazil.
About The Striped Hyena:
What it is?
• The striped hyena is a medium-sized, nocturnal carnivore and the only hyena species found in the Indian subcontinent. While often misunderstood as a pure scavenger, it is a vital sanitary worker of the ecosystem, primarily feeding on carrion but also capable of hunting small prey.
Habitat and Distribution
• Global Range: Found across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent.
• Preferred Environments: They thrive in arid and semi-arid regions, including savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, open woodlands, and rocky mountainous terrain.
Protection Status:
• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (Global); Vulnerable (Mediterranean region).
• CMS Proposal: Proposed for Appendix I (Endangered migratory species) and Appendix II (Species requiring international cooperation).
• Indian Law: Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing it the highest level of legal protection in India.
Key Characteristics:
Physical Traits:
• Appearance: Distinctive vertical black stripes on a grey or yellowish-brown coat.
• Mane: A prominent dorsal crest of long hair that it can erect to appear larger when threatened.
• Physiology: Possesses extremely powerful jaws capable of crushing the largest bones of a carcass to access the marrow.
Biological & Behavioral Traits:
• Nocturnal: Almost exclusively active at night, making them elusive and difficult to study.
• Diet: Primarily a scavenger; it plays a critical role in preventing the spread of diseases by consuming decaying carcasses.
• Movement: Known for long-distance dispersal and nomadic movements, often crossing international borders in search of food and water.
Social Structure:
• Solitary Nature: Unlike the social Spotted Hyena, the striped variety is generally solitary or lives in small family units (a pair and their offspring).
• Communication: They communicate through vocalizations, though they do not possess the famous laugh of the Spotted Hyena.
India and the Striped Hyena:
• India is a major stronghold for the species, particularly in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Ecological Niche: In India, they often inhabit the fringes of human settlements and Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) like the Kadbanwadi Grasslands in Maharashtra.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 6 March 2026 Mapping:
The Kurds
Source: BS
Subject: International Relations
Context: The Kurds have returned to the global spotlight following reports that the CIA is considering engaging Kurdish armed groups to pressure the Iranian regime.
• This comes as a new Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan was formed in February 2026.
About The Kurds:
Who are the Kurds?
• The Kurds are an Indo-European ethnic group indigenous to the Mesopotamian plains and the highlands of West Asia. With a population estimated between 30 to 40 million, they are widely recognized as the world’s largest stateless ethnic group.
Language: They speak Kurdish, which belongs to the Northwestern Iranian branch of Indo-European languages.
Religion: The majority are Sunni Muslims, but the community is religiously diverse, including Shia Muslims, Christians, Alevis, and Yazidis.
Origin and History:
The Kurds trace their ancestry back thousands of years to the ancient tribes of the Zagros Mountains.
• Post-WWI Betrayal: Their modern stateless status stems from the aftermath of World War I. The 1920 Treaty of Sèvres initially promised an independent Kurdish state.
• Treaty of Lausanne (1923): This treaty superseded Sèvres, partitioning the Kurdish homelands among the newly formed borders of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, leaving the Kurds as minorities in every country they inhabited.
Geographic Distribution:
• The traditional Kurdish homeland, Kurdistan, is spread across four main countries of West Asia: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
Major Issues and Regional Struggles:
• Iran: Kurds face systemic marginalization by the central government. Groups like the PJAK and the KDPI have long engaged in low-level insurgency against the IRGC, demanding autonomy and secular governance.
• Iraq: This is the only region where Kurds have achieved formal semi-autonomy through the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
• Syria: During the Syrian Civil War, Kurdish forces (YPG) became the primary boots-on-the-ground allies for the US-led coalition against ISIS. They currently manage a de-facto autonomous zone in Northeast Syria (Rojava) but face constant threats of invasion from Turkey.
• They currently manage a de-facto autonomous zone in Northeast Syria (Rojava) but face constant threats of invasion from Turkey.
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