UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 23 March 2026

by Vajiram & Ravi - 23 March 2026

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 23 March 2026, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Monarch Butterfly

March 23, 2026
Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly Latest News

Recently, there has been a 64 per cent increase in the presence of the Monarch butterfly in Mexican overwintering forests during the 2025-2026 seasons.

About Monarch Butterfly

  • It is known by scientists as Danaus plexippus, which in Greek literally means "sleepy transformation."
  • Appearance
    • Adult monarch butterflies possess two pairs of brilliant orange-red wings, featuring black veins and white spots along the edges.
    • Males, who possess distinguishing black dots along the veins of their wings, are slightly bigger than females.
  • Distribution: It is found in North America, Central America, and South America, Australia, Hawaii, India, and other locations.
  • Habitat: Gardens, Managed Corridors, Agricultural Areas, and Natural and Restored Areas.
  • Life Span: Each adult butterfly lives only about four to five weeks.
  • Reproduction: The mating period occurs in the spring, just prior to migration from the overwintering sites. 
    • Milkweed is the only plant on which monarchs will lay their eggs and the only source of food for baby caterpillars
  • Migration: They travel between 1,200 and 2,800 miles or more from the northeast United States, and southeast Canada to the mountain forests in central Mexico
  • Threats: Illegal logging, land development, loss of milkweed plants, and climate change, all of which affect its habitat and migration.

Source: DTE

Monarch Butterfly FAQs

Q1: What is the scientific name of the Monarch Butterfly?

Ans: Danaus plexippus

Q2: What is a major threat to Monarch Butterfly populations?

Ans: Habitat loss, Climate change and Pesticide use

Sahiwal Cattle

March 23, 2026
Sahiwal Cattle

Sahiwal Cattle Latest News

Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research– Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly successfully produced indigenous Sahiwal cattle calves by using ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer (OPU–IVF–ET).

About Sahiwal Cattle

  • It is considered to be one of the best milch cattle breeds of India.
  • The breed derives its name from Sahiwal area in Montgomery district of Punjab in Pakistan.
  • Other Names: These animals are also known as “Lambi Bar”, “Lola”, “Montgomery”, “Multani” and “Teli”.
  • Appearance
    • The cows are brownish red in colour; shades may vary from a mahogany red brown to more greyish red.
    • Extremities in bulls are darker than the rest of body colour. Occasionally there are white patches.
    • Average lactation yield of Sahiwal cows is 2325 kilo grams. The lactation yield ranges from 1600 to 2750 Kg.
  • Characteristics: Its unique traits are, tick-resistant, heat tolerant, high milk production and noted for its high resistance to parasites, both internal and external
  • Due to their heat tolerance and high milk production they have been exported to other Asian countries as well as Africa and the Caribbean. 

What is Ovum Pick-Up-In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) Technology?

  • Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) is one of the recent and remarkable technologies in the field of reproductive biotechnology.
  • It allows the collection of oocytes from the ovaries of live animals of known pedigree and additionally decreases the interval between generations.
  • This procedure can be performed on pregnant animals less than 100 days in gestation.
  • In OPU, ovarian follicles are punctured in a live animal with the help of a needle attached to a vacuum pump after visualizing them through ultrasonography.
  • The oocytes obtained are then subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and culture (IVC) for embryo production.
  • The embryos thus produced can then be transferred to suitably synchronized recipients for producing offspring of known pedigree.

Source: DTE

Sahiwal Cattle FAQs

Q1: What is the average milk yield of Sahiwal Cattle?

Ans: 1500-2500 kg

Q2: Where is the Sahiwal Cattle breed primarily found?

Ans: Pakistan and India's Punjab region

Chhapgarus ngankeeae

March 23, 2026
Chhapgarus ngankeeae

Chhapgarus ngankeeae Latest News

Recently, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new crab species from the Goan mangroves and named it as Chhapgarus ngankeeae.

About Chhapgarus ngankeeae

  • It is a new species of marine crab.
  • The species has been named in honour of the late Dr Ngan Kee Ng, a noted marine biologist from the National University of Singapore.
  • Habitat: It is found in the muddy intertidal mangrove forests along the west coast of India.

Characteristics of Chhapgarus ngankeeae

  • It is a small crab measuring only about 1.6 centimetres across its squarish, brown, hairy shell.
  • The new species features a noticeably narrower abdomen (the male pleon), with its second and third abdominal segments equal in width.
  • Its tailpiece, or telson, is as broad as it is long.
  • The most distinctive characteristic is the shape of the male reproductive organ (the first gonopod); its hard, chitinous tip features two conspicuously unequal lobes that form a deep V-shaped constriction.
  • Ecological Significance: Mangrove crabs play a crucial role in coastal eco systems by recycling nutrients and supporting food chains.

Source: RM

Chhapgarus ngankeeae FAQs

Q1: What is Chhapgarus ngankeeae?

Ans: A newly discovered crab species

Q2: Where was Chhapgarus ngankeeae crab discovered?

Ans: West coast of India

Litani River

March 23, 2026
Litani River

Litani River Latest News

Recently, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed the Qasmiyeh Bridge, a key crossing over the Litani River on Lebanon’s southern coastal highway. 

About Litani River

  • It is a major river in Lebanon.
  • Origin: It rises in a low divide west of Baalbek and flows southwestward through the Bekaa valley between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains.
  • Near Marjayoun, it bends sharply west and cuts a spectacular gorge up to 900 feet (275 meters) deep through the Lebanon Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sidon.
  •  It falls into the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Tributaries: Berdawni River, Chtoura River, Qib Elias River etc
  • Dams: El Wauroun Dam, Qaraoun Dam, or Albert Naqash Dam
  • It provides a major source for water supply, irrigation, and hydroelectricity both within Southern Lebanon and the bekaa and the country as a whole.

Key Facts about Bekaa Valley

  • It is a broad valley of east-central Lebanon, extending in a northeast-southwest direction along the Litani and Orontes rivers.
  • The valley contains nearly half of Lebanon’s arable land.
  • It is not as intensively farmed as the country’s coastal plain because of less rainfall and a wider variation in temperature.

Source: NDTV

Litani River FAQs

Q1: Where is the Litani River located?

Ans: Lebanon

Q2: Where does the Litani River originate?

Ans: Bekaa Valley

Guru Angad Dev

March 23, 2026
Guru Angad Dev

Guru Angad Dev Latest News

Recently, the Union Home Minister paid tributes to the second Sikh Guru, Shri Angad Dev on the occasion of his Jyoti-Jyot Diwas.

About Guru Angad Dev

  • Guru Angad (31 March 1504--29 March 1552) was born with the birth name of Lahna the village of Matte-di-Sarai in Firozpur district of Punjab, India.
  • He was the second Sikh Guru (1539–52).

Contribution of  Guru Angad Dev

  • He introduced the Gurmukhi script, standardizing the Punjabi language.
  • He made extensive efforts to spread teachings of Guru Nanak Dev far and wide.
  • He introduced the teaching of Punjabi in Gurmukhi script by modifying the existing alphabet.
  • He improved literacy among the Sikhs and started school at Khadur Sahib to teach Gurmukhi to the children.
  • He encouraged physical health building through sports and wrestling as well mental health through discipline and truthful living.
  • He composed 62 hymns in 10 Ragas.
  • He consolidated the institution of Langar started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
  • He also established hundreds of new Sangats (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism.

Source: PIB

Guru Angad Dev FAQs

Q1: Who is Guru Angad Dev?

Ans: Second Sikh Guru

Q2: What is Guru Angad Dev's contribution to Sikhism?

Ans: He developed the Gurmukhi script

Cabinet Committee on Security

March 23, 2026
Cabinet Committee on Security

Cabinet Committee on Security Latest News

Recently, the Prime Minister Of India chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the global situation and various mitigating measures taken so far across sectors amid the conflict in West Asia.

About Cabinet Committee on Security

  • It is headed by the Prime Minister, and is responsible for important discussions and decisions on defence policy, expenditure, and matters related to national security.
  • History
    • A committee comparable to the current CCS structure was first formed in independent India in 1947 by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
    • Formed against the background of a newly independent nation facing national security challenges.
    • It was reportedly chaired by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with Home Minister Sardar Patel and Defence Minister Baldev Singh as its members.
    • It was after the 1999 Kargil War that the committee evolved to adopt the present formal structure of the CCS and became a high-powered committee for defence and national security.
    • Over time, the CCS has evolved into the apex decision-making body concerning internal and external security matters of the Government of India.
  • Composition
    • With the Prime Minister as its chairperson, the committee typically comprises the Home Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and External Affairs Minister as members. 
    • The National Security Advisor (NSA) acts as secretary-level coordinator on matters within its purview.
    • While the defence minister is a permanent invitee to the panel, other members may be included as per requirements. 
    • The Cabinet Secretariat is responsible for maintaining records of all the meetings and proceedings of the CCS.
  • Function: The CCS concerns itself with all matters related to defence, foreign affairs, intelligence, nuclear issues, space policy, and major appointments related to national security.
    • It is also the apex body when it comes to the appointments of the officials in the national security bodies.

Source: IE

Cabinet Committee on Security FAQs

Q1: Who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Security?

Ans: Prime Minister

Q2: What is the primary function of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)?

Ans: To review national security issues

Smog-Eating Photocatalytic Coating

March 23, 2026
Smog-Eating Photocatalytic Coating

Smog-Eating Photocatalytic Coating Latest News

Recently, the Delhi government   and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras  collaborated to study “smog-eating” photocatalytic coatings on roads.

About Smog-Eating Photocatalytic Coating

  • It is designed to neutralize harmful gases like nitrogen dioxide and volatile hydrocarbons that contribute to toxic air.
  • Compound used: It usually uses titanium dioxide as a coating which has advantages for being low-cost and chemically stable.
    • Titanium dioxide is also known for its compatibility with traditional construction materials.
    • It has been “demonstrated that TiO₂-based photocatalytically active construction materials can be useful for gaseous depollution and environmental cleaning processes.
  • Working: Photocatalytic activity helps fight pollution by breaking down harmful substances and organic waste into less toxic or harmless matters using light energy, thereby making air and water cleaner.

What is Smog?

  • Smog is used to refer to a type of air pollution caused by a combination of smoke (and other pollutants) and fog.
  • Smog encompasses a broad category of air pollutants created through a multitude of processes that relate specifically to the atmospheric conditions of the formation region. 
  • Two distinct types of smog are recognized
    • Sulfurous smog: It results from a high concentration of sulfur oxides in the air and is caused by the use of sulfur-bearing fossil fuels, particularly coal.
    • Photochemical smog: It occurs most prominently in urban areas that have large numbers of automobiles..

Source: IE

Smog-Eating Photocatalytic Coating FAQs

Q1: Which material is commonly used in smog-eating photocatalytic coatings?

Ans: Titanium dioxide

Q2: What is the primary function of smog-eating photocatalytic coatings?

Ans: To neutralize harmful gases like nitrogen dioxide and volatile hydrocarbons

Kolleru Lake

March 23, 2026
Kolleru Lake

Kolleru Lake Latest News

According to environmental activists, the Kolleru Lake has suffered a sustained and measurable decline in its ecological health during the last 50 years.

About Kolleru Lake

  • Location: It is a shallow lake located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
  • It is nestled in the inter-deltaic plain of rivers Krishna and Godavari near the city of Eluru and serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers. 
  • This lake is also known as the “Peerless Fisherman”s Paradise and Bird Heaven”.
  • Water Source: It receives water from four rivers, namely Budameru, Ramileru, Tammileru, and Errakalva,
  • This lake empties its water into the Bay of Bengal through an outlet called ‘upputera’.
  • The lake was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999.
  • It was designated as a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the International Ramsar Convention. 
  • Fauna:
    • It supports over 20 million migratory birds annually, including grey pelicans, painted storks, and open-billed storks. 
    • It is a haven for species migrating from Siberia, Central Asia, and the Himalayas, making it one of India’s richest avian habitats.
  • Significance: The lake is deeply intertwined with local livelihoods, sustaining thousands who depend on fishing, duck farming, and paddy cultivation.

Source: TH

Kolleru Lake FAQs

Q1: Which two rivers feed Kolleru Lake?

Ans: Budameru and Tammileru

Q2: Where is Kolleru Lake located?

Ans: Andhra Pradesh

Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary

March 23, 2026
Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary

Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

The Assam government is moving to create a new Reserved Forest adjacent to the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district of Assam.

About Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Location: It is geographically located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra, in Assam.
  •  It is a part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori eco-system.
  • It is nestled between the Kaziranga National Park (NP) to the east and the Orang NP to the west and Laokhowa WLS to the south.
  • Climate: It falls under the sub-tropical monsoon climatic regime.
  • Vegetation: It comprises a mosaic of wet alluvial grassland, riparian and semi-evergreen forests dotted by wetland and river systems.
  • Flora: The grassland is also rich in various kinds of medicinal herbs and plants.
    • It also has Hollang, Mekai, Dhuna, Udiyam, Nahar, Samkothal, Bheer,
  • Fauna: It is home to the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, hog deer, wild pig, and elephants.
    • It also consists of highly endangered Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork, Mallard, Open billed Stork, Teal, and Whistling Duck among others.

Source: SA

Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1: What is Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary famous for?

Ans: Bengal florican habitat

Q2: Where is Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans: Sonitpur district, Assam

Subarnarekha River

March 23, 2026
Subarnarekha River

Subarnarekha River Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued instructions to the state government agencies to take action to arrest illegal sand mining and smuggling from Subarnarekha river in Odisha.

About Subarnarekha River

  • Origin: It originates near Nagri village in the Ranchi District of Jharkhand at an elevation of 600 m.
  • It flows for a length of 395 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.
    • The Subarnarekha (meaning “Streak of Gold”) flows east through a copper-mining region and leaves the Chota Nagpur plateau by the Hundrugbagh waterfall.
  • Tributaries: Its principal tributaries joining from right are the Kanchi, the Karkari and the Kharkai.  
  • The basin is bounded by
    • Chhotanagpur plateau on the north and the west, by the ridges separating it from Baitarani basin on the south, by the Bay of Bengal on the south-east and by the Kasai Valley of Kangsabati River on the east. 
  • River Basin: It extends over States of Jharkhand, Odisha and comparatively smaller part in West Bengal.
  • The basin is generally influenced by the South-West monsoon, which onsets in the month of June and extends up to October.
  • Dams and Reservoirs: Getalsud Reservoir, Chandil Dam, Galudih Barrage and Icha Dam.

Source: NIE

Subarnarekha River FAQs

Q1: Where does the Subarnarekha River originate?

Ans: Jharkhand

Q2: Which states does the Subarnarekha River flow through?

Ans: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal

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