Based on the World Water Day 2026 theme ‘Water and Gender’ the UN-Water released the UN World Water Development Report 2026.

•  It emphasizes that universal water security (SDG 6) cannot be achieved without closing the gender gap (SDG 5).

Key highlights 

• Lack of access: 2.1 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water globally.
•  Lack of sanitation: 3.4 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services 
• Gender Gap: Women and girls are primary collectors of water, spending over 250 million hours daily, limiting their access to education, income.
•  This exposes them to physical strain, gender-based violence, etc. amplified by climate change.
• Women are significantly under-represented in water governance.

NBA has constituted an Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, as directed by NGT.

About NBA (HQ: Chennai)

• Statutory body: under Biological Diversity Act, 2002, it was formed in 2003.• Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change• Composition:o Chairperson appointed by central govt.o 10 ex-officio members and 5 non official experts.• Functions:  facilitative, regulatory and advisory function to achieve Conservation, sustainable use of biological resource and fair equitable sharing of benefits of use.

o Anyone seeking any kind of IPR based on an Indian biological resourcemust obtain prior approval from NBA

Government has modified the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme to Support MSME.

About Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs (2025)

• It is a Central Sector Scheme

• Objective: Provides 60% credit guarantee via National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) for loans up to ₹100 crore to MSMEsfor machinery/equipment purchase.

Key Modifications

• Expanded Eligibility: Service Sector MSMEs are now eligible.

• Equipment Cost Threshold: Reduced to 60% of the total project cost from the previous requirement of 75%.

• Guarantee Tenure: The guarantee cover will expire after 10 years.

• Special provisions incorporated in the scheme for exporters E.g. Guaranteed Loan Amount of ₹20 crore etc

INS Trikand of Indian Navy joined the Exercise Lamitiye 2026 in Seychelles.

About Exercise Lamitiye

• It is biennial military exercise between India and Seychelles conducted since 2001 in Seychelles.

• The 2026 edition is the first tri-services Exercise since its inception.

Researchers from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad have published the first comprehensive AMR map in Indian urban wastewater.

• Study shows bacteria become resistant through genes that strengthen cell walls against antibiotics, neutralize or expel antibiotic molecules, and can spread to both offspring and neighbouringmicrobes.

About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become resistant to antimicrobial medicines.

o Antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, etc.) are medicines used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants.

• Causes: 

o The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials

o Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) 

o Poor infection and disease prevention and control

o Poor access to quality and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and medicines

Iran fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia.

About Diego Garcia

•  Location: It is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago in the Central Indian Ocean, 500 Km south of Maldives.
•  Ownership: In 2025, UK transferred the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with Diego Garcia immediately leased back to the UK for the next 99 years.
• Significance: It hosts a joint US-UK military base. 
  It lies about 3,000 km from both the Bab-el-Mandeb and Malacca Straits, enabling

Minor Planet Centre (MPC) has announced the discovery of 15 new moons, 4 around Jupiter and 11 around Saturn.

About Minor Planet Centre (MPC)

• It is the single worldwide repository for observations related to minor planets, comets and outer irregular natural satellites of the major planets. 

• Functions: Maintaining the master files of observations and orbits, keeping track of the discoverer of each object and announcing discoveries to the world 

• It operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, under the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

• Sponsored by: NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations program.

Sri Lanka looks to develop India-backed Trincomalee project amid energy crisis.

• Trincomalee is a natural harbour on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka; it is the second best natural harbour in the world. 

About Trincomalee project

• In 2022, India–Sri Lanka signed an agreement for jointdevelopment of Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm.

o The Oil Farm was built in 1930s by British to supply fuel to the Navy during Second World War.

• Objective: Enhance petroleum storage capacity and energy security.

• Strategic and Commercial Role: Located near key Indian Ocean sea lanes; Aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR and Neighbourhood First policy

Panama Canal is functioning at top capacity as Iran war triggers more LNG vessel traffic.

Panama Canal

• It is an artificial interoceanic waterway which uses asystem of locks that function as water elevators, raising and lowering the ships.

• Location: Isthmus of Panama, Central America

• Connects: Atlantic Ocean