SNIPPETS 16 MARCH 2026

Purple Fest: Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted the ‘Purple Fest’ to celebrate the achievements and talents of Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) and promote inclusivity+ Purple Fest is an inclusive awareness and celebration event organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to recognise the talent, achievements, and aspirations of Divyangjan+ Divyangjan showcased their talent through cultural programmes at the Open Air Theatre+ It aims to promote awareness, dignity, and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society.

Geodesy: The scientific study of the Earth’s shape, size, gravity field, and precise positioning on the planet+ It provides the scientific basis for mapping, satellite navigation, and geographic positioning systems+ Geodesy supports infrastructure planning, disaster management, climate monitoring, and national security+ Accurate geodesy is essential for navigation systems like NavIC, GPS and other satellite-based technologies+ It forms the core scientific foundation of the geospatial ecosystem, enabling precise Earth observation and spatial data analysis

National Chambal Sanctuary: Location & Area: ~5,400 sq km riverine stretch along the Chambal River across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh+ It is the first and only tri-state riverine protected area in India+ Established: 1979 for conservation of riverine biodiversity+ Major habitat of the critically endangered Gharial+ Chambal remains one of India’s least-polluted perennial rivers supporting rich aquatic biodiversity+ Ganges River Dolphin, Red-crowned Roofed Turtle, other freshwater turtles and migratory birds