SNIPPETS 23 FEBRUARY 2026

Rapti River: NGT directs Suav’s status be changed from drain to river in official records+ Suav (or Suwawan) is a tributary of the Rapti River+ About Rapti River: It is the most important left bank tributary of the Ghaghra, which is a tributary of Ganga+ Origin: It rises in Nepal in the Dregaunra range+ Its Catchment area falls in Nepal, and the remaining in the State of U.P+ Total length:  782 km.

Smooth-Coated Otters: Conservation Status: IUCN – Vulnerable+ Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972+ Habitat: Freshwater rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and mangrove forests across South & Southeast Asia+ Distribution (India): Ranges from the Himalayas to southern India; co-occurs with other otter species in the Western Ghats and Northeast India+ Key Features: Largest Asian otter; smooth short fur; highly social; strong swimmer; mainly fish-eating.

Merchandise Trade Indices: Measure changes in the unit values (prices) and quantities of India’s exports and imports over time+ Base Year Revision: From FY 2012–13 to FY 2022–23+ Compiled and published: By the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry+ Merchandise Trade Indices have been revised to better reflect the evolving structure of India’s trade and changing global trade patterns.

Board of Peace: India attended Trump’s Gaza board meeting as an observer+ established in January 2026+ It originated from the US President’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza (endorsed by UN Security Council through Resolution 2803)+ Objective:  To transform Gaza into a demilitarized and economically stable territory+ Membership:  Chaired by US President with an executive board of select global leaders; invitation-based members, including fixed-term and paid permanent members.