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News
- Mozambican rights activist and humanitarian Graca Machel has been selected for the 'Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development' for the year 2025.
- The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust made the official announcement on Wednesday (January 21, 2026).
- An international jury, chaired by former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, selected her for this honor in recognition of her transformative contributions to education, health, and humanitarian work (especially in conflict-affected areas).
Key Features of this Prize
- Prize Money: It includes a cash award of ₹1 crore, a trophy, and a citation.
- Specialty of the Trophy: The trophy is made of 'Banded Haematite Jasper' stone, which is estimated to be approximately 2,000 million years old.
- History: This prize was instituted in 1986 in memory of Indira Gandhi.
Why was Graca Machel selected?
Graca Machel is a global-level politician and activist who has dedicated her life to raising the voice of the marginalized:
- Educational Reform: As the first Education Minister of Mozambique (1975-1989), she increased the school enrollment rate from 40% to over 90% for boys and more than 75% for girls.
- Child Protection: In the 1990s, she led a significant United Nations (UN) study on the 'Impact of Armed Conflict on Children', which changed the global rules for the protection of children affected by war.
- Global Leadership: She is a founding member of 'The Elders' and works towards the economic empowerment of women through the 'Graca Machel Trust'.
Historical Pride
Graca Machel holds a unique record—she is the only woman in the world to have served as the 'First Lady' of two different countries:
- Mozambique: As the wife of President Samora Machel.
- South Africa: As the wife of President Nelson Mandela.
This award is a tribute to her lifelong struggle for self-rule, social justice, and the creation of a just world.
News
- It is about "Day Zero" and the warning issued by the United Nations (UN), which states that the world—especially India—is heading towards a severe water crisis.
- According to reports and UN data released recently (January 2026), this problem is no longer just a matter of the future, but has become a current reality. The main essence of this entire news is given below:
What is Day Zero?
"Day Zero" refers to the day when the water level of a city or region falls so low that water stops coming from the taps.
- In this situation, authorities have to cut off the tap supply.
- People have to queue at public taps or emergency distribution centers for water, where the quantity of water is fixed at a limited amount (a few liters per person).
Why is it in the news?
- Global Water Bankruptcy: The UN warned in January 2026 that the world has entered an era of "Global Water Bankruptcy." This means we are using water much faster than its recharge capacity.
- Threat to India: According to the latest UN report, major Indian cities like Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata are closest to 'Day Zero'.
Why is this crisis occurring?
According to UN reports of 2023 and 2026, there is no single reason behind this, but several factors:
- Over-exploitation of Groundwater: India is the world's largest consumer of groundwater. We are extracting so much water from the ground that it is unable to refill.
- Urbanization: Rapidly growing cities without planning have destroyed lakes and water bodies (for example, in Bengaluru, lakes have reduced from 1400+ to only about 190).
- Climate Change: Rainfall patterns have changed—sometimes extreme rain, sometimes prolonged drought.
- Poor Management: Water wastage and leakage in pipelines is a major problem.
What will be its serious consequences?
According to the UN, 'Day Zero' is not just a water problem; it is a social and economic disaster:
- Public Health: Diseases (such as cholera) will increase due to the lack of sanitation and clean drinking water.
- Food and Power Crisis: There will be no water for farming, and power generation plants could come to a standstill.
- Social Unrest: Riots for water and conflicts between communities could increase.
Can it be prevented?
The UN says that 'Day Zero' is not inevitable; it can be prevented by these steps:
- Rainwater Harvesting: Conserving rainwater.
- Wastewater Recycling: Cleaning and reusing used water.
- Efficient Irrigation: Using techniques like drip irrigation in farming.
- Awareness: Changes in the way water is used.
Conclusion
According to the UN warning, by 2030, about 40-50% of India's urban population could face a severe water crisis. This decade (2020-2030) is very crucial to determine whether we will escape this crisis or face it.
General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations
General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management