1. 3rd North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) 2026: Imphal
The 3rd edition of the North East India Film Festival (NEIFF) was held from March 21 to March 22, 2026, at TanthaPolis Cinema in Imphal, Manipur. The festival aimed to promote the region's diverse cultural heritage through the lens of cinema.
- Exam-Centric Facts:
- Organizers: Jointly organized by THOUNA, the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) Manipur, and the All Manipur Film Producers Association, with support from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the NFDC.
- Scale: The festival featured 9 films from across the Northeast, specifically from Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya.
- Major Awards:
- Best Feature Film: Collage
- Best Non-Feature Film: Toy Gun
- Best Director: Monjul Baruah (for the film Romantic Affairs)
- Significance: The festival serves as a critical platform for regional filmmakers to showcase stories that reflect the unique social realities and cultural values of the "Seven Sisters" and Sikkim.
2. Sarhul Festival 2026: Jharkhand
The tribal communities of Jharkhand celebrated Sarhul, one of the state's most prominent nature-based festivals, on March 21, 2026.
- Exam-Centric Facts:
- Timing: It is celebrated on the third day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Chaitra, marking the beginning of the New Year for many tribal groups.
- Significance: The word 'Sarhul' is connected with tree worship. It specifically honors the Sal (Sakhuwa) tree, which is central to tribal belief systems.
- Rituals: The village priest, known as the Pahan, performs rituals under a Sal tree. A unique tradition involves observing water levels in earthen pots to predict rainfall for the upcoming agricultural year.
- Tribes Involved: Primarily celebrated by the Oraon, Munda, and Ho tribes.
- Nature Worship: The festival embodies the tribal ethos of living in harmony with nature and thanking "Dhartimata" (Mother Earth) for a good harvest.
3. PM Modi: Longest-Serving Elected Head of Government in India
On March 22, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved a historic political milestone by becoming the longest-serving head of an elected government in India’s history.
- Exam-Centric Facts:
- Record Breakdown: He reached a total of 8,931 days in office, combining his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and as the Prime Minister of India.
- Previous Record: He surpassed the record held by Pawan Kumar Chamling, the former Chief Minister of Sikkim, who served for 8,930 days.
- Leadership Timeline:
- Chief Minister of Gujarat: October 7, 2001, to May 21, 2014 (over 12 years).
- Prime Minister of India: Sworn in on May 26, 2014, and currently serving his third consecutive term after the 2024 General Elections.
- Other Records: PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister born after Independence and the first non-Congress Prime Minister to secure three consecutive mandates.
