Why it is in the news
Since 11 September 2026, villagers — mostly tribals — of Ajaygarh sub-division in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, have staged a daily jal satyagraha (standing in water) and chita andolan (lying on symbolic pyres) at Banhari Kalan against the State's Majhgaon Medium Irrigation Project, alleging unfair compensation and rehabilitation irregularities.
The exam angle
Issue: Can river interlinking deliver water security to drought-prone regions like Bundelkhand without imposing disproportionate social and ecological costs on adivasi communities and protected areas?