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ENVIRONMENT
Climate Change
GHG effect short wavelength of visible light from the sun pass through the
atmosphere and are absorbed, but the longer wavelengths of
the infrared radiation from the heated objects are unable to pass
through the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases Water vapor (biggest overall contributor to GHG effect)
CO2 > CH4 > N2O > HFCs > PFCs > SF6 [warming potential]
Short-lived Climate pollutants SCLPs remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of
time than carbon dioxide (CO2), yet their potential to warm the
atmosphere can be many times greater.

SCLPs: Black Carbon, Methane, Hydrofluorocarbons,

Tropospheric Ozone
Black Carbon formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood and
other fuels
it reduces surface albedo of snow and ice and heats the surface
Ocean Acidification (called ‘evil twin • Decrease in pH of oceans but its still > 7
of global warming’) • average ocean pH is about 8
Ozone Depletion • ozone in stratosphere – good – absorbs UV rays
• ozone in troposphere – bad – pollutant
• sunlight responsible for formation as well as destruction of
ozone
• colder conditions à more polar stratospheric clouds à
more ozone depletion
• ozone depletion à stratosphere cools
• Dobson unit – to measure thickness of ozone layer
Mitigation Strategies • Carbon capture, utilisation & storage
• Emissions Trading
• Carbon Tax
• Geo-engineering – injecting sulfur in atmosphere, mirror in
space, seeding the sea with iron
UNFCCC Est in 1992 Rio Earth Summit as a framework for international
cooperation to combat climate change
Secretariat: Bonn, Germany
Important COPs:
• COP 3 – 1997 - Kyoto Protocol
• COP 8 – 2002 - New Delhi
• COP 19 – 2013 – Warsaw
• COP 21 – 2015 - Paris Agreement
• COP 26 – Glasgow, UK - Postponed to November 2021
due to Covid

International Solar Alliance (ISA) • Jointly launched by India and France during COP 21 (Paris)
• HQ: Gurugram
• Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the
alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the
exception of voting rights.
World Solar Technology Summit Organized by ISA
(WSTS)
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One World, One Sun, One Grid a grid spread across multiple time zones could balance
(OSOWOG) intermittent renewables with other renewables.
World Risk Mitigation Initiative World Bank
Support African countries
Climate Adaptation and Resilience By World Bank – to boost climate action in South Asia
for South Asia (CARE) Project
Climate Adaptation Summit 2021 Hosted by Netherlands
Fit for 55 package 55% emission reduction target which the European Union (EU)
has set for 2030
New Zealand – climate change rules New Zealand became the first country to introduce a law that
will require financial firms to explain how they would manage
climate-related risks

Zero Carbon law - NZ

Forest Carbon Credit Stamp They are permits for companies to emit a certain amount of CO2
Issued by China

Partnership to Advance Clean Energy India-US

(PACE) Launched in 2009, to accelerate clean energy R&D
Leaf Coalition • Leaf (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance)
Coalition
• launched by Norway, UK and US to mobilise finance for
protection of tropical forest

Climate Financing Green Climate Fund (GCF)

set up in 2010

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

established in 1992 Rio Earth Summit || World Bank administers
the fund || GEF serves as a "financial mechanism" to 5
conventions: UNFCC, CBD, UNCCD, Stockholm - POPs, Minamata
- Mercury

Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

established under UNFCCC in 2001 to finance projects in
developing country parties

Adaptation Fund
established in 2001 to finance adaptation projects and
developing country parties
State of Global Climate Report World Meteorological Organisation(WMO) – specialised UN
agency

Findings:
• Average global temperature has increased by 1.2°c above
pre-industrial level
• Ocean acidification increasing
Emissions Gap Report 2020 UNEP

Findings:
• Fossil fuel CO2 account for maximum GHG emissions
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• Top 4 emitters: China > US > EU > India

• Current NDCs would lead to temperature increase of 3°C
by 2100
Making Peace with Nature report UNEP

Highlighted Triple Emergency – climate change, biodiversity loss

and pollution
Adaptation Gap Report 2020 UNEP

Placed focus on Nature-based Solutions - promotes protection,

sustainable management, and restoration of ecosystems to
reduce climate risks and ensure human well-being and
biodiversity benefits.
Climate Change Performance Index Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, Climate Action Network

Findings:
• Assesses performance in 4 categories: GHG emission,
Renewable energy, Energy use, Climate policy
• First three ranks – empty
• India #10
• Worst ranked – #60 Saudi, #61 US
Global Climate Risk Index Germanwatch

Findings:
• India – 7th worst hit country due to extreme weather
events in 2019
Assessment of Climate Change over M/o Earth Sciences, GoI
the Indian Region
Findings:
• Hindu Kush Himalayas temperature risen by 1.3°C (1951-
2015)
• Sea surface temperature (SST) of Indian Ocean risen by
1°C (1951-2015) [global avg SST rise – 0.7°C]
• Sea level rising at rate of 1.5 mm per year
• Droughts frequency and extent increased
National Climate Vulnerability Deptt of Science & Technology , GoI
Assessment Report Carries out state-level and district-level vulnerability assessment
for India
India’s Third Biennial Report to MoEFCC
UNFCCC
Findings:
• India’s emission intensity reduced by 24% between 2005-16
• Installed solar capacity – 37 GW
• Installed renewable capacity – 90GW

India’s INDCs
• Reduce emission intensity of GDP 33-35% by 2030 from
2005 levels
• 40% energy from non-fossil fuels
• 2.5-3 billion tonne carbon sink
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Pollution
Air pollutants CO, SO2, NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5, Ammonia
Other air pollutants:
Lead, Arsenic, Nickel, Acrolein, Asbestos, Benzene
Radon Emitted naturally by soil || generally found in basements
Fly Ash Fine powder left after combustion of coal
contains several toxic heavy metals like lead (Pb), nickel (Ni),
zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn)
Applications: agriculture – improves water holding capacity,
making cement & bricks, making adsorbent waste water
treatment
Pusa bio-decomposer Developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa,
Delhi
To decompose stubble
Torrefaction Swedish technology to convert rice stubble into bio-coal
Green crackers – SWAS, STAR, SAFAL Don’t contain lithium, arsenic, barium and lead
Flu Gas Desulphurization To remove SO2 from exhaust flue gases of thermal power plants
Selective Catalytic Reduction To remove NOx from flue gases.
Converts NOx to nitrogen in the presence of a catalyst
Electrostatic Precipitator Removes fine particles like smoke and dust from gases
Ozone pollution • Stratospheric ozone – good
• Tropospheric (ground-level) ozone – bad
• Ground-level ozone is secondary pollutant formed by
chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
volatile organic compounds (VOC)
• Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny
days in urban environments
CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel To curb vehicular pollution by improving fuel efficiency
Efficiency) Regulations
National Clean Air Programme • Launched by MoEFCC in 2019
(NCAP) • to cut PM10 and PM2.5 concentration by at least 20% in next
5 years (2017 – base year)
• To be implemented in 102 non-attainment cities
• Not legally binding
• Implemented by CPCB
Commission for Air Quality • Statutory body
Management in NCR and Adjoining • Replaced Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA)
Areas (CAQM) • Farmers exempted from penal provisions
Other Initiatives for Air pollution SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And
Research)
• by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
• to monitor air quality in metropolitan cities of Delhi,
Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune

National Air Quality Index – 2015

• monitors 8 pollutants – SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5, Lead,
Ammonia
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BOD, COD, Dissolved Oxygen Dissolved Oxygen – amount of oxygen present in water (should
be > 8 mg/L)
↑ temperature è ↓ dissolved oxygen

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) – dissolved oxygen needed

by microorganisms to decompose organic waste (only
biodegradable) in water

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) – oxygen needed by chemicals

to decompose organic waste (biodegradable + non-
biodegradable) in water
Bioaccumulation , Biomagnification Bioaccumulation – increase in concentration of a pollutant from
the environment to the first organism in a food chain

Biomagnification – increase in concentration of a pollutant as it

moves from one trophic level to the next
Diseases Mercury – Minamata
Cadmium – Itai Itai
Nitrates – Blue Baby syndrome / Methamoglobinemia
Fluoride – Fluorosis
Arsenic – Black Foot Disease
Microplastic, Nanoplastic Plastic particles < 5 mm (microplastics) || < 100 mm
(nanoplastics)
Found in cosmetics, synthetic clothing, plastic bags and bottles
Plasticrust Thin coating of plastic that grows on rocks at sea shore
Composed of polyethylene
Dead zone Dead zones are hypoxic areas in the world's oceans and large
lakes. Hypoxia occurs when dissolved oxygen concentration
falls to or below 2ml of O₂/liter.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch Gyre, sargasso sea weed, plastic litter
GloLitter Partnership Implemented by IMO + FAO
Aims to tackle marine plastic litter
MARPOL Convention, 1973 IMO’s convention for prevention of pollution of the marine
environment by ships
International Maritime Organization (IMO) – specialised UN
agency
London Convention, 1972 control of all sources of marine pollution and to take all
practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of
wastes and other matter
Honolulu strategy Reduce the impact of marine debris worldwide
Composite Water Management Index NITI Aayog
Uses Falkenmark Index – used to measure water scarcity
Dublin Principles Water management
Groundwater India extracts the most groundwater in the world (25% of global
groundwater extraction)
90% of it used for irrigation
10% - drinking, domestic & industrial use
India WRIS (Water Resources Web portal containing info related to water resources
Information System) Launched in 2019 under National Hydrology Project
Zero Liquid Discharge Water treatment process to recirculate all the water with zero
liquid waste
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Components: pre-treatment à Reverse Osmosis (RO) à

Evaporator & Crystalliser
World Ocean Assessment Report 2 By United Nations
Findings:
90% mangroves, 30% seabirds facing threat of extinction
Number of dead zones increasing
Blue Nature Alliance founded by Conservation International, Global Environment
Facility(GEF) etc
for ocean conservation

Plastic Waste Management • Plastic items to be completely banned from July 1, 2022:
Amendment Rules 2021 earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic flags, polystyrene,
plastes, cups, glasses, cutlery, straw, trays, wrapping etc
• Thickness of plastic carry bags increased to 75 microns
Biomedical Waste Management Pre-treatment of waste, better segregation, safe storage, phase
Rules 2016 out chlorinated blood bags & gloves
E-Waste Management Rules 2016
Global e-Waste Monitor 2020 e-waste generation: US > China > Japan > Germany > India (5th)
Waste to energy Incineration – burning waste in presence of O2
Pyrolysis – burning waste in absence of O2 to produce syngas
(CO + CO2 + H2)
Gasification – burning waste in controlled amount of O2 to
produce syngas
Biomethanation – microbiologically convert waste into biogas
Bioremediation use of microorganisms to convert to degrade environmental
pollutants into less toxic forms

in-situ – bioventing, biosparaging, bioaugmentation

ex-situ – landfarming, biopiles, bioreactors, composting

phytoremediation – use of plants

mycoremediation – use of fungus
Conventions Stockholm Convention – persistent organic pollutants
Basel Convention – transboundary movement of hazardous
waste and their disposal
Rotterdam Convention - hazardous chemicals and pesticides
Minamata Convention – mercury

Washington Convention – CITES

Bonn Convention – CMS

Cartagena Protocol – living modified organisms

Nagoya Protocol – access and benefit sharing

Biodiversity
Indian Tiger / Royal Bengal Tiger IUCN: EN
India – home to 80% of global tiger population
Population – statewise: MP > Karnataka > Uttarakhand
Population – Tiger reserves: Jim Corbett > Nagarhole > Bandipur
Tiger reserve with highest tiger density: Jim Corbett
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Tiger reserves with no tigers: Buxa (WB), Dampa (MZ), Palamu

(JH)

Tigers found in 13 countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh,

Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Russia
Related terms: CA|TS, mSTRIPES, CaTRAT, TX2

KAZI 106F: India’s only golden tiger, found in Kaziranga NP

Leopard IUCN: VU
Population – statewise: MP > Karnataka > Maharashtra
Snow Leopard IUCN: VU
Found in 12 countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal,
Bhutan, China, Russia, Mongolia, Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz, Kazak
Cheetah African Cheetah: VU || Asiatic Cheetah: CR

Asiatic Cheetah
• declared extinct in India in 1952
• surviving today only in Iran
Asiatic Lion IUCN: EN

Surviving today only in India

Its range is restricted to Gir National Park and adjoining (Pania,
Mitiyala, Girnar Sanctuaries)
Asian Elephant IUCN: EN
Species: Indian, Sri Lankan, Sumatran, Borneo (all EN)

Population – statewise: Karnataka > Assam > Kerala

It is India’s National Heritage Animal

Initiatives: MIKE, E8, E50:50
Indian Rhino (Great One-Horned
Rhino) Asian – Indian, Javan, Sumatran
Rhino
African – Black, White

Indian Rhino: VU
• Largest of all Rhino species
• Excellent swimmers
• Found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan
• Assam is home to the largest population of greater-one
horned rhinos, with more than 90% in Kaziranga National
Park.
• Pobitra WS (Assam) has the highest density of Indian rhinos
in the world.
• Other states: WB, UP
Great Indian Bustard IUCN: CR
Found in arid and semi-arid grasslands: India and Pakistan
states: RJ, MP, GJ, MH, KN, AP
RJ’s state bird (locally known as Godawan)
Vulture Species: long-billed, slender-billed, red-headed, white-backed
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Threats: veterinary drug Diclofenac, collision with overhead

wires, electrocution
Indian Pangolin IUCN: Pak, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Others Dhole (Asiatic Dog): found in KN, MH, MP
Caracel: wild cat recently included in Recovery Programme –
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat
Fishint Cat: found in Sunderbans mangroves, around Chillika,
Western Ghats
Butterflies in news Krishna Peacock, Indian Jezebel, Orange Oakleaf, Golden
Birdwing, Striped Hairstreak, Elusive Prince, Tamil Yeoman
Himalayan Serow IUCN: VU
Herbivores mammal found in Himalayas (altitude of 2000-
4000m)
India’s first lichen park Uttarakhand
Turtles vs Tortoise Turtles – live in sea, mainly carnivores
Tortoise – live on land, mainly herbivores
Monotremes Egg laying mammals – Platypus, Echidna – found only in Aus, NZ

Ecosystems
India State of Forests Report 2019 Forest Survey of India

Forest cover:
Absolute à MP > Arunachal > Chhattisgarh > Odisha >
Maharashtra
%age à Mizoram (85.41%) > Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%) >
Meghalaya (76.33%) > Manipur (75.46%) > Nagaland (75.31%)

Wetlands area:
Gujarat > West Bengal

Mangroves:
West Bengal (43%) > Gujarat > Andaman & Nicobar

Bamboo cover:
MP > MH > Arunachal > Odisha
Protected Areas ~5% of India’s area is protected area

Biosphere Reserves
National Parks
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Conservation Reserve – owned by govt
Community Reserve – owned by community/private
Important Laws, Bodies, Terms Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 à Animal Welfare
Board of India (M/o Fisheries and Animal Husbandry)

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 à

• National Board for Wildlife (chaired by PM) – approves
alteration of boundary of NP, WS
• Central Zoo Authority (chaired by Env Minister)
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
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Water Act, 1974 à CPCB

Forest (Conservation Act), 1980 à Forest Advisory Committee –
approves diversion of forest land for non-forest use

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 à Central Groundwater

Authority
Provides for Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) as transition zones between
high protection and no protection areas

National Forest Policy 1988 à provided for Joint Forest

management

Forests Rights Act, 2006 à provides for Community Forest

Resource Management, Critical Wildlife Habitats

NGT Act, 2010 à NGT

PARIVESH portal For obtaining environmental clearances
CRZ norms, 2018

Ramsar sites 42 Ramsar sites in India

Largest: Sunderban (WB)
Smallest: Renuka (HP)
State with most wetlands: UP (8) > Punjab (6) > HP (3) = Kerala (3)
= JK (3)
Peatlands Cover 3% of global land
Largest natural terrestrial carbon store
Found in: permafrost regions (poles, high altitudes), coastal areas,
beneath tropical rainforests, boreal forests
Blue Flag Beach certification by Denmark-based FEE
UN Decade on Ecosystem 2021-30
Restoration
Living Planet Report WWF
Living Planet Index WWF
Global Biodiversity Outlook Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Alternative Fuels
Biofuels Considered renewable energy source
Generations: 1G (food crops), 2G (non-food crops), 3G
(engineered algae)
Types:
Bioethanol: used as additive (India targets 20% ethanol-blending
by 2023)
Biodiesel: directly used as fuel
Biogas
Biojet
National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 Categorization of biofuels, VGF to 2G biorefineries, allows use of
surplus foodgrains
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Drop-in fuel Alternative fuels that do not require any change in fuel
infrastructure
Solar Energy Installed solar capacity: 40 GW (31 mar, 2021)
State with highest installed solar capacity: Karnataka
Wind Energy Installed wind capacity: 39 GW (31 mar, 2021)
State with highest installed wind capacity: Tamil Nadu

Jaisalmer Wind Park (capacity 1000 MW): largest wind park in

India
Hydrogen Grey H: natural gas split into H2, CO2 | CO2 emitted into
atmosphere
Blue H: natural gas split into H2, CO2 | CO2 is captured and stored
Green H: water split into H2, O2 using solar/wind power | No CO2
emitted
Fugitive emissions unintentional leaks emitted from sealed surfaces, such as
packings and gaskets, or leaks from underground pipelines
resulting from corrosion or faulty connections.
wind and solar don't have fugitive emissions
Methane hydrates molecules of natural gas enclosed within a solid lattice of water
molecules.
Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) Platform for trading renewable energy
Geothermal Energy 7 geothermal provinces in India:
• Himalayas - Ladakh, Manikaran, Tapoban;
• Sohana - Haryana, Rajasthan;
• West coast – Maharashtra;
• Cambay – Khambet;
• Son-Narmada-Tapi (SONATA) - Tatapani, Anhoni-Samoni;
• Godavari – Manuguru;
• Mahanadi – Bakreshwar
Fostering Effective Energy Transition WEF
report
Energy Transition Index WEF
World Energy Outlook IEA (International Energy Agency)
Global Energy and CO2 Status report IEA
Global Electric Vehicles Outlook IEA

Agriculture
Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) Beejamrutham (seed treatment), Jeevamtrutham (no fertilisers,
terms no pesticides), Acchadana (Mulching), Whaapasa (soil moisture)

No vermicomposting done

Benefits: low cost, less water use, less electricity, lower methane
emissions
Participatory Guarantee Systems Certification of organic produce
(PGS) M/o Agriculture
World of Organic Agriculture report India ranked #1 in number of organic farmers
2020 Rank #9 in terms of area under organic farming
Sikkim – fully organic state
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Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Hydroponics: growing crops in water w/o soil

Aeroponics Aeroponics: no growing medium
Aquaponics = Hydroponics + Aquaculture
Vertical farming Growing crops in vertically stacked layers
Conservation Agriculture 3 components: permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance,
crop rotation
Green-Ag Project Project of FAO + MoEFCC
Funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF)
To reduce emissions from agriculture
5 states: UK, RJ, MP, OD, Mizoram
Soil Health Card: 12 parameters Macro
Primary: N P K
Secondary: Sulphur

Micro: Iron, Copper, Boron, Manganese, Zinc

Soil Podsol: cold & humid | rich in Silica and Lime
Latosol: hot & humid | rich in Iron, Aluminium
Gleysol: waterlogged peaty soil
Globally Important Agricultural Initiative of FAO
Heritage Systems (GIAHS) 3 GIAHS in India:
• Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System of Kerala.
• Koraput Traditional Agriculture of Odisha.
• Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir.
Virtual water Water consumed for production of agri and non-agri
commodities throughout their lifecycle
Locusts Omnivorous
Locust Warning Organisation: M/o Agriculture
Bamboo Survives in wide range of conditions
In India, it is found naturally in almost all parts except Kashmir
It in NOT a tree under definition of tree by Indian Forest Act,
1927

Misc
6th mass extinction ongoing extinction event of species during the
present Holocene epoch (with the more recent time sometimes
called Anthropocene) as a result of human activity.
Evil Quartet 4 major causes of biodiversity loss: habitat loss, overexploitation,
invasive alien species, secondary extinction
Carbon Fertilisation phenomena that the increase of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere increases the rate of photosynthesis in plants.
Great Green Wall Project to combat desertification in Africa
Deep Ecology environmental philosophy which promotes the inherent worth of
all living beings regardless of their instrumental utility to human
needs

Geography
Tropical Cyclone conditions 5-20° North, South (Coriolis force), sea surface temp > 27°C, high
humidity, presence of low pressure, small variation in vertical
wind speed
La Nina, El Nino Normal year/ La Nina
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Western Tropical Pacific (warm) – Eastern Tropical Pacific (cool)

El Nino
Western Tropical Pacific (cool) – Eastern Tropical Pacific (warm)

El Nino Modoki
cool
WTP (cool) - Central Tropical Pacific (warm) – ETP(warm)
Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) Low pressure band moving from west to east
MJO over Indian ocean à good rainfall in Indian subcontinent
Indian Ocean Dipole (Indian Nino) Positive phase à good rainfall in Indian subcontinent
Western Indian Ocean (warm) – Eastern Indian Ocean (cool)

Negative phase à scarce rainfall in Indian subcontinent

Western Indian Ocean (cool) – Eastern Indian Ocean (warm)
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Weakening due to global warming (as temp difference between
Circulation (AMOC) poles and equator decreasing)
Boreal Summer Intra Seasonal Heat transfer from Indian ocean to western Pacific ocean during
Oscillation (BSISO) monsoon (June- Sept)
Causes short-term climate variability in monsoon system
Medicanes Mediterranean hurricanes
BOBBLE Bay of Bengal Boundary Layer Experiment
India-UK project to study impact of temperature, salinity
variations on Indian monsoon
Digital Ocean INCOIS
Ocean related data at one place
Seabed Project 2030 Mapping ocean floor
South Atlantic Anomaly Weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field
Here, Van Allen radiation belt comes down to 200 km altitude
Van Allen Radiation belt zone of energetic charged particles that are captured by and
held around a planet’s magnetosphere.
Mt Everest 86 cm higher

Highest mountains:
From sea level: Mt Everest
From Earth’s core: Mt Chimborazo
From base of mountain: Mauna Kea
Karakoram anomaly the stability or anomalous growth of glaciers in the central
Karakoram, in contrast to the retreat of glaciers in other nearby
mountainous ranges of Himalayas and other mountainous
ranges of the world.
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ECONOMY

A. Fiscal Policy

Equalisation Levy ● India, 6% Equalisation levy, a direct tax, was introduced in Finance Bill
2016.
● Current amendment widens the scope by including e-commerce
operators.

Government of India’s ● Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the State
Scheme for Financial Governments in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan.
Assistance to States for
Capital Expenditure
2021-22:

Direct Monetisation of ● Definition: It refers to the printing of currency notes by the Central
Fiscal Debt: Bank to accommodate deficit spending by the Government. It takes
the form of purchasing government bonds by the Central Bank in the
Primary Market.
● Fiscal Deficit of India 2020-21 stands at 9.3%

Fifteenth Finance ● The 15th Finance Commission (Chair: Mr. N. K. Singh) was required to
Commission Report submit two reports. The first report, consisting of recommendations
for the financial year 2020-21 and the final report with
recommendations for the 2021-26 period.
● The share of states in the central taxes for the 2021-26 period is
recommended to be 41%, same as that for 2020-21.
● In terms of grants for 2021-26, the descending order for allotment is -

Local Government Grants > Revenue deficit Grants > Sector-specific grants >
Disaster Management Grants > State-specific grants.

Land Banks The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management has finalised
the structure of the Land Bank Company that will be tasked with selling land
parcels owned by government departments and public companies.
- Land Special Vehicle Purpose to manage and dispose of vacant and tax-
delinquent properties.
- Will also look into resolution of disputes
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Related news: Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land

Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013.

Atma Nirbhar Bharat

Economic Package:

New COVID-19 ● Relief Package of 6.28 lakh crores.

Recovery Package ● Three broad categories: Economic Relief from Pandemic,
[post 2nd wave] Strengthening Public Health and impetus for growth and
employment.
● Novel feature is to provide financial support to 11,000 tourist guides
and other stakeholders in the Tourism Sector.

One Nation, One Research Design and Standard Organisation of Indian Railways has become
Standard the first institution to be declared a standard developing organisation under
One Nation, One Standard, a mission of Bureau of Indian Standards.

National Bank for It seeks to set up a Development Financial Institution to support development
Financing Infrastructure of long-term non-recourse infrastructure financing.
and Development Act, - Set up as a corporate body and the Central Government will own 100% shares
2021 of the institution.

Related News: First DFI to be set up in India was Industrial Finance

Corporation under The Industrial Finance Corp of India Act, 1948.

UNION BUDGET 2020- I) Total expenditure in 2020-21 is expected to be Rs 30,42,230 crore, which is
21: 12.7% higher than the revised estimate of 2019-20.
II) Total receipts (including borrowings) in 2020-21 are estimated to be Rs
30,42,230 crore and net receipts (excluding borrowings) to be Rs 22,45,893
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crore. Receipts (without borrowings) are estimated to increase by 16.3% over

the revised estimates of 2019-20.

It is a reform-led growth budget which stands on six pillars-

a) Health and Well-Being
b) Physical and Financial Capital and Infrastructure
c) Inclusive Development for Aspirational India
d) Innovation and Research and Development
e) Reinvigorate Human Capital
f) Minimum Government and Maximum Governance.

2. New scheme - PM Atma Nirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana to be launched to

develop primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.

3. Mission POSHAN 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational

districts and Jal Jeevan Mission Urban aimed at better water supply
nationwide.

4. Vehicle Scrapping Policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles.

5. National Asset Monetisation Plan to monetise brownfield assets and to run

coterminous with National Infrastructure Pipeline and National Rail Plan for a
future-ready Railway system by 2030.

6. National Hydrogen Energy Mission to be launched to generate hydrogen

from green power sources

7. The government will expand the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam
Utthan Mahabhiyan scheme to help 20 lakh farmers in setting up stand-alone
solar pumps.

8. A National Recruitment Agency will be set up for recruitment of non-

gazetted posts in government and public sector banks.

9. An Act proposed to hike the Foreign Direct Investment in the Insurance

Sector from 49% to 74%

10. Three-pronged strategy to boost financing of new infrastructure

investments include - Development Finance Institution, Monetise assets of
public sector and Increase allocations of Capital Expenditure.
11. Announced a strategic sale/disinvestment policy in four sectors - bare
minimum presence to be maintained in
- Atomic Energy, Space and defence.
- Transport and Telecommunications
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- Power, Petroleum, coal and other minerals

- Banking, insurance and financial services.

B. BANKING AND MONETARY POLICY

Operation Twist Launched by the Reserve Bank of India to bring down 10-year yields of
government securities and drive monetary transmission.
- Simultaneously buy long-dated securities while selling short term
securities.

Pre-Pack Scheme for MSMEs It is an alternate insolvency resolution process to the bankrupt MSMEs.
- Defaults upto 1cr.
- At least 66% of the creditors who are unrelated to the corporate
debtor must approve the resolution plan before submitting it to
the NCLT.

Central Bank Digital Currency RBI is set to launch pilot projects to assess the viability of using digital
currency to make wholesale and retail payments.
- It is the digital form of a country’s fiat currency.
- Instead of printing paper currency or minting coins, the central
bank issues electronic tokens. This token value is backed by the
full faith and credit of the government.
- Recommendation of S G Garg Committee

Counter Cyclical Capital Equity Capital kept by a bank to meet business cycle related risks to meet
Buffer business cycle related risks
- part of BASEL III norms of 2010
- RBI has issued guidelines in 2015 but has kept the ratio at 0% ever since.

Prompt Corrective Action It is a framework under which banks with weak financial metrics are put
under watch by the RBI.
- The three parameters include capital ratios, asset quality and
profitability.

RBI launched Supervisory Action Framework for Urban Cooperatives and

will face restrictions for worsening of three parameters: when net non-
performing assets exceed 6% of net advances, when they incur losses for
two consecutive financial years or have accumulated losses on their
balance sheets, and if capital adequacy ratio falls below 9%.

Integrated Ombudsman RBI’s announcement for “One Nation, One Ombudsman'' Scheme to
Scheme improve grievance redressal. Currently, there are three separate
ombudsmen for banks, NBFCs and wallets.
- Bank Ombudsman is a quasi-judicial authority
- Related schemes include: Internal Ombudsman Scheme 2018 and
Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019.
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C. Agriculture, Industry and Services Sectors:

Agricultural Exports Currently at $41.8 billion in FY 2020-21, 18% growth.

- Major export destinations include USA< Saudi Arabia, Iran, nepal
and Bangladesh
- Total agricultural basket accounts for over 2.5% of world
agricultural trade.
- Policy goal is to reach $60 billion by 2025.

Agriculture Infrastructure Central Sector Scheme to provide medium and long term debt financing
Fund [2020-21 to 2029-30] facility through interest subvention and credit guarantee.

e-SANTA ● The Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched an electronic

Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers’ Trade in Agriculture.
● A virtual marketplace to connect aqua farmers and exporters.

Madhukranti and Honey ● Madhukranti is an initiative of National Bee Board under National
Corners Beeking and Honey Mission.
● To achieve a traceable source of honey and check adulteration .
● Honey Corners is meant for sale of honey from NAFED Stores.

Marine Products Export ● Launched a scheme called “Shaphari” to certify hatcheries and
Development Authority farms that adopt good aquaculture practises.
[MPEDA] It also works towards approving shrimp farms for their practises.
●
● MPEDA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry for the promotion of marine products.

Production-Linked Scheme It is an outcome oriented scheme for 13 sectors.

- that aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from
products manufactured in domestic units. The scheme invites
foreign companies to set up units in India, however, it also aims to
encourage local companies to set up or expand existing
manufacturing units.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology & Nanotechnology
mRNA vaccine Benefits: use of a non-infectious element, shorter
manufacturing times, and potential for targeting of
multiple diseases. mRNA vaccines can be developed in a
laboratory using a DNA template and readily available
materials.
Bt cotton Only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in India
Event 142 New variety of Bt-Brinjal
IndiGen Whole-genome sequencing of 1000 Indian individuals
BBX11 Gene that facilitates greening of plants
CAR T-Cell Therapy CAR-T (Chimeric antigen receptor T) cells
T-cells taken from patient’s blood à CAR gene inserted à
CAR T-Cells infused in blood
RNA interference (RNAi) For controlling gene expression
technology
Gold nanoparticles Biocompatible, stable, non-toxic
Nanomicelles Hydrophilic outer shell, hydrophobic interior
Can be used for cancer treatment à targeted drug
delivery

ICT
Edge computing computation and data storage closer to the sources of
data
benefits: high speed, low latency, better reliability, better
security, higher scalability
Narrowband-IoT • a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radio
technology standard developed to enable a wide
range of cellular devices and services.
• connect devices that need small amounts of data, low
bandwidth, and long battery life.
Dark Net [Surface Web] [Deep Web [Dark Web]]
Dark Web cannot be accessed through traditional search
engines
requires TOR browser
Cyberdome Kerala police – to study dark web
Supercomputer Speed measured in FLOPS
Top 500 supercomputers – 3 supercomputers of India
#1 Japan’s Fugaku (world’s fastest)
#2 IBM’s Summit
#3 China’s Sunway
#63 PARAM Siddhi AI
#78 Pratyush
#146 Mihir
Quantum Computing Superposition – quantum bits can represent 0/1 both at
the same time
Entanglement – quantum bits affect each other even at
great distances

Sycamore – google’s quantum computer

Micius – China’s quantum satellite
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Blockchain Anonymity, immutability, shared read & write,

transparency, distributed ownership
Blockchain Bill of Rights (Presidio World Economic Forum
Principles)
El Salvador First country to make bitcoins as legal tender
Non-Fungible Tokens Certify ownership of digital assets
Dark Fibre Extra optical fibre laid by companies for future need
Future Skills Prime initiative NASSCOM + M/o Skill Development
WiFi v LiFi WiFi LiFi
Speed 1-2 Gbps 1 Gbps
Privacy - Light is blocked by
walls, so more secure
Range 30 m 10 m
Interference yes no
issue
Malwares in news DearCry, BlackRock, EventBot trojan, ShadowPad,
Netwire, SolarWinds, Stranhogg, REvil
4-D printing 4th dimension – time
objects transform with time
Juicejacking cyberattack that uses a USB charging port to steal data or
infect phones with malware.

Space
Perseverance NASA mission to Mars
Jerezo crater: on Mars
Hope Mission to Mars UAE
Tianwen-1 China’s mission to Mars
Zhurong rover
IRNSS Regional navigation system
3 geostationary
4 geosynchronous
Helium Flash Stars destroy lithium as they evolve into red giants
When stars grow beyond their Red Giant stage into the
Red Clump stage, they produce lithium in what is known
as a Helium Flash and this is what enriches them with
lithium.
Coronal Heating problem Temperature decreases away from Sun’s core
But corona is far hotter than photosphere
Maunder Minimum "prolonged sunspot minimum", was a period around 1645
to 1715 during which sunspots became exceedingly rare
Gravitational waves Recently, LIGO detected new source of GW à Neutron
star – Black hole collision/
GWs Travel at speed of light
Gravitational lensing Predicted by Einstein’s theory of relativity
Gravitational pull of massive objects bends the light.
EUVST, EZIE NASA missions to explore Sun
DAVINCI+, VERITAS NASA missions to Venus
Artemis Accords Shared principles to create a safe and transparent
environment which facilitates exploration, science, and
commercial activities for all of humanity to enjoy.
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Unicorn black hole Closest black hole to Earth ever observed

Types of neutron stars Magnetar, Pulsar
Arktika-M Russia’s Arctic monitoring satellite
Distance from sun Asteroid belt à Kuiper belt à Heliopause à Oort cloud
Dwarf planets Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea
Betelguese, Bellatrix Red supergiants
Martian blueberries Small spheres on Mars, rich in iron oxide

Health
Trans Fat • Can be natural or artificial
• increase shelf life, stabilize flavors
• raises LDL (bad cholesterol)
• India targets < 2% industrially produced trans-fat by
2022
WHO’s REPLACE program – eliminate trans-fat from
food by 2023
State Food Safety Index FSSAI
Orphan diseases Diseases of low prevalence
ex. Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia etc
Candida auris Fungus causing severe illness in hospitalized patients
E-2025 initiative By WHO to eradicate Malaria from 25 countries by 2025
Malaria pathogen: Plasmodium || vector: female
Anopheles
Viral diseases Covid, Nipah, Zika, Polio, Influenza, Chikungunya, West
Nile fever, Dengue, Hepatitis, Kyasanur Forest
disease (KFD), Measles-Rubella
Polio Type 2, 3 eradicated
Type 1 endemic only in Pakistan, Afghanistan
Horizon 2020 EU’s research programme
Bacterial diseases TB, Leprosy (Hansen’s disease), Trachoma, Leptospirosis
Glanders Bacterial disease of horses and mules
Foot and Mouth disease affects livestock || Viral || not zoonotic
Brucellosis Affects livestock || bacterial || zoonotic
Drugs price control Essential Commodities Act, 1955
⬇
Drug Price Control Order, 1995 à National Pharmaceutical
Pricing Authority (NPPA) controls prices of drugs
mentioned in National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)

NPPA: not statutory, under M/o Chemicals and Fertilizers

GAVI alliance Global partnership with the goal of increasing access to
immunization in poor countries
Coalition for Epidemic global partnership launched in 2017 to develop vaccines
Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to stop future epidemics
India – founding member

Misc
Neutrons
Neutrinos Second most abundant particles in universe after photons
Interact very little with anything, hard to detect
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No electrical charge, nearly massless, travel close to speed of

light
Fundamental forces Strength: Strong nuclear > Electromagnetic > Weak nuclear >
Gravitational
Infinite Range: Gravitational, Electromagnetic
Short range: Strong, Weak nuclear
Muon g-2 experiment particle physics experiment to measure the anomalous
magnetic dipole moment of a muon
Uranium Natural Uranium (2 isotopes) - 99.3% U-238 || 0.7% U-235
Enrichment - creates an effective nuclear fuel out of mined
uranium by increasing the percentage of uranium- 235 which
undergoes fission with thermal neutrons
Nobel Prizes Chemistry: discovering CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors
Medicine: discovering Hepatitis C virus
Physics: furthering the understanding of black holes
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India at UNSC India officially began its eighth term as a non-permanent member of
UNSC for 2020-21 period.
- India will serve as the President of the Council and will also chair
the crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the
Counter-Terrorism
Committee
- Previous term: 2011-12
- At UNSC, India pledged to be guided by the five priorities under
the overarching theme of NORMS: New Orientation for a
Reformed Multilateral System.

16th Pravasi Bhartiya Celebrated once in every two years on January 9.

Divas Convention - The theme for 2021 was “Contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat”
- As per the World Migration Report 2020, India was the leading
country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5
million strong diaspora.

South Asia Energy High-level group to help build a South Asia-focused energy security
Security [SAGE] architecture has been set up under the Ministry of External Affairs [MEA]
- It is a consortium of energy-sector experts partnering with South
Asian Governments.

Related News: Asia Enhancing Growth and Development through Energy

[Asia EDGE] is a United States Government initiative to support the
growth of sustainable and secure energy markets across the Indo-Pacific.

India’s Draft Arctic The policy commits to expanding scientific research, “sustainable
Policy tourism” and mineral oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.
- Listed Nodal Body: National Centre or Polar and Ocean Research
to coordinate among various scientific bodies to promote
domestic scientific research capacities.

Related News:
A] Arctic Council is an intergovernmental organisation formed in 1996,
composed of 8 members: Five Arctic littoral states — Canada, Denmark
(Greenland), Norway, Russia and the USA (Alaska) — and three other
Arctic nations — Finland, Sweden and Iceland.

B] India launched its first scientific expedition to the Arctic in 2007 and set
up a research station ‘Himadri.’ India has sent 13 expeditions to the Arctic
since 2007 and runs 23 active projects.

Exercise Desert Flag- The Indian Air Force participated for the first time in Exercise Desert Flag-
VI VI.
- Annual multinational exercise hosted by the United Arab Emirates.

Related News: The Persian Gulf region includes 8 countries - Iran, Oman,
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UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq.

For India, 3Es hold immense importance - Economy, Energy and
Expatriates.

Shadow Pad A New York Times report claimed that Red Echo, a hacker group affiliated
to the Chinese Government, targeted India’s power grid- critical
infrastructure, using a malware called Shadow Pad.
- It is a backdoor Trojan malware.

Group of Seven [G7] The 2021 Summit host - United Kingdom invited the Prime Minister of
India to attend the G7 summit.

G7 is a bloc of industrialised democracies - Canada, France, Germany, Italy,

Japan, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Comprehensive and The United Kingdom has announced to apply for joining the CPTPP.
Progressive - The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between 11 countries in the
Agreement for Asia Pacific region.
Trans Pacific - It was formerly known as Trans-Pacific Partnership when the US
Partnership [CPTPP] was still part of the deal.

Current Members: Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei,

Vietnam, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile.

New Start Nuclear The United States of America has extended the New START [Strategic
Arms Treaty Arms Reduction Treaty] nuclear arms control treaty with Russia for five
years.
- This is the last remaining arms reduction pact between the US and
Russia.
- It seeks to replace the 1991 START I treaty and superseded the
2002 Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty [SORT].

Organisation for the India’s Comptroller and Auditor General has been appointed as external
Prohibition of auditor for OPCW.
Chemical Weapons - It is a three-year long term and Indian C&AGs have held this
[OPCW] position in the past.

OPEC+ New oil deal was signed to end an impasse between UAE and Saudi
Arabia.

Related News:
A] Created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, OPEC is a permanent
intergovernmental organisation and currently has 13 members.

B] OPEC+ also known as VIENNA GROUP, consists of OPEC members as

well as major non-OPEC oil exporting nations.
- Russia, Uzbekistan, Mexico etc.

Al Aqsa Mosque Violent clashes erupted between Israeli and Palestinian factions in the
Conflict Gaza Stirp whihc have ended with Israel and Hamas agreeing to an Egypt-
mediated ceasefire.
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- Al Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, situated in

Jerusalem.
Related News: the “two state solution” which is supported by India was
officiated in the Madrid Peace Conference ‘91.

COUNTRIES// 1. Afghanistan
PLACES IN NEWS

2. Wakhan corridor: Afghanistan

3. Lakshadweep Islands - FONOP activities conducted by US NAVY
led to breaching the Exclusive Economic Zone boundaries.
4. North Sea - Denmark approved a plan to build an artificial energy
island in the North Sea
5. Yakutia – Siberia, Russia - Unprecedented fires
6. Ambarnaya River - Oil Spill in Russia’s Arctic Region Power Plant.

7. Suez Canal - One of the world’s largest container EVER GIVEN was
wedged across, blocking the Suez Canal for 106 days.
8. Haiti - political and humanitarian crisis
9. Guinea – military coup
10. Oromo Region, Tigray region – Ethiopia - ethnic violence
11. Syria: Raqqa, Aleppo, Baghouz
12. Iraq: Erbil, Mosul, Kirkuk
13. Marib, Hodiedah: Yemen
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DEFENCE & SECURITY

India’s Exercises
Country Exercise
UAE Desert Flag
Saudi Arabia Al Mohed Al Hindi
Australia Pitch Black, Kakadu
UK Ajeya Warrior, Konkan
US Yudh Abhyas
Russia INDRA
Uzbekistan Dustlik

Defence Tech
Ballistic missiles Prithvi (s-s), Agni (s-s), Trishul (s-a), Akash (s-a), NAG
(anti-tank)
Cruise missiles BrahMos, Nirbhay
Akash-NG New generation Akash – used by Indian Air Force
Rudram Anti-radiation missile – developed by DRDO
Arjun Main Battle Tank Indigenously developed by DRDO
Python-5 Air to air missile of Israeli origin
Helina Helina: Helicopter launched NAG (anit-tank missile)
Dhruvastra: Indian Air Force variant of Helina
Astra missile First indigenous air to air missile – by DRDO
Works on beyond visual range air to air missile
(BVRAAM) technology
Aircraft carriers Only 1 aircraft carrier in service: INS Vikramaditya
INS Vikrant to be commissioned in 2022
Artillery guns M777 Howitzer: USA
K9 Thunder: South Korea
ATAGS: India
Project 17, 17A Project to acquire frigates by Indian Navy
Project 75, 75I Project to acquire submarines by Indian Navy
Iron dome Israel’s air defence system

Drone Rules 2021

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CULTURE

A. India

Parakram Divas On the occasion of Netaji Subhash Chandra’s 125th Birth Anniversary, the
Prime Minister has decided to celebrate 23rd January as Parakram Divas.

Bharat Parv The Ministry of Tourism organized the “Bharat Parv” as a part of the
Republic Day Celebrations.
- The theme of the Bharat Parv was ‘150 Years of Mahatma’ and ‘Ek
Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

Prabuddha Bharat or Awakened India, is an English language monthly journal of Ramkrishna

Journal [PBJ] Mission Ashram.
- Founders P. Aiyasami, B. R. Rajam Iyer, G. G.Narasimhacharya,
and B. V. Kamesvara Iyer in Madras.
- It is the "longest-running" monthly English magazine of the
country.

Archeological Survey A] has unearthed an ancient Buddhist Monastery, believed to be at least

of India 900 years old, situated near Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
- Holds significance since the monastery is on the old route to
Varanasi, 10 km from Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first
sermon.

B] has found three more caves in the Trirashmi Buddhist cave complex,
also known as Pandavleni, near Nashik, Maharashtra.

Related News: ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier

organization for the archaeological research and protection of the
cultural heritage of the nation.

Kumbh Mela Amidst the rising cases of COVID-19, the duration of Kumbh Mela was
curtailed to a month.
- Kumbh Mela is a mass congregation of pilgrims who gather to
take a bath/dip (Shahi Snan) in a sacred river.
- Heald across four cities: Prayagraj(UttarPradesh);
Haridwar(Uttarakhand); Ujjain(MadhyaPradesh) and
Nasik(Maharashtra).
- Kumbh Mela comes under the UNESCO's Representative List of
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Dickinsonia Researchers have discovered three fossils of the earliest known living
animal — the 550-million-year-old ‘Dickinsonia’ — on the roof of the
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters.
- Earlier in 2019, fossils of the same were found in the Siberian
Cave.
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- India’s first fossil remains of an extinct genus of basal animal.

Hakki Pikki UNESCO has listed Hakki Pikki as one of the endangered languages.
- They are nomadic tribes which migrated from Northeast India to
Karnataka and other Southern India regions.
- Known as “Bird Catcher”

Toycathon 2021 Under the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ initiative, Toycathon-2021 is
conceived to challenge India’s innovative minds to conceptualize novel
Toy and Games based on Bharatiya civilization, history, culture,
mythology and ethos.
- It is an inter-ministerial initiative organized by the Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry
of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles
and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Amrit Mahotsav is a series of events being organised by the Government of India to

commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence.
- The Prime Minister reiterated five pillars i.e. Freedom Struggle,
Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Resolves at 75
as guiding force for moving forward keeping dreams and duties
as inspiration.

Reclining Buddha India’s largest statue of the Reclining Buddha is being installed at the
Buddha International Welfare MIssion Temple in Bodhgaya.
- This posture represents The Buddha in his last illness, about to
enter Parinirvana.
- It was first depicted in Gandhara art.

Reclining Buddha in India:

1. Cave 26. Of Ajanta Caves
2. Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.

UNESCO World 1. UNESCO inscribed the 13th-century Ramappa temple in Palampet,

Heritage Sites Telangana as a World Heritage Site.
- Situated near Warangal, it showcases outstanding craftsmanship
of great Kakatiya dynasty.
- Dated near 1213, built by a Kakatiya General Recherla Rudra
Reddy, during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva.
- Main deity - Shiva
- is built of sandstone with decorated beams and pillars of carved
granite and dolerite.

2. Dholavira, the Harappan-era archaeological site, was given the

tag of the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India.
- Located on Khadir island in the Great Rann of Kutch
- It is the fifth largest archaeological site of the Indus Valley
Civilisation, dating back to around 3000 BC and is believed to
have been occupied till 1500 BC.

Tribes in News 1. Zo tribe: Actively participated in protests’ against the Centre's

order to deport people from four North-Eastern States that
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border Myanmar post military coup.

- Found in India, Bangladesh and Nepal
2. Matua Community: During his visit to Bangladesh, the Indian
Prime Minister held a meeting with the Matua Community, who
have their roots in India.
3. Kutia Kondhs: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in Kalahandi,
Odisha.
4. Chakma and Hajong: Originally residents of the Chittagong Hill
Tracts of former East Pakistan,they had to flee when their land
was submerged by the Kaptai dam project in the 1960s. Buddhists
by faith, the Chakmas faced religious persecution in East Pakistan
along with the Hajongs, who are Hindus.
- !" #$% &'$ ()** +$,"-", &'$%$ .%$ /0,/0* 1'.23."
.,4 5.67,8" 9, !%-,.+'.: ;%.4$"'.
- They are scattered in India, Bangladesh etc
5. Tharu Tribals: The Uttar Pradesh government has recently
embarked upon a scheme to take the unique culture of its ethnic
Tharu tribe across the world.
- Followers of Theravada Buddhism.
- The Tharus live in both India and Nepal. In the Indian
Terai, they live mostly in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and
Bihar.
- The Scheme offers tourists an experience of living in the
natural Tharu habitat, in traditional huts made of grass
collected mainly from the forests.

Personalities in News 1. Purandara Dasa: He is hailed as the father figure of Carnatic

music. In honor of his significant contributions to Carnatic music,
he is widely referred to as the Pitamaha.
- a great devotee of the supreme Lord Krishna, a Vaishnava poet,
a saint and a social reformer.
- He was a disciple of the Dvaita philosopher-saint Vyasatirtha.
- Pen name for his compositions: “Purandhara Vittala”

2. Sankardeva: Electoral campaigns are sought to be held in the

Bartadrava Sattra (monastery) in Nagaon, which is the birthplace
of renowned Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva.
- Sattras are monastic institutions created as part of the 16th-
century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement started by
Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1596).
- Musical instruments include Khol, Taal, Doba and Nagara.
- Majuli is the centre of Assam’s Vaishnavite culture and
Bhaona.

3. Subhadra Kumari Chauhan: Google celebrates 117th birthday of

Indian activist and author Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.
- A writer and freedom fighter whose work rose to national
prominence during a male-dominated era of literature.
Her evocative nationalist poem “Jhansi ki Rani” is widely
regarded as one of the most recited poems in Hindi
literature.
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4. Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji, Ali Musaliyar: leaders of

Moplah rebellion, 1921

B. World

World Oldest known Painted at least 45,500 years ago was found in the limestone cave of
Cave Painting Leang Tedongnge, Indonesia.
- Falls under Pleistocene-era rock paintings.
- The artwork made with pigments is decaying due to a process
known as Haloclasty, that is, growth of salt crystals due to
repeated changes in temperature and humidity.

Nesher Ramla site An international group of archaeologists have discovered a new human
species in Israel which is being considered as a missing piece in the
history of human evolution.
- they lived about 420,000 to 120,000 years ago.

Sanxingdui Ruins A sacrificial pit was recently discovered at Sanxingdui Ruins Site in China,
Site highlighting the greatness of Chinese civilization.
- Located in Sichuan Province.
- It is an archaeological site and a major Bronze Age culture of
China.