Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve:
Location: It is located in the Southern Western Ghats in the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu.
It was established as a Tiger Reseve in 1988.
This reserve is a mixture of three main sanctuaries: Kalakad Sanctuary, Mundanthurai Sanctuary, and a part of Kanyakumari Sanctuary.
Nestled between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Agastya Malai Hill Range forms the core area of the sanctuary and is part of one of the world's 18 biodiversity hotspots.
The reserve is also known as the “River Sanctuary”, with as many as 14 rivers originating from this Tiger Reserve.
Flora: Important species include Sarcandra, Paphiopedulum, druryi, Hopea parviflora,Hopea utilis, Calophylum elatum, Cullenia exarillata, etc.
Fauna: Tiger, leopard, rusty spotted cat, wild dog, sloth bear, elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, nilgiri langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, lion tailed macaque, etc.
2. Sela Tunnel Project
Location: It is located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Once completed, the Sela tunnel will be the world's longest bi-lane tunnel at an altitude above 13,000 feet.
It will ensure all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
It is being excavated below the Sela Pass on the NH-13 component of the Trans-Arunachal Highway system.
It is being built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)under Project Vartak and the tunnel's construction commenced on April 1, 2019.
Key Facts about Sela Pass:
It is a high-altitude mountain pass located in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Elevation: 4,170 meters above sea level
It connects Tawang Valley to the rest of India.
Open throughout the year, Sela Pass is managed by the BRO.
3. Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0
Recently, the union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions launched the Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0
It is a public grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
It has been implemented by IIT Kanpur.
Objectives: The Dashboard provides instant tabular analysis of Grievances Filed & Disposed, State-wise & District-wise Grievances Filed & Ministry-wise data.
It will also help the officials identify the root cause of the grievance.
This portal will help the DARPG with creation of draft letter for selected scheme/ministry and expedite the grievance redressal process by the concerned ministry/department.
It has been enabled with Artificial intelligence (AI) capacity.
4. Seamount:
It is an underwater mountain formed through volcanic activity.
These are recognised as hotspots for marine life. Like volcanoes on land, seamounts can be active, extinct, or dormant volcanoes.
These are formed near mid-ocean ridges, where the earth’s tectonic plates are moving apart, allowing molten rock to rise to the seafloor.
The planet’s two most-studied mid-ocean ridges are the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East Pacific Rise.
Some seamounts have also been found near intraplate hotspots—regions of heavy volcanic activity within a plate—and oceanic island chains with volcanic and seismic activity called island arcs.
These are formed when molten rock comes up from below the tectonic plate.
Significance of seamounts
They provide information about the mantle’s composition and how tectonic plates evolve.
These are helpful in understanding their influence on how water circulates and absorbs heat and carbon dioxide.
They are good places for life because they can cause localised ocean upwelling,the process by which nutrient-rich water from deep within the ocean moves up to the surface.
5. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary
Bihar is set to get a second tiger reserve in Kaimur district (Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary) by the end of the year or early 2024.
It is the largest sanctuarylocated in the Kaimur District of Bihar.
It is nestled in the Vindhayachal hill ranges.
The sanctuary forms a very important catchment for theKav, Sone, and Durgawati river systems, with important tributaries.
It is connected with Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary of UP, which again has links with Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve and Panna landscape in Madhya Pradesh through stepping stone forests of Marihan, Sukrit, Chunar ranges and wildlife sanctuaries of Ranipur (UP).
Vegetation: This region has a thick covering of mosaic prairie, tropical dry deciduousbackwoods, and swampy bogs.
Fauna: The main animals found are Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, Indian boars, sloth bears, sambar deers, chitals, four-horned antelope and nilgais.
Flora: The plants found here include Salai (BoswelliaSerrata), Siddha, Indian Rosewood (Sheesham), Jamun, Teak, Koraiya,Saal, and Jheengarare some species of plant life.
6. Green Ammonia
Recently, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tamil Nadu, successfully received and handled Green Ammonia Containers from Damietta Port, Egypt.
It is produced by using hydrogen from water electrolysis and nitrogen separated from the air.
These are then fed into the Haber process (also known as Haber-Bosch) which is powered by sustainable electricity.
In the Haber process, hydrogen and nitrogen are reacted together at high temperatures and pressures to produce ammonia, NH3.
Green ammonia production is where the process of making ammonia is 100% renewable and carbon-free.
It can be used in
Fuel for engines such as locomotives and shipping, replacing diesel and marine fuel oil
Fuel source for electricity and power generation
Building block to make fertilisers for use in agriculture;
Feedstock for industrial and manufacturing applications ranging from water purification through to pharmaceuticals
7. Sanwariya Seth Temple
The Prime Minister recently offered prayers at the Sanwariya Seth Temple in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, specifically to his beloved child form known as “Sanwariya Seth” or “Shyam Seth.
Location: It is located in the village of Mandaphia in the Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan.
It was built in 1840 A.D.
Architecture:
The temple follows the traditional architecture of Rajasthan, known for its intricate carvings, domes, and vibrant colors.
The main structure of the temple is built using white marble.
The temple is adorned with intricate carvings on the walls, pillars, and ceilings. These carvings depict scenes from Hindu mythology and various motifs.
The temple features multiple domes that are adorned with decorative elements.
The temple has a prominent spire, or shikhar, which is a tall, tapering structure that rises above the main sanctum.
In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, a black stone idol of Lord Krishna is installed.
The temple has spacious pillared halls that provide a gathering space for devotees and visitors.
8. R21/Matrix-M vaccine
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, for the prevention of malaria in children.
The R21 vaccine is the second malaria vaccine recommended by the WHO, following the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, which received a WHO recommendation in 2021.
WHO is now reviewing the vaccine for prequalification, which is the WHO stamp of approval, and will enable GAVI (a global vaccine alliance) and UNICEF to buy the vaccine from manufacturers.
About the R21/Matrix-M Vaccine:
It is a new vaccine approved for the prevention of malaria in children.
It was developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India with support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership ('EDCTP'), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank ('EIB').
It is the first malaria vaccine to reach the WHO’s target of 75% efficacy.
It has already been approved for use in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The vaccine will be rolled out in those African countries in early 2024 and will be available in mid-2024 in other countries.
9. Malaria
It is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, pose the greatest threat.
Malaria is common in tropical areas where it’s hot and humid.
Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria.
Symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of malaria are similar to flu symptoms. They include:
Fever and sweating.
Chills that shake your whole body
Headache and muscle aches.
Fatigue.
Chest pain, breathing problems, and cough.
Diarrhoea,nausea and vomiting.
As malaria gets worse, it can cause anemia and jaundice.
The most severe form of malaria, which may progress to a coma, is known as cerebral malaria. This type represents about 15% of deaths in children and nearly 20% of adult deaths.
Treatment:
It is preventable and curable. With early treatment, most people with malaria will make a full recovery.
Some drugs are given in combination with other drugs. The type of parasite will determine the type of medication.
The main antimalarial drugs are:
chloroquine
hydroxychloroquine
primaquine
artemisinin-based therapy
atovaquone-proguanil
10. Controller General of Accounts (CGA)
CGA, in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, is the Principal Accounting Adviser to the Government of India.
It was established in October 1975 to administer matters pertaining to the departmentalisation of the accounts of the Union.
Functions:
CAG is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound management accounting system.
The Office of CGA prepares monthly and annual analysis of expenditure, revenues, borrowings, and various fiscal indicators for the Union Government.
It further formulates policies relating to general principles, forms, and procedures of accounting for the Central and State Governments.
It administers the process of payments, receipts, and accounting in the Central Civil Ministries/ Departments.
Through its Internal Audit Units in the respective Ministries/Departments, it is responsible for maintaining the requisite technical standards of accounting in the departmentalized accounting offices and for monitoring the financial performance and effectiveness of various programs, schemes, and activities of the civil ministries.
It also administers banking arrangements for the disbursements of Government expenditures and the collection of government receipts and interacts with the Central Bank for the reconciliation of cash balances of the Union Government.
CGA is also responsible for coordination and monitoring the progress of the submission of corrective/remedial action taken notes (ATNs) on the recommendations contained in Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) reports as well as the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) reports through its web based Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS).
It also looks after the pensions of the Central government employees
11.Attosecond
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three physicists for their research into attosecond pulses of light.
An attosecond is an astonishingly short unit of time, equivalent to one quintillionth of a second (1×10−18 of a second) or one-billionth of a nanosecond.
To put this into perspective, if a second were stretched to cover the entire age of the universe, which is approximately 13.8 billion years, an attosecond would be just a fraction of a second.
The fundamental significance of attoseconds in physics lies in their ability to shed light on phenomena that were previously hidden from our view.
These extremely short time intervals are relevant in the fields of ultrafast optics and laser physics, particularly when studying the behavior of electrons within atoms and molecules.
Applications:
Attosecond physics allows scientists to look at the very smallest particles at the very shortest timescales.
At this timescale, researchers can now capture the dynamics of electrons within atoms and molecules, allowing them to witness the incredibly fast processes that govern chemical reactions and electronic behavior.
Attosecond pulses:
One of the most groundbreaking applications of attosecond science is the ability to create and manipulate extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray pulses, which are vital for imaging ultrafast processes at the atomic and molecular scale.
These pulses are produced using high-intensity laser systems that generate attosecond bursts of light.
With these attosecond pulses, scientists can "freeze" the motion of electrons within atoms and molecules, providing a real-time view of electron movement during chemical reactions.
The Attosecond pulses can be used to test the internal processes of matter and to identify different events.
12.Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary
Two rare species of butterflies were recently found during a survey conducted by the Forest Department in Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary.
Location: It is located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, it was the hunting ground for the royal family members of Holkars, as it had a huge population of tigers, leopards, and deer.
Established in 1989, this sanctuary is spread over an area of 5 square kilometres.
Landscape: Rolling hills, lush green forests, and sparkling streams.
The River Narmada graces the sanctuary with its presence.
At the top of it is an ancient palace built by the Holkars in 1905, which was primarily used as a hunting hut, also known as shikargah (hunting lodge).
Flora: Among the many prominent plant species present in the sanctuary are Teak, Rinjha, Khair, Palash, Ghatbor, Saaja, Aster, Ber, Babool, Samal, Chirol, Neem, Khajoor, Bekal, Bamboo, etc.
Fauna:
Major animal species found here include Black Buck, Cheetals, Chinkara, Blue Bull, Striped Hyena, Wild Boars, Porcupine, Fox, Jackal, and Bhedki (Barking deer).
It is famous for its many avifauna species, most of which migrate here during the winter season.
13.Exercise SAMPRITI
India and Bangladesh commenced the 11th edition of exercise SAMPRITI on 03rd October 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya.
14.Basohli Pashmina
Recently, Basohli Pashmina, a more than 100-year-old traditional craft from Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, has got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
It is a hand-spun product known for extreme softness, fineness and light-weight, has insulating properties and extended life.
Pashmina products include shawls for both men and women, mufflers, blankets and basket.
Pashmina refers to a fine variant of spun cashmere (the animal-hair fibre), that is derived from the downy undercoat of the Changthangi.
It is obtained from a breed of mountain goats (Capra hircus) found on the Changthang Plateau in Tibet and parts of Ladakh.
A traditional producer of pashmina wool in the Ladakh region are a people known as the Changpa (nomadic people inhabit the Changthang plateau of Tibet).
Key facts about Geographical Indication Tag
It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical originand possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.
The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.
15.COARLS
Corals are marine invertebrates or animals which do not possess a spine. They are the largest living structures on the planet.
Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony, which grows when polyps multiply to make copies of themselves.
They live in a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algaecalled zooxanthellae (which live within the coral tissue).
The zooxanthellae convert sunlight into food, providing corals with up to 90 per cent of their energy needs.
16.Swamp Deer
Recently, the Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve announced that the population of swamp deer at the park has witnessed a rise.
The swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) also called as barasingha is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent.
It belongs to the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found in open forests and grasslands of India and Nepal.
It eats predominantly wetland plants and herbaceous plants which are common in this deer’s natural habitat.
Its population is now restricted to isolated and scattered locations in Nepal, Assam and the northern areas of India.
It is now extinct in both Bangladesh, and in Pakistan
There are three subspecies of swamp deer found in the Indian Subcontinent.
The western swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) found in Nepal,
Southern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) found in central and north India and
Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) found in the Kaziranga and Dudhwa National Parks.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule I
17.Bojjannakonda
It is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The site was excavated under the aegis of Alexander Rim in 1906.
It was originally known as ‘Buddhuni konda’ (hill of the Buddha), but it came to be known as ‘Bojjannakonda’ in the course of time.
Buddhist monks used to practice on the hill about 2,000 years ago.
A gold coin belonging to the Samudra Gupta period, copper coins of the Chalukya king Kubja Vishnu Vardhan, coins of Andhra Satavahanas and pottery were discovered at the site.
Features
An interesting feature of this site is that it shows features of all the three phases of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
A figure of ‘Kalabhairava’ with the head of Lord Ganesha wearing conch shells and the statue of a Buddhist monk, ‘Harati’, have also been found at the site.
There is a large double-storeyed cave on the hill.
The rectangular cave has a doorway and is flanked by ‘dwarapalakas’ on either side.
There is a rock-cut stupa, standing on a square platform, at the centre of the cave.
A series of rock-cut caves and monolithic structures standing on rock platforms are present on the northern side of the hill.
The upper cave has a rectangular doorway flanked by figures of the Buddha on either side.
The imposing figures of the Buddha, seated in meditation posture, and the stupa are the main attraction for tourists at Bojjannakonda.
On the top of the hill, there is a group of structural buildings and a vihara(monastery), which has been reduced to ruins.
To the west of Bojjannakonda, another hillock, Lingalakonda or Lingalametta, is present.
A number of monolithic and structural stupas can be seen on the top of this hillock.
The Buddhist temple at Barabodur in Java has been constructed on the lines of the structures on Lingalametta”.
The caves at Bojjannakonda and those in Takshasila are similar.
The word ‘Sangrama’ was in use at Takshasila but was never used in Andhra Pradesh. These two features suggest that Buddhist practices influenced Bojjannakonda in northern India,”
18. Glacial Lake Outburst Flood
Recently, a glacial lake outburst flood in the South Lhonak Lake of Sikkim killed ten people and many Army personnel are missing.
Glacial lakes are large bodies of water that sit in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier.
As they grow larger, they become more dangerous because glacial lakes are mostly dammed by unstable ice or sediment composed of loose rock and debris.
In case the boundary around them breaks, huge amounts of water rush down the sideof the mountains, which could cause flooding in the downstream areas. This is called glacial lake outburst floods or GLOF.
It can be triggered by several reasons, including earthquakes, extremely heavy rains and ice avalanches
These lakes are also often found in steep, mountainous regions, which means landslides or ice avalanches can sometimes fall directly into the lakes and displace the water, causing it to over-top the natural dam and flood downstream
Key facts about South Lhonak Lake
This lake in northern Sikkim is situated about 5,200 metres above sea level.
It formed due to the melting of the glacier.
It is a moraine-dammed glacial lake at the snout of South Lhonak glacier, Sikkim Himalaya.
It has become the largest and fastest-growing glacial lake in the state, with a glacial retreat of almost two kilometres in 46 years between 1962 and 2008.
19. Quantum Dots (QDs)
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was recently awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus, and Alexei I. Ekimov recently for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.
Quantum dots, often referred to as "artificial atoms," are semiconductor nanoparticles that have unique optical and electronic properties due to their small size.
They were first theorized in the 1970s and then successfully synthesized in the early 1980s.
Many semiconductor substances can be used as QDs, such as cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, or indium arsenide. Nanoparticles of these, or any other semiconductor substance, have the properties of a QD.
The size and composition of the QDs can be controlled during synthesis, allowing scientists to tailor their properties for various applications.
Optical Properties: One of the most notable features of QDs is their tunable emission properties.
By controlling the size of the QD, researchers can precisely tune the wavelength of light emitted or absorbed.
They can be engineered to emit light across the entire visible spectrum and into the infrared and ultraviolet ranges, offering a wide palette of colors for various applications.
The smallest quantum dots emit higher energy waves and produce blue light, and the biggest dots release lower energy waves, creating red light, with the middle sizes creating the colours in between.
Applications:
Displays: They are used in display technology to enhance the color and efficiency of displays for TVs, monitors, and other electronic devices.
Compared to organic luminescent materials used in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), QD-based materials have purer colors, a longer lifetime, lower manufacturing costs, and lower power consumption.
Photovoltaics: QDs can be used in solar cells to enhance light absorption and energy conversion efficiency.
Bio-medical applications: The small size of QDs allows them to go anywhere in the body, making them suitable for different bio-medical applications like medical imaging, biosensors, targeted drug delivery, etc.
Quantum Computing: QDs are being investigated for their potential role in quantum computing, as they can serve as qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information.
20. Chenab Bridge
Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest steel arch rail bridge situated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi town, is set to be developed as a tourist spot.
Location: It is located between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
The 1.3-km-long bridge is located 359 metres above the Chenab riverbed.
It is the highest single-arch railway bridge in the world.
It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project.
Features:
The arch consists of steel boxes. Concrete has been filled in the boxes to improve stability.
The bridge has been designed with a life span of 120 years.
It has been designed to withstand high wind speeds of up to 266 Kmph.
It is capable of withstanding the nation’s maximum intensity zone-V earthquake forces.
Key Facts about Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project:
The USBRL Project involves the construction of a railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla, joining the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network.
Aim: To connect Kashmir to the rest of the country and give a push to development in the valley.
Total Length: 272 km
The project was declared a “National Project” in 2002.
The project includes the construction of several bridges and tunnels along the route.
This project involves 38 tunnels (combined length of 119 Km), with the longest tunnel (T-49) having a length of 12.75 Km and is the country's longest transportation tunnel.
There are 927 nos. of bridges (combined length of 13 Km), including the iconic Chenab Bridge.
The project includes the Indian Railway's first cable-stayed, bridge which is being constructed on Anji Khad.
21.Yak churpi
In a significant milestone for the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the unique and culturally significant yak milk product, ‘Yak Churpi,’ has been granted the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
It is a dairy product made from the milk of the indigenous Arunachali yak breed.
It is reared by tribal yak pastoralists known as Brokpas who migrate along with their yaks to higher reaches (at an altitude of 10,000 ft and higher) during summers and descent to mid-altitude mountainous regions during winters.
These remarkable yaks are primarily found in the West Kameng and Tawang districtsof the state.
Churpi is a naturally fermented dairy product and rich in protein content.
It is an essential dietary staple for tribal communities inhabiting the cold and mountainous regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
It is often used as a vegetable substitute and is also incorporated into vegetable and meat curries and is commonly consumed with rice.
This GI tag is going to serve the cause of yak conservation and yak pastoralists’ socio-economic upliftment.
Yaks are reared in high altitude areas in the Himalayan region but the Arunachali yaks are a unique breed in respect to their body shape, size, strain and weight.
Arunachali yaks are also the only registered yak breed in India
22.Kolleru Lake
It is the largest freshwater lake in India.
It is located in Andhra Pradesh between the Krishna and Godavari deltas and covers an area of 308 km².
The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers.
The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams, and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari systems by over 68 inflowing drains and channels.
It serves as a habitat for migratory birds.
The lake was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India's Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention.
23.Chungthang Dam
Also known as the Chungthang Hydroelectric Project, is a dam and hydroelectric power station located in Chungthang, a town in Sikkim.
It is an integral part of the 1200 MW mega Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project, a major source of electricity for Sikkim and West Bengal.
It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project, which was commissioned in 2017.
The dam had a gross height of 817 metres and a net head of 778 metres, which was used for power generation.
A major disaster took place in Sikkim recently, when the Chungthang Hydro-Dam was washed away by flooding of the Teesta River.
Teesta River:
It is a trans-Himalayan river flowing through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal and, Rangpur in Bangladesh.
It is a tributary of Brahmaputra River.
Origin: It originates in the Himalayas and flows through the Indian States of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it flows into the Brahmaputra.
It has a total length of about 309 kilometers.
Main Tributary: Rangeet River
24.Hakki Pikkis
(Hakki in Kannada means ‘bird’ and Pikki means ‘catchers’) are a semi-nomadic tribe, traditionally of bird catchers and hunters.
It is one of the major tribal communities in Karnataka. They also reside in the Western and Southern states of India, mostly near forest areas.
The community migrated from Northern India, mainly Gujarat and Rajasthan, and is now mainly concentrated in Shivamogga, Davanagere, and Mysuru district of Karnataka.
They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India.
Occupation:
After the implementation of stricter wildlife laws, the tribe changed its occupation from hunting to selling spices, flowers, Ayurveda formulations, and herbal oils.
They now travel globally to sell these products, especially in the African continent,where there is a demand for cheaper alternatives to Western medicine.
Language:
Despite being surrounded by Dravidian languages and living in southern India, the community speaks an Indo-Aryan language.
Their mother tongue was designated as 'Vaagri' by scholars.
UNESCO has listed 'Vaagri' as one of the endangered languages.
Rituals and customs:
The tribe follows Hindu traditions and celebrates Hindu festivals.
The tribe prefers cross-cousin marriages. The society is matriarchal, where the groom gives dowry to the bride’s family.
The eldest son in a family is not supposed to cut his hair so that he can be identified easily.
They are non-vegetarians.
25.Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary wagh nakh (tiger claw) to the state.
About him:
He was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India.
He was born on February 19, 1630,to Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai in the fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in the Pune district, Maharashtra.
With his valor and great administrative skills, Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. It eventually became the genesis of the Maratha Empire.
After establishing his rule, Shivaji implemented a competent and progressive administration with the help of a disciplined military and a well-established administrative set-up.
He was known as the Father of the Indian Navy. Shivaji was the first to realise the importance of having a naval force, and therefore he strategically established a navy and forts at the coastline to defend the Konkan side of Maharashtra.
He was called the 'Mountain Rat' and was widely known for his guerrilla warfare He was called so because of his awareness of geography of his land and guerrilla tactics like raiding, ambushing, and surprise attacks on his enemies.
He was a secular ruler who was very accommodating of all religions. He had numerous Muslim soldiers in his army.
Shivaji was a dependable supporter of women and their honour. Anyone under his rule caught violating woman's rights was severely punished.
He had a council of ministers (Asht Pradhan) to advise him on the matters of the state, but he was not bound by it.
26.Protein binders
Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) clarified that addition of protein binders in milk and milk products are not permitted.
This clarification came at a time when certain players are adding protein binders to offer thicker texture in dairy products such as curd.
About Protein binders:
These are biological agents have emerged as an important and required class of ingredients to manufacture a wide range of new food products, especially semi-solid or solid foods.
These are known to affect the digestibility of the protein bound and thus can affect the biological and nutritive value of milk proteins.
Protein binding also influences the bioavailability and distribution of active compounds.
What is milk protein?
It is a good source of essential amino acids.
They are easily digestible and do not contain any anti-nutritional factors like many plant-based proteins.
Key facts about FSSAI
It is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act).
FSS Act, of 2006 consolidated various acts & orders that had earlier handled food-related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
27. PUSA-44
Recently, Punjab Chief Minister announced that the state will ban the cultivation of the PUSA-44 paddy variety from next year onwards.
It is a paddy variety which was developed in 1993 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
By the end of 2010s, it had gained widespread popularity among farmers across the Punjab, covering approximately 70 to 80% of the area under paddy cultivation.
Farmers claim that PUSA-44 yields nearly 85 to 100 mann (34 to 40 quintals) per acre, while other varieties’ yield average is 28 to 30 quintals per acre.
Concerns
It is a long-duration variety, taking around 160 days to mature.
This is around 35 to 40 days more than other varieties, requiring 5-6 extra cycles of irrigation.
With Punjab facing severe groundwater depletion and the availability of short-duration paddy varieties, the government aims to conserve one month of irrigation water by banning the variety.
Moreover, this variety is also known to exacerbate the long-running issue of stubble burning in the state.
This variety generates around 2 per cent more stubble than short varieties, which becomes a significant concern when cultivated on a large scale.
Key facts about the ICAR
It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare , Government of India.
It was formerly known as Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.
It was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 in pursuance of the report of the Royal Commission on Agriculture.
The Council is the apex body for co-ordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
With 113 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
Headquarters: New Delhi.
28. Bekal Fort
The first public sector caravan park in Kerala to come up at Bekal fort of Kerala.
It is exquisitely designed and built with dark maroon laterite stones.
It is the largest and best preserved Fort in the whole of Kerala.
The fort is endowed with impressive walls and ramparts which are again interrupted by massive bastions.
While the bastions are equipped with several large and small openings for guns, the walls are interspersed with windows and peepholes. These were used to spot the enemy from afar in the past
A unique and eye-catching feature is a lone bastion, projecting out into the sea.
It was built in the 17th century.
This historic monument offers a superb view of the Arabian Sea from its tall observation towers, which were occupied by gigantic cannons till afew centuries ago.
Originally constructed by the rulers of the ancient Kadampa Dynasty, the Fort changed hands over the years to the Kolathiri Rajas, the Vijayanagara Empire, Tipu Sultan and finally, the British East India Company.
The most prominent structure inside the fort is the observation tower built by Tipu Sultan.
29. Fischer – Tropsch (FT) process
FT process is the process where synthesis gas (H2 and CO) is converted into a mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygenates, water, and carbon dioxide.
It was first developed in the 1920s and was named after its discoverers, Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch.
It involves the reaction of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) gases. These gases are typically derived from various sources, including coal, natural gas, or biomass, through the process of gasification.
FT process:
Synthesis gas (syngas) is the feed material for a FT process.
The FT reaction is usually a catalytic reaction at high temperatures and high pressure and the typical catalysts used are based on iron or cobalt.
FT process is the catalytic polymerization and hydrogenation of CO, which produces a synthetic crude oil (syncrude).
Syncrude is a multiphase mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygenates, and water.
The next step is the refining of the syncrude into products that are traditionally produced from conventional crude oil, such as transportation fuels and petrochemicals.
Applications:
It has several important applications, including the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals.
The hydrocarbons produced by the FT process can be refined and used in place of more conventional liquid fuels derived from crude oil.
Generally, these products are of higher quality than those derived through conventional means, having no sulphur or aromatics.
30. Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) Scheme
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently extended the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) scheme by another two years and will include beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma scheme.
It was first launched by the RBI in January 2021 for a period of three years.
Objective: Increasing the number of payment acceptance devices multifold in the country.
PIDF is a fund set up by the RBI, in consultation with major authorised card networks, to facilitate the development of payment acceptance infrastructure in tier-3 to tier-6 cities and the north-eastern states of India.
The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will also be given special focus.
Beneficiaries of the PM SVANidhi Scheme in Tier-1 and 2 centres were later included in August 2021.
Funding:
The PIDF is funded by the RBI and the major authorized card networks in India.
The scheme provides financial assistance to banks and non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) for the deployment of PoS terminals and other payment acceptance infrastructure in eligible regions.
31.PM Vishwakarma scheme & PM SVANidhi Scheme
It is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 17th September, 2023, with a financial outlay of Rs.13,000 crore.
Time period: Five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28).
Aim:
This initiative supports small businesses, focusing on traditional artists and craftspeople.
It provides small workers and craftsmen with financial help, training, improved methods, and skill mentoring.
It also aims at improving the quality as well as the reach of the products and services of artisans and craftsmen.
Under this scheme, the artisans and craftspeople will be provided recognition through the PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card, credit support upto 1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs.2 lakh (second tranche), with a concessional interest rate of 5%.
Key Facts about PM SVANidhi Scheme:
Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme was launched by the Government of India in June, 2020.
Objective: To empower street vendors by not only extending loans to them but also for their holistic development and economic upliftment.
The scheme intends to facilitate-collateral free working capital loans of up to Rs.10,000/- of one-year tenure, to approximately 50 lakh street vendors.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
32.Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court
Generally, most of the cases before the SC are heard by a division bench (2 or 3 judge members).
If a case is likely to have a larger national impact or it is likely to decide the law for good, a constitution bench is formed.
Constitution bench gives an overarching view on a question of law and defines a path the law will take in the future.
Article 145(3) of the Constitution makes it clear. It says “any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution” must be decided by a Bench of at least five judges.
In India, these benches are temporary and are dissolved once a legal question or issue is settled.
Size:
It will have five or more judges of the SC.
A larger bench is constituted either depending on the importance of the issue or if there is a need to review the judgment of a smaller bench.
For instance, a seven-judge bench is constituted if a need is felt to review the judgment of a five-judge bench.
To date, the largest-ever Constitution Bench was that of 13 judges in the case Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala. The Kesavananda Bharati judgment, delivered on 24 April 1973, in a historic 7:6 majority decision, propounded the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution, which holds that certain fundamental features of the Constitution cannot be amended by parliament.
Who forms the Constitution bench and when?
The Chief Justice of India has the power to set up a Constitution bench, and he is the one who refers cases to it.
Currently, there are four situations when such a bench can be formed.
First, if a case involves a “substantial question of law” related to the interpretation of the Constitution.
Second, a bench can be formed if the President seeks SC’s opinion on a law or fact. In this case, however, the apex court’s decision is not binding on the President, and they can take a different point of view.
Third, a Constitution bench can be formed when a two-judge bench and later a three-judge bench deliver conflicting judgements on the same issue.
Lastly, it can be formed if a three-judge bench delivers a judgement that is different from the judgement delivered by a previous three-judge bench on an issue.
33.Gangetic river dolphin
A recent publication by scientists and researchers has revealed that 19 Gangetic river dolphins had been rescued from the irrigation canals of the Ganga-Ghagra basin in Uttar Pradesh between 2013 and 2020.
It is a freshwater species and one of the few river dolphins found in the world.
Distribution: It inhabits the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
Common Names: Blind dolphin, Ganges dolphin, Ganges susu, hihu, side-swimming dolphin, South Asian River Dolphin
It has been recognized as India's National Aquatic Animal.
Features:
It has a long thin snout, rounded belly, stocky body and large flippers.
It feeds majorly on fishes and is usually found in counter-current systems of the main river channel.
Its eyes lack lens, and as a result, this species is also referred to as the "blind dolphin".
They have a highly developed bio-sonar system that facilitates them to hunt for fish even in murky waters.
Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphin cannot breathe in the water and must surface every 30-120 seconds. Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the animal is popularly referred to as the 'Susu'
Conservation status:
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act: Schedule-I
CITES: Appendix I
34.Card-on-File Tokenisation
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed to introduce Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT).
Tokenisation refers to replacement of actual credit and debit card details with an alternate code called the “token”, which will be unique for a combination of card, token requestor and device.
This shall be unique for a combination of card, token requestor (i.e. the entity which accepts request from the customer for tokenisation of a card and passes it on to the card network to issue a corresponding token) and the merchant (token requestor and merchant may or may not be the same entity).
Advantage: A tokenised card transaction is considered safer as the actual card details are not shared with the merchant during transaction processing.
Customers who do not have the tokenisation facility will have to key in their name, 16-digit card number, expiry date and CVV each time they order something online.
What is Card-on-File transaction?
It is transaction where in cardholders authorizes merchants to store their payment information securely and bill cardholders’ stored accounts for future purchases.
35. Pythagoras - History
An ancient Babylonian tablet displaying a concept predating Pythagoras by over a millennium suggests the Pythagorean theorem could be the world's oldest known case of plagiarism.
Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher and mathematician.
Pythagoras lived during the 6th century B.C. on the island of Samos, Greece.
He is commonly said to be the first pure mathematician who proposed that everything is a number.
He is best known in the modern day for the Pythagorean Theorem.
Pythagoras’ Theorem:
It states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.
This formula has been applied to measuring distance and space as, for example, in planning and executing the construction of a building.
Pythagorean Brotherhood:
Pythagoras founded a secretive religious and philosophical community known as the Pythagorean Brotherhood.
The members, known as Pythagoreans, followed a strict set of rules and beliefs,including the idea that mathematics and numbers held mystical and spiritual significance.
It was here he taught that "the whole cosmos is a scale and a number.
36.Watermeal
Scientists are conducting groundbreaking research into the potential of watermeal, the world's smallest flowering plant, as a source of nutrition and oxygen for astronauts.
Watermeal is an aquatic plant in the Araceae family.
It is the smallest flowering plant in the world and appears as small green seeds.
It is often referred to as "duckweed" because it is a favorite food of ducks.
Distribution:
It flourishes in temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical locations.
They grow on the surface of lakes, ponds, and marshes.
Features:
It is a very tiny (less than 1 millimeter) light green, free-floating, rootless plant.
It is branchless and also has no leaves.
It consists of a single, oval, or spherical frond that floats on the surface of still or slow-moving water bodies.
It also produces the world’s smallest fruit, called a utricle.
It is a nutritional powerhouse. It is a complete protein, meaning that it contains all nine essential amino acids.
In some cases, watermeal can become invasive and form dense mats that cover the entire surface of a water body.
37. Iron Dome
Israel's anti-missile system recently intercepted over 5,000 rockets launched from Gaza, a narrow strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians.
It is Israel’s air missile defense system that can defend against short-range rockets, intercepting them in the air above the state.
It is capable of successfully handling multiple rockets at a time.
Features:
The Iron Dome functions by detecting, analyzing, and intercepting varieties of targets such as mortars, rockets, and artillery.
It is powered by missile-defense batteries.
It has all-weather capabilities and is able to function night or day and in all conditions, including fog, rain, dust storms, and low clouds.
It is able to launch a variety of interceptor missiles.
It is designed to shoot down missiles with a range of about 40 miles or less.
It also has the ability to be moved, either onto ships or across land, to better suit defense needs.
It must be reloaded to continuously intercept incoming missiles.
The Iron Dome operates through three main components:
a radar that detects incoming rockets,
a command-and-control system that determines the threat level,
an interceptor that seeks to destroy the incoming rocket before it strikes.
38. Mundra Port
It is the largest private port and the largest container port in India.
Location: It is located on the north shores of the Gulf of Kutch, near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat.
It is a deep-draft, all-weather port.
It is also a special economic zone (SEZ).
As much as 33 per cent of India's container traffic flows through the port.
Ownership: It is run by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), which is India’s largest commercial ports operator and accounts for nearly one-fourth of the country’s cargo movement.
Handling Capacity:
With a capacity of 260 MMT, the port handles over 155 MMT (FY 2022-23), which constitutes nearly 11% of India’s maritime cargo.
The port has 26 berths and two single-point moorings, which allow it to accommodate a wide range of vessels.
The port handles a wide variety of cargo, including containers, dry bulk, break bulk, liquid cargo, and automobiles.
It also has the country’s largest coal import terminal, which facilitates faster cargo evacuation with minimal turnaround time.
Mundra Port’s rail is connected to the national rail network, and cargo can be handled for any location in India.
39. Indian Air Force (IAF) Ensign
Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief recently unveiled a new Ensign for the force.
Only the IAF Crest will be incorporated into the new IAF Ensign.
This crest prominently features the national symbol, the Ashoka Lion, at the top, with the words "Satyamev Jayate" in Devanagari script below it.
Beneath the Ashoka Lion is a Himalayan eagle with outstretched wings, symbolisingthe fighting spirit of the IAF.
A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words “Indian Air Force".
The IAF motto, derived from the Bhagavad Gita, "Nabha Sparsham Deeptam", meaning "touching the sky with glory," is inscribed below the Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari.
IAF crest symbolises the source of inspiration and encouragement.
IAF has adopted various crests for commands, squadrons and the other establishments.
However, all the crests follow a standard frame that contains the individual formation sign with a motto shown in the scroll at the foot of the frame.
History:
During the British era, the Indian Air Force was known as the Royal Indian Air Force.
Its ensign consisted of the Union Jack in the upper left canton and the RIAF roundel (Red, White & Blue) on the fly side.
Post-Independence, the Indian Air Force ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian tricolour and the RAF roundels with the IAF tri-colourroundel in the lower right canton.
40.Mont Blanc
New research has revealed that Mont Blanc, France's highest mountain has witnessed a reduction in its height over the past two years.
It is the highest peak (4,807 metres) in Europe.
It is located in the Alps and lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland.
It is nicknamed as "the roof of Europe".
Its name comes from the perennial snow cap that covers it, meaning literally “the white mountain”.
The mountain stands in a range called the Graian Alps, between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Savoie and Haute-Savoie, France.
Key facts about Alps
The Alps emerged during the Alpine orogeny an event that began about 65 million years ago as the Mesozoic Era was drawing to a close.
They are young fold mountains with rugged relief and high conical peaks.
The Alps arose as a result of the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates in which the Alpine Tethys which was formerly in between these continents disappeared.
The Alps extend north from the subtropical Mediterranean coast near Nice, France, to Lake Geneva before trending east-northeast to Vienna (at the Vienna Woods).
There they touch the Danube River and meld with the adjacent plain.
The Alps form part of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania.
41.Udangudi Panangarupatti
Recently, Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) from Tamil Nadu has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
42. 2023 Economics Nobel Prize
US labour economist Claudia Goldin was recently awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for her contributions to understanding women's labor market outcomes.
It has been awarded to economist Claudia Goldin for advancing the understanding of women’s labour market outcomes.
The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences is also known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences.
Goldin is only the third woman to win the prize since it was first introduced in 1969.
43.Hemochromatosis
Recently, health experts revealed all about Hemochromatosis or ‘bronze diabetes’.
It is an inherited condition where iron levels in the body slowly build up over many years.
This health condition is primarily classified into two types:
Hereditary hemochromatosis: It is driven by a mutation in the HFE gene, resulting in individuals being homozygous for the C282Y variant.
This genetic anomaly sets the stage for a lifelong struggle with excessive iron absorption within the intestines.
Secondary hemochromatosis: It is typically caused by external factors like frequent blood transfusions, excessive iron supplementation, or certain medical conditions.
The iron accumulation in secondary hemochromatosis is often more rapid and can have a similar impact on organ function
Symptoms of haemochromatosis usually start between the ages of 30 and 60.
Common symptoms include: Feeling very tired all the time (fatigue), weight loss, weakness and joint pain etc
Treatment:
Phlebotomy is the standard treatment for primary hemochromatosis.
Iron toxicity can be reduced by removing red blood cells, the body's main mobilizer of iron.
Phlebotomy is usually performed once or twice a week.
44.Dancing frogs
According to the Wildlife Trust of India the dancing frogs are the most threatened amphibian genus of India.
These are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Habitat: The species was found to prefer habitats in areas with thick canopy cover of at least 70-80 per cent
It belongs to the Micrixalus genus.
It is also the fifth most threatened genus in the world with 92 per cent of its species in the threatened category
Behaviour
The dancing frogs that are found near the streams do a unique display to mate.
The males stretch up their hind legs one at a time and wave their webbed toes in the air in a rapid motion akin to a dance.
This is to attract mates as well as ward off competition, probably preferred because their mating calls are drowned out by the gurgling of the streams.
This act is called “foot flagging” and gives the species their name.
45.White Goods & Brown Goods
What are White Goods?
White goods are large home appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers, and air conditioners.
They are large consumer durables for the house which were traditionally available only in white.
Even though you can purchase them today in a wide range of different colors, they continue being called white goods.
White goods are known for their durability and longevity, as they are designed to withstand the demands of daily use.
The term may also refer to white fabrics, especially linen or cotton – articles such as curtains, towels, or sheets that historically used to be made of white cloth.
In the beverage industry, white goods are colorless spirits, such as vodka or gin.
What are Brown Goods?
They are relatively light electronic consumer durables such as computers, digital media players, TVs and radios.
Unlike large household appliances (white goods), brown goods are more focused on entertainment, communication, and convenience.
These devices often have electronic components, and their primary function is to provide audio, video, or data-related services.
46.Gaza Strip
Israel recently ordered a full siege of the Gaza Strip and vowed to obliterate Hamas after its all-out offensive entered the next phase.
The Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
The territory takes its name from Gaza, its main city.
It forms the smaller of the two Palestinian territories — the other being the West Bank.
Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Israel to the north and east and Egypt to the south.
Size: It is a 41km (25-mile) long and 10km-wide territory.
Climate: It has a temperate climate, with mild winters, and dry, hot summer.
Population:
It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. More than 2 million people live in the territory.
The population is predominantly Palestinian, with the majority being Sunni Muslims.
History:
After Israel declared its statehood in 1948, Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades
Israel then gained control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after its victory in the 1967 Six-Day War against its Arab neighbours.
For the next 38 years, Israel controlled the strip and enabled the construction of 21 Jewish settlements.
In 2005, under international and domestic pressure, Israel withdrew around 9,000 Israeli settlers and its military forces from the Gaza Strip, leaving the enclave to be governed by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, which also controlled parts of the occupied West Bank.
Who controls it now?
Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organisation, currently governs the Gaza Strip.
It took control in 2007 after it won elections there the year before. Since then, no elections have been held.
Hamas, unlike the Palestinian Authority, doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist.
Israel has maintained a land, air and sea blockade on Gaza since 2007.
Sources: TheHindu, Vajiram&Ravi.
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