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PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE
PROGRAMME 2020
(PEP)-AUGUST 2019
CURRENT AFFAIRS
PEP 2020
IASBABA
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Contents
Current Events of National & International Importance ....................................................................... 2
Culture, History of India and Indian National Movement ..................................................................... 7
Indian Polity, Schemes and Governance ............................................................................................. 10
Economic and Social Development ..................................................................................................... 15
Environment ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................... 25
Science and Technology ...................................................................................................................... 26
Figures and Maps ................................................................................................................................. 43
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Current Events of National & International Importance
TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition
United Nations Industrial • UNIDO and National Institute of • Solar thermal technologies
Development Solar Energy (NISE) initiate a skill capture the heat energy from
Organization (UNIDO) development programme in the the sun and use it
solar thermal energy sector. for heating and/or the production
• Objective of UNIDO–promotion of of electricity.
industrial development, • This is different from
particularly for developing photovoltaic solar panels, which
countries, for poverty reduction, directly convert
inclusive globalization and the sun's radiation to electricity
environmental sustainability. • NISE is an Autonomous Institute of
• It is a member of the United Ministry of New and Renewable
Nations Development Group. Energy, located in Gurugram,
• As of 1 April 2019, 170 States are Haryana.
Members of UNIDO (including
India).
State of Food Security and • Report jointly prepared by FAO, • Conflict and the climate crisis
Nutrition in the World, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO constitute the greatest drivers of
2019 Report • Report shows a rise in world hunger.
hunger for a third year in a row • IFAD-International Fund for
• There were 821 million chronically Agricultural Development is an
undernourished people in the international financial institution
world in 2018, up from 811 million and a specialised agency of the
in 2017 United Nations that works to
• One in nine people in the world address poverty and hunger in
now faces hunger. rural areas of developing
• However, one in five people were countries.
hungry in Africa – region with • SDG Goal 2 -End hunger, achieve
highest prevalence of hunger food security and improved
• India - Undernourishment declined nutrition and promote sustainable
from 22.2% in 2004-06 to 14.5% agriculture
between 2016 and 2018. • Undernutrition will reduce GDP by
up to 11 % in Africa and Asia
Mekong Ganga • MGC, is a sub-regional cooperation
Cooperation organisation comprising India and
th
10 Ministerial meeting five ASEAN countries, namely,
held in Bangkok, Thailand Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand and Vietnam.
• Launched in 2000 at Laos capital
Vientiane.
• MGC takes its name from the
Ganga and the Mekong, the two
civilisational rivers in Southeast
Asia.
• Mandate: The MGC aims at
facilitating closer contacts among
the people inhabiting these two
major river basins and enhancing
cooperation in tourism, culture,
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
education, transport and
communications.
Kondapalli Toys • Kondapalli Toys have been granted • The artisans mainly work on
the Geographical Indications (GI) tag. producing figures of mythology,
Awarded GI Tag • They are cultural icons of Andhra animals, birds, bullock carts, rural
Pradesh. life etc., and the most notable one
• They are made from soft wood known is Dasavataram, dancing dolls etc.
as Tella Poniki which are found in
nearby Kondapalli Hills.
• The artisans who make the toys are
referred as Aryakhastriyas (also known
as Nakarshalu),
Saharia Tribe • Saharia tribe comes under the special • The Saharia people of Madhya
backward tribes of Madhya Pradesh. Pradesh and Rajasthan are the
UIDAI has recorded • Saharias are mainly found in many largest among the Particularly
January 1 as default districts of Madhya Pradesh and Baran Vulnerable Tribal Groups
date of birth on the district of Rajasthan (PVTGs)with population more than
Aadhaar card for • They trace their origin from Shabri of 4 lakhs.
Saharia Tribes in the Ramayan. • In 1973, the Dhebar Commission
Kakra village in MP • They are also known as the younger created Primitive Tribal Groups
brothers of Bhil’s (Bhils or Bheels are (PTGs) as a separate category, who
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
primarily an ethnic group of people in are less developed among the
West India). tribal groups. In 2006, the
• Their habitats are located in the forest Government of India renamed the
area, barren and stony land and they PTGs as PVTGs.
are still a primitive society. • Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the
highest number are found in
Odisha (13), followed by Andhra
Pradesh (12).
Dindigul Lock: • Awarded GI Tag • More than 3,125 lock
• Dindigul is a city in Tamil Nadu known manufacturing units are limited to
Awarded GI Tag as “Lock City” an area of 5 km in and around
• The Dindigul locks are known Dindigul.
throughout the world for their superior • The abundance of iron in this
quality and durability. region is the reason for the growth
of the industry.
Kandangi saree: • Awarded GI Tag • A GI Tag indicates that the product
• Mnufactured in the entire Karaikudi originates from a definite territory
taluk in Sivaganga district of Tamil in India and has unique
Awarded GI Tag Nadu characteristics or qualities
• These cotton sarees are characterised • Geographical Indications
by large contrast borders. Registry (hq: Chennai, TN) gives
• It is manually made using a winding the GI tags in India. This registry is
machine, loom, shuttle and bobbin. directly under the Controller
General of Patents, Designs and
Trademarks (CGPDTM) of India
• Darjeeling Tea was the first to get
GI tag in 2004.
Menhirs • A menhir is a large upright standing • Menhirs may be found singly as
stone. (Megalithic monument) monoliths, or as part of a group of
• Three menhirs found in Erode district of similar stones.
Tamil Nadu dating to 1,500BC-500BC • Their size can vary considerably;
• Menhirs are prehistoric stones but their shape is generally uneven
commonly found near the ancient and squared, often tapering
burial sites or chambers towards the top
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Essential • Indian Council of Medical Research • WHO had released the first
Diagnostics List (NEDL) (ICMR) has finalised the first NEDL edition of EDL in May 2018,
making India the first country to however, India’s diagnostics list
compile such list has been customised and
• NEDL aims to bridge the current prepared as per landscape of
regulatory system’s gap that do not India’s health care priorities.
cover all the medical devices and in- • ICMR, is the apex body in the
vitro diagnostic device country for the formulation,
• NEDL has been developed for all coordination and promotion
levels of health care – village level, of biomedical research.
primary, secondary & tertiary care. • Set up in 1911 by the Government
• NEDL also recommends list of human as Indian Research Fund
resources such as ASHA workers, lab Association (IRFA), it was
technicians’ pathologists for different redesigned asICMR in 1949
levels of health care as per the • ICMR is funded by the
proposed list of diagnostics. Government of India through the
Ministry of Health &Family
Welfare.
San Sadhan Hackathon • It is the latest initiative under • Since the launch of the SBM,
the Swachh Bharat Mission India’s rural sanitation coverage
• It is an initiative to ease lives of has increased from 39% in 2014 to
Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) over 99% as of August 2019
by making toilets smarter, more • The international day of persons
accessible, and easier to use. with disabilities is observed every
• Organized jointly by the Ministry of year on 3rd December.
Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Social • In March 2019, Ministry of Social
Justice& Empowerment, in Justice and Empowerment
collaboration with Atal Innovation entered into Guinness Book of
Mission, NITI Aayog, Bill & Melinda World Records for implanting
Gates Foundation, and ‘Modern Artificial Limbs (Legs)’ on
91springboard. 260 Divyangjans within eight
• Atal Innovation Mission hours.
(AIM)including Self-Employment and
Talent Utilization (SETU)is a flagship
initiative by NITI Aayog to promote a
culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship in the country.
National Time Release • India’s first national TRS is conducted • This initiative will help India
Study (TRS) by the Ministry of Finance as part of maintain the upward trajectory on
its strategic commitment to improve Ease of Doing Business,
global trade. particularly on the Trading Across
• TRS is an internationally recognized Borders indicator. Last year
tool advocated by World Customs India’s ranking on the indicator
Organization to measure the improved from 146 to 80.
efficiency and effectiveness of • This exercise will be conducted
international trade flows every year across 15 ports
• The aim is to identify and address including sea, air, land and dry
bottlenecks in the trade flow process ports.
and take the corresponding policy
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
and operational measures.
SANKALP Project- Skills • SANKALP is a Centrally sponsored • SANKALP aims to implement the
Acquisition and scheme of Ministry of Skill mandate of the National Skill
Knowledge Awareness Development & Entrepreneurship Development Mission (NSDM)
for Livelihood • Collaboration with World Bank
Promotion • Objective: To enhance institutional Related Scheme:
mechanisms for skills development • Skills Strengthening for Industrial
and increase access to quality and Value Enhancement (STRIVE)
market-relevant training for the work Scheme is a World Bank Assisted-
force. Government of India project with
Four Key areas of SANKALP are: the objective of improving the
1. Convergence and Institutional relevance and efficiency of skills
strengthening of skill programs at training provided through
National & State level Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
2. Quality Assurance of skill and apprenticeships.
development programs through
building a pool of quality trainers,
developing model curriculum, content
& assessment standards.
3. Inclusiveness: Providing access to skill
training opportunities to the
disadvantaged sections
4. Establishing a robust monitoring and
evaluation system for skill training
programs.
National Digital Library • Launched in August 2019 by Ministry Other Initiatives under NMEICT
(NDL) of India of Human Resource Development • SWAYAM- integrated platform for
under the aegis of National Mission offering online courses, covering
on Education through Information school (9th to 12th) to
and Communication Technology Postgraduate Level.
(NMEICT). • SWAYAM Prabha: It is an initiative
• It is developed by IIT Kharagpur. to provide 32 High Quality
• NDL is the Single Window Platform Educational Channels through
that collects and collates metadata DTH (Direct to Home) on a 24X7
from premier learning institutions in basis.
India and abroad, as well as other • Free and Open Source Software
relevant sources. for Education (FOSSEE)
• It is a digital repository containing • E-Yantra: It is a project for
textbooks, articles, videos, audio enabling effective education
books, lectures, simulations, fiction across engineering colleges in
and all other kinds of learning media India on embedded systems and
• NDL has 1.7 Crore content from more robotics.
than 160 sources, in over 200
languages.
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Development Banks • These are financial institutions • Some of the development banks in
that provide long-term credit for India are IFCI (1948), IDBI (1964),
capital-intensive investments spread IIBI (1972), NABARD and EXIM
over a long period Bank (1982), SIDBI (1990).
• They often lend at low and stable • China has established
rates of interest to promote long- Development Banks like Asian
term investments that has Infrastructure Investment Bank
considerable social benefits. and the New Development Bank
• These are different from commercial (with its BRICS partners)
banks which mobilise short- to
medium-term deposits and lend for
similar maturities
The Livelihood and • Launched by NABARD in 2015 • National Bank for Agriculture and
Enterprise • Aim: at creation of sustainable livelihoods Rural Development (NABARD) is
Development amongst Self Help Group members statutory body established in 1982
Programme through cluster approach. • NABARD is development bank
• The scheme provides for intensive focusing on providing finance for
training for skill building, refresher Agriculture and rural development.
training, backward-forward linkages and • NABARD also supervises Cooperative
handholding & escort supports. Banks and Regional Rural Banks
• It also encompasses the complete value (RRBs) and helping them develop
chain and offers end-to-end solution to sound banking practices and integrate
the SHG members them to the CBS (Core Banking
Solution) platform.
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
Environment
TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition
Special Report on • Released by Intergovernmental • Negative emissions - methods
Climate Change and Land Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). that aim to remove CO2 from
• First time IPCC focused solely on the atmosphere and store it in
the land sector the land or ocean.
Role of CDRI
• CDRI would guide and handhold in
creating disaster-proof
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infrastructure.
• As a knowledge platform –
exchange best practices
• Assist countries in capacity
building.
Convention on • 18th Conference of Parties (CoP18) • CITES also known as
International Trade in to the CITES held at Geneva. Washington Convention.
Endangered Species on • CoP to CITES, is the supreme • International agreement to
Wild Fauna and Flora decision-making body. regulate worldwide commercial
(CITES) • India hosted CoP 3rd in 1981. trade in wild animal and plant
species.
Key Highlights • Signed on March 3, 1973 (World
• Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale wildlife day on March 3).
perspicillata) small-clawed otters • Entered into force in July 1975.
(Anoyx cinereus) and Indian star • 183 Parties (countries and
tortoise moved to CITES Appendix organizations).
I. • Legally binding on parties, but
• Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) - CITES does not take the place of
Appendix II. national laws.
• Administered by the UNEP.
Species Classification • Secretariat at Geneva.
• Appendix I: Species in danger of
extinction. Prohibits commercial • Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
trade except in extraordinary of India – statutory body under
situations for scientific or Environment Ministry.
educational reasons. • The International Consortium
• Appendix II: Species not on Combating Wildlife
threatened with extinction but Crime (ICCWC), a consortium of
that might suffer a serious decline the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL,
if trade is not restricted. Their UN Office on Drugs and Crime,
trade is regulated by permit. World Bank and World Customs
• Appendix III: Species protected in Organization - to tackle illegal
at least one-member country and wildlife trade.
that has petitioned others for help • The TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Trade
in controlling international trade. Monitoring Network – an NGO,
is a joint program of WWF and
IUCN.
Amazon Fund • Norway - have slashed their • 2019 saw increased forest fires
funding to an Amazon Fund. at Amazon forest.
• Fund created in 2008 to receive • Policies of current regime in
donations for non-reimbursable Brazil have accentuated
investments. deforestation.
• Fund is managed by the National • Amazon forest – ‘Lungs of the
Bank for Economic and Social Earth’, largest equatorial
Development (BNDES) of Brazil. rainforests.
• Norway is the main donor, • Amazon river – largest river of
followed by Germany. the World.
• It is a REDD+ mechanism created • REDD+ (Reducing Emissions
to raise donations for investments from Deforestation and forest
in efforts to prevent, monitor and Degradation), is a mechanism
combat deforestation, as well as developed by parties to
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
to promote the preservation and UNFCCC.
sustainable use in the Brazilian • G7 – group of 7: USA, Canada,
Amazon. UK, France, Germany, Italy and
Japan.
• E.U. - Mercosur Free Trade
Agreement.
• Mercosur - South American
trade bloc consisting Brazil,
Argentina, Paraguay and
Uruguay.
Bioenergy with Carbon • Process of extracting bioenergy Climate Change Mitigation
Capture and Storage from biomass and capturing and Strategies
(BECCS) storing the carbon, thus removing • Carbon Sequestration
it from the atmosphere. • Carbon Sink
• Crops suck carbon dioxide (CO2) • Carbon Credit
from the atmosphere, power • Carbon Offsetting
plants burn the biomass to • Carbon Tax
generate electricity, and the • Geo-Engineering
emissions are captured in a
smokestack and pumped
underground for long-term
storage.
• It is a Geo-Engineering mitigation
technique.
• BECCS achieves negative
emissions – net removal of CO2.
Ratapani Tiger Reserve • NTCA (National Tiger Conservation • Waterbodies – Dahod Dam,
Authority) approved Madhya Barna Reservoir and Ratapani
Pradesh (MP) proposal to declare Dam (Barrusot lake).
Ratapani Tiger Reserve (TR) to be • Tiger – Endangered IUCN) and
carved out of the Ratapani wildlife Schedule I animal.
sanctuary. • Tiger census – once in 4 years.
• Madhya Pradesh’s 7th TR. Tiger count: MP > Karnataka >
• Located in Raisen district in Uttarakhand.
Vindhayan Range (Bhopal-Raisen • Highest no. of TRs – MP (7)
forest division) Maharashtra (6) > Karnataka (5).
• Flora – Teak forests. • TRs governed by Project Tiger.
• Other Fauna – Leopard, Dhole, • NTCA – statutory body,
Hyena, rhesus macaque, four- administer Project Tiger.
horned antelope, Vultures, sarus • Global Tiger Forum – 13 tiger
crane etc. range countries.
• Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
(UNESCO World Heritage Site)
located within this TR.
Recovery Program for • Species Recovery Programme of • IUCN Red List of Threatened
Critically Endangered the Union Environment Ministry is Species – CR (Critically
Species implemented under Integrated Endangered), EN (Endangered)
Development of Wildlife Habitats and VU (Vulnerable).
(IDWH).
• Aims at targeted conservation CR
species.
Criteria for CR
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• 21 species covered: Snow • 90% population reduced over
Leopard, Indian Bustard, Dolphin, the last 10 years OR
Hangul, Nilgiri Tahr, Marine • < 50 mature individuals exist
Turtles, Dugongs, Edible Nest • At least 50% probability of
Swiftlet, Asian Wild Buffalo, extinction in wild in their 10
Nicobar Megapode, Manipur years.
Brow-antlered Deer, Vultures, • IDWH is a Centrally Sponsored
Malabar Civet, Indin Rhinoceros, Scheme, has following 3
Asiatic Lion, Swamp Deer, Jerdon’s components:
Courser, Northern River Terrapin, 1. Support to Protected Areas
Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea 2. Protection of Wildlife
Humpback Whale and Red Panda. Outside Protected Areas
• NBWL has authority to 3. Species Recovery
add/remove species. programmes
• National Board for Wildlife
(NBWL) – statutory body,
Chaired by Prime Minister.
Indian Star Tortoises • CITES upgraded the protection to • Distribution - India, Pakistan
the star tortoises (Geochelone and Srilanka.
elegans) by listing in Appendix I. • State wise – Kerala, Karnataka,
• Giving it the highest level of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Odisha,
international protection from Gujarat, Rajasthan.
commercial trade. • Habitat - dry vegetation types.
• Threat - Illegal smuggling for use • IUCN status – VU (Vulnerable).
as exotic pets in Asian countries. • CITES Appendix I.
• Schedule IV of WPA, 1972.
Enhancing Coastal and • ENCORE aims to strengthen • Integrated Coastal Zone
Ocean Resource integrated coastal zone Management Project (ICZMP),
Efficiency (ENCORE) management in all coastal States also a World Bank supported
Program and Union Territories of India. project.
• A World Bank-funded project. • Draft Environmental and Social
• Society of Integrated Coastal Management Framework
Management (SICOM), under (ESMF) is a part of ENCORE
MoEFCC is the National Project program.
Management Unit (NPMU) for
ENCORE Program.
Mesovelia • Scientists from Zoological Survey • The combination of hydrophobic
of India (ZSI) have discovered setae and water surface tension
seven new prevents them from sinking.
species of water treaders • These are hemimetabolous
belonging to genus Mesovelia. insects without having larval
• Water treaders are semi- stage i.e., they go from egg to
aquatic insects that can walk or nymph to adult.
run on surface of water. • These bugs serve as predators
• They are equipped with and scavengers.
hydrophobic setae (bristles) on • The claws of Mesovelia are
their legs. placed apically (tip or extreme
7 new insects are end of legs), whereas in water
• Mesovelia andamana (from striders, they arise from the pre-
Andaman Island) apex (just before the tip) of legs.
• M. isiasi and M. bispinosa (from • ZSI established in 1916 at
Meghalaya) Kolkata.
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
• M. tenuia and M. occulta (from • Founder director of ZSI was
Tamil Nadu) Thomas Nelson Annandale.
• M. dilatata and M. brevia (both in • ZSI publishes Red Data Book on
Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu) Indian Animals.
Khangchendzonga Biosp • Included in the UNESCO’s World • BR is an in-situ conservation
here Reserve Network of Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and
(WNBR). Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
• It’s the 11th Indian BR in WNBR, is • 11 of the 18 Biosphere Reserves
in Sikkim. (BR) of India are in WNBR –
• Third highest mountain peak in Nilgiri BR (first to be included),
the world, Kanchenjunga (8,586 Gulf of Mannar, Great Nicobar,
m). Pachmarhi, Achanakmar-
• Highest biosphere reserve of Amarkantak, Simplipal, Nokrek,
India. Sundarbans, Nandadevi,
• 86% of the core area, is situated in Agastyamalay and
the Greater Himalayas. Khangchendzonga.
• The core zone - Khangchendzonga • Other 7 BRs – Manas, Dibru-
National Park is only ‘Mixed saikkhowa, Dihang-Dibang, Rann
World Heritage Site’ on UNESCO of Kachch, Panna, Sheshachalam
World Heritage List from India. and Cold Desert.
• Flora - temperate broadleaf and • Large number of medicinal
mixed forests consisting plants found in Dzongu Valley in
of oaks, fir, birch, maple, willow north Sikkim is part of this BR.
and alpine grasses, herbs and
shrubs.
• Fauna - Snow leopard, Himalayan
tahr, Asiatic wild dog, Sloth
bear, Civet, Red panda, Tibetan
wild ass, Himalayan blue sheep,
rat snake and Russell's viper.
• Birds - Blood pheasant, Himalayan
griffon, Green pigeon, Tibetan
snowcock, Snow pigeon, Asian
emerald cuckoo etc.
• Tribes found – Lepcha.
Laboratory for • A dedicated facility of CSIR’s • Council of Scientific and
Conservation of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Industrial Research (CSIR) -
Endangered Species Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. largest R&D organisation of
(LaCONES) • India’s only facility, uses modern India.
biotechnologies for conservation • CSIR function as autonomous
of endangered wildlife. body, funded by Ministry of
• Indian Mouse Deer was Science and Technology.
successfully reintroduced by • Prime Minister is the ex-officio
breeding of the elusive species at CSIR President.
the dedicated facility. • CSIR-CCMB is a premier
research organization in frontier
areas of modern biology.
National Wildlife Genetic • Established by CCMB-LaCONES • Gene bank is an ex-situ
Resource Bank at • India’s first genetic resource bank. conservation method.
LaCONES. • So far, genetic resources from 23 • For cryogenic preservation,
species of Indian wild animals liquid Nitrogen at minus 195
degrees Celsius.
PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAMME 2020 (PEP)-AUGUST 2019 CURRENT AFFAIRS
have been collected and
preserved.
• It facilitates exchange of genetic
material between the Indian zoos
for maintaining genetic diversity
and conservation management.
Environmental and Social • The Environment Ministry • Integrated Coastal Zone
Management Framework (MoEFCC) has unveiled a draft Management (ICZM) Project is a
(ESMF) ESMF for coastal zone World Bank supported project
management. that aims to build national
• It was prepared by Society for capacity for implementation of
Integrated Coastal Management, comprehensive coastal
an MoEFCC -affiliated body as part management.
of a World Bank-funded project. • ICZM Plan – only 3 states West
• It lays out guidelines for coastal Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat have
States to adopt when they prepared ICZM plan so far.
approve and regulate projects in • ICZM uses ‘ecosystem
coastal zones. approach’.
• Salient features of ESMF - • National Centre for Sustainable
Resettlement Policy Framework, Coastal Management (NCSCM)
Gender Action Plan, Indigenous at Chennai.
Peoples Planning Framework,
Labour Management Framework
and Grievance Redress
Mechanism.
Flue-gas Desulfurization Greenpeace report findings Impacts of SO2 pollution
Technology - Sulphur • India is the largest emitter of • Formation of high resistance,
Dioxide Emissions Sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the visible corrosion layers
REPORT BY Green Peace world, contributing more than 15 • Formation of acid rain.
per cent of global anthropogenic • A precursor for sulphate
emissions. aerosols, that can affect the
• Largest source of SO2 – burning properties of clouds.
fossil fuels at power plants due to
expansion of coal-based • Greenpeace is an environmental
electricity generation. NGO.
• The vast majority of power plants • Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD)
in India lack flue-gas involves either wet scrubbing or
desulfurization technology to dry scrubbing, a pollutant
reduce their air pollution. absorption process.
• Major SO2 emission hotspots in • Wet FGD systems, uses liquid
India are Singrauli in Madhya absorbent, where SO2 gets
Pradesh, Neyveli and Chennai in trapped.
Tamil Nadu, Talcher and • Singrauli is at number five in the
Jharsuguda in Odisha, Korba in world list of SO2 emission
Chhattisgarh, Kutch in Gujarat, Hotspots.
Ramagundam in Telangana and
Chandrapur and Koradi in
Maharashtra - as detected by
the NASA OMI (Ozone Monitoring
Instrument) satellite.
Cnemaspis Anandani • 35th species of day gecko found in • Western Ghats - Biodiversity
(Anandan’s day gecko) Western Ghats, in Nilgiris forests Hotspot, UNESCO Heritage site.
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of Tamil Nadu. • Two endangered species-lion-
• Only around 42 mm in size. tailed macaque and Nilgiri Tahr
• It’s a species of diurnal, rock- found in Nilgiri Biosphere
dwelling, insectivorous gecko. Reserve (NBR).
• Endemic to India. • NBR includes the Aralam,
• Named after Anandan Mudumalai, Mukurthi,
Sethuraman, a conservationist. Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent
• Faces the threat of extinction - Valley National Parks, as well as
natural predators such as calotes the Wayanad and
(lizards), birds and anthropogenic Sathyamangalam Wildlife
factors. sanctuaries.
Agriculture
TOPICS KEY ASPECTS Value Addition
Geoponic, Hydroponic, • Geoponic refers to growing plants • Protected cultivation
Aquaponic, Aeroponic in normal soil. practices are cropping
• Aeroponics growing plants in techniques wherein the
mist environment without the use microenvironment is
of soil medium. controlled partially/fully as per
• Hydroponics growing plants using plant need during their period
mineral nutrient solutions, in of growth to maximize the
water, without soil. yield and resource saving.
• Aeroponic symbiotic environment • National Mission on
of aquaculture and hydroponics. Sustainable Agriculture under
National Action Plan on
Climate Change.
Precision Farming • Refers to precise application of • SMART Farming – application
agricultural inputs based on soil, of ICT into agriculture.
weather and crop requirement to • 3 interconnected tech fields
maximize sustainable to SMART Farming are,
productivity, quality and Management Information
profitability. Systems, Precision Agriculture
• A modern agriculture practice and Agricultural automation
involving the use of technology and robotics.
such as remote sensing (RS), GPS, • National Mission on
and geographical information Agriculture Extension &
system (GIS). Technology – support tech
• More effective use of inputs adoption in agriculture.
means greater crop yield and/or • Challenges in adopting
quality, without much polluting Precision Farming – small size
the environment. of landholdings, large small
and marginal farmers and high
cost of adoption.
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India’s Deep-Sea • The mission proposes to explore the • India has been allotted 75,000
Mission deep ocean similar to the space square kilometres in CIO) by UN
exploration by ISRO International Sea Bed Authority
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Ministry of Earth • focus of the mission will be on deep- (ISBA) for exploration of poly-
Sciences plans Rs 8000 sea mining, ocean climate change metallic nodules (potential of 380
Crore ‘Deep Ocean advisory services, underwater million metric tonnes)
Mission’ To Boost India’s vehicles and robotics related • CIOB reserves contain deposits of
Sea Exploration technologies. metals like iron, manganese, nickel
Capabilities • Mission includes Two key projects: and cobalt.
o Desalination plant powered by • ISBA is an intergovernmental body
tidal energy and based in Kingston, Jamaica, that was
o Submersible vehicle that can established under 1982UNCLOS to
explore depths of at least 6 km organize, regulate and control all
• Mission enable India to develop mineral-related activities in the
capabilities to exploit resources in international seabed area beyond
Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) the limits of national jurisdiction
Pampa River • Pampa River is the third longest river • Sabarimala temple dedicated to
in the Kerala after Periyar and Lord Ayyappa is located on the
Bharathappuzha. banks of the river Pamba.
• It originates at Pulachimalai hill in • Parts of terracotta artefacts of
the Peerumedu plateau in the archaeological value have been
Western Ghats in Kerala. unearthed from the banks of the
• It then flows west before emptying Pampa river giving further support
into the Vembanad Lake. to the theory that ‘Pampa Valley
• The river is also known as 'Dakshina Civilisation’ flourished.
Bhageerathi' and 'River Baris'
Heat Domes • Heat domes is used to describe a
"lid" that forms when high pressure
Was one of the reasons hovers in the atmosphere, stopping
for high temperatures in the hot air from escaping
North America and and trapping it at the Earth's surface.
Western Europe during • They can fuel violent thunderstorms,
the months of June & stoke dangerous wildfires and
July. • Hot air tries to escape, the lid causes
exacerbate drought
it to sink
• They form blocking patterns in the
• The air is forced to warm even more
atmosphere, which halt the west-to-
as it sinks.
east movement of weather
Tawi River • Indian Air Force rescues 2 men • After traversing Jammu city, the
stranded in Tawi river. river crosses into Pakistan's Punjab
• Originates from the lap of Kailash and joins Chenab river.
Kund glacier • The flow of water in the river has
• Tawi is a river that flows through the been decreasing in recent years as
city of Jammu. the source glacier (Kailash Kund
• Tawi is a major left bank tributary of glacier) has been retreating.
river Chenab.
Sripada Yellampalli • KLIP is claimed to be the world’s • KLIP was previously known as
Project (SYP) largest multi-stage and multi-purpose Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation
which is a part of lift irrigation scheme. Project.
Kaleshwaram Lift • It is located at the confluence point • Pranahita river in itself is a
Irrigation Project (KLIP) of Pranhita River and Godavari River confluence of various other smaller
i.e, at Kaleshwaram village in tributaries like Wardha, Penganga
Telangana and Wainganga Rivers.
• Under the scheme, 89 cumecs (cubic • KLIP is meant to irrigate over 37 lakh
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metres per second) of water will be acres of land and supply drinking
lifted to a height of 106 metres from water to Hyderabad and villages en
the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir to route.
Medaram reservoir and will be used
for irrigation and water supply in
nearby drought-prone areas.
Bharati Huda • The site is in Jalalpur village • During Chalcolithic (Chalco = Copper
Excavations done here in Odisha’s Cuttack district and Lithic = Stone) period,
by Archaeological Survey • As per ancient artefacts and grain both metal and stone were
of India (ASI) discovered here by the ASI, a rural utilized for the manufacture of the
settlement had thrived at Bharati equipment in day-to-day life.
Huda nearly 3600 years ago • Chalcolithic period spanned
• The age of the settlement was around 2500 BC to 700 BC
arrived at after radiocarbon dating of • The world-famous Sun temple of
charcoal samples found at the site Konark, located some 30 kilometres
Other Findings from Excavation from the excavation, was built in the
• Chalcolithic Culture 13th century CE. The tradition of Sun
• Economy: Agriculture and animal worship seems to have evolved with
husbandry (findings of varieties of human settlements in the region.
rice & jute & domesticated cattle)
• Worship: Nature worship as evident
from single specimen of sun motif
found
Kremlin • The Moscow Kremlin is a fortified • It is similar to "White House" which
complex in the center of Moscow, refers to the Executive Office of the
overlooking the Moskva River to the President of USA
south
• The name "Kremlin" means "fortress
inside a city"
• The complex now serves as the
official residence of the President of
the Russia and as a museum
Apusiajik Glacier • It is located on the south-eastern • Greenland is the world's largest
shore of Greenland island located between the Arctic
• During summer, the glacier edge is and Atlantic oceans.
also a popular tourist destination for • Greenland is an autonomous
boat trips territory within the Kingdom of
• With increasing temperature, alarms Denmark
have been raised about the melting • Though physiographically a part of
of ice and glaciers the continent of North America,
• Glacier is a slowly moving mass or Greenland has been politically and
river of ice formed by the culturally associated with Europe
accumulation and compaction of
snow on mountains or near the
poles.
Pallikaranai Marshland • Only surviving wetland • Wetlands mitigate floods. Eg.
ecosystem of Chennai city, shrunk Chennai floods of 2015 was
miserably losing 90% of it in last 50 devastating as key wetlands were
years. encroached.
• Originally formed as a salt marsh • Flora and fauna —birds, mammals,
created by the backwaters of Bay amphibians, fishes, butterflies, and
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of Bengal, it now receives plants.
freshwater through rains and • Birds found – Grey wagtail, pallas'
surplus water from 31 sub-urban grasshopper warbler, Asian pied
water tanks. starling (Pied Myna).
• Southern portion of the marshland • Ramsar Convention on wetlands.
drain towards Buckingham Canal.
• It’s a part of the Central Asian Wetlands of Tamil Nadu
flyway. • Point Calimere – Ramsar site.
• Threats – Large scale infrastructure • Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
development and Perungudi • Muthupet mangroves.
sewage treatment plant etc. • Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary.
Herat City • New York Times ‘Afghan War • Garland road of Afghanistan
Casualty Report’ - multiple connects Kandahar, Kabul,
(Figure 3) casualties in Heart by Taliban and Mazar-i-Sharif with Heart.
militant attacks. (Refer Figure 1)
• Third-largest city of Afghanistan. • Salma Dam / Afghan-India
• Capital of Herat Province. Friendship Dam is on Hari river.
• Situated in the fertile valley of • India developed Iran port city
the Hari River. Chabahar – key to access central
India through Afghan.
• Afghan is a member of SAARC and
party to SAFTA (South Asia Free
Trade Agreement).
Lambahraun Lava Field • NASA has chosen the Lambahraun • NASA’s ‘Curiosity’ rover – at Gale
lava field in Iceland as the site to crater in 2012
(Figure 4) prepare for the next mission to • NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere
Mars in 2020. and Volatile EvolutioN).
• Site is at the foot of Iceland's • NASA’s Mars InSight probe – to
second biggest glacier, Langjokull. study interior of Mars.
• With its black basalt sand, wind- • ISRO’s MOM (Mars Orbiter
swept dunes and craggy peaks, it is Mission) - orbiter
in many ways reminiscent of Mars. • ISRO’s Mangalayaan 2 – orbiter
• NASA is working on MARS 2020 plus rover.
Rover and tests its prototype rover
on this site.
Long Period Average • LPA is the averages of rainfall Five rainfall distribution categories by
(LPA) of Monsoon received over a 50-year period IMD
between 1951 and 2001. • Normal or Near Normal: When per
• New LPA value is 88cm (1961- cent departure of actual rainfall is
2010), 1 cm less than earlier 89cm +/-10% of LPA, that is, between 96-
(1951-2000). 104% of LPA
• LPA is considered to be the • Below Normal: When departure of
'normal' rainfall in India. actual rainfall is less than 10% of
• The 2019 southwest monsoon LPA, that is 90-96% of LPA
season - 110% LPA, above normal • Above Normal: When actual
rainfall. rainfall is 104-110% of LPA
• IMD (India Met Department) – • Deficient: When departure of
agency of MoES (Ministry of Earth actual rainfall is less than 90% of
Sciences), provides meteorological LPA
services. • Excess: When departure of actual
• After 2010, this is the first time, rainfall is more than 110% of LPA
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rainfalls during all the last three • Ensemble Prediction Systems
months (July to September) were (EPS) - IMD’s new forecast model.
above LPA. • MoES - Monsoon Mission of India.
Lower Subansiri • Is the biggest hydroelectric project • Left bank tributaries
Hydropower Project undertaken in India so far and is a Brahmaputra: Bibang, Lohit and
run of river scheme on the Dhansiri.
(Figure 5) river Subansiri. • Right bank tributaries
• Located near North Lakhimpur on Brahmaputra: Kamneng, Manas
the border of Aruncachal Pradesh and Teesta.
and Assam. • Koyna HEP of 1960 MW is the
• Capacity: 2,000 MW second largest one.
• NHPC (National Hydro Power • Share of hydropower in the total
Corporation) signed MoU with both capacity has declined from 50.36%
State governments to generate in the 1960s to around 13% in
hydroelectricity. 2018-19.
• Subansiri River originates in the • NHPC - is a Mini Ratna Category-I
Tibet Plateau and enters India Enterprise of the Central
through Miri hills in Arunachal Government.
Pradesh.
• Subansiri is a right bank tributary
of Brahmaputra.
Port Velho City • The capital city of Rondonia state • Amazon river is largest river in the
of Brazil, located at the upper world.
(Figure 6) Amazon River basin. • Amazon river - Source is Mantaro
• It is on the eastern shore of river in Peru, Atlantic Ocean is the
the Madeira River, one of the Mouth.
main tributaries of the Amazon • Countries of Amazon basin are
River. Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador,
• Porto Velho’s airport had to be Guyana, Peru, Suriname and
closed as the Amazon forest fire Venezuela.
raged right up against its
perimeter.
Bonavista Bay • Located on the northeast coast of • A bay is a recessed, coastal body of
the island of Newfoundland in the water that directly connects to a
(Figure 7) province of Newfoundland and larger main body of water.
Labrador in Canada. • Newfoundland Island – one of the
• It opens directly onto the Atlantic major fishing zones as cold
Ocean. Labrador current meets with warm
• The bay is demarcated by Cape Gulf stream.
Freels to the north and Cape • Island blocks the mouth of
Bonavista (eastern limit of the Saint Lawrence River, creating
the Bonavista Peninsula) to the the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the
south. world's largest estuary.
Gandhamardhan Hills • Heavy rain triggered a major • Source of two major tributaries of
landslide near Harishankar Temple, the river Mahanadi.
(Figure 8) situated on the southern slopes of • Main occupation of local people -
the Gandhamardhan Hills in collect herbs and supply them to
western Odisha. companies such as Dabur and
• Hill is known for medicinal plants Zandu.
and Bauxite reserve. • Tribes - Kondha and Gond
• BSI has reported the existence of • Two ayurvedic colleges and
220 plant species of medicinal hospitals on both side of
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value. Gandhamardan.
• Nrusinghanath Temple at northern • Medicinal plants from
slope of hill. Gandhamardan, as the epic
Ramayana says, saved the life
Laxman.
Rice bowl of Karnataka • Koppal, Ballari and Raichur • It is in Hyderabad Karnataka (Art
districts for growing top class rice 371J) region.
known as rice bowl of Karnataka. • Tungabhadra river – right tributary
• Rice varities - Sona masuri, IR - 64, of Krishna.
bapatla sona. • Tungabhadra reservoir or Pampa
• At crisis as water level in Sagar.
Tungabhadra dam sinks – • Gangavati in Koppal district – rice
Tungabhadra command area bowl city of Karnataka.
affected. • 'Rice Bowl of India' is the state of
Andhra Pradesh.
• International rice research
institute at Varanasi.
• National Rice Research Institute at
Cuttack, Odisha.
• Hampi is situated on the banks of
the Tungabhadra River in the
eastern part of central Karnataka
near the state border with Andhra
Pradesh.
Evapotranspiration • IIT Bombay team along with • Potential evapo transpiration is a
researchers from Pacific Northwest measure of the ability of the
Sum of evaporation and National Laboratory and Oak Ridge atmosphere to remove water from
plant transpiration from National Laboratory – developed the surface through the processes
the Earth's land and land-surface model to understand of evaporation and
ocean surface to the linkages between irrigation and transpiration assuming no control
atmosphere. monsoon shift. on water supply.
• Land-surface processes including • Actual evapo transpiration or AE is
irrigation affect the heat fluxes and the quantity of water that is
evapotranspiration. actually removed from a surface
due to the processes of
evaporation and transpiration.
• It is a part of Hydrologic cycle (a
gaseous cycle).
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Figure 1
Figure 2
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Figure 3 Figure 4
Figure 5 Figure 6
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Figure 7 Figure 8
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