1.Asteroid ‘99942 Apophis’ On April 13, 2029, a near-Earth asteroid will cruise by Earth, about 31,000 km above the surface. The asteroid, called 99942 Apophis, is 340 m wide. At one point, it will travel more than the width of the full Moon within a minute and it will get as bright as the stars… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] International Satellites/telescope/missions

International NGOs Global Footprint Network Established When: In 2003, Mathis Wackernagel, PhD, and Susan Burns founded Global Footprint Network. Headquarter: California, USA Objective of the body: Global Footprint Network’s goal is to create a future where all humans can live well, within the means of one planet Earth. Key Functions:   It develops and promotes… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] International NGOs, regional organisations and their initiatives related to environment conservation

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA         NATIONAL PARKS                                                           STATES Papikonda National Park — Andhra Pradesh Rajiv Gandhi National Park — Andhra Pradesh… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries in India

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Background Founded by Alexander Cunningham, who is also revered as the “Father of Indian Archaeology” He was the protege of James Prinsep <who was he, post in comments> It was Lord Canning who helped pass a statute for ASI’s establishment in 1861 Post Independence, it’s a Statutory body that now works under Ancient… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] Arts & Heritage Institutions

Dear students, We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require… Continue reading Gear up for This week’s Samachar Manthan lecture on 5th May Sunday

WORLD BANK  GROUP The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and most famous development bank in the world and is an observer at the United Nations Development Group. Its five organizations are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC),… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] Important international economic organisations

1.Indian Naval ship Sahyadri reaches Darwin, Australia for exercise KAKADU 2018 Exercise KAKADU After having been deployed to the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean for over four months, which included representing Indian Navy in multinational exercises MALABAR 18 at Guam and RIMPAC 18 at Hawaii, INS Sahyadri entered the Port of Darwin, Australia… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] Important Submarines and Naval Ships

1.Saubhagya Objectives – To provide electricity connections to over 4 crore families in rural and urban areas by December 2018. -scheme deals the cost of last-mile connectivity to willing households to help achieve the goal of lighting every household by 31 December 2018. The beneficiaries for free electricity connections would be identified using Socio Economic… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] Acts and schemes related to Energy and Infrastructure

Earth System Governance Project (ESGP) Established When and by Whom:  Developed under the auspices of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. It started in January 2009. Headquarter: The Earth System Governance Project Office is hosted at Lund University, Sweden. Key Functions: The Earth System Governance Project aims to contribute to science on… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] International Organizations related to environment conservation

Indus River System Indus Ancient name → Sindhu Origin → Bokharchu Glacier, Near Mansarovar In Tibet, Called Singi Khamban / Lion’s mouth Enters In India through Ladakh, flows only in J &K Enters Pak through hair pin bend of Nanga Parbat Finally Discharges in Arabian Sea Flows approx. ( 709 / 2880 ) Km in… Continue reading [Prelims Spotlight] Major Rivers in India