From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
The ICIMOD has launched Air Quality Dashboard for Indo-Gangetic Plain.
ICIMOD Air Quality Dashboard: Important Features
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PYQ:[2012] When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:
Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for Himalayas being young fold mountains? (a) 1 and 2 only |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Gandhamardan Hills
The Odisha government has clarified that it will not allow bauxite mining in the Gandhamardan hills after concerns arose when the Adani Group’s subsidiary acquired 112 acres of land near the hills.
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| Significance | Cultural Sites:
1. Nrusinghanath Temple: A major pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Nrusingha, a half-lion, half-human incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hiuen Tsang described the hill shrine as a Buddhist heritage site named Parimalagiri in his chronicles. – Flora: Rich in medicinal plants. Dasycarpa and spider peucetia harishankarensis are endemic to this hill. Declared as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) by the Odisha government in March 2023 (making 37th BHS in India). |
PYQ:[2015] Consider the following pairs : Place of Pilgrimage: Location 1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills 2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar: Mahadeo Hills Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 |
International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users' Conference
The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference (AOMSUC-14) will take place from December 4-6, 2024, in New Delhi.
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| What is it? | • It is a conference focused on the use of meteorological satellite data for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster risk management. • First AOMSUC was held in Beijing, China in 2010.• Held annually across various locations in the Asia-Oceania region, becoming a significant event for meteorological satellite applications. • Participants: WMO, NASA, ESA, JAXA, and other leading space organizations. |
| Aims and Provisions | • Collaboration: Facilitate regional cooperation in the use of satellite data. • Weather & Climate Monitoring: Improve forecasting and monitoring of climate patterns. • Disaster Management: Enhance early warning systems for extreme weather events. • Capacity Building: Provide training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing opportunities for local meteorologists and satellite data users. • Data Sharing: Promote satellite data sharing across countries. |
| Significance | • Regional Cooperation: Promotes stronger collaboration between Asia-Oceania countries, helping to address shared meteorological challenges. • Improved Forecasting: Facilitates the improvement of satellite data usage for more accurate weather forecasts and better disaster risk reduction strategies. |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Exercise CINBAX
The 1st edition of the Joint Table Top Exercise, CINBAX, between the Indian Army and the Cambodian Army commenced at the Foreign Training Node, Pune.
| Note: Aspirants must not get confused with Exercise SIMBEX, which is a bilateral naval exercise between India and Singapore. |
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PYQ:[2024] Which of the following statements about the Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023 is/ are correct?
Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4 |
Agricultural Sector and Marketing Reforms – eNAM, Model APMC Act, Eco Survey Reco, etc.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Rabi Cropping Seasons
Due to high October temperatures and shortages of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser, the planting of key Rabi (winter-spring) crops such as wheat, mustard, and chana (chickpea) has been slower than usual.
Low Rabi Sowing this Year
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PYQ:[2013] Consider the following crops:
Which of these are Kharif crops? (a) 1 and 4 (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4 |
Horticulture, Floriculture, Commercial crops, Bamboo Production – MIDH, NFSM-CC, etc.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: North Eastern Tea Association (NETA)
| Details | • NETA is an association of tea producers headquartered in Golaghat, Upper Assam. • Established in 1981. • A key constituent of the Joint Forum and the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA), Assam Valley branch. • Focuses on promoting the interests of its members and enhancing the tea industry in Assam. |
| Structural Mandate | • Presence: Strong presence in Golaghat, Assam. • Role: Represents tea producers and plays a pivotal role in the development of Assam’s tea industry. • Mandate: Advocates for improvements in the tea industry, assists with policy suggestions, and provides guidance on the development of the tea sector. |
| Powers and Functions | • Advisory Role: Provides expert opinions and advice to the government of Assam and its members on issues related to the tea industry. • Policy Advocacy: Urges for changes in government policies to improve the tea industry, e.g., suggesting the relocation of the Tea Board of India’s headquarters to Guwahati. • Industry Growth: Encourages high-quality tea production and advises growers to enhance the quality of tea to attract international buyers. • Small Tea Grower Representation: Advocates for amendments to the definition of Small Tea Growers, proposing that those holding up to 50.6 hectares of land be recognized as small growers. • Government Relations: Provides suggestions to the government for improving and scaling up the tea industry in Assam. |
PYQ:[2022] Consider the following States:
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States? (a) Only one State (b) Only two States (c) Only three States (d) All four States |
Forest Conservation Efforts – NFP, Western Ghats, etc.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site
The Tamil Nadu CM has requested the Prime Minister to cancel the tungsten mining rights in Madurai, citing concerns for the Arittapatti biodiversity heritage site.
| Details | • First BHS in Tamil Nadu. • Notified for its ecological and historical significance. |
| Geological Features | • Surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks (inselbergs) which act as a watershed. • Watershed feeds 72 lakes, 200 natural springs, and 3 check dams. • Historic Anaikondan tank built during the Pandiyan kings in the 16th century. |
| Flora and Fauna | • Home to 250 species of birds, including Laggar Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle. • Hosts species like Indian Pangolin, Slender Loris, and pythons. |
| Cultural Significance | • Presence of megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, and Jain beds. • These features highlight the site’s historical and cultural heritage. |
Back2Basics: Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)
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PYQ:[2020] With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are: (a) Birds |
Historical and Archaeological Findings in News
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: About the Monuments
Conservation and maintenance work are being carried out at following places in Karnataka by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
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| Hoyasaleshwara Temple
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• Located in Halebidu, Karnataka. • Built in the 12th century during the Hoysala dynasty under King Vishnuvardhana. • Dedicated to Lord Shiva. • Famous for its detailed sculptures, depicting mythological stories, deities, and animals. • Hoysala style architecture with a star-shaped platform and intricate stone carvings. • Temple is a masterpiece of the Hoysala architectural style, with complex stonework and frieze detailing. • UNESCO tentative list for World Heritage status. |
| Amrutheshwara Temple
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• Located in Amruthapura, Karnataka, near Tarikere. • Built in the 14th century by King Harihara II of the Vijayanagara Empire. • Dedicated to Lord Shiva. • Architectural style reflects Vijayanagara influence with a prominent pillared hall. • Famous for its stone carvings, particularly those on the Shiva Linga. • Notable for its tank and the beautiful courtyard surrounding the temple. • Temple follows the tradition of Chola and Hoysala architecture, with distinct Vijayanagara elements. |
| Gol Gumbaz
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• Located in Vijayapura, Karnataka. • Built in the 17th century by Sultan Muhammad Adil Shah of the Bijapur Sultanate as his tomb. • Second-largest dome in the world after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. • Acoustic marvel: The dome has a whispering gallery, where sounds can be heard clearly from great distances. • The central dome spans 44 meters in diameter and is flanked by four towers. • The structure is made of lime mortar and stone. • Reflects Deccan Sultanate architectural brilliance, combining Persian, Ottoman, and Indian elements. |
| Gomatesvara Temple
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• Located in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. • Features the 57-feet monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomatesvara), carved from a single block of granite in 981 AD. • The statue is the largest monolithic statue in India. • A major pilgrimage site for Jains; it commemorates the spiritual enlightenment of Bahubali. • The temple complex includes tall steps leading up to the statue, with pilgrims performing a ritual of climbing the steps. • Maha Mastakabhisheka: Every 12 years, the statue is anointed with milk, water, and saffron in a grand ritual. • The temple and statue are considered an architectural marvel in Jain art and sculpture. |
| PYQ:
[2015] With reference to art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest? (a) Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar (b) Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli (c) Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram (d) Varaha Image at Udayagiri |
Industrial Sector Updates – Industrial Policy, Ease of Doing Business, etc.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) was honored with the prestigious Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Hague Award during the 29th Session of the Conference of the States Parties.
Significance of the OPCW-The Hague Award
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| What is it? | • CWC bans the development, use, and stockpiling of chemical weapons and mandates their destruction. • Genesis: Negotiations began in 1980. • Established: Opened for signature on January 13, 1993, and entered into force on April 29, 1997. • More comprehensive than the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which only banned the use of chemical weapons. |
| Structure and Functions | • Conference of States Parties (CSP): The main decision-making body, meeting annually. • Executive Council: 41-member body overseeing CWC implementation. • Technical Secretariat: Provides support for verification and compliance. • Verification: Inspects facilities and ensures compliance with the treaty. |
| Membership criteria and members | • Open to all nations: Any state can join if it meets requirements. • 193 States-Parties: Includes most nations. • Non-Signatories: Egypt, North Korea, and South Sudan have neither signed nor ratified the CWC. |
| Functioning Arm | • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) implements the CWC, headquartered in The Hague. • Role: Oversees the destruction of chemical weapons and ensures treaty compliance. • Inspection: Conducts inspections of chemical facilities worldwide. • Awards: The OPCW won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its efforts in chemical weapons elimination. |
PYQ:[2016] With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’, consider the following statements:
(a) 1 only |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Cyclone Fengal
Origin of the Name ‘Fengal’
Cyclone Naming Process:
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PYQ:[2015] In the South Atlantic and South Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the main reason behind this? (a) Sea Surface temperature are low (b) Inter Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs (c) Coriolis force is too weak (d) Absence of land in those regions |
