From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM)
The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism has provided details of the National Mission on Cultural Mapping in the Rajya Sabha.
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PYQ:[2018] Safeguarding the Indian Art Heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: National Cooperative Policy
Update regarding the New National Cooperative Policy:
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| National Level Committee Formation | • A 48-member National Level Committee was formed under the chairmanship of Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. • The committee includes experts from the cooperative sector, representatives from National, State, District, and Primary level cooperative societies, and officers from Central Ministries/Departments. • The task of the committee was to formulate the New National Cooperation Policy for the development of the cooperative sector in India. • 17 meetings and 4 regional workshops were conducted across the country to finalize the draft report of the policy. |
| Aims and Objectives | • Revitalize the cooperative sector and enhance its efficiency at national, state, district, and primary levels. • Strengthen the cooperative movement in India by creating a structured policy that fosters growth and sustainability. • Establish financial viability and governance mechanisms for cooperatives. • Ensure cooperative federalism by allowing state cooperatives to function autonomously, avoiding undue centralization. |
| Features of the Policy | • The policy adopts an inclusive approach, including all levels of cooperatives from district to primary. • Close collaboration with State Governments to promote the cooperative sector and implement cooperative federalism. • The draft policy was developed after extensive consultations, ensuring broad public and expert participation. |
| Provisions under the Policy | • Strengthening Cooperative Structure: Set up District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and district milk producers’ unions in all uncovered districts. NABARD will prepare an action plan for this. • Expansion of Multipurpose PACS: New multipurpose PACS, primary dairy/fishery cooperative societies will be established in uncovered Panchayats/villages across India within the next five years. |
PYQ:[2011] In India, which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities? (a) Commercial Banks (b) Cooperative Banks (c) Regional Rural Banks (d) Microfinance Institutions |
Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Kumbh Mela
The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela will take place in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26.
![[pib] Maha Kumbh Mela, 2025](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/123440263_830927117657028_1327487884602532791_n.jpg)
| Details | A major pilgrimage and festival in Hinduism, occurring four times in twelve years at different locations in India. It attracts millions of pilgrims for spiritual purification.
Types of Kumbh Mela:
Locations: Kumbh Mela rotates between four cities:
Key Rituals:
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UNESCO Recognition – Kumbh Mela was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2017. |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
What is Incremental CRR (I-CRR)?
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PYQ:[2010] When the Reserve Bank of India announces an increase of the Cash Reserve Ratio, what does it mean? (a) The commercial banks will have less money to lend (b) The Reserve Bank of India will have less money to lend (c) The Union Government will have less money to lend (d) The commercial banks will have more money to lend |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: World Wildlife Conservation Day
World Wildlife Conservation Day: Key Facts
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PYQ:[2014] The most important strategy for the conservation of biodiversity together with traditional human life is the establishment of: (a) biosphere reserves (b) botanical gardens (c) national parks (d) wildlife sanctuaries |
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Marburg Virus
An outbreak of Marburg Virus (Bleeding Eyes) disease (MVD) has killed and infected many in Rwanda.
| Overview | • Causes Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), also known as Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever. • Belongs to the filovirus family (same as Ebola). • Discovered during outbreaks in 1967 in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany. • Case Fatality Rate ranges from 24% to 88%, depending on the strain and treatment effectiveness.How does it spread?• Animal to Human Transmission: Spread primarily from Rousettus bats, especially Egyptian fruit bats found in caves or mines. • Human to Human Transmission: Spread through direct contact with blood and bodily fluids (saliva, vomit, feces, semen, and breast milk). Also transmitted indirectly through contaminated surfaces or clothing. |
| Symptoms and Treatment | • Early signs include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhoea.
• Progresses to bleeding from various body parts, and death typically occurs 8-9 days after symptoms due to blood loss and organ failure. |
| Why is it a Global Concern? | • High Fatality Rate: MVD’s case fatality rate (24%-88%) makes it one of the deadliest diseases. • Spread: Ongoing outbreaks, primarily in Africa, but now affecting Rwanda and Tanzania. • Public Health Threat: Human-to-human transmission and rapid spread pose significant challenges. • Economic Impact: Outbreaks disrupt local economies, healthcare systems, and global trade due to travel restrictions and quarantine measures. |
PYQ:[2015] Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of Ebola virus recently? (a) Syria and Jordan (b) Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia (c) Philippines and Papua New Guinea (d) Jamaica, Haiti and Surinam |
Oil and Gas Sector – HELP, Open Acreage Policy, etc.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Windfall Gains Tax
With global oil prices stabilizing and domestic fuel supply improving, the government has decided to scrap the windfall gains tax, ensuring more predictable taxation for the oil industry.
PYQ:[2020] The term ‘West Texas Intermediate’, sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of: (a) Crude oil (b) Bullion (c) Rare earth elements (d) Uranium |
Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)
A recent study published in the ‘Nature’ has shown that Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is present in approximately 50% of cancer types, playing a significant role in tumor evolution and genetic heterogeneity.
| Details | • ecDNA stands for extrachromosomal DNA, which is small, circular DNA found in the nucleus of cells, separate from regular chromosomes. • Forms when DNA breaks off from chromosomes, often due to damage or errors in cell division. • Can carry extra copies of oncogenes, which promote cancer growth. • Initially thought to be unimportant, recent studies show it plays a major role in cancer. |
| How ecDNA Contributes to Cancer and Drug Resistance | • Helps Tumors Grow: ecDNA contains extra copies of oncogenes that help cancer cells grow faster and become more aggressive. • Drug Resistance: The extra oncogenes make the cancer harder to treat with standard drugs by producing more harmful proteins. • Faster Tumor Evolution: ecDNA allows cancer cells to evolve rapidly, making them more resistant to treatments like chemotherapy and enabling the tumor to grow even when drugs are used. |
How ecDNA Challenges Genetics Laws?
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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 |