Factoids for Prelims 2021
Hi,
Ranyo Ashoka, Himalayan nettle, Denisovan - Who would have thought of such random questions?
Creating this thread with the sole purpose of sharing facts that can be relevant for Prelims. While there is always this thought, that there is no end to learning and mugging up facts, but if we observe closely - the options are not very close and elimination is easy. By pooling our resources here, if we give it one reading also, the probability of retaining it on the D day and eliminating options increases exponentially.
I request the aspirants to actively contribute here and let's hope that we strike gold on 31st ;).
TheIntergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)is an independent intergovernmental body established by States to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development. It was established in Panama City, on 21 April 2012 by 94 Governments. It is not a United Nations body. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides secretariat services to IPBES.
IPBES currently has over 134 member States. A large number of NGOs, organizations, private sector conventions and civil society groupings also participate in the formal IPBES process as observers.
- Rani ki vav-the monument was built byQueen Udayamatias a memorial to her husband,King Bhimadeva I, who had built the great Sun-Shiva temple at Modhera.
- almost identical Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna temples in Pattadakal, Karnataka.
They were erected by the sister queens of Vikramaditya II — Haihaya princesses
Lokamahadevi and Trailokyamahadevi— probably in the 740s, to mark his victoryo overthe Pallavas at Kanchipuram thrice.
ssver2,upsc2020
Tirukkural (थिरुकुरल) is a Tamil book from the Sangam era. It is written by saint Thiruvalluvar (थिरूवल्लुवर). The book is divided into 3 parts- dharm, arth and kaam. Preaching ethics and morality, it consists of small couplets, and is an imp legacy of Tamil pride and culture. The text is secular and universal in nature.
State of India's birds 2020
Species that have suffered the highest declines in the past 25+ years:
- White-rumped Vulture
- Richard's Pipit
- Indian Vulture
- Large-billed Leaf Warbler
- Pacific Golden Plover
- Curlew Sandpiper
Species that have increased the most in the past 25+ years:
- Rosy Starling
- Feral Pigeon
- Glossy Ibis
- Plain Prinia
- Ashy Prinia
- Indian Peafowl
Chokepoints at theSunda and Lombok straits are viable lines of communication linking the Indian Ocean to Northeast Asia.
Further Diverse value additions:
Mt Merapi an active volcano(StartoVolcano)erupting regularly since 1548 Located in btwCentral Java & Yogyakarta Province.
Yogyakarta Principles are International Human rights law to sexual orientation & Gender identity.
Which was used by SC in Striking Off section 377.
Ectotherms, including reptiles and amphibians, are organisms that don't possess the ability to generate sufficient heat to keep themselves warm. As such, they are dependent on environmental sources of heat, such as sunlight
Endotherms, in contrast, do possess the ability to generate their own body heat. Mammals and birds are the only endothermic classes of organisms.
- Beluga Whale- It is anArctic and sub-Arctic aquatic mammal.It is also known as the white whale, as it is the only marine mammal of this color.
- It possesses a distinctive protuberance at the front of its head which houses an echolocation organ called the melon, which in this species is large and deformable.
- Its sense of hearing is highly developed and its echolocation allows it to move about and find breathing holes under sheet ice.
- Recently it is believed that Russia has been using the whales for military intelligence by mounting spying devices on the whale.
- Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf is the world's largest ice shelf roughly the size of France, is melting rapidly.
- Recently it is found that the ice cap is melting rapidly leading to global sea-level rise of around 13.8 millimeters over the last 40 years.
- The ice shelf is melting 10 times faster than the overall average, due to solar heating of the surrounding ocean surface.
- Antarctica comprises 90 per cent of the world’s ice, thus whatever happens to its ice and snow is a matter of serious concern, and if this situation continues, sea-levels would rise up to 60 meters by 2050 and the ocean would engulf coastal cities across the globe.
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