SATHI Initiative
Department of Science & Technology has launched a unique scheme called“Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI)
These Centres are expected to house major analytical instruments to provide common services of high-end analytical testing, thus avoiding duplication and reduced dependency on foreign sources. SATHI will address the problems of accessibility, maintenance, redundancy and duplication of expensive equipment in our Institutions.
Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Thang-Ta are being supported under the vertical of ‘Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal Games’ under the Khelo India Scheme.
Mallakhamb: origin of Mallakhamb can be traced to the 12th century, where it is mentioned in Manas-Olhas - a classic by Chalukya in 1135 A.D. Modern historians attribute origin to Nashik, Maharastra.
Kalaripayatu: Kerala
Gatka: Punjab
Thang - Ta: Manipur
Madhavpur Mela of Gujarat
Northern Eastern Region states will participate during theMadhavpur Mela of Gujaratdue to be held in the first week of April this year. The annual fair is held at Madhavpur Ghed in Porbandar district.
Madhavpur Mela of Gujarat shares its connect to the Mishmi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The Mishmi Tribe traces its ancestry to the legendary King Bhishmak and through him to his daughter Rukmini and Lord Krishna. The festival celebrates the immortal journey which Rukmini undertook from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat with Lord Krishna.
The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) coversa large continental area of Eurasia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans and the associated island chains. The Flyway comprises several important migration routes of waterbirds, most of which extend from the northernmost breeding grounds in the Russian Federation (Siberia) to the southernmost non-breeding (wintering) grounds in West and South Asia, the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Betelgeusevaries in brightness because it’s a dying, red supergiant star with a diameter some 700 times larger than our sun.
Betelgeuse, markingOrion'stop left shoulder, is often its brightest star. Red in color, this star is usually the 12th brightest in the entire sky. But it has recently dimmed dramatically to an all time low.
Rishi Order of Sufism
Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani, better known asNund Rishifounded TheRishi order of Sufism in Kashmir.
It coupled Hindu and Buddhist thoughts with the real spirit of Islam. For example, the Islamic word for divinity is ‘devo’ in his teachings; Allah is called ‘bhugi’ which is Kashmiri for ‘bhagwan'. Nund Rishi’s was one of the few indigenous Sufi Orders of India because other Orders were not born in India but in Persia. Even though rishis of Kashmir have some thoughts in common with the Chisti Order, Chistis were originally from Afghanistan.
Rani Avantibai Lodhi, queen of Ramgarh State (Madhya Pradesh) in central India, fought against the British during the 1857 War of Independence. Avantibai Lodhi was the queen of King Vikramaditya Singh of Ramgarh. When Vikramaditya Singh became incapable of handling the affairs of the State due to ill health, Avantibai Lodhi rose to the occasion and took charge of the administration.
Narmada Valley Development Authority named the dam in Jabalpur district in the honour of freedom fighter Rani Avantibai Lodhi. The Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi Sagar (Bargi) project is major multipurpose project across river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh.
Earliest epigraphic evidence andSanskritinscription inSouth Indiabelongs to Saptamatrika cult.
Saptamatrikasare a group of seven female deities worshipped in Hinduism as personifying the energy of their respective consorts. The inscription is in Sanskrit and in Brahmi characters and was issued bySatavahana king Vijaya in 207 A.D.
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.
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
Matribhasha Diwasis celebrated on 21st February to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism in the world, as well as to spread awareness about languages. Every year UNESCO celebrates International Mother Language Day with a new theme. The theme of this year (2020) is"Languages without Borders"which means languages across/devoid of geographical boundaries.
Mahawatin geographical terms refers to the winter rainfall that occurs in the Western part of India.
This rainfall is non-seasonal, and it occurs as a result of Western Disturbances.
The moisture for these rains comes from the Mediterranian sea and the Atlantic ocean.
These rains also bring along thunder and lightening with them.
The two major trans-regional routes of ancient time were known as the UttarapathaandDakshinapatha.
The Uttarapatha was the major trans-regional trade route of northern India. It stretched from then north-west across the Indo-Gangetic plains, up to the port of Tamralipti on the Bay of Bengal. The Ashtadhyayi mentions various kingdoms located along it.The Uttarapatha was a land-cum-river route.
The Dakshinapatha—the great southern trade route—is mentioned in the Artha-shastra, but waso operationalfrom the early historical period. It stretched from Pataliputra in Magadha to Pratishthanao onthe Godavari, and was also connected to ports on the western coas
Nepal has two tri-junctions with India and China. The one in dispute now is atLipulekhin Kalapani, at the border of Uttarakhand with Nepal. India claims Kalapani as a part of Uttarakhand while Nepal depicts the area in its map. The second tri-junction is atJhinsang Chuliin Nepal's east, bordering Sikkim.
Thai Magur fish banned
- Thai Magur fish was banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2000.
- The presence of Thai Magur in any water body destroys its ecological balance.
- Thai Magur is a cannibal species that impacts the indigenous biodiversity and in-turn reduces the food base for water birds.
- The Indian Magur does not engage in cannibalism like the Thai Magur.
- Thai Magur are fed rotten meat with spinach which pollutes the water bodies.
- Thai Magurcarries diseases like Argulosis, commonly known as fish lice.
- Thai Magur is also believed to be carcinogenic.
Thai Magur fish banned
- Thai Magur fish was banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2000.
- The presence of Thai Magur in any water body destroys its ecological balance.
- Thai Magur is a cannibal species that impacts the indigenous biodiversity and in-turn reduces the food base for water birds.
- The Indian Magur does not engage in cannibalism like the Thai Magur.
- Thai Magur are fed rotten meat with spinach which pollutes the water bodies.
- Thai Magurcarries diseases like Argulosis, commonly known as fish lice.
- Thai Magur is also believed to be carcinogenic.
Carcinogenic means something which causes cancer.
Yes..
Allelopathyis a biological phenomenon where one plant inhibits the growth of another. The word allelopathy derives from two separate words. They are allelon which means "of each other", and pathos which means "to suffer".
Some trees use their allelochemicals to inhibit germination or impede development of nearby plant life. Common trees with allelopathic properties include Black walnut, Maple, Pine and Eucalyptus.
Operation Twistis the name given to a monetary policy tool that the US Federal Reserve had initiated to influence the prevailing rate of interest in the markets. The tool essentially aims at changing the shape of the yield curve (hence the name — twist) through simultaneous buying and selling of long- and short-term government bonds. In India, the RBI put through its version of Operation Twist recently by buying ₹10,000 crore worth of 10-year government bonds while selling four shorter-term government bonds adding up to the same value. The intent is to moderate high long-term interest rates in the market and bring them closer to the repo rate.
RUCOis a project that plans to convert vegetable oils, animal fats or restaurant grease that has already been used in cooking into biodiesel for running diesel vehicles, or indeed any equipment that uses diesel.
The country’s apex food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in association with the Biodiesel Association of India (BDAI) has recently flagged off the ‘RUCO’ project, short for repurpose used cooking oil.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1604584
Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), too can perform photosynthesis and produce sugar by fixing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The yield of sugars from cyanobacteria could potentially be much higher than that of land-based crops. Further, unlike plant-based sugars, cyanobacterial biomass provides a nitrogen source in the form of proteins.
Rare diseases includeThalassemia, Haemophilia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and primary immune deficiencyaccording to WHO.
The health ministry had formulated a national policy on treatment of rare diseases in 2017 after high court told the government to swiftly roll out a comprehensive rare disease treatment policy.
How does Inflight Wifi work?
Two operating systems for airplane WiFi:ground-based and satellite. Air-to-ground WiFi works in a similar way to your cell phone. Airplanes have an antenna located underneath their body, which links up with cell towers. As the aircraft travels, it simply connects to the nearest transmitter on a rolling basis. The airplane becomes a hotspot, so passengers can do everything they would normally do when connected to the Internet, including sending emails, making calls, and even streaming movies. However, this system can’t work when the plane is flying over large expanses of water, like on transatlantic routes. That’s where satellite comes in.
Satellite WiFi uses a network of orbiting satellites to allow a connection. The satellite is linked to ground stations, and the airplane connects using a satellite antenna on the top of the fuselage. Again, the plane uses whichever satellite is nearest as it travels.
Irrawaddy dolphinsreside in estuaries of Chilika lake.Humpback dolphinslive in sea water near the coast at Gahirmatha. Many Irrawaddy dolphins migrated to Chilika Lake from Gahrimatha this year. Erratic and untimely rain due to climate change reduced the saltiness of sea water, due to which humpback dolphins migrated into the deep sea as well.
Dakhni is an Indo-Aryan languagewhose early form was transplanted to the Deccan following Mohammed bin Tughlaq’s decision, in 1327, to move the capital of the Delhi Sultanate over a thousand kilometres south, to Daulatabad.
Classical Dakhni emerged as a literary language with the epic poem “Kadam Rāo Padam Rāo,” written by the poet Fakhruddin Nizamiin the late fifteenth century at Bidar—the capital of the Bahmani Sultanate.
https://caravanmagazine.in/history/the-rise-and-fall-of-dakhni-literature
European Commission (EC) launched the ‘United for Biodiversity’ coalition made up of zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, national parks, and natural history and science museums from around the world, on World Wildlife Day 2020.
The coalition offered the opportunity for all such institutions to “join forces and boost public awareness about the nature crisis, ahead of the crucial COP-15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China in October 2020,” when nations will adopt a new global framework to protect and restore nature.
Mission Solar Charkhais enterprise driven scheme and envisages setting up of ‘Solar Charkha Clusters’ which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries (Spinners, Weavers, Stitchers and other skilled artisans). Each spinner will be given two charkhas of 10 spindles each.
As part of the scheme no subsidy is given, however subsidy to the tune of Rs.9.60 crore is provided for procurement of charkha and looms to the Implementing or Promoting Agency for a full-scale Solar Charkha Cluster.
A new shipping route between the seaport of Kandla in western India and Iran's southernQeshmIsland in the Persian Gulf has been officially established with the arrival of a cargo ship named Neshat. Jazireh-ye Qeshm is an island bordering the NW side of the Strait of Hormuz. Qeshm, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, lying nearly parallel with the coast of Iran, is separated from the mainland by Toreh-ye Khowran (Khuran) (Clarence Strait).
GISAID Initiative is widely credited for successfully enabling the rapid sharing of influenza virus data through a unique sharing mechanism, that was recognized for its importance to global health by all G20 health ministers in 2017. The Initiative involves public–private partnerships between the nonprofit organization Freunde von GISAID e.V. and governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, the official host of the GISAID EpiFlu database, providing public access to the most complete collection of genetic sequence data of influenza viruses and related clinical and epidemiological data,Singapore and the United States of America.
Coronavirus Dictionary
TheR-naught, or R0,is a virus’s basic reproductive number — an epidemiologic metric used to describe the contagiousness of infectious agents.
Theincubation periodis the time it takes for symptoms to appear after a person is infected. This time can be critical for prevention and control, and it allows health officials to quarantine or observe people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The technical name for the coronavirus isSARS-CoV-2.The respiratory disease it causes has been named the “coronavirus disease 2019,” or COVID-19.
Anepidemicis a regional outbreak of an illness that spreads unexpectedly, according to the WHO.
The ILP is an official travel document required to visit four Northeastern states, namely,Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.
The Inner Line Permit is an extension of theBengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873.
@upsc2020 Manipur is NOT part of ILP.
It was included recently.
https://www.news18.com/news/india/ilp-comes-into-effect-in-manipur-from-january-1-temporary-permit-to-be-issued-for-15-days-2441705.html
Gaur (Bos Gaurus), the largest extant bovine in the world,have returned to Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), but are also breeding there due to an increase in grassland cover.
VTR was set up in the early 1990s. It is spread over 899 square kilometres in Bihar’s West Champaran district, bordering Nepal’s Chitwan National Park to its north and Uttar Pradesh to its west.
Gaur, which are native to south and southeast Asia, had shifted to Chitwan a few years back due to grassland destruction in VTR. The species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species since 1986.
Increasing grasslands in VTR also helps for tiger conservation.
Suspension of Members in LS & RS
While the Speaker of Lok Sabha is empowered to place a Member under suspension, the authority for revocation of this order is not vested in Speaker. It is for the House, if it so desires, to resolve on a motion to revoke the suspension.
Unlike the Speaker, however, the Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the power to suspend a Member.
The Chairman may “name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the Council by persistently and wilfully obstructing” business. In such a situation, the House may adopt a motion suspending the Member from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session. The House may, however, by another motion, terminate the suspension.
Hanging and shooting are the two methods of death penalty in India. According to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), hanging is the method of execution in the civilian court system. The Army Act, 1950, however, lists both hanging and shooting as official methods of execution in the military court-martial system.
When separated from the Bengal Presidency in 1912, Bihar and Orissa comprised a single province.From 1912 to 1920 the province had a lieutenant governor heading the provincial government. This post was upgraded to governor in 1920, when Satyendra Prasanno Sinha was appointed to the post.
Later, under the Government of India Act of 1935, the Division of Orissa became a separate provinceand the Province of Bihar came into being as an administrative unit of British India.
Facebook has announced to launch an in-house crypto currency called “Libra” by the first half of 2020.
Libra will be a crypto currency backed by a reserve of real assets to keep its value stable. Crypto currency built on encryption technology is a digital currency that users buy and store from digital wallets. It is not controlled by any central authority, nor is any government interference.
Libras will be stored by Calibra, a digital wallet which will be built into WhatsApp and Messenger as well, to let users store and use Libra coins.
Hydroxychloroquine(HCQ) is an anti-malarial drug similar to chloroquine, one of the oldest and best-known anti-malarial drugs, but with lesser side-effects.
India produces 70 per cent of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine. The country has a production capacity of 40 tonnes of HCQ every month, implying 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each. India gets the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) that is used to manufacture HCQ from China.
Dalbergiasissoo orrosewood, as it is commonly known as, is available in abundance in India and is widely preferred in Indian households as the best choice for home furniture.
- Has been asked by UPSC previously.
- Was in news : https://mediaindia.eu/business/the-commercial-extinction-of-indian-rosewood-from-global-market/
Negative pricingcan occur when demand for a commodity drops to an extent that suppliers are prepared to pay others to take it away, in effect setting the price to a negative number. This phenomenon has occurred in electricity prices, natural gas prices, and sour crude oil prices.
Negative prices are a signal to either increase demand or reduce supply.
- Insulation
- Pipes
- Automobile parts
- Printing cartridges and copy machine toner
- Food containers
- Packaging
- Carpet backing
- Luggage
- Shoes
- Toys
- Floor waxes and polishes
- Where is Styrene found?
- Consumer products – cigarettes, and many packaging, household, and building products
- Air – emissions from styrene-based products, cigarettes, vehicle exhaust, and copy machines
- Food and water – containing styrene from naturally occurring sources or contamination
Bats
- There are 1,400 species of bats around the world, and 128 in India. The most common ones that people see in India are the large Common Indian flying fox, the short-nosed fruit bat (half the size of flying fox), and pipistrelles which are very small.
- Most of these bats feed on fruit, while the pipistrelle eats flies, mosquitos and moths.
- People avoid bat colonies because of the chance of fungal infections just like you would get from pigeon faeces, or from the droppings of other animals.
- Rice plantations to mangroves to even the mahua tree — are dependent on bats. They are pollinators, seed dispersers and pest controllers.
- Bats are not blind, they just prefer echolocation to sight because it is easier and faster in the darkness.
- Echolocation is the process of using ultrasound and its echoes (instead of rays of light) to gauge where objects are placed and of what size they are.
- Bats use it to navigate their routes, find foods such as insects, and even objects as fine as the human hair.
- Chiropterologists - Someone who studies bats
Kashmir saffronhas been given the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. It is grown in the highlands of Jammu and Kashmir, including in places like Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar. Kashmir saffron is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around 1st Century BCE. In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’.
It is the only saffron in the world grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m AMSL (above mean sea level), which adds to its uniqueness and differentiates it from other saffron varieties available the world over.
Iran is currently the largest producer of Saffron. India is a large importer of the same.
@upsc2020 Hey hav u read NEP?In tdy article in The Hindu ,the writer says no National Edn commission in policy but i found the same as Rasthriya Shiksha Aayog in latest policy.plz do clarify
Shiksha aayyog was a suggestion in the draft. Hasn't been incorporated in the NEP 2020.
Plz have a look p.n.56/57
National education policy 2020.pdfThank you. I would have totally missed this.
Thawra Revolution - Lebanon
Protestors of the ‘thawra’ in Lebanon like their counterparts in the ‘hirak’ in Algeria share common grievances.Lebanese people have been peacefully protesting in the streets against government corruption and the grave economic crisis. The protests started shortly after government attempted to increase taxes on tobacco, petrol and even WhatsApp, which prompted nationwide anger against the country's economic problems, inequality and corruption.
Thawra Revolution - Lebanon
Protestors of the ‘thawra’ in Lebanon like their counterparts in the ‘hirak’ in Algeria share common grievances.Lebanese people have been peacefully protesting in the streets against government corruption and the grave economic crisis. The protests started shortly after government attempted to increase taxes on tobacco, petrol and even WhatsApp, which prompted nationwide anger against the country's economic problems, inequality and corruption.
Yojana?
No. Google. Post the Beirut blasts..
Project barn owl, Lakshwadeep:
Barn owl has been an excellent predator of rodents in palm system. Absence of rat snake and barn owl population in Lakshadweep Islands as well as close spacing of coconut palms are few of the main reasons responsible for the flare up of rodent population in the Island system. About 40-50% yield loss is reported due to rodent damage in Island system. Introduction of few pairs of barn owls and the nesting boxes could be a very successful strategy in the biological control of rodents. This could form one of the classical bio-control approaches in rodent management.
The ILP is an official travel document required to visit four Northeastern states, namely,Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.
The Inner Line Permit is an extension of theBengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873.
Is it in force in Manipur?
Inner Line Permit came into effect in Manipur from January 1, 2020, making it the fourth northeastern state to come under the ILP regime.
@upsc2020 does it have any specific geo-climatic dependency or can be formed in almost all of the oceans/seas?
The nutrient overload occurs when algae feast on warm weather caused by global warming. It is a typical warm water phenomenon.
Section 366(1) of the CrPC states: “When the Court of Session passes a sentence of death, the proceedings shall be submitted to the High Court and the sentence shall not be executed unless it is confirmed by the High Court,” and sub clause (2) of the provision adds that the death convict should be committed to jail custody until further orders to be passed by the High Court.
Measures taken by the steel plants to increase production of LIQUID MEDICAL OXYGEN in the country included the following:-(i) Reduced production of liquid Nitrogen and Liquid Argon.(ii) Reduced usage of gaseous oxygen thereby reducing steel produced.Question can be -Gases produced in Steel Plants?can you share more about the gases produced . I mean only LIq nitrogen / argon/and oxygen ??or are there other gases too
hydrogen (50-60%), methane (15-50%) and a small percentage of carbon monoxide, and nitrogen
Anti Non Co-operation organisation started by Purshootam Thakurdas.
Anti-Non-Cooperation Association 1920 was started by big businessmen of Bombay in 1920 against the Non-Cooperation/Khilafat Movement (1920-1921). It was established by Jamnadas Dwarkadas, Purshottamdas Thaukrdass, Cowasji Jehangir, Pheroze Sethna and Setalvad. The businessmen of Bombay felt that the movement would encourage the labour strikes which in Bombay Presidency turned out be violent at earlier occasion.
