Professional Documents
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Capf
Capf
SUPER SERIES
REVISION CAPF 2019
Compiled and Edited by
VIKRANT S. MORE (IDES)
RAJNIKANT D. MOHITE
HIGHLIGHTS
➢ Complete Strategy for Paper 2 with Analysis
➢ Probable topics for Paper 2
➢ Current Affairs and Static part covered as per analysis of previous year
question papers
• Budget and Economic survey highlights with newly launched schemes
• Persons in news
• Awards and honours
• Defence news (Joint exercises, Missile tech)
• Security forces in INDIA
• Space news (ISRO and NASA)
• Static Geography (Passes, rivers, ports, grasslands) For Corrections & Feedback
• Static Polity (Articles, Landmark Cases, Amendments, FR, DPSP)
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Table of Contents
ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
CAPF 2018 Topic Wise Questions ........................................................................................................................ 8
CAPF 2017 Topic Wise Questions ...................................................................................................................... 16
Recently in NEWS ............................................................................................................................................... 24
Budget 2019 - Highlights ................................................................................................................................... 26
Highlights of Economic Survey 2018-19 ............................................................................................................ 27
Government Schemes ........................................................................................................................................ 28
By states .......................................................................................................................................................................... 28
By Centre ......................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Committee In NEWS ........................................................................................................................................... 30
Person, Awards and Institutions ......................................................................................................................... 32
Some recent terminologies ................................................................................................................................ 36
POLITY ................................................................................................................................................................ 40
Important Amendments to Indian Constitution. ............................................................................................................... 40
Important Landmark cases .............................................................................................................................................. 41
Fundamental Rights ........................................................................................................................................................ 42
Directive Principles of State Policy ................................................................................................................................... 43
Difference between FR and DPSP.................................................................................................................................... 44
CONFLICT BETWEEN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES .................................................................... 45
Fundamental Duties ........................................................................................................................................................ 45
Difference Between Adjournment, Prorogation and Dissolution ...................................................................................... 46
Budget ............................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Grants .............................................................................................................................................................................. 46
Motions............................................................................................................................................................................ 47
Commissions in India....................................................................................................................................................... 47
Division of Legislative Subjects........................................................................................................................................ 48
ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 49
In News ............................................................................................................................................................................ 49
National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Power Plants ................................................................................................... 51
Biosphere reserves of India (area wise) ........................................................................................................................... 55
Elephant Reserves ........................................................................................................................................................... 58
Mangrove sites in India.................................................................................................................................................... 58
Difference between BR, WLS and NP .............................................................................................................................. 59
HISTORY ............................................................................................................................................................. 60
Ancient............................................................................................................................................................................. 60
Terms and their Meanings .......................................................................................................................................... 60
The Edicts of Ashoka ................................................................................................................................................... 60
Other Major Inscriptions .............................................................................................................................................. 62
Medieval .......................................................................................................................................................................... 62
Terms Used and their Meaning ................................................................................................................................... 62
Rulers of Delhi Sultanate ............................................................................................................................................ 66
Important Wars of Medieval India ............................................................................................................................... 67
ANALYSIS
30
25
20
15
10
0
Internation
Governme Quantitativ
Environme Science n Current al
History Culture Geography Polity Economy Defence nt e and
nt Tech. Affairs Organisatio
Initiative Reasoning
n
2015 17 3 19 17 4 16 2 9 16 0 1 21
2016 17 3 15 19 4 20 3 18 4 3 0 19
2017 21 1 15 15 16 13 2 15 1 2 4 20
2018 13 6 15 24 4 21 6 14 0 0 1 21
4
5 7 8
12 4 7
1
7
16. Which of the following II is not the correct explanation c. statement I is true &
statements about biodiversity hot of statement I Statement II is false
spots is/are correct? c. statement I is true & d. statement I is False &
1. Biodiversity hot spots are Statement II is false Statement II is true
identified by International Union d.statement I is False &
for Conservation of Nature and Statement II is true Modern
Natural Resources (IUCN). 2. Which of the following statement 7.
2. Biodiversity hot spots are about Harrapan Civilization is/are Statement I: Mahatma Gandhi
defined according to their correct? went on a fast unto death against
vegetation. 1 There is a extraordinary the Communal Award announced
3. In India, Eastern Ghats and uniformity in artefacts as evident by the British Government.
Western Himalaya are the in pottery, seals, bricks and Statement II: The Poona Pact
biodiversity hot spots. weights. resulted in a joint electorate with
Select the correct answer using 2 The late Harrapan Sites also an enhanced number of Bcats
the code given below maintained the same reserved for Depressed Classes
(a) 1 and 2 only construction techniques as were a. Both statements are
(b) 3 only used in Mature Harappa Sites individually true and statement
(c) 1,2 and 3 (a) 1 Only II is the correct explanation of
(d) 1 only (b) 2 Only statement I
(c) Both 1 And 2 b. Both statements are
17. Which one of the following is not (d) Neither 1 nor 2 individually true and statement
an igneous rock? 3. Which of the following pair of II is not the correct explanation
(a) Granite country with new names and old of statement I
(b) Gneiss names are correctly matched? c. statement I is true &
(c) Pumice New Name: Old Name Statement II is false
(d) Basalt (a) Kingdom of eSwanti: d. statement I is False &
Switzerland Statement II is true
18. Which one of the following rivers (b) Malawi: Rhodesia
is west flowing? (c) Botswana: Nayasaland 8.
(a) Godavari (d) Zimbabwe: Ceylon Statement I: The Permanent
(b) Periyar 4. Who among the following was Settlement was rarely extended to
(c) Tungabhadra Buddha's foster mother? any region beyond Bengal.
(d) Cauvery (a) Purna Statement Il: After 1810, the
(b) Gajalakshmi agricultural prices declined affecting
19. In India, Indus Dolphine one of (c) Maya adversely the income of the Bengal
the world's rarest mammals, is (d) Mahapajapati Gotami Zamindars.
mainly found in which of the 5. Which one of the following a) Both statements are
following rivers? commercial centres declined after individually true and statement
(a) Ganga the mid-eighteenth century? II is the correct explanation of
(b) Cauvery a) Calcutta statement I
(c) Brahmaputra b) Madras b) Both statements are
(d) Beas c) Dhaka individually true and statement
d) bombay II is not the correct explanation
History of statement I
Medieval c) statement I is true & Statement
Ancient
6. II is false
1.
Statement I: In 1856, Nawab Wajid d) statement I is False &
Statement I: For early societies,
Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled Statement II is true
historians retrieve Information
to Calcutta on the plea that the
about elite families mostly from
region was being misgoverned. 9. Which of the following statements
Inscriptions.
Statement II: The Nawab was about town planning in British India
Statement II: Satavahana
accused of being unable to control in carly 19th century is/are correct?
Inscriptions generally end with
the rebellious chiefs and Talukdars. 1. The funds for town improvement
the term Putra, a Prakrit word
a. Both statements are were also raised through public
meaning 'non'
individually true and statement lotteries.
a. Both statements are
II is the correct explanation of 2. The threats of epidemics gave
individually true and statement
statement I an impetus to town planning in the
II is the correct explanation of
b. Both statements are carly decades of 19th century.
statement I
individually true and statement Select the correct answer using the
b.Both statements are
II is not the correct explanation code given below.
individually true and statement
of statement I a) I only
b) II only
c) both I & II 2. Which of the following statements (a) NI - undistributed profits - net
d) Neither I & II about Jainism is/are correct? interest payments made by
1 The most important idea in households - corporate tax+
10. Which of the following Jainism is that the entire world in transfer payments to the
statements about India's animated even stone, rock and households from the
Independence is/are correct? water have life. Government and firms.
1. The formal transfer of power on 2 Asceticism and Penance are (b) NI - undistributed profits -
15th August 1947 heralding India's required to free oneself from the corporate tax+ transfer
independence was announced by cycle of Karma payments to the households
Lord Mountbatten. (a) 1 Only from the Government and firms.
2. Mahatma Gandhi was not present (b) 2 Only (c) undistributed profits - net
at the festivities in the capital on (c) Both 1 And 2 interest payments made by
15th August 1947. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 households+ transfer payments
a) I only to the households from the
b) II only 3. Which of the following statements Government and firms.
c) both I & II about Bodhisattas is/are correct? (d) undistributed profits - net
d) Neither I & II 1.They were perceived as deeply interest payments made by
11. Who are the following in compassionate begins who households- corporate tax.
Congress represented the Socialist accumulated merit through their 2. The Reserve Bank of India defines
view? efforts. 2.They made attempt to narrow money as
a) Rajendra Prasad attain Nibbana. Select the correct (a) CU (currency notes + coins) +
b) Narendra Dev answer using the code give below: DD (net demand deposits held
C) Maulana Azad (a) 1 only by commercial banks)
d) Sardar patel (b) 2 only (b) CU + DD + saving deposits with
12. Who among the following was (c) Both 1 and 2 post office savings banks
the author of Hind Swaraj? (d) Neither 1 and 2 (c) CU+ DD + net demand deposits
a) Aurobindo Ghose 4. Depiction of the descent of the held by commercial banks
b) C.R. Dey river Ganga from heaven in the form (d) CU+ DD + net demand deposits
c) Mahatma Gandhi of relief sculpture on the rock is at held by commercial banks +
d) Rajendra Prasad (a) Ellora total deposits of posts offices.
13. Who among the following has (b) Mahabalipuram 3. Multipliers will be lower with which
not written about the Partition in his (c) Sanchi one of the followings?
work (d) Amaravati (a) High marginal propensity to
(a) Saddat Hasan Manto 5. Which of the following statements consume.
(b) Bankim Chandra about Binodini Dasi, a pioneering (b) Low marginal propensity to
Chattopadhya figure in Bengali theatre in the late consume.
(c) Bhisham Sahni 19th early 20th century, is/are (c) High marginal propensity to
(d) Narendranath Mitra correct? invest
1. She was one of the prime (d) Low marginal propensity to
Art and Culture movers behind the setting up of save
1. the Star Theatre (1883) in 4. In India, approximately what
Statement I: Towards the beginning Calcutta. percentage of households still use
of the 20th century a new hybrid 2. She serialized her firewood for cooking as per 2011
architectural style developed which autobiography Amar Katha (My Census?
combined Indian with the European Story) between 1910 and 1913. a) 20%
Statement II: By integrating Indian Select the correct answer using b) 40%
and European styles in public the code given below. c) 50%
architecture British wanted to prove a) 1 only d) 60%
that they were legitimate rulers of b) 2 only 5. Consider the following countries
India. c) Both 1 & 2 1. China
a) Both statements are d) neither 1 & 2 2. Spain
individually true and statement 6. The Buddhist text Majjhima 3. India
II is the correct explanation of Nikaya is in 4.Russia
statement I a) Sanskrit Which one of the following is the
b) Both statements are b) Pali correct ascending order of the
individually true and statement c) Prakrit above countries in terms of their
II is not the correct explanation d) Telugu share of services sector to Gross
of statement I Value Added (GVA) during the
c) statement I is true & Statement Economics period 2001 2015 ?
II is false a) 1, 2, 3. 4
1. In National Income (NI) accounts,
d) statement I is False & b) 1,3,4,2
Personal Income (PI) is defined as
Statement II is true c) 1,2,4,3
issue of removal of the Governor of unlimited power to frame and23. The power of the President of India to
the state? unlimited power to frame and refer a matter back to the Council of
(a) Sarkaria Commission adopt any Constitution. Ministers inserted in the
(b) Thakkar Commission Constitution by for reconsideration
(c) Venkatachaliah Commission 18. The National Green Tribunal, act was
(d) Punchi Commission up to deal with the expeditious a) 44th Amendment
disposal of cases relating to b) 42nd Amendment
14. Which of the following is the environmental protection, was set c) 43rd Amendment
correct combination of languages up under the d) 35th Amendment
included in the 8th Schedule of the a) 12th five-year plan
constitution of India? b) 11th five-year plan 24. Ashok Mehta Committee was
(a) Nepali, Konkani, Tulu and c) 10th five-year plan constituted to make
Santhali d) 9th five-year plan recommendations on which one of
(b) Santhali, Urdu, Konkani and the following issues?
Maithuli 19. Which one of the following a) Division of tax revenues between
(c) Santali, Konkani, Bhojpuri and statements regarding Panchayat is b) Panchayati Raj System
Urdu not correct c) Appointment of Governors
(d) Dogri, Konkani, Bhojpuri and a) Members of Panchayat are d) Presidential and Vice Presidential
Urdu elected directly by the Gram Sabha elections
b) The elections to Panchayats.
15. Recently AFSPA was completely conducted by the State Election
removed from which of the following Commission. Science and Technology
state? c) The Central Government may by PHYSICS
(a) Arunachal Pradesh law authorize a Panchayat to levy
(b) Nagaland taxes. 1. The optical phenomenon that is
(c) Meghalaya d) Every Panchayat continues for five responsible for the propagation
(d) Assam years from the date of convening of of light signal through an optical
its first meeting fibre is
16. Which one of the following a) interference
statements relating to the power of 20. Which one of the following concerns b) scattering
the President of India to grant has found a place in both c) total internal reflection
pardon is not correct? Fundamental Duties and Directive d) refraction
(a) The Presidenrt has the power to Principles of State Policy? 2. Which of the following
grant pardon where punishment a) Safeguard of public property statements about optical
or sentence is by a Court Martial. b) Protection and improvement of microscope is/are correct?
(b)The President can grant pardon environment, forest & wildlife. 1. Both the eyepiece and
in all cases where the sentence is c) Respect for the rich heritage of our objective of a microscope are
a sentence of Death. composite culture convex lenses.
(c) The Court's power of judicial d) Promotion of cooperative 2. The magnification of a
review is very limited in relation societies microscope increases with
to the decision of the President increase in focal length of the
on mercy petition. 21. Which one of the following is not objective.
(d)The power to grant pardon by the a part of the Directive Principles of 3. The magnification of a
President is the power that the State Policy? microscope depends upon the
sovereign never excercises a) Uniform Civil Code for all citizens length of the microcscope tube
against its own judicial mandate. b) Separation of Judiciary from 4. The eyepiece of a microscope is
Executive concave lens.
17. Which one of the following is not c) Duty of the State to raise the level Select the correct answer using the
a Characterstics feature of the of nutrition and standard of living code given below.
Indian Independence Act, 1947? d) Promotion of scientific temper, a) 1 and 3
a) The Dominion of India got the humanity and the spirit of inquiry b) 3 only
residuary territory of India, and reform c) 3 and 4
excluding the provinces of Sind, d) 1,2 and 4
Baluchistan, West Punjab, East 22. The federal systems of India and 3. If the amplitude of oscillation of a
Bengal and NWFP. the USA are different in all the simple pendulum is very small, then
b) The Act sought to lay down a following respects, excepts its time period of oscillation.
Constitution by the Legislative a) State's representation in the 1. Depends on the length of the
will of the British Parliament. Upper House pendulum, L
c) The Act proposed to set up two b) dual citizenship 2. depends on the acceleration
independent Dominions. c) dual system of Court due to gravity, g
d) The Constituent Assembly of d) s dual Government 3. depends upon the mass of the
each Dominion was to have bob of the pendulum, m
19. Which one of the following (b) National Flying Training (a) Shopclues
statements regarding digestion is Institute: Belgaum (b) Flipkart
correct? (c) (c)National Insitute of (c) Yepme
(a) Fat present in the food is Hydrology: Roorkee (d) Snapdeal
digested by trypsin and (d) National Water Academy 9. Which of the following films was
chymotrypsin (Headquarters): Khadakwasla awarded best Feature Film in the
(b) Starch of food is digested by 2. In May 2018, Which one of the National Film Award 2018 ?
lipases following banks was restricted to (a) Village Rockstar
(c) Fat of food is digested by give fresh credits and new (b) Toilet : Ek prem katha
lipases recruitment of staff by RBI? (c) Newton
(d) Nucleic acid is digested by (a) Punjab National Bank (d) Mom
amylases (b) Dena Bank 10. 15th Asia Media Summit was
20. Which one of the following (c) Central Bank of India hosted in May 2018 in
statements is correct? (d) Bandhan Bank (a) Kolkata
(a) In photosynthesis by green 3. When was Startup India hub (b) New Delhi
plants, carbon dioxide is used operationalised to resolve querries (c) Chennai
for making carbohydrate and handhold start ups (d) Bengaluru
(b) During photosynthesis, plants (a) 2015 11. In India, cars bearing black
use oxygen for making (b) 2016 number plate with yellow lettering
carbohydrate. (c) 2017 are
(c) The carbohydrate generated (d) 2018 (a) vehicles belonging to
by plants comes from soil 4. Whcih one of the following foreign consolates
(d) The carbohydrate generated organisations is not merged into (b) commercial vehicles such
by plants comes from urea. a new umberlla scheme 'Rastriya as trucks and taxis
21. Which one of the following Yuva Sashakitikaran Karyakram (c)commercial vehicles available
statements regarding insulin (RYSK)'? on rent for self driving
hormone is correct? (a) Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (d) electric vehicles
(a) Insulin is a protein hormone (NYKS) 12. In May 2018, who among the
which is not produced in human (b) Youth Hostels following was elected as Prime
body. (c) National Services Scheme Minister of Malaysia at the age of 92
(b) Insulin is a steroid hormone (NSS) (a) Siti Hasmah Ali
which is produced in human (d) National Young Leaders (b) Najib Razak
body. Programme (NYLP) (c) Mahatir Mohemed
(a) Insulin is a cholesterol driven 5. Whcih one of the following (d) Anwar Ibhrahim
hormone given to human countries has recently formally 13. In May 2018, bus services
(c) Insulin is a protein hormone notified its intension to withdraw between which two places of India
which is produced in human from International Criminal Court and Nepal was launched?
body (a) Namibia (a) Nalanda and Lumbhini
22. Which one of the following (b) Serbia (b) Gaya and Kathmandu
statements about proteins in (c) Philippines (c) Varanashi and Vaktapur
mammalian cells in correct? (d) Norway (d) Ayodya and Janakpur
a) Proteins in mammalian cells 6. Who among the following is 14. In May 2018, which one of the
are synthesized in cell elected as Prime Minister of China following counteries has
membrane. for the second term relocated its embassy in Israel
b) Proteins in mammalian cells (a) Li Keqiang from Tez to Jerusalem?
are not synthesized in cell (b) Xi Jinping (a) Iran
membrane but directly (c) Yang Xiaodu (b) Germany
absorbed from food. (d) Zhou Qiang (c) USA
c) Proteins in mammalian cells (d) Turkey
are synthesized in rough 7. Which among the following 15. Which of the following is/are
endoplasmic reticulum. cricketer has announced his considered as India's green
d) Proteins in mammalian cells retirement from International initiatives)?
are synthesized in Golgi Cricket in May 2018 ? 1. National Green Highways
apparatus. (a) Steve Smith Mission
(b) David warner 2. R & D for Clean Coal
General Knowledge and Current (c) AB de Villiers Technologies
Affairs (d) Shane Watson 3. National Green Corridor
8. In a recent deal, a large stake of Programme
1. Which one of the following pairs is which one of the following e- Select the correct answer using the
not correctly matched? commerce company was acquired code given below
(a) Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran by Walmart, an American a) 1 only
Akademi: Fursatanj multinational retailor b) 1 & 2 only
Two people start at the same time (b) more than 6 feet but less than
from points A and B with speeds 30 19. The ratio of ages of a man and 7 feet
km per hour and 20 km per hour his son is 3 : 1 . After 15 years, the (c) more than 7 feet but less than
respectively and move on the sides age ratio will be 2 : 1 . What is the 8 feet
of the triangle in the age of the man? (d) more than 8 feet
clockwise direction. (a) 45 years
They meet each other (b) 40 years 21. Suppose the price of mangoes
for the first time at (c) 35 years increases from Rs20 per kg to
(a) Point C (d) 30 years Rs75 per kg. Due to this, the
(b) A point between C and A demand for mangoes declines
(c) a point between A and B 20. Two pillars are placed vertically from 100kg to 50kg. Which one
(d) point A 8 feet apart. The height of the following is the price
difference of the two pillars is 6 elasticity of demand for
18. The number of ways in which 3 feet. The two ends of a rope of mangoes?
boys and 2 girls be arranged in a length15 feet are tied to the tips (a) 4
queue, given that the 2 girls have of the two pillars. The portion of (b) 3
to be next to each other, is the length of the taller πllar that (c) 2
(a) 12 can be brought in contact with (d) 1
(b) 24 the rope without detaching the
(c) 48 rope from the pillars is
(d) 120 (a) less than 6 feet
CAPF 2017 Topic Wise
Questions
Geography 3. Consider the following A. 1 and 4
statements about ‘Ring of Fire’. B. 1 and 2 only
1. Consider the following C. 2, 3 and 4
statements:
1. It is also known as circum-
Pacific belt of volcanoes D. 1, 2 and 3
1. Areas where rainfall exceeds 7. Which one of the following
250 cm
2. It is an active seismic zone
3. It is a zone of divergent plate statements about the Himalayas is
2. Annual temperature 25oC – NOT correct?
margin
27oC A. They are young fold mountains
Select the correct answer using
3. Average humidity exceeds 75%
the code given below: B. They have geosynclinal rocks
4. Trees do not shed the leaves A. 1 only C. Himalayan frontal faults [HFF]
To which one of the following B. 1 and 2 only separates Himalaya from Tibet
types of vegetation does the C. 2 and 3 only D. Indus and Sutlej rivers from
above represent? D. 1, 2 and 3 antecedent drainage in
A. Tropical wet evergreen 4. The Bum La Pass is located in Himalaya
B. Tropical semi evergreen A. Sikkim Source: NCERT Class 9
C. Tropical moist deciduous B. Arunachal Pradesh Contemporary India 1 Page 9
D. Tropical dry evergreen C. Himachal Pradesh 8. Which one of the following is
D. Uttarakhand NOT a favourable condition for
Source: NCERT class 11 Indian occurrence of a thunderstorm?
physical environment page 57 Source: NCERT class 11 Indian
physical environment page 14 A. conditional and convective
2. Which of the following 5. Which one of the following is instability
statements related to tribes in located at the southernmost latitude? B. Adequate supply of moisture
India are correct? A. South Africa in the lower atmosphere
1. Tharu tribes are found in Uttar B. Australia C. Advection of cold dry air in
Pradesh and Uttarakhand C. Chile the lower troposphere and
D. Polynesia warm moist air in the upper
2. Irula, Chenchu and Sumali tribes
6. Which of the following statements troposphere
are found in Kerala
about the equatorial region are D. A synoptic situation of low
3. Garasia tribes are found in Goa level convergence and upper
4. Gaddi tribes are nomadic herdrs correct?
1. It is a mega thermal region level divergence
of Jammu and Kashmir and Source: NCERT Class 7 Science
Himachal Pradesh 2. It is a sclerophyll region
Page 87
Select the correct answer using 3. It is a region of high 9. Which one of the following is
the code given below: development NOT correct about organic
A. 1 and 3 only 4. It is a region of aerial farming?
B. 2 and 4 only streamlets A. It does not use genetically
C. 1, 2 and 4 only Select the correct answer using modified seeds
D. 1 , 2, 3 and 4 the code given below:
Recently in NEWS
1. Gujarat Government has launched world’s first emission trading scheme (ETS) to combat particulate air pollution
in the state.
2. Delhi Metro has become the first ever metro project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-
energy plant.
3. Prime Minister announced renaming of 3 islands of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as a tribute to Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose: Ross Island as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and
Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.
4. The 4th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship annual conference on geopolitics and geo-economics,
themed ‘A World Reorder: New Geometries; Fluid Partnerships; Uncertain Outcomes’ was recently held in New
Delhi.
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (independent think tank in collaboration with
the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs.
5. Uyghurs are ethnically Turkic Muslims living primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s
Republic of China and are recognized as ethnic minorities in China.
6. France, Germany and the United Kingdom (E3), announced the creation of INSTEX SAS (Instrument for Supporting
Trade Exchanges).
7. It is a Special Purpose Vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade between European economic operators and
Iran.
8. Recently France has witnessed a mass movement called Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) Protests which is also
spreading to other countries like Belgium, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, etc.
9. India may get easier terms for Iran’s Farzard- B gas field as discussions continue. The gas field is located in Persian
Gulf under the control of Iranian sovereignty and India is progressing on acquisition and exploration of this.
10. Catalonia is an autonomous community in Spain on the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, designated
as a nationality by its Statute of Autonomy.
11. Catalonia consists of four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
12. Saudi Arabia has become 1st Arab country to be granted full membership of Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
following FATF’s Annual General Meeting held in Orlando, Florida in United States (US).
13. The government announced a comprehensive plan Project Sashakt for the resolution of stressed assets in
banking sector.
14. Recently, Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by Subhash Chandra Garg submitted draft Payment and
Settlement System Bill, 2018, which seeks to setup independent Payments Regulatory Board (PRB).
15. RBI is planning to setup a Public Credit Registry, based on recommendations of Y.M. Deosthalee committee.
• Public Credit Registry is a database of credit information which is accessible by all the stakeholders.
16. Bharat 22 is an ETF that will comprise of bluechip stocks of 16 public sector enterprises, 3 public sector banks
and three private companies (L&T, ITC & Axis Bank) where Specified Undertakings of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI)
has stakes. ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC) will manage the ETF.
17. National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA): It is established as an independent regulator to oversee auditing
profession & accounting standards
18. Gujarat International Finance Tech-City Co. Ltd (GIFT) is being developed as the country’s first IFSC.
• IFSC has been designated for all practical purposes as a 'deemed foreign territory' which would have the same
ecosystem as other offshore locations, but which is physically on Indian soil.
19. Increase in government ownership in Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN): The restructured GSTN will be fully
government-owned, equally distributed between the Centre (50%) and the States (50%).
20. India’s largest startup ecosystem has been recently set up in Kerala under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM).
21. A unified Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has been formed for providing comprehensive and swift
trade defence mechanism in India.
22. merger of National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) & National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) into National
Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) for improving the outcome of the Skill India mission.
23. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched an online portal “ENSURE- National Livestock Mission-
Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG)” to make subsidy transfer process quicker &
faster.
• National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), an Odisha-based Navaratna Company has been selected for
President’s award for utilisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund in social development. NALCO
was selected for its Aliali Jhia Scheme.
• In 2015 NALCO started a scheme called Aliali Jhia. The scheme was on the line of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to
adapt and promote the poor and talented girls for education.
• It aimed to promote the education of Girls of BPL (Below Poverty Line) families.
• A new scheme called ‘Pradhan Mantri ShramYogi Maandhan’ for the unorganized sector workers. This pension
yojana shall provide them an assured monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 from the age of 60 years on a monthly
contribution of a small affordable amount during their working age
• A scheme of sanctioning loans upto Rs. 1 crore in 59 minutes has been launched. GST registered SME units will
get 2% interest rebate on incremental loan of Rs. 1 Crore
• National research foundation to fund, coordinate and to promote research in the country.
• New Higher Education Commission with focus on higher autonomy.
• The requirement of sourcing from SMEs by Government enterprises has been increased to 25%. Of this, the
material to the extent of at least 3% will be sourced from women owned SMEs.
• National Programme on ‘Artificial Intelligence’ has been envisaged by the Government. This would be catalysed
by the establishment of the National Centre on Artificial Intelligence as a hub along with Centers of Excellence.
• The number of operational airports has crossed 100 with the commissioning of the Pakyong airport in Sikkim.
• Single window clearance for ease of shooting films, available only to foreigners, is now going to be made available
to Indian filmmakers as well.
• India’s first indigenously developed payment ecosystem for transport, based on National Common Mobility Card
(NCMC) standards, launched in March 2019. Inter-operable transport card runs on RuPay card and would allow
the holders to pay for bus travel, toll taxes, parking charges, retail shopping.
• Insurance Intermediaries to get 100% FDI
• New Space India Limited (NSIL), a Public Sector Enterpises (PSE), incorporated as a new commercial arm of
Department of Space (DoS)
• India’s Ease of Doing Business (EDB) ranking under ‘Paying Taxes’ category jumped from 172 in 2017 to 121 in
2019. In past 5 years, Direct tax revenue increased by over 78% to Rs. 11.37 lakh crore
• Interchangeability of PAN and Aadhaar– Those who don’t have PAN (Permanent Account Number is a ten-digit
alphanumeric number) can file tax returns using Aadhaar. Moreover, wherever PAN is required, Aadhaar can be
used.
• ‘Angel tax’ issue resolved- start-ups and investors filing requisite declarations and also providing information in
their returns are not to be subjected to any kind of scrutiny in respect of valuations of share premiums.
• Nari tu Narayani: Women SHG Interest Subvention Programme to be expanded to all districts in India.
• Rs 1 lakh loan to be provided for SHG women members under Mudra Scheme.
• Rs 3,000 pension per month for workers from the informal sector.
• Gandhipedia being developed by the National Council for Science Museums to sensitize youth and society about
positive Gandhian values.
• The section on ways to ramp up capacity in the lower judiciary is titled ‘Ending Matsyanyaya’ (the law of the
fish/jungle).
• Delays in contract enforcement and disposal resolution are now the single biggest hurdle to the ease of doing
business and higher GDP growth in India.
• However, the survey highlights the profound impact that the Government’s efforts of introducing the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code and the adoption of the Goods and Services Tax, have had on improving Ease of Doing
Business in India.
• Data “Of the People, By the People, For the People”
• As data is generated by the people, data can be created as a public good within the legal framework of data
privacy.
• The government must intervene in creating data as a public good, especially of the poor and in social sectors.
• Merging the distinct datasets held by the Government already would generate multiple benefits.
Government Schemes
By states
1. Pravasi Dividend Pension Scheme: to provide regular pension to Non-Resident Keralites on a one-time payment
of Rs 5 lakh.
2. Yuva Swabhiman Yojana: provide employment for the unemployed youth from the economically weaker sections
of the society. The scheme aims to provide 100 days of employment to youngsters from economically weaker
sections of the society in urban areas.
3. Andhra Pradesh Rythu Raksha Scheme 2019: to provide financial help to the farmers. Under the scheme AP
Farmer will Get Rs 10000 per Acre per year from upcoming Kharif Season.
4. Rythu Bandhu scheme: The Rythu Bandu scheme, Telangana CM K Chandrasekar Rao’s pet scheme, is aimed at
providing income support to the agriculturists directly to back their crops.
5. Atal Solar Krishi Pump Yojana: aims to reduce losses due to non-payment of electricity bills and also promote solar
energy. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd
(Msedcl) is the implementing agency. India’s renewable energy target by 2022
6. Madhu Babu Pension Yojana: Odisha has announced a hike of Rs • Total renewable energy – 175 GW
200 per month in the social security pension under Madhu Babu • It includes 100GW Solar
Pension Yojana (MBPY). • 60GW wind
7. Millet Village scheme: Kerala State Agriculture Department is • 10GW biomass
earmarking farm space in more districts for growing nutrient-rich • 5GW small hydro
millets. Of the total 100 GW solar installations, 40
8. The government of Assam has announced a new scheme called GW would be rooftop and balance 60 GW
would be ground-mounted utility scale.
Arundhati to provide gold at free of cost to the brides.
9. KALIA scheme, launched by Odisha state government: Involves
payments to encourage cultivation and associated activities. All farmers will be provided Rs 10,000 per family as
assistance for cultivation
By Centre
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families,
having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.
2. ‘Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana’ is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals,
Govt. Of India, to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendra’s known as
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
3. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana: PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme that will
engage as many as 42 crore workers in the unorganised sector. Each subscriber under the scheme will receive
minimum assured pension of Rs 3000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years
4. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana: The scheme provides
financial support to Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.
focuses to incentivise 2G Ethanol sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem for
setting up commercial projects and increasing Research & Development in this area.
Purpose
Committee In NEWS
NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh to probe whether there is need for further norms to restrict plastic packaging of
Kumar Goel food
To evaluate governance of board of banks. Recommended formation of Banks
PJ Nayak Committee
Board Bureau (BBB)
BP Jeevan Reddy Committee: To review AFSPA in north-eatsern states
Liberhan Committee To investigate destruction of disputed structure Babri Masid in Ayodhya in 1992
G. Rohini Committee To examine sub-categorisation of OBCs(Other Backward Classes)
Malimath Committee On Crime Investigation & punishment
SN Dhingra Committee To examine 1984 anti-Sikh Riots
To recommend measures to enhance Combat Capability & Rebalance defence
DB Shekatkar Committee
expenditure of Armed Forces.
Lodha Committee For reforms within BCCI
Ratan Watal Committee On Digital Payments
BN Srikrishna Committee For Data Protection + Institutionalisation of Arbitration + Separate Telangana
AK Mathur 7th Pay Commission
Dr. Anil kakodkar High Level Safety Review Committee for Indian Railways
To recommend amendments to the Criminal Law for quicker trial and enhanced
Justice JS Verma Committee
punishment for sexual assault of women
Madhav Chitale For Desiltation of Ganga
Indrajit Gupta Committee State Funding of Elections
Kelkar Committee Tax Structure Reforms
Narsimhan Committee Banking Reforms
to recommend guidelines for certification of films by the Central Board of Film
Shyam Benegal
Certification (CBFC)
BG Verghese , PC Joshi Committee For programming of AIR, Doordarshan
Bezbaruah Committee Look into concerns of people from North East living in other parts of India
TSR Subramaniam Education Policy
Justice Rajinder Sachar To examine socio-economic and educational status of Muslim community
Tarkunde Committee Election Reforms
high-level committee (HLC) to examine the issues relating to the preparation of
Anil Kakodkar action plan to create synergy among R&D centres of oil and gas PSUs, tax
issues and ways to benefit from GST
Aruna Sundararajan Committee to spell out revival plans for Telecom sector.
to examine the various problems plaguing prisons in the country, from
Justice Amitava Roy overcrowding to lack of legal advice to convicts to issues of remission and
parole.
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv selling as many as 149 small and marginal oil and gas fields of state-owned Oil
Kumar and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL)
Akhilesh Ranjan Task Force (replace
drafting New Direct Tax Legislation (Law).
Arbind Modi)
National Implementation Committee
to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in the country and
(NIC) under Chairmanship of Union
abroad
Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Ranjana Desai Lokpal Search Committee
to drive India’s 5G adoption entailing areas like spectrum policy, regulatory
AJ Paulraj
policy, standards and education.
B Sesikeran to look into draft food labelling and display regulations- FSSAI
• Digital India: Aims to transform India into a digitally • GIAN: Global Initiative of Academic Networks—aimed
empowered society and knowledge economy at American academicians and scientists to teach in
• 3 Ds: Democracy, Demography and Demand—a India at their convenience
comment on India’s advantage over other countries • GARV: Grameen Vidyutikaran—Rural Electrification
• DIPAM: Department of Investment and Public Asset • Gramodaya Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan: Aimed at
Management—a new name for the disinvestment increasing social harmony across villages and
department. strengthen the Panchayati Raj.
• Divyang: People with extraordinary capabilities, • GEM: Government E-Marketplace
instead of Viklang (handicapped). • GOBAR (Galvanising Organic Bio Agro Resources)-
• DigiLocker: Government of India’s secure cloud- Dhan: Scheme to focus on converting cattle dung
based platform for storage, sharing and verification and solid waste to compost and biogas
of documents and certificates, for paperless • HRIDAY: Heritage Development and Augmentation
governance. Yojana
• DEEP: Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price--e- • Hunar Hai to Kadar Hai: If you have skill, you have
bidding web portal for electricity respect
• Digidhan: an event to promote digital transactions • HIMMAT: A mobile application to ensure women’s
• DISHA: Digital Saksharta Abhiyan--Digital literacy safety in Delhi
mission • HIT: Highways, Informationways,
• DIKSHA: Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Transmissionways—a mantra for Nepal’s
Sharing: for teacher-training and professional development.
development • HOPE: Harmony, Opportunity, People’s participation,
• DARPAN: Digital Advancement of Rural Post Office Equality—aim of Indian constitution
for A New India: Project to improve the quality of • HELP: Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing
service, add value to services and achieve “financial Policy—a uniform licensing system to cover all
inclusion” of un-banked rural population hydrocarbons under a single licensing framework
• Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat: One India, Best India • IT + IT = Indian Talent + Information Technology =
• e-Kranti: Digitizing the delivery of government India Tomorrow—part of the Digital India initiative
services. • INCH towards MILES: Indochina towards Millennium
• e-Boat: Solar-powered boats on river Ganga at of Exceptional Synergy—for the future of Indo-Sino
Varanasi. relations
• eNAM: Electronic National Agricultural Market • Indradhanush mission: Achieving universal
• ePACE: Project Appraisals and Continuing immunization with special focus on 184 high-priority
Enhancements—an online portal for monitoring districts
progress of national highways across India. • Ishan Uday: Scholarship scheme for north-east
• eBASTA: To make school books accessible in digital students.
form as e-books. • Indradhanush: Yet another mission with same name
• 3E: Enterprises, Earning, Empowerment—the motive to revamp public sector banks
behind Mudra Bank • Imprint: Impacting Research Innovation and
• EPI: Every Person is Important—The new VIP Technology--Funding research in 10 socially relevant
• Evergreen Revolution: Sustained increase in domains
agricultural production • JAM trinity: Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile—for direct
• FDI: First Develop India cash transfer and subsidy rationalization.
• 5F: Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion, • Karein Prayas, Payein Vikash: Make Effort, Gain
Fabric to Foreign Progress—the tagline for Standup India.
• FASTag: Electronic tolling system introduced on all • Kayakalp: An award to promote cleanliness, hygiene
national highways across the country and infection control practices in public health
• FUTURE: F: farmer, U: underprivileged, T: facilities
transparency, technology upgradation, U: urban • KSHAMTA: Knowledge Systems and Homestead
rejuvenation, R: rural development and E: Agriculture Management in Tribal Areas
employment, entrepreneurship • Link West, Act East: Aimed at making India a part of
• #GiveItUp: Programme to inspire consumers to give the global value chain.
up the LPG subsidy
• LaQshya: Labour Room Quality Improvement • PRAGATI: Pro-Active Governance And Timely
Initiative Guideline: aims at improving quality of care Implementation—aimed at monitoring and reviewing
in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre. of government programmes
• Mera Kya, Mujhe Kya: Modi’s comment on the • Per Drop, More Crop: Promoting farming through
attitude—what is in it for me; why should I bother— optimum utilization of water
that has ruined the nation. • P2G2: Pro-People Good Governance, which the
• MUDRA Bank: Micro Units Development and government claims to be its focus
Refinance Agency Bank • P4: People Private Public Partnership for good
• Mann Ki Baat: A radio programme hosted on All India governance
Radio where the prime minister addresses the nation • Project Mausam: To revive ancient maritime routes
• Maximum Governance, Minimum and cultural linkages with countries in the Indian
Government: Simplification of official procedures Ocean
and governance by leveraging technology • Padhe Padhaein Desh Badhaye: Study and teach for
• Make in India: Creating the ecosystem to transform the development of India
India into a manufacturing hub • Project Unnati: To mordernize major ports
• MANAS: Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills— • ROAD: Responsibility, Ownership, Accountability,
to address skill development needs of minority Discipline—for improving the work culture among
communities bureaucrats.
• MERIT: Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for • Red Tape to Red Carpet: Facilitating the ease of
Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency—a web doing business
portal that displays the actual data of electricity • 4 Rs: Recognition, Recapitalization, Resolution and
generation by states Reform—for resolving the twin balance sheet
• MUSC: Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh— problem
non-lapsable pool for Secondary and Higher • RISE: Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in
Education Cess Education: To increase investment in research and
• Namami Gange Mission: A national mission for related infrastructure in premier educational
clean-up of the Ganga. institutions by 2022
• NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming • Swadesh Darshan: Integrated development of
India—it replaced the Planning Commission. theme-based tourist circuits
• NAVIC: Navigation with Indian Constellation—India’s • Shramev Jayate: Labour reforms plank by the
own navigation satellite government
• 3 Ns for Indian Railways: Nav Arjan (new revenues), • Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas: Inclusive development for
Nav Manak (new norms), Nav Sanrachna (new all
structures) • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Clean India Mission
• NIDHI: National Initiative for Developing and • Sagar Mala Project: Promoting port-led development
Harnessing Innovations—umbrella programme for along the coastal regions and communities
nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based • SETU: Self Employment and Talent Utilisation—
and technology-driven) into successful start-ups providing support to all aspects of start-ups from
• NARI: Nutri-sensitive Agricultural Resources and credit to incubation
Innovations—focus on gender empowerment and • Swasth Dhara, Khet Hara: Healthy Earth for a Green
nutrition Farm—aimed at boosting farm productivity.
• Operation Rahat: Evacuation effort in Yemen • SMART policing: Strict but Sensitive, Modern and
• Operation Maitri: Relief operation in Nepal after the Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and
April 2015 earthquake Responsive, Tech-savvy and Trained policing
• Operation Greens: Aims to limit the erratic • 3S: Skill, Scale, Speed—what India needs to do to
fluctuations in the prices of onions, potatoes and compete with China
tomatoes • SWAYAM: Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young
• PRASAD: Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Aspiring Minds—for IITs, IIMs and central universities
Augmentation Drive to offer free online courses
• PAHAL: Pratyaksha Hastaantarit Laabh—direct • SAMAVAY: Skill Assessment Matrix for Vocational
benefit transfer of LPG subsidy Advancement of Youth—to allow multiple entry and
• Padhe Bharat, Badhe Bharat: India that is educated exit options between vocational and formal
is the India that will progress education courses
• Sahayak: New name for railway coolies • SPREE: Scheme for Promoting Registration of
• StandUp India: Promoting entrepreneurship among Employers and Employees—to extend the coverage
SC/ST and women to the entire workforce, ESI Corporation launched a
• SWIFT: Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade new employer friendly scheme
• Startup India: To encourage the startup ecosystem in • SAUBHAGYA: Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana—universal
India. household electrification in the country by 31 March
2019
• Setu Bharatam: Programme to build bridges for safe
• SHAGUN: Shala Gunvatta (School Quality)
travel on national highways Monitoring and sharing best practices about Sarva
• SAGARMALA: To connect all seven coastal states Shiksha Abhiyan
through ocean and sea routes • STRIVE: Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value
• Shipping Samvad: A new portal for submitting Enhancement: to improve access to quality and
innovative ideas for shipping sector market-driven vocational training provided in ITIs
and apprenticeships
• 3S: Speed, Simplicity, Service—the desirable
• SANKALP: Skills Acquisition and Knowledge
elements in technology Awareness for Livelihood Promotion
• SRESHTA: Special Railway Establishment for • SATH: Sustainable Action for Transforming Human
Strategic Technology and Holistic Advancement—a capital—a NITI Aayog programme to transform health
special unit for conducting in-house research in and education sectors of states
railway • SPICE: Simplified Proforma for Incorporating
• SMART: Specially Modified Aesthetic Refreshing Company Electronically
Travel—specially designed railway coaches • STRENGTH: Spirituality, Tradition, Trade &
Technology, Relationship, Entertainment, Nature
• SOLVE: System for Online Vigilance clearance conservation, Games, Tourism and Health &
Enquiries—online platform for vigilance clearance for Healing—emphasis on people to people contact
board-level appointments in central public sector between India and China
enterprises • Tax Terrorism: Comment on aggressive tax policies
• SUPREMO: Single User Platform Related To including retrospective amendment of tax laws
Employees Online—integration of seven different • 5Ts: Talent, Tradition, Tourism, Trade and
Technology, aimed at building Brand India
software for central government employees
• Twin Balance Sheet problem: The impaired financial
• SHAKTI: Scheme to Harness and Allocate Koyla positions of public sector banks and some large
(Coal) Transparently in India—new coal linkage policy corporate houses
• Setu Bharatam: For building bridges for safe and • TIES: Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme—
seamless travel on national highways Scheme to build export infrastructure at state level
• SAMADHAN (the new anti-Maoist strategy): Smart • TARANG: Transmission App for Real Time Monitoring
Leadership to convert failure into success— and Growth—a monitoring tool to track the progress
of inter-state and intra-state transmission systems in
Aggressive Strategy, Motivation and Training,
the country
Actionable Intelligence, Dashboard Based KPIs (Key • TOP (Tomato, Onion, Potato) priority: To signify
Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result government’s priority for horticulture producers
Areas), Harnessing Technology, Action plan for each • USTTAD: Upgrading Skills and Training in Traditional
Theatre and No access to Financing Arts/Crafts for Development
• SEVA: Saral Eindhan Vitaran Application—app to • Unnat Bharat Abhiyan: IITs and NITs providing
ensure transparency and accountability in coal technological resources to rural areas for
dispatch for power sector consumers sustainable development
• UJALA: Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All
• SAMPADA: Supplement Agriculture Modernise
• UDAY: Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojna: financial
Processing And Decrease Agriwaste—scheme for turnaround and revival package for electricity
agro-marine processing and development of agro- DISCOMs
processing clusters • Udaan scheme: Aims to provide skills training and
• SAUNI: Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation enhance the employability of unemployed youth of
Yojana Jammu and Kashmir
• SANKALP: Skill Acquisition and Knowledge • URJA: Urban Jyoti Abhiyaan—to improve consumer
connect on electricity related issues
Awareness for Livelihood Promotion programme
• UDAN: Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik—regional air
• Sabka Saath, Sabka Gaon, Sabka Vikas: Inclusive connectivity scheme
development of all villages for all • Vidyut Prabhah: Portal provides real-time basis
• Sweet Revolution: To increase production of honey power availability in the country
• Vidyanjali: A school volunteer programme
• VATICA: Value Addition and Technology Incubation • Zero Effect, Zero Defect: Aimed at improving the
Centres in Agriculture quality of goods produced in India.
POLITY
Important Amendments to Indian Constitution.
Amendment Year Importance
Added 9th Schedule to protect the land reform and other laws included in it from the judicial
1 1951
review.
Reorganisation of states on linguistic basis and abolition of Class A, B, C and D states and
7 1956
introduction of Union Territories.
9 1960 Adjustments to Indian territory as a result of agreement with Paksitan.
Dadra, Nagar and Haveli included in Indian Union as a Union Territory on acquisition from
10 1961
Portugal.
Goa, Daman and Diu included in Indian Union as a Union Territory on acquisition from
12 1961
Portugal.
13 1963 The state of Nagaland formed with special protection under Article 371A.
14 1962 Pondicherry incorporated into Indian Union after transfer by France.
Enabled the High courts to issue writs to any person or authority even outside its terrorist’s
15 1963
jurisdiction if the cause of action arises within its territorial limits.
21 1967 Sindhi added as language in the 8th schedule.
26 1971 Privy purse paid to former rulers of princely states abolished.
36 1975 Sikim included as an Indian state.
Fundamental Duties prescribed, India became Socialist Secular Republic.
42 1976
gave the Directive Principles precedence over the Fundamental Rights
Right to Property deleted from the list of fundamental rights.
Constitutional protection for publication of the proceedings of Parliament and State
44 1978 Legislatures
Proclamation of Emergency need henceforward, be issued by the President only after
receiving the advice of the Cabinet in writing
52 1985 Defection to another party after election made illegal.
61 1989 Voting age reduced from 21 to 18.
69 1991 Insertion of new articles 239AA and 239AB, Special provisions with respect to Delhi
71 1992 Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali added as languages in the Eighth Schedule.
73 1993 Introduction of Panchayati Raj, addition of Part IX to the Constitution.
74 1993 Introduction of Nagarpalikas and Municipalities.
86 2002 Free and compulsory education to children between 6 and 14 years.
Restricted the size of the Council of Ministers (CoM) to 15 percent of legislative members &
91 2004
strengthened the Anti-Defection laws.
Bodo, Dogri, Santhali and Maithli added to the list of recognised languages. Service Tax
92 2003
introduced.
1960, 1970,
8,23,45,62, 1980, 1989, Extension of reservation of seats for SC/ST and nomination of Anglo-Indian members in
79 and 95 2000 and Parliament and State Assemblies.
2010
96 2011 Substituted Odia for Oriya in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution
97 2012 Introduction of Part IXB in the Constitution pertaining to Co-operative Societies
101 2016 Introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST)
The 42nd amendment was the most comprehensive amendment which had 59 clauses and carried out so many changes
that it has been described as a "Mini Constitution".
The 52nd amendment was the only amendment to be unanimously adopted by the Parliament.
Recent Amendments
1) 101st amendment of the constitution added new articles related to GST
Article 246 A: Both Union and States in India now have “concurrent powers” to make law with respect to goods &
services. The intra-state trade now comes under the jurisdiction of both centre and state; while inter-state trade and
commerce is “exclusively” under central government jurisdiction.
Article 269A: Goods and services tax on supplies in the course of inter-State trade or commerce shall be levied and
collected by the Government of India and such tax shall be apportioned between the Union and the States in the
manner as may be provided by Parliament by law on the recommendations of the Goods and Services Tax Council.
Article 279-A: This article provides for constitution of a GST council by president within sixty days from this act
coming into force. The GST council will constitute the following members:
• Union Finance Minister as chairman of the council
• Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance
• One nominated member from each state who is in charge of finance or taxation
• Changes in the 7th Schedule
• Entry 92 (newspapers and on advertisements published therein) has been deleted thus, they are now
under GST.
• Entry 92-C (Service Tax) has been now deleted from union list.
• The residuary power of legislation of Parliament under article 248 is now subject to article 246A.
• Article 249 has been changed so that if 2/3rd majority resolution is passed by Rajya Sabha, the Parliament
will have powers to make necessary laws with respect to GST in national interest.
• Article 250 has been amended so that parliament will have powers to make laws related to GST during
emergency period.
• Article 268 has been amended so that excise duty on medicinal and toilet preparation will be omitted from
the state list and will be subsumed in GST.
• Article 268A has been repealed so now service tax is subsumed in GST.
• Article 269 would empower the parliament to make GST related laws for inter-state trade / commerce.
2) 102nd Amendment to give Constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes
• Addition of articles 338B, 342A, and Added Clause 26C.
• Omitted Article 340. Modification of articles 338, 366
• The Basic Structure doctrine forms the basis of power of the Indian judiciary to review,
and strike down, amendments to the Constitution of India enacted by the Indian
parliament which conflict with or seek to alter this basic structure of the Constitution.
• Preamble part of constitution and can be amended
• The seven-judge bench asserted the right to personal liberty as enshrined in Article 21 of
Maneka Gandhi vs Union of
the Constitution, making it an important precedent for cases related to fundamental
India
rights.
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India • The case lays down the principle of absolute liability and the concept of deep pockets.
• The Supreme Court provided key clarifications on the interpretation of the basic
structure doctrine. The court unanimously ruled that the power of the Parliament of
Minerva Mills v. Union of
India to amend the constitution is limited by the constitution.
India
• Emergency Proclamation can be Challenged
• Balance and harmony between FR and DPSP
• Protect freedom of speech and expression on Internet
Mouthshut.com v. Union of
India • Internet users are free to post anything online and publishers cannot be forced to take
down content without a court order
• Declared transgender people to be a 'third gender', affirmed that the fundamental
National Legal Services rights granted under the Constitution of India will be equally applicable to transgender
Authority v. Union of India people, and gave them the right to self-identification of their gender as male, female or
third-gender.
S. R. Bommai v. Union of • The judgement attempted to curb blatant misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution of
India India, which allowed President's rule to be imposed over state governments
• The Supreme Court struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000,
Shreya Singhal v. Union of
relating to restrictions on online speech, unconstitutional on grounds of violating the
India
freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India
State of Madras v. • This judgement led to the First Amendment of the Constitution of India. It was the first
Champakam Dorairajan major judgement regarding reservations in Republic of India.
Suresh Kumar Koushal vs.
• Reinstated Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
Naz Foundation
• For the purpose of interpretation of the guarantee of gender equality, right to work with
Vishakha and others v State
human dignity in Articles 14, 15, 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution and the safeguards
of Rajasthan
against sexual harassment
Aruna Shanbaug vs Union of Accepting passive euthanasia. The SC issued a set of guidelines legalizing passive
India (2011) euthanasia in the country. It upheld the right to death with dignity.
Verdict on LGBT Rights. In this case, the two-judge bench of Delhi High Court held that
treating consensual homosexual sex between adults as a crime is a violation of
Naz Foundation vs Govt. of fundamental rights and thus scrapped Section 377 of IPC. Later, in Suresh Kumar
NCT of Delhi (2009) Koushal vs. Naz Foundation (2009), SC re-instated Section 377 stating that judicial
intervention was not required in that issue. Now, the SC’s judgment in the Right to Privacy
case has once again opened up debate on Section 377.
The Supreme Court held that the right to privacy is also a fundamental right enshrined in
Justice Puttaswamy case
Article 21.
Fundamental Rights
• Derived inspiration from the Constitution of USA (i.e., Bill of Rights).
• Described as the Magna Carta of India
• These are ‘justiciable’ Fundamental Rights.
• These are meant for promoting the ideal of political democracy.
• The Fundamental Rights are named as
1) They are guaranteed and protected by the Constitution, which is the fundamental law of the land.
2) They are ‘fundamental’ and most essential for the all-round development (material, intellectual, moral
and spiritual) of the individual
Articles Related to Fundamental Rights (PART III on the Indian Constitution) at a Glance
General
• 12. Definition of State
• 13. Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights
Right to Equality
• 14. Equality before law
• 15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth
DNYANADEEP ACADEMY FOR UPSC AND MPSC, PUNE 42
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Directive Principles of State Policy [Part IV of the Constitution from Articles 36 to 51]
• Borrowed this idea from the Irish Constitution of 1937, which had copied it from the Spanish Constitution.
• Dr B R Ambedkar described these principles as ‘novel features’ of the Indian Constitution.
• The Directive Principles along with the Fundamental Rights contain the philosophy of the Constitution and is the
soul of the Constitution.
• Granville Austin has described the Directive Principles and the Fundamental Rights as the ‘Conscience of the
Constitution
Socialistic Principles: These principles
Directive Principles of State Policy at a Glance reflect the ideology of socialism. They lay
• 36. Definition of State down the framework of a democratic
• 37. Application of the principles contained in this part socialist state, aim at providing social
• 38. State to secure a social order for the promotion of welfare of the and economic justice, and set the path
people towards welfare state.
• 39. Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State Article: 38, 39, 39A, 41, 42, 43, 43A, 47
To secure
a) the right to adequate means of livelihood for all citizens;
b) the equitable distribution of material resources of the community for the common good;
c) prevention of concentration of wealth and means of production;
The above Directives are also non-justiciable in nature. However, they are also given equal importance and
attention by the judiciary on the ground that all parts of the constitution must be read together.
Fundamental Duties
• Inspired by the Constitution of erstwhile USSR.
• None of the Constitutions of major democratic countries like USA, Canada, France, Germany, Australia and
so on specifically contain a list of duties of citizens.
• Japanese Constitution is the only democratic Constitution in world which contains a list of duties of citizens.
• Sardar Swaran Singh Committee: Set up for recommendations about fundamental duties.
• 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1976: added a new part, namely, Part IVA to the Constitution. This
new part consists of only one Article, that is, Article 51A
• They help the courts in examining and determining the constitutional validity of a law. In 1992, the Supreme
Court ruled that in determining the constitutionality of any law, if a court finds that the law in question seeks
to give effect to a fundamental duty, it may consider such law to be ‘reasonable’ in relation to Article 14
(equality before law) or Article 19 (six freedoms) and thus save such law from unconstitutionality.
• Protection and improvement of environment, forest & wildlife is found common place in both Fundamental
Duties and Directive Principles of State Policy
Article 51 A Contains duties as:
1. to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National
Anthem;
2. to cherish and follow the noble ideals that inspired the national struggle for freedom;
3. to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;
4. to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so;
5. to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending
religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities and to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of
women;
6. to value and preserve the rich heritage of the country’s composite culture;
7. to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have
compassion for living creatures;
8. to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
9. to safeguard public property and to abjure violence;
10. to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly
rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement; and
11. to provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the age of six and fourteen years. [added
by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.]
Legal provisions for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties [As per Verma Committee on
Fundamental Duties, 1999]
Budget (The Constitution refers to the budget as the ‘annual financial statement’)
• Term ‘budget’ has nowhere been used in the Constitution but dealt with in Article 112 of the Constitution.
• The budget is a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India in a
financial year
• The budget goes through the following six stages in the Parliament:
1. Presentation of budget.
2. General discussion.
3. Scrutiny by departmental committees.
4. Voting on demands for grants.
5. Passing of appropriation bill.
6. Passing of finance bill.
• Before the demands for excess grants are submitted to the Lok Sabha for voting,
they must be approved by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
Exceptional Grant Supplementary Grant Vote of Credit
• For special Purpose • If the granted amount is found to • To meet unexpected demand
be insufficient
Motions
Adjournment Motion Censure Motion Substantive Motion
• Passed for urgent public importance • Should state a reason • Matters dealing with very very
• It’s a Censure against Government • Can be against a individual important subject
• Needs a support of 50 members minister e.g.
• An extraordinary device • Passed to sensor a specific • President impeachment
• Discussion should not last less than 2.5 hours policy • Chief Election Commissioner
• Rajya Sabha is not allowed to pass • If Passed Council of Removal
• If Passed Council of Ministers need not Resign Ministers need not Resign • Speaker Removal
No confidence Motion
• Need not state reason No Day yet named Motion
Calling Attention Motion
• Need support of 50 members • Admitted by Speaker
• Matter of Urgent public
• If Passed Council of Ministers must resign • But not given a date
importance is taken
• Is passed against entice COM
• Not by Rajya Sabha
Closure motion
• It Cuts short debate and if passed the matter is put to vote
Done in types
• Simple: if sufficiently discussed
• By Compartment: Grouped into parts and put to vote
• Kangaroo: Only important is taken and put to vote
• Guillotine: Undiscussed/discussed all put to vote
Budgetary Motions *[if any of the below motion is passed it shows the lack of confidence in the Government]
Policy cut Motion Economy cut Motion
Token Cut Motion
• It is a disapproval of a policy Amount is reduced to a specific
Amount is reduced by Rs100
• The amount is reduced to Rs1 amount
ENVIRONMENT
In News
1. UNFCCC COP 24: The 24th Session of the of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP 24) was held in Katowice, Poland.
• Accounting Guidance Rules to guide the countries for their Climate pledges (“nationally determined
contributions”, NDCs), to compare pledges and to add them up as a global aggregate.
• Market mechanisms: It provides for the trading of carbon credits i.e. overachievement of NDCs, as well as
individual projects generating carbon credits for sale.
• The schemes and methodologies for the implementation of Sustainable Development Mechanism- SDM
would be discussed in COP-25. The SDM is intended to replace the Kyoto Protocol’s “Clean Development
Mechanism” (CDM) for carbon offsets.
• Loss and damage: The global stocktake rules add loss and damage clause.
• Setting up an expert compliance committee: The committee will be able to investigate countries that fail to
submit climate pledges.
• Talanoa Dialogue: The convention invited countries to consider the outcomes of the Talanoa dialogue in
preparing their NDCs and in efforts to enhance pre-2020 ambition.
2. The Uttarakhand High Court has declared the “entire animal kingdom including avian and aquatic” as legal
entities.
3. India for first will host the 14th session of Conference of Parties (COP-14) of United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019 in New Delhi
4. The Environment Ministers Group of 20 (G-20) countries have agreed to adopt new implementation framework
for actions to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste on global scale.
5. Plastic Waste included in Basel Convention on the Control Of Hazardous Wastes, in a legally-binding framework,
in a move to quickly reduce amount of plastic being washed into world’s oceans.
6. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed Hump-backed Mahseer as Critically Endangered
in the Red List of Threatened Species.
• The Hump-backed Mahseer is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish and is referred to as tiger of the water.
The Hump-backed Mahseer is found only in the Cauvery river basin including Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani
rivers.
7. Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) called ‘Plan Bee’ to keep wild elephants away from train tracks has won the
‘Best Innovation Award’ in Indian Railways
8. Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve was included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserve
(WNBR) under the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB).
9. India has designated Sundarban Reserve Forests as the wetlands of International Importance, making it the
27th site in India. It is the largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
10. India Biodiversity Award 2018 was conferred by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
11. The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) [UNESCO world heritage site.] had been split into two divisions — the existing
Eastern Assam Wildlife and the new Biswanath Wildlife park with Brahmputra flowing in between.
12. Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to implement the national policy on biofuels.
13. World’s largest solar plant
• Ladakh will become the world’s largest singlelocation solar photo-voltaic plant with a installed capacity of
5,000 MW Capacity by 2023.
• Other high capacity project In India: Bhadla Solar Park (2255 MW capacity in Rajasthan); Kurnool (2000
MW capacity in Andhra Pradesh).
14. NMCG has started “Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan” in five main stem Ganga basin states – Uttarakhand, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
15. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018 (under the Environment Protection Act, 1986), based on the
recommendations of Shailesh Nayak Committee report (2016).
16. Centre has released a draft notification for earmarking Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) in Western Ghats. Which
proposes nearly 37% of Western Ghats as ‘no go’ zone, as recommended by Kasturirangan Committee. (The
Madhav Gadgil panel had recommended 64% of western ghats as ESA).
17. Ministry of Power has launched Energy Conversation Building Code for residential buildings named Eco Nivas
Samhita, 2018 in order to promote energy efficiency in design and construction of homes and generate
awareness towards conservation.
18. PARIVESH (Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single window Hub):
An integrated environmental management system
19. The Palghar district in northern Maharashtra has been witnessing an unusual frequency of earthquakes since
November 2018. National Centre for Seismology (NCS) has categorized the unusual tremors as an ‘earthquake
swarm’.
• Earthquake swarm: It is a series of low magnitude earthquakes that occur in a localized region and over a
period ranging from days, weeks to even months.
20. Excess water from South Lhonak lake (Sikkim) had to be siphoned to prevent Glacial Lakes Outburst Floods
(GLOFs)
21. India along with 23 countries participated in this major Indian ocean-wide tsunami mock drill, namely IOWAVE18.
organised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO).
22. India Meteorological Department (IMD), for the first time, has provided a country-wide soil moisture forecast
termed ‘Experimental Forecasts Land Surface Products’. It has been developed using the ‘Variable Infiltration
Capacity’ model that takes into consideration soil, vegetation, land use and land cover among other parameters.
23. Climate change could lead to decline of underwater kelp forests.
• Kelp forest are large brown algae seaweeds. They grow in "underwater forests" (kelp forests) in shallow
oceans.
• Kelps live further from the tropics than coral reefs, mangrove forests, and warm-water seagrass beds.
24. US mid-west experienced sub-zero temperatures due to a breakdown in the polar vortex.
• It is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s North and South Pole.
• The term refers to the counter-clockwise flow (clockwise over south pole) of air that
• There are not one but two polar vortexes in each hemisphere.
25. IMD recently launched the Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS) to provide probabilistic weather forecasts upto
next 10 days. With this new model, India joins the US with a model that predicts with a 12 km resolution. Only
the 'European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecast' has a better 9km resolution.
26. Scientists have identified a new phase in Earth's geological history called the Meghalayan age. which is the
subdivision of the Holocene Epoch, began about 4,200 years ago and the most recent unit of the Geologic Time
Scale
• The Meghalayan Stage has been defined at a specific level in a stalagmite in the Mawmluh caves — one of
the India’s longest and deepest — in Cherrapunji, Meghalaya
27. The International Conference on Status and Protection of Coral Reefs (STAPCOR)-2018 took place recently at
Bangaram Coral Island of Lakshadweep. Theme of the conference was “Reef for Life”. It takes place every 10
year after the foundation of STAPCOR in 1998 when heavy bleaching of corals was observed internationally
because of Global warming, climate change and El-Nino effect.
28. United Nation Environment Program has awarded Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) with Asia Environment
Enforcement Awards, 2018.
• WCCB coordinated “Operation Thunder Bird” (INTERPOL’s multi-national and multispecies enforcement
operation) in India.
• WCCB has launched “Operation wildnet” to counter the menace of the illegal trade through internet.
29. Lake Urmia: It is an endorheic (which do not drain to the sea) salt lake in Iran.
• The lake has shrunk to 10% of its former size due to damming of the rivers that flow into it, and the pumping
of groundwater from the surrounding area.
• Lake Urmia is designated as a site of international importance under the UN Convention on Wetlands.
30. Indian Ocean Research Vehicle (IORV) Sagar Nidhi as part of India- US expedition seeking to find answers to
vagaries of Bay of Bengal fed South-West Monsoon was set out in Indian Ocean. The project is funded by the
Ministry of Earth Sciences and the US Office on Naval Research.
31. Butterfly species Tamil yeoman (Cirrochroa thais) has been officially declared as state butterfly of Tamil Nadu.
32. The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council has launched a rating tool ‘GRIHA for
Existing Day Schools’ to evaluate the environmental performance of existing schools across India.
33. Nekton Mission is aimed at enhancing the humanities knowledge and understanding of the world’s oceans to
speed up the protection and governance of our last great wilderness, the deep ocean.
34. The IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report was compiled by Greenpeace in association with IQAir AirVisual.
The index measures the presence of fine particulate matter PM2.5 in the air.
35. India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia have signed the New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019
declaration
36. Spotted Cheetahs being translocated from Namibia would be kept at Nauradehi sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
37. India’s first specialised hydrotherapy treatment centre (water clinic) for elephants was opened in Mathura, Uttar
Pradesh.
38. India, the fourth largest carbon emitter, Paris Climate Commitment to reduce its emissions by 33–35 percent by
2030 compared to 2005 levels 40 percent of total energy demand from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 33
percent forest cover
39. India is the cheapest solar energy producer: IRENA report
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• Periyar WLS T
• hattekad Bird WLS
Periyar National Park
• It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve.
• The park is a repository of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of
two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and the Pamba.
Idukky Wildlife Sanctuary
The Forest type:
• West Coast Tropical Evergreen forests,
• Semi Evergreen forests,
• Moist Deciduous Forests,
• Hill shoals and Grass Lands
Biodiversity: Elephant, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse deer, Bonnet macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar giant
squirrel, Great Indian Hornbill, Grey-headed Bulbul etc.
• Kanha National Park
• Bori WLS
• Madhav National Park • Vindhyachal Super Thermal
• Gandhi Sagar WLS
• Mandla Plant Fossils National Power Station
• Ghatigaon WLS
Park • Sant Singaji Thermal Power
• Ken Gharial WLS
• Panna National Park Plant
MP • Narsighgarh WLS
• Pench National Park • Satpura Thermal Power
Capital: Bhopal • National Chambal WLS
• Sanjay National Park Station
• Orcha WLS
• Satpura National Park Van • Amarkantak TPS
• Kuno WLS
• Vihar National park • Sasan Ultra Mega Power
• Sardarpur WLS Project
• Dinosaur Fossils NP
• Son Gharial WLS
• Fossil NP
Kanha Tiger Reserve
It had inspired Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel Jungle Book.
The park has a significant population of Bengal tiger, Indian leopards, sloth bear, barasingha and Indian wild dog.
• Aner Dam WLS
• Bhamragarh WLS
• Bhimashankar WLS
• Chandoli National Park • Great Indian Bustard • Tarapur Atomic Power
• Navegaon National Park WLS Station
Maharashtra • Tadoba National Park • Jaikwadi WLS • Tirora Thermal Power
Capital: Mumbai • Gugamal national park • Koyana WLS Station
• Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) NP • Nagzira WLS • Amravati Thermal Power
• Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) NP • Painganga WLS Plant
• Radhanagari WLS
• Sagareshwar WLS
• Tipeshwar WLS
Manipur • YangoupokpiLokchao
• Keibul Lamjao National Park
Capital: Imphal WLS
• Baghmara Pitcher Plant
Meghalaya • Balphakram National Park WLS
Capital: Shillong • Nokrek National Park • Nongkhyllem WLS
• Siju WLS
• Dampa WLS (TR)
Mizoram • Murlen National Park • Ngengpui WLS
Capital: Aizawl • Phawngpui Blue National Park • Pualreng WLS Tokalo
WLS
• Fakim WLS
Nagaland • Dikhu Hydro Electric Power
• Intanki National Park • Puliebadze WLS
Capital: Kohima Plant
• Rangapahar WLS
• Badrama WLS
• Baisipalli WLS
Odisha
• Bhitarkanika National Park • Chilika (Nalaban) WLS • Talcher Super Thermal
Capital:
Bhubaneshawer • Simlipal National Park • Hadgarh WLS Power Station
• Khalasuni WLS
• Satkosia Gorge WLS
DNYANADEEP ACADEMY FOR UPSC AND MPSC, PUNE 53
DNYANADEEP IAS SUPER SERIES – CAPF2019
Bhitarkanika National Park: Ramsar Convention site since 2002
• Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary lies to the east.
• It is home to Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), White Crocodile, Indian python, King Cobra, black ibis,
darters and many other species of flora and fauna.
• The sanctuary is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.
• The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by a number of rivers - Brahmani, Baitarni, Dhamra, Pathsala
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
• It is very famous for its nesting beach for olive ridley sea turtles.
• It is the one of world’s most important nesting beach for turtles.
Nalbana Bird Sanctuary or Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of CHILIKA LAKE
Simlipal National park
• Its reserve is part of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009.
• It was the second largest national park in India.
• It is home to 99 royal Bengal tigers and 432 wild elephants.
• Besides it is famous for gaurs (Indian bison), chausingha as well as an orchidarium.
• Bundh Baratha WLS
• Darrah WLS
• Jawahar Sagar WLS
• Sariska National Park
• Kailadevi WLS
• Ranthambore National Park • Chhabra Thermal Power
Rajasthan • Mount Abu WLS
• Darrah National Park Station
Capital: Jaipur • Ramsagar WLS
• Desert National Park • Suratgarh Power Station
• Sariska WLS
• Keoladeo National Park
• Sawai Man Singh WLS
• Shergarh WLS
• Sitamata WLS
• Fambong Lho WLS
Sikkim • Khangchendzonga National Park • Kitam WLS (Bird) • Rangit Hydro Electric Power
Capital: Gangtok (KNP) • Maenam WLS Project
• Pangolakha WLS
KNP was added in the ’mixed’ heritage site category in its list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO
It exhibits qualities of both natural and cultural significance
• Indira Gandhi
(Annamalai) WLS
• Mudumalai National Park • Kalakad WLS
• Karaivetti WLS • Kudankulam Nuclear
• Mukurthi National Park
Power Plant
Tamil Nadu • Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) • Karikili WLS
• Neyveli Thermal
Capital: Chennai • Guindy National Park • Mudumalai WLS
• Tuticorin Thermal Power
• Gulf of Mannar Marine National • Pulicat Lake WLS Station
Park • Vaduvoor WLS
• Vedanthangal WLS
• Vettangudi WLS
• Gumti WLS
Tripura • Palatana Thermal Power
• Bison( Rajbari ) National Park • Rowa WLS
Capital: Agartala Plant
• Clouded Leopard National Park • Sepahijala WLS
• Trishna WLS
• Gangotri National Park
• Askot Musk Deer WLS
• Jim Corbett National Park
• Binsar WLS • Chibro Power Plant
Uttarakhand • Valley of Flowers National Park
• Govind Pashu Vihar WLS • Khodri Power Plant
Capital: Dehradun • Govind NP
• Kedarnath WLS • Chilla Power Plant
• Nanda Devi NP
• Sonanadi WLS
• Rajaji NP
• Mejia Thermal Power
• Buxa National Park (TR) • Ballavpur WLS Station
• Neora Valley NationalPark • Chintamani Kar Bird • Farakka Super Thermal
WB • Singalila National Park Sanctuary Power Station
Capital: Kolkata • Sundarbans National Park • Haliday Island WLS • Kolaghat Thermal Power
• Gorumara NP • Lothian Island WLS Station
• Jaldapara NP • Mahananda WLS • Bakreshwar Thermal Power
Station
DNYANADEEP ACADEMY FOR UPSC AND MPSC, PUNE 54
DNYANADEEP IAS SUPER SERIES – CAPF2019
Elephant Reserves
Sl.
Elephant Range Elephant Reserve State
No.
1. Mayurjharna ER West Bengal
2. Singhbhum ER Jharkhand
3. Mayurbhanj ER Orissa
East-Central Landscape 4. Mahanadi ER Orissa
1 (South-West Bengal- Jharkhand - Orissa) 5. Sambalpur ER Orissa
6. Baitami ER Orissa
7. South Orissa ER Orissa
8. Lemru ER Chhattishgarh
9. Badalkhol - Tamorpingla ER Chhattishgarh
Kameng-Sonitpur Landscape 10. Kameng ER Arunachal
2
(Arunachal - Assam) 11. Sonitpur ER * Assam
Eastern-South Bank Landscape 12. Dihing-Patkai ER Assam
3
(Assam - Arunachal) 13. South Arunachal ER Arunachal
14. Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ER Assam
Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intanki Landscape
4 15. Dhansiri-Lungding ER Assam
(Assam - Nagaland)
16. Intanki ER Nagaland
North Bengal- Greater Manas Landscape 17. Chirang-Ripu ER Assam
5
(Assam - West Bengal) 18. Eastern Dooars ER West Bengal
Meghalaya Landscape 19. Garo Hills ER Meghalaya
6
(Meghalaya) 20. Khasi-hills ER # Meghalaya
21. Mysore ER Karnataka
22. Wayanad ER Kerala
Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghat Landscape 23. Nilgiri ER Tamil Nadu
7
(Karnataka - Kerala- Tamilnadu- Andhra) 24. Rayala ER Andhra
25. Nilambur ER Kerala
26. Coimbatore ER Tamil Nadu
Anamalai-Nelliampathy- High Range Landscape 27. Anamalai ER Tamil Nadu
8
(Tamilnadu - Kerala) 28. Anamudi ER Kerala
Periyar-Agasthyamalai Landscape 29. Periyar ER Kerala
9
(Kerala - Tamilnadu) 30. Srivilliputhur ER Tamil Nadu
North-Western Landscape 31. Shivalik ER Uttarakhand
10
(Uttarakhand - Uttar Pradesh) 32. Uttar Pradesh ER U.P.
The scheme of 'Assistance for the Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries' was reformulated and renamed
as 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)' during the 11th Plan period (2007-2012).
Species under IDWH Scheme: 9. Indian Rhino or Great One-horned Rhinoceros
1. Asian Wild Buffalo 10. Jerdon’s Courser
2. Asiatic Lion 11. Malabar Civet
3. Brow-Antlered Deer or Sangai 12. Marine Turtles*
4. Dugong 13. Nicobar Megapode
5. Edible Nest Swiftlet 14. Nilgiri Tahr
6. Gangetic River Dolphin 15. Snow Leopard
7. Great Indian Bustard 16. Swamp Deer
8. Hangul 17. Vultures*
HISTORY
Ancient
Terms and their Meanings
Terms Meanings
Agnikula Some group of Rajput clans who claim to have arisen from Yajna Havana-Kunda
Agrahara Contribution of land or taxes from a village by the king to the Brahmins
Ajivika A heterodox sect closer to Jainism, It prospered at the time of the Buddha
Amatya Official title for a higher official used from the Mauryan Period.
Aranyakas These are Vedic texts, Composed by hermits
Artha Prosperity and well-being, One of the four aims of life of a Hindu
Arthashastra Written by Kautilya, Ancient Indian treatise on economic policy, statecraft, and military strategy
Ashramas The four stages of life, One facet of the Dharma concept in Hinduism
Ayukta Title of an officer often used in the Mauryan period
Bhagavata A sect dedicated to Lord Vishnu
Bhukti Gupta period administrative unit of a kingdom
Bodhisattva A individual who attains nirvana by working for the welfare of the world
Brahmacharya The first of the four stages (Ashramas) of life.
Brahmanas A collection of ancient Indian texts with annotations on the hymns of the four Vedas
Chaitya A Buddhist place of worship.
Charvaka It is known as Lokayata and Bṛhaspatya, An ancient school of Indian materialism
Devadana Contributed revenue assigned to a temple
Dharma Piety, Morality – a way of life
Digambara A Jain sect, This sect believes that to attain Moksha, one must give up the luxury of clothes also.
Garbhagriha The sanctum of the Hindu temple.
Gayatri mantra The very important verse from the Rig Veda
Grama A village
Hinayana One of the two major Buddhist sects
Jati Family or a group of people defined by their profession
Kaliyuga The fourth and final era
Karma Action
Kharoshthi Ashokan inscription of Shahbazgari and Manashera are written in this script
Kula The clan or extended family
Mandalam An administrative unit, frequently used in south India.
Matha A center of education attached to a religious establishment
Nagara Temple architecture style developed in central and Northern India
Nishaka A term used for coin
Pana A term used for coin
Rajuka An official designation used in the Mauryan period
Rashtra Country
Samiti A larger assembly
Satamana A silver coin which weighed about 180 grains.
Sati A Practice one who has sacrifice herself on the funeral pyre of her husband.
Stupa Domical structure containing relics of the Buddha.
Theravada A Buddhist sect
Upanishads The philosophical texts included in Vedic literature
Varna Four-fold division of Hindu society
Minor Rock Edicts: Minor rock edicts are found on 15 rocks across the country and in Afghanistan also. Ashoka
uses his name only in four of these places namely, Maski, Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Gujjara (MP) and Nettur (AP).
• Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prasasti):
• The Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the pillar was first erected at Kaushambi, an ancient town some 30
kilometres west of its current location which was then the capital of the kingdom of Koshala
• There were also inscriptions issued by Samudragupta and was composed by Harisena. It is written in very simple
and refined Sanskrit in kavya style. It lists achievements of Samudragupta. This Inscription is a eulogy of
Samudragupta and mentions about the conquests of Samudragupta and boundaries of the Gupta Empire. The
eulogy of Harisena describes him as hero of 100 battles. He performed Ashvamedha Yajna, this has been testified
by a seal of Samudragupta bearing a Horse. This was probably first Ashvamedha after Pushyamitra Shunga. He is
depicted in his coins playing Veena. He allowed the king of Ceylon to build a monastery at Bodhgaya. Another term
used by Harisena for him is Kaviraja, which testified him as a patron of poetic arts and a poet himself.
Samudragupta also assumed the title of Vikramanka
• It also has inscriptions by the Mughal emperor Jahangir, from the 17th century
Medieval
Terms Used and their Meaning
Amil: Revenue officers Mulhid: A heretic, one who renounces the faith.
Mullahs: persons claiming to be religious leaders of the
Amir-i-akhur: amir or officer commanding the horse
Musalmans
Muqaddam: village headman; literally the first or senior
Amir-i-hajib: officer-in-charge of the royal court
man
Amirul Mominin: Commander of the Faithful; the Caliph Murid: Disciple
Arz-i-mamalik: minister in charge of the army of the whole Mustaufi: An auditor of accounts specially of those
country collecting land revenue.
Abwab: miscellaneous cesses, imposts and charges
Mutasaddi: A writer, a clerk
levied by zamindars and public officials
Nabud: Remission of land revenue on account of natural
Afaqis: foreigners (in the Deccan)
disasters.
Ahadi: gentleman trooper Nabuwat: Prophethood
Ahl-i-qalam: a scribe Naib: deputy, assistant, agent, representative
Amil, amalguzar: revenue collector Na-Khuda: Commander or captain of a ship
Amu Darya: The River Oxus Narnal: Swivel gun carried by men
Arraba: a wagon, a cart Nasaq: A mode of assessment
Naukar, Nokar: Servant, term used by Timurid rulers for
Ashraf: a person of noble birth, a gentleman
their nobles
Ataliq: guardian Nawab: viceroy, governor; title of rank
Nazrana: gift, usually from inferior to superior; forced
Banduqchi: musketeer
contribution
Bania, Baniya merchant; in some areas also refers to
moneychanger or banker; a caste traditionally engaged in Nilgai: A kind of deer
the above activities
Banjar: waste or fallow-land, fit for cultivation Pahar: One-eigth of a day i.e. three hours
Banjara: grain and cattle merchant; name of an itinerant
Pahi: A non-resident cultivator, temporary cultivator
tribe
Baqqal: trader, grain-dealer Paibaqi: Land reserved for allotment in jagir
Paibos: kissing the feet, a ceremony generally reserved for
Barawardi: a recruit on ad-hoc pay
God
Bargi, bargirl: an auxiliary soldier, a plunderer Patar: mistress, kept woman, common law wife.
Batai: division of the crop between the cultivator and the
landlord or the government; payments may be in kind or Patel: village headman
cash
The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414) • The first ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty was Ghiyath-al-Din
List of Tughlaq rulers who ruled over Delhi Tughlaq, who was also known by the name Ghazi Malik.
Sultanate in this era. • He was succeeded by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq who was known
Ruler Reign for his misadventures related to administration and war.
• Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq was succeeded by Firuz Shah Tughlaq
Ghiyath-al-din Tughlaq 1321–1325
who was half Muslim (his mother was a Hindu). He was known
Muhammad bin Tughlaq 1325–1351 to establish cities. Under his reign, cities like Firuzshah Kotla
Firuz Shah Tughlaq 1351–1388 (Delhi), Hisar, Jaunpur (West Bengal), Fatahabad, Firozabad
Ghiyas-ud-in Tughlaq II 1388–1389 were founded.
Abu Bakr Shah 1389–1390 •
• After the Tughlaq Dynasty, Khizr Khan founded the Sayyid
Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah 1390–1393 Dynasty. He was the governor of Multan and Timur’s deputy in
III India. Khizr Khan died of illness and was succeeded by his son
Ala-ud-Din Sikandar Shah I 1393 Mubarak Shah.
Mahmud Nasir ud din 1393–1394 • Mubarak Shah had a vision of expanding the empire, but his
Nusrat Shah 1394–1399 plans were foiled by opposition and revolts of the nobles. Even
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah 1399–1413 with this opposition, Mubarak Shah was an efficient ruler of the
Delhi Sultanate.
• After Mubarak Shah, the Delhi Sultanate was ruled by two
The Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451)
incompetent rulers – Muhammad Shah and Ala-ud-din Alam
Shah thereafter. Ala-ud-din Alam Shah was the last ruler of the
Sayyid Dynasty. He gave up the throne voluntarily in favour of
Bahlol Lodi.
Modern
BATTLES / WARS & TREATIES & AGREEMENTS
List of Important Wars and Treaties in Indian History
Anglo Marathas
War Year Treaty Gov General Battles
Began: Treaty of Surat
First 1775-82 Warren Hastings Battle of Wadgaon
End: Treaty of Salbai
Second 1803-05 Began: treaty of Bassein Lord Wellesley Battle of Assaye
Battle of Pindari
Third 1816-19 Treaty of Gwalior Marquess of Hastings
End of Peshwa rule
Anglo French
War Year Treaty Gov General Battles
Reason: Austrian 1746: Battle of Adyar/San
First 1746-48 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
succession in Europe Thome
The treaty established the boundary between the Mughal empire and the Ahom
Treaty of Asurar Ali 1639
kingdom ending the Mughal’s efforts to conquer Ahom.
The Treaty of Purandar was signed in 1665 between the Rajput ruler Jai Singh I, who
was commander of the Mughal Empire, and Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Treaty of Purandar 1665 Shivaji was forced to sign the agreement after Jai Singh besieged Purandar fort.
When Shivaji realised that war with the Mughal Empire would only cause damage to
the empire and that his men would suffer heavy losses, he choose to make a treaty.
Henceforth the maratha king became the mayor of the place and the peshwa
Sangola Agreement 1752
emerged as the real head of maratha federacy.
Signed between Siraj-ud-dwala and Robert Clive allowing the British to fortify
Treaty of Alinagar 1757
Calcutta and also allow British goods to pass through Bengal without duties.
The french were defeated by the british company and its settlements were captured.
Treaty of Paris 1763
The french possessions in india were ,however restored by this treaty.
The Treaty of Allahabad was signed in 1765, between the Mughal Emperor Shah
Alam II, son of the late Emperor Alamgir II, and Lord Robert Clive, of the East India
Company, as a outcome of the Battle of Buxar of 1764. As per the terms of the
Treaty of Allahabad 1765 agreement, Alam granted the East India Company Diwani rights, or the right to
collect taxes on behalf of the Emperor from the eastern province of Bengal-Bihar-
Orissa. This Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the
beginning of British rule in India.
Treaty of Benaras 1773 Between hastings and nawab of oudh. Allahabad was handed over to nawab.
On the death of shuja ud daula in 1775 , a new treaty was concluded with his
Reaty of 1775 1775 successor , according to which a regular brigade of the company’s troops was
stationed in oudh..
Signed by raghunath rao with the bombay governament in the hope of help of
Treaty of Surat 1775
english subsidiary troops in his flight for peshwaship
Signed between the British and the Marathas bringing the first phase of the First
Treaty of Purandar 1776
Anglo-Maratha War to an end.
Signed between the British and the Marathas bringing the second phase of the First
Treaty of Wadgaon 1779
Anglo-Maratha War to an end.
Signed between the British and the Marathas bringing the First Anglo-Maratha War
Treaty of Salbai 1782
to an end.
The Treaty of Mangalore was signed between Tipu Sultan and the British East India
Company on 11 March 1784. It was signed in Mangalore and brought an end to
Treaty of Mangalore 1784 the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
Lord macartney ,governor of madras ,concluded with tipu the treaty of mangalore on
the basis of mutual restriction of conquests and liberation of prisoners.
Signed between the British (Lord Cornwallis), the Marathas, Hyderabad and Tipu
Treaty of
1792 Sultan. This ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War allowing the Marathas, the Nizam of
Seringapatam
Hyderabad and the British to annex almost half of Tipu Sultan’s territories.
Treaty of Bassein 1802 Signed by baji rao II with the english after his defeat at the hands of holkar.
Treaty of Deogaon 1805 Holkar gave up claims on the areas of company’s allies.
Between ranjith singh and the english company , which fixed the river sutlej as the
Treaty of Amritsar 1809
boundary of ranjith singh’s authority.
After the english victory over nepal , the treaty was signed . The nepal ruler gave up
Treaty of Sagauli 1816 his claims to sikkim , ceded the disputed tarai tracts , and received a resident at
khatmandu .
Great britain agreed to help iran with men and money against any european invader
Treaty of Yandaboo 1826
.
Signed between Governor General Air Henry Hardinge for the British and members of
Treaty of Lahore 1846 Lahore darbar representing the young Maharaja Duleep Singh Bahadur. The treaty
marked the end of the First Anglo-Sikh War.
The Treaty of Amritsar followed the Treaty of Lahore. By this treaty the British East
Treaty of Amritsar 1846 India Company sold Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh, whose dynasty ruled till
1947, when Maharaja Hari Singh acceded Kashmir to India.
By this treaty , rani jindan was deprived of all powers and the administration was to
Treaty of Bhirowal 1846 be carried on by a ‘ council of regency ‘ composed of eight leading chiefs under the
virtual dictatorship of the british resident .
• Major areas of introduction include Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam and Coorgh provinces of British India.
• In Ryotwari System the ownership rights were handed over to the peasants. British Government collected taxes
directly from the peasants.
• The revenue rates of Ryotwari System were 50% where the lands were dry and 60% in irrigated land.
Mahalwari System [Modified version of Zamindari System]
• It was pioneered by Halt Macanzee
• Mahalwari system was introduced in 1833 during the period of William Bentick.and was Periodically Revised
• It was introduced in Central Province, North-West Frontier, Agra, Punjab, Gangetic Valley, etc of British India.
• Settlement was done estate by estate
• The Mahalwari system had many provisions of both the Zamindari System and Ryotwari System.
• In this system, the land was divided into Mahals. Each Mahal comprises one or more villages.
• Ownership rights were vested with the peasants.
• The villages committee was held responsible for collection of the taxes.
1921 Ahmedabad Hakim Ajmal Khan (Acting President for C.R. Das)
1922 Gaya President- C.R. Das
1924 Belgaum Mahatma Gandhi was the president of INC
1925 Kanpur 1st Indian women president of INC- Sarojini Naidu.
1926 Gauhati President- S. Srinivasa Iyengar
1927 Madras President- M.A. Ansari
1928 Calcutta President- Motilal Nehru
Resolution for Poorna Swaraj or complete independence, President- Jawaharlal Nehru.
The decision to launch a civil disobedience movement to achieve complete
1929 Lahore
independence and to observe 26 Jan as Independence Day was taken.
· Nehru became the president for the first time.
President- Vallabbhai J. Patel
Here, resolution on Fundamental rights and the National Economic Program was passed
1931 Karachi
· The Gandhi Irwin Pact was endorsed by the Congress in this Session
· Gandhi was nominated to represent Congress in the Second Round Table Conference.
1932 Delhi President- Ranchod Lal Amrit Lal
1933 Calcutta President- Nellie Sen Gupta
1934 Bombay President- Rajendra Prasad
1936 Lucknow President- Jawaharlal Nehru
President- Jawaharlal Nehru
1937 Faizpur
First session in a village
President- Subhash Chandra Bose
1938 Haripura
A National Planning Committed set-up underJ.L.Nehru
President- Subhash Chandra Bose
1939 Tripuri S.C.Bose was re-elected but had to resign due to protest by Gandhiji (as Gandhiji
supported Dr.Pattabhi Sitaramayya). Rajendra Prasadwas appointed in his place.
1940 Ramgarh President- Abul Kalam Azad
1946 Meerut Last session before the Independence of India, President- Acharya J B Kripalini
1948 Jaipur 1st session after the Independence of India, President was Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya
CULTURE
In News
World Capital of Architecture for 2020.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced that the Brazilian
city of Rio de Janeiro will be the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.
• Rio will be the first city to receive the title under a program launched together by UNESCO and the International
Union of Architects (UIA) in November last year. The city will host the World Congress of UIA, in July 2020, an event
that occurs every three years.
• Significance: According to UNESCO, the World Capital of A bodhisattva is a Buddhist deity who has
Architecture is intended to become an international forum for attained the highest level of
debates about pressing global challenges from the perspectives of enlightenment, but who delays their entry
culture, cultural heritage, urban planning and architecture. into Paradise in order to help the
Ice Stupa earthbound.
• The Indian Department of Post has released a ‘special stamp cover The bodhisattva, known in Sanskrit as
on Ice Stupa’. Avalokiteśvara, takes both male and
• The special stamps aim to create awareness about depleting female form and is associated with the
glaciers and affect the ecology around the Himalayas. qualities of mercy and compassion
Sharda Peeth
• Pakistan has given its green signal for Sharda Peeth corridor. The
Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious
tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that Ikshavaku dynasty.
will connect the two neighbouring nations.
• The temple is revered by Kashmiri Pandits among other Hindus • As per Puranic literature, it was founded
across the globe. by king Ikshvaku. It is also known as
Stucco sculpture Sūryavaṁśa (the Solar dynasty).
• Indian archaeologists recently unearthed a rare life-sized stucco
• Important Personalities belonging to this
sculpture from a Buddhist site at Phanigiri in Suryapet, Telangana.
dynasty includes: Lord Rama, Twenty-two
• It is the biggest stucco sculpture found so far in India. It represents
a Bhodhisattva in Jathaka Chakra. out of twenty-four Jain Tirthankara, and
• It was created nearly 1,700 years ago by craftsmen at Phanigiri at according to Buddhist texts, Prince
peak of Ikshavaku dynasty. Siddhartha also belonged to this dynasty.
The classical dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the
Ministry of Culture are
• Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu
• Kathak, from Northern and Western India
• Kathakali, from Kerala
• Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Odissi, from Odisha
• Sattriya, from Assam
• Manipuri, from Manipur
• Mohiniyattam, from Kerala
• ·ammu & Kashmir: Rauf, Hikat, Mandjas, Kud Dandi Nach, Damali.
• Jharkhand: Chhau, Sarahul, Jat-Jatin, Karma, Danga, Bidesia, Sohrai.
• Karnataka: Yakshagan, Huttari, Suggi, Kunitha, Karga, Lambi etc.
• Kerala: Kathakali (Classical), Rakhal, Nat Rash, Maha Rash, Raukhat etc.
• Maharashtra: Lavani, Nakata, Koli, Lezim, Gafa, Dahikala Dasavtar or Bohada, Tamasha, Mauni, Powara,
Gouricha etc.
• Manipur: Manipuri (Classical), Rakhal, Nat Rash, Maha Rash, Raukhat, etc.
• Meghalaya: Laho, Baagla, etc.
• Mizoram: Khanatm, Pakhupila, Cherokan etc.
• Nagaland: Chong, Khaiva, Lim, Nuralim, etc.
• Odisha: Odissi (Classical), Rakhal, Nat Rash, Maha Rash, Raukhat etc.
• Punjab: Bhangra, Giddha, Daff, Dhaman etc.
• Rajasthan: Ghumar, Chakri, Ganagor, Jhulan Leela, Jhuma, Suisini, Ghapal,Panihari, Ginad.
• Tamil Nadu: Bharatnatyam, Kumi, Kolattam, Kavadi
• Uttaranchal: Gadhwali, Kumayuni, Kajari, Jhora, Raslila, Chappeli
• Uttar Pradesh: Nautanki, Raslila, Kajri, Jhora, Chappeli, Jaita.
• West Bengal: Kathi, Gambhira, Dhali, Jatra, Baul, Marasia, Mahal, Keertan, etc.
• It drew stylistic and decorative elements from native Indo-Islamic architecture, especially Mughal architecture,
which the British regarded as the classic Indian style, and, less often, Hindu temple architecture.
• The basic layout and structure of the buildings tended to be close to that used in contemporary buildings in other
styles, such as Gothic revival and Neo-Classical, with specific Indian features and decoration added. Saracen was
a term used in the Middle Ages in Europe for the Arabic-speaking Muslim people of the Middle East and North
Africa.
• The first Indo-Saracenic building is said to be the Chepauk Palace, completed in 1768, in present-
day Chennai (Madras).
• Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta (as they then were), as the main centres of the Raj administration, saw many
buildings constructed in the style, although Calcutta was also a bastion of European Neo-classical architecture.
Turkic and Mughal conquest in the Indian subcontinent, introduced new concepts in the already rich architecture of
India. The prevailing style of architecture was trabeate, employing pillars, beams and lintels. The Turkic invaders
brought in the arcuate style of construction, with its arches and beams, which flourished
under Mughal and Taluqdar patronage and by incorporating elements of Indian architecture, especially Rajasthani
temple architecture.
Festivals/Traditions in News
Ambubachi Mela
• A four-day fair to mark the annual menstruation of the goddess is being held at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.
• Kamakhya, atop Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, is one of 51 shaktipeeths or seat of Shakti followers, each
representing a body part of the Sati, Lord Shiva’s companion.
• Behdienkhlam, one of the most colourfulfestivals of the State, was recently celebrated in theJaintia Hills,
Meghalaya.
• Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated by the Hindu women of Telangana.
Indian harvest festivals
• The Harvest season is on and festivities have gripped the nation from the north to down south.
• Makar Sankranti: The festival of Makar Sankranti is being celebrated today when the Sun enters the Makar zodiac
and the days begin to lengthen compared to nights.
• Pongal: In South India and particularly in Tamil Nadu, it’s the festival of Pongal which is being celebrated over 4
days at harvest time.
• Magha Bihu: In Assam and many parts of the North East, the festival of Magha Bihu is celebrated. It sees the first
harvest of the season being offered to the gods along with prayers for peace and prosperity.
• Uttarayan: Gujarat celebrates it in the form of the convivial kite festival of Uttarayan.
• Maghi: In Punjab, Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Maghi. Bathing in a river in the early hours on Maghi is
important.
• Saaji: In Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh, Makara Sankranti is known as Magha Saaji. Saaji is the Pahari word
for Sankranti, start of the new month. Hence this day marks the start of the month of Magha.
• Kicheri: The festival is known as Kicheri in Uttar Pradesh and involves ritual bathing.
• Shakrain is an annual celebration of winter in Bangladesh, observed with the flying of kites.
• Maghe Sankranti is a Nepalese festival observed on the first of Magh in the Bikram Samwat Hindu Solar Nepali
calendar (about 14 January).
Makaravilakku
• Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makar Sankranti in Kerala, at the shrine of Sabarimala.
The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments of Ayyappan) procession and a
congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala.
• The Supreme Court has refused to pass an interimorder to stay Ordinance allowing kambala, thetraditional
buffalo slush track race in Karnataka.
• Kambala is an annual traditional Buffalo Race held incoastal districts of Karnataka to entertain ruralpeople of
the area.
• Slushy/marshy paddy field track is used for Kambala.
• In the traditional form of Kambala, buffalo racing is non-competitive and thebuffalo pairs run one by one in
paddy fields.
• There is also ritualistic approach as some agriculturists’ race their buffaloesfor thanks giving to god for
protecting their animals from diseases. But inrecent times, Kambala has become an organised rural sport.
Jallikattu
• Jallikattu is a bull taming or bull vaulting sportplayed in Tamil Nadu on Mattu Pongal day as apart of Pongal
celebrations.
• Jallikattu has been derived from the words ‘calli’(coins) and ‘kattu’ (tie), which means a bundle ofcoins is tied to
the bull’s horns.In the ancient Sangam literature the sport hasbeen called as ‘Yeru thazhuvuthal’ (means to
embrace bulls).
• In older times Jallikattu was popular amongst warriors during the Tamilclassical period. The bull tamer sought to
remove this bundle from theanimal’s head to win gold or silver coins to be called ‘brave’ and ‘valourous’.
• All castes participate in the event and majority of jallikattu and bulls used forthe sport belong to the pulikulam
breed of cattle.
The Losar festival
• The Losar festival in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir is celebrated tomark the beginning of New Year in
the Himalayan region.
WARI WARKARI
• Wari meaning “pilgrimage” refers to the annual padayatra to the Vithoba temple in Pandharpur, Solapur district
of Maharashtra. It is a 700-year-old tradition.
• Vithoba is a form of Krishna, an avatar(incarnation) of Vishnu. Thus, Warkari is a branch of Vaishnavism.
• The Warkaris carry the padukas (footprints) of various saints, most notably Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram.
• It is mainly geographically related to Maharashtra and Southern Karanataka. Individuals taking the padayatra
are called Warkari meaning pilgrim.
• The pilgrimage culminates on Ekadashi (the11th day) of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Aashaadha.
• The teachers responsible for establishing andsupporting the movement through its history include Dnyaneshwar,
Tukaram and Chokhamela.
Kumbh Mela
• The world’s largest religious and cultural human congregation, ‘Kumbh 2019’ began at Prayagraj (erstwhile
Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh on January 15, 2019.
• The Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred pitcher) is anchored in Hindu mythology.
• It is the largest public gathering and collective act of faith, anywhere in the world.
• Crowds gather at the sacred confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mystical Sarasvati. Primarily, this
congregation includes Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis, and Pilgrims from all walks of life.
• The Mela was included in the list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2017.
• Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.
• The geographical location of Kumbh Mela spans over four locations in India and the Mela site keeps rotating
between one of the four pilgrimage places on four sacred rivers as listed below:
1. Haridwar on the Ganges in Uttarakhand.
2. Ujjain on the Shipra in Madhya Pradesh.
3. Nashik on the Godavari in Maharashtra.
4. Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati in Uttar Pradesh.
• Each site’s celebration is based on a distinct set of astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the Jupiter.
The celebrations occur at the exact moment when these positions are fully occupied, as it is considered to be the
holiest time in Hinduism.
Garia festival
• It is an important festival for the Tripuri tribal community of the state. The Garia dance is very popular
among the Tripuris and the Reangs. Symbolic of the worship of deities as well as of the socio-economic
activities of the households, these dances represent hunting, fishing, food-gathering and various other
activities.
GEOGRAPHY
Major Indian Towns on Riverbanks
Towns Riverbank Towns Riverbank
Agra Yamuna Kolkata Hooghly
Ahmedabad Sabarmati Kota Chambal
Allahabad Confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna Kurnool Tungabhadra
Ayodhya Saryu Lucknow Gomti
Badrinath Alakananda Ludhiana Sutlej
Bareilly Ram Ganga Mathura Yamuna
Cuttack Mahanadi Nasik Godavari
Delhi Yamuna Panaji Mandavi
Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Patna Ganga
Ferozpur Sutlej Sambalpur Mahanadi
Guwahati Brahmaputra Srinagar Jhelum
Haridwar Ganga Srirangapatna Cauvery
Hyderabad Musi Surat Tapi
Jabalpur Narmada Tiruchirappalli Cauvery
Jamshedpur Subarnarekha Ujjain Shipra
Jaunpur Gomti Varanasi Ganga
Kanpur Ganga Vijayvada Krishna
Major Ports in India
Name of the Port Coast State Details
› Also called Tidal Port
Kandla Western Coast Gujarat › It is declared as Trade Free Zone
› Largest Port Serving North India
› Natural Harbour and Largest Natural Port In India
Mumbai Western Coast Maharashtra
› Busiest port in India
Navasheva/
Western Coast Maharashtra › Largest Artificial Port in India
Jawaharlal Nehru Port
› Established on the estuary of the river Juari
Marmagoa Western Coast Goa
› Handles Iron Ore Exports
Manglore Western Coast Karnataka › Handles iron ore exports from Kudermukh mines
Cochin/ › Located in the Vebanad lake
Western Coast Kerala
Kochi › Handles exports of spices and salts
› Riverine ports on Hugli river
Haldia Eastern Coast West Bengal
› Also known as Diamond Harbour
› Natural Harbor
Paradip Eastern Coast Odisha › Handles export of iron and aluminium to south east asian
countries
› Deepest port of India
Andhra
Vishakapatnam Eastern Coast › Handles export of iron ore to Japan
Pradesh
› Facilities of building and repairing of ships are available here
Chennai Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu › Artificial and 2nd Busiest port.
› First corporatized port of India
Ennore Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu
This port is now named as Kamarajar Port Limited.
› Southern Most major port
Tutikorin Eastern Coast Tamil Nadu
› Handles petro chemical products and fertilizers and salts
Port Blair is the 13th and youngest major port of India
Andaman
declared so in 2010. The port is of strategic importance to
Port Blair Port Eastern Coast and Nicobar
India and is closer to two international shipping lines viz. Saudi
island
Arabia-Singapore and US-Singapore.
*all the coastal states have a major port
Major Passes of the Himalayas
Passes of the Western Himalayas
Jammu and Kashmir
NAME in Between location
Mintaka Pass Kashmir and China Trijunction of India-China and Afghanistan border
Parpik Pass Kashmir and China East of Mintaka pass on the Indo-China border
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Khunjerab Pass Kashmir and China Indo-China border
Ladakh region of India with the 5000 m above sea level.
Aghil Pass Xinjiang (Sinkiang) Province of north of K2 Peak (the highest peak in India and the second highest
China peak in the world)
2832 m
Jammu and Srinigar across the Pir-Panjal Range
remains snow covered during winter season
The road from Jammu to Srinagar transversed Banihal Pass until 1956 when Jawahar Tunnel was
Banihal Pass
constructed under the pass. The road now passes through the tunnel and the Banihal Pass is no longer
used for road transport.
Another 11 km long tunnel provides railway link between Banihal and Kazigund. It was thrown open to
railway transport in July, 2013
altitude of 5360 m
Chang-La Ladakh with Tibet This has a temple dedicated to Chang-La Baba after whom the
temple has been named
The world’s highest motorable road passes through this pass
Khardung La near Leh in the Ladakh range
remains closed in winter due to heavy snowfall
this pass provides passage between Ladak and Lhasa. A road to
India and China (Akasai-Chin
Lanak La connect Xinjiang Province with Tibet has been constructed by the
area of Jammu and Kashmir)
Chinese
Provides the shortest and the easiest metal road between Jammu
Pir-Panjal pass across the Pir Panjal range and Kashmir Valley. But this route had to be closed down as a result
of partition of the subcontinent
Indo-China borer across the
Qara Tag La located at an elevation of over six thousand metres
Karakoram Range
Ladakh region of India and
Imis La
Tibet in China
vital link between the Kashmir remains closed to traffic from November to mid-May due to heavy
Pensi La
Valley and Kargil snowfall
The road passing through this pass has been designated at
Important road link between the National Highway (NH-1D)
Srinagar on one side and Border Road Organisation (BRO) is responsible for maintaining the
Zoji La
Kargil and Leh on the other road and cleaning it off snow during winter. In spite of all these
side efforts, the road through this pass remains closed from December to
mid-May
Himachal Pradesh
Elevation: 4,890 m
National highway connecting Mandi in Himachal Pradesh with Leh in
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu
Bara Lacha La Jammu and Kashmir passes through this pass. Being situated at high
and Kashmir
altitude, it remains snow covered in winter and is not used as a
transport route.
elevation of 5270 m above sea level
link between Kullu and Spiti
Debsa Pass It offers a much easier and shorter alternative route to traditional Pin-
districts
Parbati Pass route between Kullu and Spiti
Elevation: 3979 m
Border Road Organisation (BRO) is responsible for constructing and
road link between Kullu, Lahul
Rohtang Pass maintaining roads in this area. Rohtang pass is a great tourist
and Spiti Valleys
attraction and traffic jams are very commonbecause this route is
widely used by military, public and private vehicles.
Elevation: 6000 m
Shipki La Himachal Pradesh and Tibet
Remains closed in winter season (Nov – Apr)
Uttarakhand
trijunction of Uttarakhand
Lipu Lekh (India), Tibet (China) and Nepal This pass is used by pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarowar.
borders
elevation of 5610
Mana Pass Uttarakhand with Tibet Situated a little north of the holy place of Badhrinath
Remains closed in winter season (Nov – Apr)
Mangsha
Uttarakhand with Tibet It is used by pilgrims going to Kailash-Mansarowar
Dhura
Niti Pass Uttarakhand with Tibet Remains closed in winter season (Nov – Apr)
Classification by uses:
Cash Crops: - Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane, Tobacco, and Oilseeds
Plantation Crops: - Tea, Coffee, Coconut and, Rubber
Horticulture Crops: - Fruits and Vegetables.
77 per cent of the drainage area of the country is flows 23 per cent of the drainage area of the country is flows
towards the Bay of Bengal towards the Arabian sea
Types of Clouds
The diagram below shows where different types of clouds are located in the sky.
• The highest clouds in the atmosphere are cirrocumulus, cirrus, and cirrostratus. Cumulonimbus clouds can
also grow to be very high.
MAPING
The Prime Meridian
The IERS Reference Meridian (IRM), also called the International Reference Meridian, is the prime meridian (0°
longitude) maintained by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS).
Starting at the North Pole and heading south to the South Pole, the IERS Reference Meridian passes through 8
countries: The UK, France and Spain in Europe and Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Tongo and Ghana in Africa. The only
landmass crossed by the Meridian in the Southern Hemisphere is Antarctica.
Also passes through English Channel, Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Valencia), Atlantic Ocean
*Standard Meridian of India which is 82°30′ East longitude passes through Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Tropic of Capricorn
Starting at the prime meridian and heading eastward, the Tropic of Cancer passes through the following countries
and territories: Namibia, Botswana South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay,
Brazil.
Also passes through Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Coral Sea, Pacific Ocean
Tropic of Cancer
Starting at the prime meridian and heading eastward, the Tropic of Cancer passes through the following countries
and territories: Algeria, Niger, Libya, Egypt (Lake Nasser), Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, India,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, Mexico, Bahamas, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Algeria.
Also passes through Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Taiwan Strait, Philippine Sea, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California, Gulf of
Mexico, Atlantic Ocean.
*Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 (Eight) States in India: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, West
Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
Equator
The Equator passes through the land of 11 countries. Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the
Equator passes through: São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil
Atlantic Ocean, Lake Victoria, Indian Ocean, Karimata Strait, Makassar Strait, Gulf of Tomini, Molucca Sea,
Halmahera Sea, Pacific Ocean
*Despite its name, no part of Equatorial Guinea lies on the Equator. However, its island of Annobón is 155 km (96
mi) south of the Equator, and the rest of the country lies to the north.
Human Geography
Statistics about the Population scenario of India
• India is the second most populated country in the world with nearly a fifth of the world's population. According to the
2017 revision of the World Population Prospects, the population stood at 1,33 Billion.
• The Indian population reached the billion mark in 1998.
• India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2024, surpassing the population of China.
• It is expected to become the first political entity in history to be home to more than 1.5
billion people by 2030, and its population is set to reach 1.7 billion by 2050. Suggests that India has
• Its population growth rate is 1.13%, ranking 112th in the world in 2017. entered the next stage of
• The southern states, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and demographic transition with
Punjab now have fertility rates well below the replacement rate, i.e. 2.1.
population growth set to
• TFR is now below replacement level fertility in 13 out of the 22 major states
slow markedly in the next
• India's working-age population will grow by roughly 9.7mn per year during
2021-31 and 4.2mn per year in 2031-41. two decades along with a
• The proportion of elementary school-going children, i.e. 5-14 age group, significant increase in the
will witness significant declines. share of working age
population (the so-called
• The share of India’s young, i.e. 0-19 years, population has already started to decline “demographic dividend”
and is projected to drop from as high as 41 per cent in 2011 to 25 per cent by 2041 phase).
• The share of elderly, 60 years and above, population will continue to rise steadily,
nearly doubling from 8.6 per cent in 2011 to 16 per cent by 2041.
According to census 2011 population Stats, the following table shows the top 5 and bottom 5 states and UT
Top 5 bottom 5
UP (Highest) >Maharashtra >Bihar >W. Sikkim (Least) <Mizoram <Arunachal <Goa
States
Bengal >MP >TN >Rajasthan <Nagaland <Manipur
Total
Delhi >Puducherry >Chandigarh >Andaman and Nicobar >Dadra and Nagar >Daman
Population UT
and Diu >Lakshadweep
Himachal (Highest)>Bihar >Assam Mizoram (Least) <TN <Kerala <Maharashtra
Rural States
>Odisha >UP >Jharkhand <Gujarat
UNESCO list of countries by literacy rate (2015) Adult literacy rate Youth literacy rate ages 15–24
India 72.1% 86.1
World average 86.3% 91.2%
According to census 2011, the following table shows the top 10 and bottom 10 states and UT in Literacy Rate
Top 10 Last 10
Literacy Literacy Literacy Literacy Literacy Literacy
State/ Union State/ Union
S.N. Rate in % Rate in % Rate in % S.N. Rate in % Rate in Rate in %
Territory Territory
(Person) (Male) (Female) (Person) % (Male) (Female)
1 Kerala 94 96.1 92.1 26 Assam 72.2 77.8 66.3
2 Lakshadweep 91.8 95.6 87.9 27 Chhattisgarh 70.3 80.3 60.2
3 Mizoram 91.3 93.3 89.3 28 Madhya pradesh 69.3 78.7 59.2
4 Goa 88.7 92.6 84.7 29 Uttar pradesh 67.7 77.3 57.2
Jammu &
5 Tripura 87.2 91.5 82.7 30 67.2 76.8 56.4
Kashmir
6 Daman & Diu 87.1 91.5 79.5 31 Andhra pradesh 67 74.9 59.1
Andaman &
7 Nicobar 86.6 90.3 82.4 32 Jharkhand 66.4 76.8 55.4
Island
8 NCT of Delhi 86.2 90.9 80.8 33 Rajasthan 66.1 79.2 52.1
Arunachal
9 Chandigarh 86 90 81.2 34 65.4 72.6 57.7
Pradesh
10 Puducherry 85.8 91.3 80.7 35 Bihar 61.8 71.2 51.5
Physiography
Corals
Condition for growth of Corals
• Need submarine shallow platform (50-meter-deep)– to receive sun light
• Temperature- 25-27 degree
• Warm, tropical and low latitude waters
• Salinity – 33 ppt
• Not at mouth of river, No turbulent water
• Need circulating nutrient rich water
• The Gulf of Mannar: Here reefs are developed around a chain of 21 islands that lie along the 140 km stretch
between Tuticorin and Rameswaram
• Andaman and Nicobar Group of Islands: They are the emerged part of a mountain chain and lie on a ridge
which extends southward from the Irrawaddy delta area of Burma, continuing the trend of the Arakan Yoma
range.
• The Gulf of Kutch: It is one of the indentations found on the northern side of the Saurashtra Peninsula. The
coral formations of the Gulf of Kutch represent one of the extreme northern limits of corals in the Indian ocean.
• West Coast of India: The west coast of India between Bombay and Goa is reported to have submerged banks
with isolated coral formations. Coral patches have been recorded in the intertidal regions of Ratnagiri, Malvan
and Redi, south of Bombay and at the Gaveshani Bank, 100 Km west of Mangalore.
• The Lakshadweep Islands: The U.T of Lakshadweep along with the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelagoes
form an interrupted chain of coral atolls and reefs on a contiguous submarine bank covering over 2000 km.
This ridge is supposed to be a continuation of the Arravali mountains, and the islands are believed to be
remnants of the submerged mountain cliffs.
Forest Climate /
Forests Trees /flora Animal / founa Rainfall
types Temperature
ebony, aini, Mahogany,
Rosewood, Rubber, tea,
coffee, white cedar, Heavy
Warm and wet Tropical evergreen
hollock, kail, cinchona, Elephants, Monkey, Rainfall
throughout the forests (trees, shrubs
Tropical greenheart, cabinet Lemur, deer, one (>200c
year, and creeps are in
evergreen woods and dyewoods, horned rhinoceros, m) &
temperature: layers) (there is no
forests palm trees, lianas or bats, sloth, scorpions Short
>22degree definite time for trees to
rattan, epiphytic and and snails Dry
Celsius shed their leaves)
parasitic plants, where season
trees grow a fern, orchids
and lalang
Average
Teak, Bamboos, sal,
temperature
shisham, acacia, some
which includes
Monsoon forests (trees varieties of eucalyptus,
all seasons Rainfall
Tropical shed their leaves for sandalwood, Khair,
[summer (March lion, Tiger, Pig, Deer between
Deciduou about six months to kusum, arjun, mulberry,
to mid June), and elephant 70cm-
s forests eight weeks in dry bamboo thickets and
Rainy(Mid June 200cm
summer) species; agriculture
to September) ,
production: Sugarcane,
winter(October to
paddy, Tea and coffee
February)]
Rainfall
Dry wetter margin: Moist Teak, sal, Peepal, Neem, Lion, Tiger, Pig, Deer,
Extremely humid between
deciduous deciduous; Drier tendu, palas, amaltas, Elephant, Lizards,
climate 70cm-
forests margin: Thron forests bel, khair, axlewood snakes and tortoises
100cm
Acacias, palms,
Thorn Rats, Mice, Rabbits,
euphorbias, cacti, babool, Rainfall(
forests Rainfall and Dry Thorny leaves and Fox, wolf, Tiger, Lion,
ber, wild date palm, khair, <50cm
and Climate scrubs in arid areas Wild ass, horses and
neem, khejri, palas, rainfall)
scrubs camels.
tussocky grass
Kashmir stag,
Montane (1000-2000m): wet spotted deer, whild
Evergreen broad leaf
forests temperate type of sheep, jack rabbit,
trees(oaks & chestnuts),
[tribes : elevation forests;;(1500-3000m): tibetian antelope,
pine, deodar, silver fir,
Gujjars, increases the Temperate forests;; yak, snow leopard, 150cm-
spruce and cedar, silver
Bhakarwa climate becomes (>3600m):temperate squirrels, Shaggy 300cm
fir, junipers, pines,
ls,bhotiya cooler forests and grasslands;; horn wild ibex, bear
birches,chinar, walnuts,
s& higher altitude ; Mosses and rare red panda,
blue pine,
Gaddis] and lichens sheep and goats with
thick hair
Ocean Currents
*North Equatorial current, South Equatorial Current, Equatorial counter Current flows through all the oceans, But
the direction of the flow of Equatorial counter Current is opposite to the equatorial currents i.e. from west to east.
* Antarctic Circumpolar Current or West Wind Drift flows from west to east around the Antarctica and is circumpolar
due to the lack of any landmass connecting with the Antarctica and thus keeps warm ocean waters away from the
Antarctica.
Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean
Gulf
Kuroshio
North Stream, North
(Japanese Alaskan Norwegian Somali
Northern Hot Pacific Antilles, Atlantic
coast) current current current
Hemi- current Florida Current
current
sphere Current
Oyashio California Canary Greenlandian Labrador
Cold
current current current current current
East
Brazil Aghulas Leeuwin
Hot Australian
Southern current current current
current
Hemi-
Peru West
sphere Falkland Benguela Mozambique
Cold (Humboldt) Australian
current current current
current current
Cyclones
Tropical Cyclone Temperate Cyclone
Dynamic Origin – Coriolis Force, Movement of air
Origin Thermal Origin
masses.
Confined to 350 – 650 N and S of equator. More
Confined to 100 – 300 N and S of
Latitude pronounced in Northern hemisphere due
equator.
to greater temperature contrast.
The very cyclone formation is due to
Frontal system Absent frontogenesis. [Occluded Front]
Mainly along the cold front
They form only on seas with
temperature more than 26-270 C. They Can form both on land as well as seas
Formation dissipate on reaching the land. Forms in mid and high Latitudes beyond the
Not formed at equator as the Coriolis tropics
force is Zero
Irregular. But few in summers and more in
Season Seasonal: Late summers (Aug – Oct)
winters.
Limited to small area, Smaller than
They cover a larger area.
Temperate cyclone
Size Typical size: 100 – 500 kms in Typical size: 300 – 2000 kms in diameter. Varies
diameter. from region to region.
Varies with the strength of the cyclone.
Heavy but does not last beyond a few
In a temperate cyclone, rainfall is slow and
Rainfall hours. If the cyclone stays at a place,
continues for many days, sometimes even weeks.
the rainfall may continue for many days.
Much greater (100 – 250 kmph) (200 – Comparatively low. Typical range: 30 – 150
1200 kmph in upper troposphere) kmph.
Wind Velocity and
destruction
Greater destruction due to winds, storm Less destruction due to winds but more
surges and torrential rains. destruction due to flooding.
Complete circles and the pressure Isobars are usually ‘V’ shaped and the pressure
Isobars
gradient is steep gradient is low.
Lifetime Doesn’t last for more than a week Last for 2-3 weeks.
• East – West. Turn North at
200 latitude and west at
300 latitude.
• Moves away from equator.
The movement of Cyclones in Arabian
Sea and Bay of Bengal is a little • West – East (Westerlies – Jet Streams). Move
Path
different. away from equator.
Here, these storms are superimposed
upon the monsoon circulation of the
summer months, and they move in
northerly direction along with the
monsoon currents.
Temperature The temperature at the center is almost All the sectors of the cyclone have different
distribution equally distributed. temperatures
The center of a tropical cyclone is known
In a temperate cyclone, there is not a single place
Calm region as the eye. The wind is calm at the
where winds and rains are inactive.
center with no rainfall.
The tropical cyclone derives its energy
from the latent heat of condensation,
The energy of a temperate cyclone depends on
Driving force and the difference in densities of the air
the densities of air masses.
masses does not contribute to the
energy of the cyclone.
The tropical cyclones exhibit fewer
The temperate cyclones show a variety of cloud
Clouds varieties of clouds – cumulonimbus,
development at various elevations.
nimbostratus, etc..
The tropical cyclones are not associated The temperate cyclones are associated with
Surface anti-
with surface anticyclones and they have anticyclones which precede and succeed a
cyclones
a greater destructive capacity. cyclone. These cyclones are not very destructive.
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Influence on Both coasts effected. But east coast is Bring rains to North – West India. The associated
India the hot spot. instability is called ‘Western Disturbances’.
In News
40. Cyclone Vayu classified as severe cyclonic storm had developed into a cyclone storm from deep depression in
Arabian Sea near Aminidivi island in Lakshadweep.
41. Cyclone Fani in South East Bay of Bengal was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the Indian state of Odisha
since Phailin in 2013.
Cyclone in recent years:
• In 2017 Cyclone Ockhi hit parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
• Cyclone Gaja, Cyclones Sagar (in Somalia), Cyclone Mekunu (striked Oman), Cyclone Luban (affected the
Arabian Peninsula) and Cyclone Titli (made landfall near Palasa, Andhra Pradesh) were part of 2018 North
Indian Ocean cyclone season.
• Cyclone Pabuk originated over the Gulf of Thailand, in 2019
42. The bomb cyclone swept has through the US Great Plains resulting in blizzard conditions, hurricane-like winds,
snow and heavy rain and subsequent flooding.
• Bomb Cyclone or bombogenesis refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low-pressure winter storm when there
is a pressure drop by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
43. Tropical Cyclone Idai has caused huge deaths and economic losses in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South
Africa.
Distribution of Volcanism
Pacific Ring of Fire Mid Oceanic Ridge
• Ocean-Ocean convergence • Ocean-Ocean convergence
• Ocean-Continent convergence • Basaltic – peaceful eruption
Mediterranean volcanism Hot Spot Volcanoes
• Breaking up of Mediterranean plates into multiple blocks • Magma From deep interior -Basaltic
• Andesitic eruption • Fixed place - Plate movement – Island arc in Direction
• Frequent interaction of plate
• Mt. Etna, Mt. Vesuvius • Hawaii, Reunion, Kurile, Aleutian
From News
• Mount Sinabung volcano erupted in Sumatra Island of western Indonesia.
• Indonesia is home to over 130 active volcanoes due to its position on ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’.
• Volcano of Indonesia Mount Agung erupted again.
• Mount Agung is an active volcano in Bali of Indonesia. Mount Agung stratovolcano is the highest point on Bali;
• Mount Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia.
• Mount Merapi is an active volcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, Indonesia.
List of lava plateaus (Volcanic Landform formed due to Basaltic eruption) of the world
• Columbia-snake plateau, USA
• Ozark plateau, USA
• Parana-Patagonia, S. America Types of Volcanic cones
• Adamawa plateau, Africa Shield/ dome Cinder Composite
Less fluid / highly
• Bie plateau, Africa Highly fluid Fluid + viscous
viscous
• Katanga Plateau, Africa Multiple and violent
• Deccan plateau, India Silent flow Violent eruption
eruption
• Arabian plateau Gentle slope Steep slope Highest volcanoes
• Balkan plateau, Europe Small volcanoes Small volcanoes Large volcanoes
• Siberian plateau, Russia
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• Hills from North to South (in states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram) [Observe in the Map]
Patkai Bum > Naga Hills > Barail Range > Laimatol Range (Contains Loktak Lake) > Manipur Hills >
Purbanchal > Mizo Hills
• Hills from North to South (in states of Arunachal) [Observe in the Map]
Mishmi > Abhor > Miri > Dafla > Mikir > Rengma
• Barak river: It goes through Silchar, and acts as a border between Assam/Manipur and Mizoram /Manipur
• Kapali river: Separates Mikir, Rengma and Baraiel range from Meghalayan Plateau
• Name of Brahmaputra in various regions
• China: Tsangpo
• Arunachal Pradesh: Enters as Dibang
• Assam: Continues as Brahmaputra
• Bangladesh: continues as Jamuna
• Northeast India has a subtropical climate that is influenced by its relief and influences from the southwest and
northeast monsoons
• The Himalayas to the north, the Meghalaya plateau to the south and the hills of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur
to the east influences the climate
• The southwest monsoon is responsible for bringing 90% of the annual rainfall to the region
• The North Eastern Region of India is a mega-earthquake prone zone caused by active fault planes beneath
formed by the convergence of three tectonic plates viz. India Plate, Eurasian Plate and Burma Plate.
• The region has been identified by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research as a center of rice germplasm.
• Out of the nine important vegetation types of India, six are found in the North Eastern Region
• Most of the North Eastern states have more than 60% of their area under forest cover, a minimum suggested
coverage for the hill states in the country in order to protect from erosion.
• Northeast India is a part of Indo-Burma hotspot. This hotspot is the second largest in the world, next only to the
Mediterranean Basin, with an area 2,206,000 square kilometres (852,000 sq mi) among the 25 identified
• Northeast India is also the home of many Living root bridges. In Meghalaya, these can be found in the southern
Khasi and Jaintia Hills
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SCIENCE
In NEWS
1. Redefining of World’s standard definition of kilogram, Ampere, Kelvin, and Mole by General Conference on Weights
& Measures (CGPM)
Kilogram
• Previous definition: The kilogram is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the
kilogram.
• 2019 definition: The kilogram, symbol kg, is the SI unit of mass. It is defined by taking the fixed numerical value of
the Planck constant
Ampere
• Previous definition: The ampere is that constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of
infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed 1 m apart in vacuum, would produce between these
conductors a force equal to 2×10−7 newton per metre of length.
• 2019 definition: The ampere, symbol A, is the SI unit of electric current. It is defined by taking the fixed numerical
value of the elementary charge e (electrons charge)
Kelvin
• Previous definition: The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, is 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic
temperature of the triple point of water.
• 2019 definition: The kelvin, symbol K, is the SI unit of thermodynamic temperature. It is defined by taking the
fixed numerical value of the Boltzmann constant k
Mole
• Previous definition: The mole is the amount of substance of a system that contains as many elementary entities
as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram of carbon-12.
• 2019 definition: The mole, symbol mol, is the SI unit of amount of substance. One mole contains
exactly 6.02214076×1023 elementary entities. This number is the fixed numerical value of the Avogadro
constant, NA
Second
• 2019 definition: The second, symbol s, is the SI unit of time. It is defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the
caesium frequency (caesium-133 atom)
2. 5G
• The Steering Committee, headed by AJ Paulraj, for identifying the 5G deployment roadmap for India recently
submitted report titled 'Making India 5G Ready'.
• 5G is a wireless communication technology using radio waves or radio frequency (RF) energy to transmit and
receive data. With
• Technical specification for 5G –
➢ high data rates: While 4G tops out at a theoretical 100 megabits per second (Mbps), 5G tops out at 10 gigabits
per
➢ second (Gbps).
➢ massive connectivity of 1 million connections per square kilometer (4G- 100 thousand conncetions/km2).
➢ ultra-low latency of 1 millisecond (4G has a latency of 10 ms).
➢ high reliability (99.999% for mission critical ‘ultra-reliable’ communications), and
➢ Mobility at high speeds (up to 500 km/h i.e. high-speed trains).
➢ 30 Ghz of available spectrum in comparison to 3Ghz of 4G.
• South Korea has become the world's first country to launch 5th-Generation (5G) networks.
• Shanghai Becomes World's First City With 5G Network Coverage.
3. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of the Periodic Table of
Chemical Elements to celebrate its 150 years.
4. Artificial Intelligence
• Recently NITI Aayog released a ‘national strategy for artificial intelligence’, to suggest ways to promote adoption of
machine learning in key areas of the economy.
• It refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving
and decision making.
o It enables computer system to carry out task on their own that otherwise requires human intelligence.
5. Recently PARAM Shivay, the first supercomputer designed & built under the National Supercomputing Mission by C-
DAC (Center for Development of Advanced Computing) at IIT-BHU was launched.
• American “Summit” is the world's most powerful supercomputer, based on the LINPACK benchmarks.
6. Spiking Neural Network Architecture Machine
• World’s largest brain like supercomputer called Spiking Neural\ Network Architecture (SpiNNaker) was turned on
for the first time. It mimics the working of human brain with the help of about thousand interconnected circuit
boards.
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7. Shakti Microprocessor
• It’s India’s first microprocessor developed by IIT Madras.
• Shakti is an open-source initiative by the Reconfigurable Intelligent Systems Engineering (RISE) laboratory at IIT
Madras with funding by Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
8. Food fortification is the deliberate addition of one or more micronutrients to food so as to correct or prevent a
deficiency (Hidden Hunger: Deficiency of Micronutrients). Food fortification is a “complementary strategy” and not a
replacement of a balanced & diversified diet to address malnutrition.
9. Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), under Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and
RAASI Solar Power Pvt Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for transfer of technology for India’s first
Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Battery project.
10. World’s first-ever thermal battery plant was inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh.
• Conventional battery technology is based on the system of charging/discharging cycles that are driven by
electricity while thermal batteries, uses thermal energy to operate, i.e., the energy created by temperature
differences.
11. Delhi is set to be India’s first city to launch hydrogen enriched CNG (HCNG) buses in 2019. HCNG is a vehicle fuel
which is a blend of compressed natural gas and hydrogen, typically 8-50% hydrogen by volume.
12. Germany has rolled out world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered trains called Coradia iLint. It is a fuel cell that
combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity with water and steam as the only biproducts.
13. Russia has created world’s first floating nuclear plant (FNPP) named as Academik Lomonosov.
14. Indian- Australian mathematician Akshay Venkatesh was awarded Fields Medal, also known as the Nobel prize for
math.
15. NOBLE PRIZES 2018
• PHYSIOLOGY/MEDICINE: jointly awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for their discovery of ‘immune
checkpoint therapy,’ a cancer treatment.
• PHYSICS: was awarded for inventions in the field of laser physics with one half to Arthur Ashkin for the optical
tweezers and their application to biological systems, the other half jointly to Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland
for their method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses. Donna Strickland is third women to win
Physics Nobel.
• CHEMISTRY: was divided, one half awarded to Frances H. Arnold for the directed evolution of enzymes, the other
half jointly to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter for the Phage Display of peptides and antibodies. Ms.
Arnold, only the fifth woman to win a chemistry Nobel.
Biology
Virus, Bacteria and Fungi
Virus
• Virus is a Microscopic particle which infect the body by creating replicas of their own in the cell of Organism. They
are non-cellular Organisms. They doesn’t belongs to the five kingdom classification. They Cause Infection in
animals, plants, fungi and bacteria.
Bacteria
• Bacteria, first life form of the earth, is a single celled Organism belongs to Monera Kingdom. They don’t have
Nucleus. They are very tiny and present in communities and reproduce themselves through Binary Fission. Bacteria
plays important role in Nutrient Cycle.
Fungi
• Fungi is made up of many Fungus particles belongs to Kingdom Classification. Fungi is a Eukaryotic Organism. They
get their food by eating organic substances. Yeast, mushrooms, moulds these all belongs to Kingdom Fungi. Fungi is
used to produce – Antibiotics, Wine, Beer, Bread, Biological Pesticides etc.
Virus, Fungi and Bacteria all are the part of Biological Process but they cause some Deadly and Incurable Diseases.
Various Diseases their symptoms, vaccination and causing agents are listed below-
Diseases Caused by Viruses
Disease Virus name Spread by Symptoms Vaccination
By mosquito bite – Aedes Yellow skin and eyes,
Yellow fever Flavivirus aegypti. Vomiting, Nausea, Bleeding YF -Vax
By Animal or Insect bite. fatigue
Human Immuno- Fatigue, Fever, Loss of No Effective
HIV AIDS Sexual contact
deficiency virus appetite, Sores Vaccine yet
Nipah virus Exposure to Bat, Pig and
Nipah Virus Fever, Headache, Drowsiness No Vaccine yet
infection Infected person
Diarrhoea, eye redness, red
Ebola Ebola Virus By infected animal bite VSV-EBOV
spot on skin, Sore throat
DNYANADEEP ACADEMY FOR UPSC AND MPSC, PUNE 105
DNYANADEEP IAS SUPER SERIES – CAPF2019
Communication with
infected place and person
Killed Virus
Zika Virus Fever, Sweating, Eye redness, Vaccine
Zika Aedes Mosquito
(Flaviviridae) Skin rash (developed by
India)
By Mosquito Bite
Japanese Japanese
Pigs and Wild Bird areas is High fever, Sudden headache Jenvac Vaccine
Encephalitis Encephalitis Virus
prone to Disease
Contagious viral infection
Difficulty in breathing, Fever
due to poor sanitation Inactivated Polio
Polio Poliovirus Shrinking muscles, Pain in
Pregnant women more Vaccine (IPV)
joints and muscles
susceptible to virus
Fungi usually attack on the skin of Human beings. The rashes on skin if not cure or taken care of may take place the
Fungal Infection. A proper hygiene is solution to stay away from Fungal Infections. They not only cause Infections in
Human beings but Plants and Animals are also susceptible to it.
Apart from all these Government of India took steps to fight epidemics of the deadly Diseases Caused by Virus,
Fungi & Bacteria. Various initiatives has been started and set deadlines to eradicate few Diseases from India.
Initiatives
• Dastak campaign – Japaneses Encephalitis
• Mission Indradhanush – Vaccination Program for Major 13 Diseases
Deadlines
• Tuberculosis – 2025
• Leprosy – 2018
• Measles and Rubella- 2020
Microorganisms are tiny Organisms that cannot be seen by Human Eye and can only be seen under a Microscope.
They are grouped into various types like Bacteria, Fungi and Virus. They multiply rapidly and adapt quickly to their
surrounding environments and many are aggressive. Some of them can Survive in extremely hot and cold
Temperatures. All in all,we have to accept the fact that Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi are not going anywhere, so it is
our job to figure out how to Protect ourselves and function daily with these Microorganisms.
Important Groupings
India’s
Name of the group Members Objectives Year HQ
Position
8 members:
China,
Kazakhstan, Main activities: cooperation on security, military
Shanghai
Kyrgyzstan, activities, and cultural economic and cooperation Beijing, Full
Cooperation 2001
Russia, Member countries are rich in energy resources China Member
Organisation (SCO)
Tajikistan, (both fossil fuels and uranium)
Uzbekistan, India
and Pakistan
The 19th SCO summit held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit concluded with the adoption of the Qingdao declaration. It
was India and Pakistan’s first summit as full members of SCO grouping.
It is the largest regional organisation in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population
The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a permanent organ of the SCO
which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
The Head of RATS is elected to a three-year term. Each member state also sends a permanent representative to RATS.
Sary-Arka-Antiterror 2019: first joint military exercise of Shanghai Cooperation Organization was announced at the during
the 34th meeting of the RATS council held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Solidarity 2019-2021: First joint border operation
Bangladesh,
South Asia Sub It aims to promote regional prosperity by
Bhutan, India, Manila,
regional Economic improving cross among member countries and
Maldives, 2001 Philippi
Cooperation strengthening regional economic cooperation.
Myanmar, Nepal, nes
(SASEC) It is a project-based partnership
Srilanka
International Groups
INDIA’S
NAME PARTICIPANTS OBJECTIVES YEAR HQ POSITIO
N
Asia-Pacific
Economic 21 Pacific Rim Promote free trade throughout the Asia- observer
1989 Singapore
Cooperation Countries Pacific region member
(APEC)
The Asian Infrastructure Investment To support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific
Beijing, China
Bank region
Recently, third annual meeting of AIIB was held in Mumbai where Asian Infrastructure Forum was launched for creating
connections & business development opportunities for participants drawn from project sponsors, financiers,
governments, etc.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved investment of $200 million in India’s National Investment
& Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to give greater impetus to mega infrastructure projects.
Regional development: fight poverty and improve living Abidjan, Cote
The African Development Bank
conditions d’Ivoire
India hosted the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in Gandhinagar in May 2017
Washington,
International Bank for Reconstruction Offers loans to middle-income developing countries, Poverty
D.C., United
and Development (IBRD) reduction
States
Washington,
The International Development Offers concessional loans and grants to the world's poorest
D.C., United
Association developing countries. Poverty reduction
States
International Organisations
United Nations Organisation
“UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination
• The United Nations is an international organization founded in Compact”: It is an agreement between the
1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to UN chief, 36 organizational entities, the
maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly International Criminal Police Organisation
relations among nations and promoting social progress, better (INTERPOL) and the World Customs
living standards and human rights. Organisation, to better serve the needs of
• second multipurpose international organization after League of Member States when it comes to tackling
Nations international terrorism.
• The headquarters of the UN is in Manhattan, New York City
• The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states.
• The UN has six principal organs:
1. the General Assembly (the main deliberative assembly);
2. the Security Council (for deciding certain resolutions for peace and security);
3. the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC; for promoting international economic and social co-operation and
development);
4. the Secretariat (for providing studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN);
5. the International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ); and
6. The UN Trusteeship Council (inactive since 1994)
• Four of the five principal organs are located at the main UN Headquarters in New York City. The International Court
of Justice is located in The Hague, while other major agencies are based in the UN offices at Geneva, Vienna, and
Nairobi.
• The six official languages of the UN, used in intergovernmental meetings and documents, are Arabic, Chinese,
English, French, Russian, and Spanish
• UN System agencies include the World Bank Group, the World International Court of Justice (ICJ) in an
Health Organization, the World Food Programme, UNESCO, and advisory opinion has said that Britain has
UNICEF. to handover Chagos Archipelago to
• The UN's most prominent officer is the Secretary-General, an office complete the process of decolonization of
held by Portuguese politician and diplomat António Guterres since Mauritius.
2017
• The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001
UN-General Assembly
• It is the main deliberative organ and composed of all member states, each of which has one vote.
• General Assembly appoints Secretary General of UN based on the recommendations given by Security Council.
• General Assembly elects Non-Permanent members in Security Council and elects Members for Social and Economic
Council.
• Along with Security Council, General Assembly elects Judges to International Court of Justice.
DNYANADEEP ACADEMY FOR UPSC AND MPSC, PUNE 118
DNYANADEEP IAS SUPER SERIES – CAPF2019
• Decision on important questions such as those on peace and security, UN budget, admission, suspension and
expulsion of members to various organs of UN requires special majority.
• Make recommendations on any matters within the scope of the UN, except matters of peace and security that are
under consideration by the Security Council.
• UN budget – United Nation is funded by its member states through compulsory and voluntary contributions.
• The size of each state‘s compulsory contribution depends mainly on its economic strength, though its state of
development and debt situation are also taken into account.
• Member countries can make voluntary contribution to UNESCO, WHO, UN Programmes and Funds such as Office of
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Children‘s Fund (UNICEF).
Recent developments
• Venezuela and Libya have been suspended from voting in the UN General Assembly for the third time in 3 years
because of millions of dollars in unpaid dues to the world body.
• Venezuela is mired in an economic and political crisis and Libya has two rival governments, each backed by an array
of militias.
• The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of International peace and security.
• The council has 15 members: 5 Permanent – US, UK, Russia, France and China and 10 members elected by the
General Assembly for 2-year terms.
• Present ten non-permanent members (with end of term date) are Bolivia (2018) Côte d‘Ivoire (2019), Equatorial
Guinea (2019), Ethiopia (2018), Kazakhstan (2018), Kuwait (2019), Netherlands (2018), Peru (2019), Poland
(2019), and Sweden (2018).
• While other organs of the UN can only make ―recommendations‖ to member states, the Security Council has the
power to make binding decisions on member states.
• All the members have one vote and permanent members have veto power.
• Decisions on procedural matters should have vote of at least 9 of the 15 members and decision on substantive
matters require nine votes and the absence of negative vote by any of the 5 permanent members.
• The presidency of the Security Council rotates alphabetically each month.
• G4 Nations – 4 countries bids for permanent seats in UNSC. They are Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan.
• Uniting for Consensus (Coffee Club) – These are group of countries who are opposing the expansion of permanent
seats in the United Nations Security Council under the leadership of Italy.
• Other Members in Coffee Club - Spain, Malta, San Marino, Pakistan , South Korea, Canada , Mexico, Argentina,
Colombia and Turkey.
• Despite drastic changes in geopolitics and international relations the Council has not been reformed yet.
Proposed Reforms in UNSC
1. The demands for reform of the UNSC is based on five key issues:
2. Categories of membership (permanent, non-permanent).
3. The question of the veto held by the five permanent members.
4. Regional representation.
5. The size of an enlarged Council and its working methods.
6. The relationship between Security Council and General Assembly.
• Notably, any reform of the Security Council would require the agreement of at least two-thirds of UN member states.
• Importantly, the agreement of all the permanent members of the UNSC enjoying the veto right is also required.
UNHRC
• The United States has withdrawn from the UNHRC
• It is a specialized agency of United Nations to protect and promote human rights across the world set up in 2006.
• The Council consists of 47 members, elected yearly by the General Assembly through direct and secret ballot for
three-year terms.
• Recently India was elected with highest number of votes by General Assembly to the United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC).
• Members are selected via the basis of equitable geographic rotation using the United Nations regional grouping
system.
• Members are barred from occupying a seat for more than two consecutive three-year terms.
• The WTO officially commenced under the Marrakesh Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT).
• The WTO deals with regulation of trade between participating countries by providing a framework for negotiating
trade agreements and a dispute resolution process,
• These agreements are signed by representatives of member governments and ratified by their parliaments.
• The WTO has 164 members and 22 observer governments, with Afghanistan the latest to join.
• WTO members do not have to be fully independent states; they need only be a customs territory with full autonomy
in the conduct of their external commercial relations eg: Hong Kong.
• The WTO is attempting to complete negotiations on the Doha Development Round, which was launched in 2001
with an explicit focus on developing countries.
• Due to various obstacles it impossible to launch new WTO negotiations beyond the Doha Development Round.
• The highest decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years.
• Five principles which WTO follows are non-discrimination, reciprocity, binding and enforceable commitments,
transparency, safety values.
• The operation of the WTO dispute settlement process involves case-specific panels appointed by the Dispute
Settlement Body (DSB), the Appellate Body, The Director-General and the WTO Secretariat, arbitrators, and advisory
experts.
• The 11th biennial ministerial conference was recently held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
DEFENCE
In News
• Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a massive exercise, code named as Sudarshan, to fortify Anti-Infiltration
Grid along Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu.
• Strum Ataka: India has signed a deal with Russia for acquiring Strum Ataka anti-tank missile for its fleet of Mi-35
attack choppers of Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) programme: a robust and integrated system
that is capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by seamlessly integrating
human resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment.
• BOLD-QIT (Border electronically dominated quick response team interception technique) Surveillance along
Dhubri district in Assam on the India Bangladesh border. BOLD-QIT Surveillance is part of the Integrated Border
Management System (CIBMS).
• Mi-35s are set to be replaced with Apache gunships being acquired from United States (US)
• The AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter is flown by the US Army and is one of the leading multi-role attack
helicopters globally. It is even dubbed as the “flying tank”.
• 20 years of Kargil War: Operation Vijay, the name of Indian operation to clear Kargil sector. During Kargil war, IAF
had conducted Operation Safed Sagar as a part of Operation Vijay of the Indian Army.
• Operation Bandar: IAF’s code name for Balakot Airstrike, The IAF pilots carried out pre-dawn attacks by dropping
five Spice 2000 bombs
• SPICE 2000 guided bombs: Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a deal with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an
Israeli defence firm to procure a batch.
• Operation Sankalp: Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Sankalp’ in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to reassure safe
passage of Indian flagged vessels transiting through area.
• Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO): Recently Cabinet Committee on Scram-jet system v/s Ram jet
Security (CCS) cleared setting up and has been entrusted with task of system
creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies. In scram-jet technology, fuel
• Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV): Defence Research combustion takes place in a
and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted maiden test of an chamber in missile at supersonic
speeds while in a ram jet system,
indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
the system collects air it needs
(HSTDV) which is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft. It is from atmosphere during flight at
designed to cruise at Mach 6 speed with scramjet engine. It can be used for subsonic speeds and propellants
launching satellites at low cost and can also be available for long-range burn in combustion chamber.
cruise missiles of future.
• The Indian Navy recently deployed its P8I surveillance planes for carrying out anti-piracy patrol sorties from Salalah
(in Oman) to patrol the Gulf of Aden and other piracy prone areas.
• The “Kharga Prahar”, a major training exercise conducted by the Indian Army in Punjab
• The Director Generals of Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard signed a ‘Affiliation Charter’ between 3rd (Naga Hills)
Battalion of Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship ‘Shaurya’
• Indian Navy successfully conducted test firing of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) on the Western
Seaboard. These Surface to Air Missiles are for now fitted onboard Kolkata Class Destroyers (comprised of INS
Kolkata, INS Kochi and INS Chennai). Medium Range Surface to Air Missile which i.e. it is capable of engaging
multiple aerial targets at range of more than 50 km.
• The Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) Vigraha was decommissioned at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• India for the first time will host the ‘Army scouts master’s competition’. The Army Scouts Masters Competition is a
part of International Army Games steered by Russia. This is the 5th edition of International Army games.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO, an agency under Ministry of Defence) conducted
successful flight test of ‘ABHYAS’, a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)
• The ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise (MS FTX) in the South
China Sea concluded on 13 May 2019 at RSS Singapura ( also known as Changi Naval Base) in Singapore.
• The Indian Navy launched fourth Stealth Scorpene-Class submarine ‘INS Vela’ under Project 75.
• INS Kalvari, the first submarine in Scorpene class, has already been commissioned, while others are at adavance
level of trial and test. The third in Scorpene series INS Karanj was launched in January 2019. The fifth Scorpene-
class submarine INS Vagir and sixth Scorpene-class submarine INS Vagsheer.
• The Indian Navy has launched its third guided missile destroyer, INS Imphal as part of its Project 15B.
• INS Vishakhapatnam was the first Project 15B, second ship, INS Mormugao
• Sea Vigil was a first of its kind multi-agency drill, covering the entire 7,516 km-long Indian coastline and exclusive
economic zone and involving 13 coastal states and Union Territories.
• Indian Army built the longest suspension bridge over Indus river in Leh in just 40 days and the bridge is named as
Maitri Bridge.
• DRDO-developed A-SAT system successfully destroyed a live satellite in the Low Earth Orbit under project named as
Mission Shakti, India is only the fourth country after the U.S., Russia and China to have the A-SAT technology.
• Indigenous Dhanush Howitzer guns were inducted to the Indian Army. The induction of Dhanush Howitzer
• AK-47 rifles manufacturing unit at Amethi of Uttar Pradesh a joint venture between India and Russia.
• Sela Tunnel Project in Arunachal Pradesh across Sela Pass. on the border between the Tawang and West Kameng
Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The pass connects Tawang for rest of India. Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• The disaster relief exercise ‘Exercise Rahat’ demonstrated in Jaipur, Kota and Alwar in Rajasthan. This The joint
exercise will see participation from Armed Forces, National Disaster Management Response Mechanism (NDMRM),
State Disaster Management Authority of Rajasthan and District LMAs.
• Naval Air Station (NAS) Shibpur has been commissioned as INS Kohassa. It will be India’s fourth air base and the
third naval air facility in the Andaman and Nicobar region. The other two Naval Air Bases in the Andaman and Nicobar
region are INS Utkrosh at Port Blair and INS Baaz at Campbell Bay.
Security Forces
1. Indian Armed Force
2. Central Armed Police Force
Security Forces Dealing with External Threats
• The defence forces (Indian Armed Force) are the primary force responsible for the security of the country, and they
come under the authority of Ministry of Defense.
• Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) aid in combating external threats (they mainly manage internal security issues)
but are managed by Ministry of Home Affairs.
Indian Armed Force
The defence forces are divided into four sub-heads.
1. Indian Army Personnel.
2. Indian Air Force Personnel.
3. Indian Navy Personnel.
4. Indian Coast Guard Personnel.
• There are many divisions of Central Armed Police Force, which deal with internal threats.
• Paramilitary Forces of India: The term "paramilitary forces" in India has not been defined in any acts or by authorities
officially however they are conventionally used to refer to two forces i.e. Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Force.
• Indo-Myanmar border is being guarded by Assam Rifles.
• Special Frontier Force main goal originally was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of
another Sino-Indian War.
• Central Armed Police Forces were formerly referred as Paramilitary Forces however from March 2011, Ministry of
Home Affairs adopted a uniform nomenclature of Central Armed Police Forces for five forces
namely: CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB.
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)
• The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to uniform nomenclature of five security forces in India under the
authority of Ministry of Home Affairs. They are the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police
Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema
Bal (SSB).
• Each of the five CAPFs (the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB) has its own cadre of officers, but they are headed by
officers of the Indian Police Service.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
• The Central Reserve Police Force is the largest of the Central Armed Police Forces units with 313,678 personnel in
239 battalions. The Central Reserve Police includes:
• The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order
and counter insurgency. It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939
• The Rapid Action Force (RAF), a 10 battalion anti-riot force trained to respond to sectarian violence.
• The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), a 10 battalion strong anti-Naxalite/COIN force.
• Parliament Duty Group is an elite CRPF unit tasked to provide armed protection to Parliament House. PDG members
are trained in combating nuclear and bio-chemical attacks, rescue operations and behavioural management.
Border Security Force (BSF)
• One of the largest industrial security forces in the world, the Central Industrial Security Force provides security to
various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and other critical infrastructure installations, major airports across the
country and provides security during elections and other internal security duties and VVIP protection. It has a total
strength of about 144,418 personnel in 132 battalions. Including 9 reserve battalions.
• The CISF is in charge of airport security at all commercial airports in India.
• Security on the Delhi Metro is handled by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), on the basis of recommendations of the Intelligence Bureau, raised a special
unit called Special Security Group (SSG) to provide security cover to persons nominated by the Home Ministry
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the Sino-
Indian War of 1962. The ITBP was intended for deployment along India's border with China's Tibet Autonomous
Region.
• The ITBP is trained in Civil Medical Camp, disaster management, and nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.
ITBP personnel have been deployed abroad in UN peacekeeping missions
• Two battalions of ITBP are deputed to National Disaster Response Force.
Special Forces
The Special Forces of India refer to those units which are under the direct command of the Indian military and
specifically organised, trained, and are equipped to conduct and support special operations.
National Security Guard (NSG)
• The National Security Guard (NSG) is an Indian Special Forces unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• The National Security Guard (NSG) was set up in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira
Gandhi as a Federal Contingency Deployment Force for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states
against internal disturbances, it is intended for use "only in exceptional situations" and not meant to take over the
"functions of the State Police Forces or other Para Military Forces". Yet, over the years its role has vastly expanded
to provide personal security to influential politicians quite independent of the real threat that they face.
• The NSG is trained to conduct counter terrorist task to including counter hijacking tasks on land, sea, and air; Bomb
disposal (search, detection and neutralization of IEDs); PBI (Post Blast Investigation) and Hostage Rescue missions.
• NSG is under the authority of Ministry of Home Affairs. However, it is not categorised under the uniform
nomenclature of Central Armed Police Forces.
• It has a Special Forces mandate, and its core operational capability is provided by the Special Action Group (SAG)
which is drawn from the Indian Army. The Special Rangers Group (SRG), the police component of NSG, which also
handles VIP security, is composed of personnel on deputation from other Central Armed Police Forces and State
Police Forces.
• The NSG personnel are often referred to in the media as Black Cats because of the black outfit and black cat insignia
worn on their uniform.
Para (Special Forces)
• Commonly known as Para SF, is the special force unit of the Indian Army. It is attached to the Parachute Regiment.
• The unit was created in 1966 by the Indian Army. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, a small ad hoc force
comprising volunteers from most infantry units from North India
• The unit is tasked with missions such as special operations, direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism,
unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defence, counter-proliferation, counter-
insurgency, seek and destroy and personnel recovery.
MARCOS
• This unit was created in 1987 by the Indian Navy.
• They saw action during Operation Pawan in 1988. They were a part of Operation Cactus in 1988.
• They have also been deployed in Wular Lake which was a major infiltration point for terrorists.
• MARCOS, previously named as Marine Commando Force (MCF), is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy created
for conducting special operations such as amphibious warfare, close quarter combat, counter-terrorism, direct
action, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, hostage rescue, personnel recovery, combat search and
rescue, asymmetric warfare, foreign internal defence, counter proliferation, amphibious
reconnaissance including hydrographic reconnaissance.
• The MCF is specially organised, trained and equipped for the conduct of special operations in a maritime
environment.
• The MARCOS are capable of undertaking operations in all types of terrain, but are specialised in maritime operations
in Jammu and Kashmir through the Jhelum River and Wular Lake, a 65 square kilometre freshwater lake.
• Some MARCOS personnel are also attached with the Army Special Forces units conducting counter-terrorism
operations in the area.
• MARCOS are widely feared among the terrorists, who call them "Dadiwala fauj", meaning the "Bearded army"
because of their bearded disguise in civil areas.
Central Armed Police Forces under Administrative Control of Ministry of Home Affairs
Border Guarding Forces Non-Border Guarding
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): Provides security
Assam Rifles: Guards the Indo-Myanmar border.
for critical infrastructures.
Border Security Force (BSF): Guards the Indo- Pakistan Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Deployed for
and Indo- Bangladesh borders. maintaining internal security.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): Guards the Indo- National Security Guard (NSG): Deployed for antiterrorist
China border. activities.
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Guards the Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Nepal borders.
Defence Exercises
Naval Exercises
Countries
Exercise Name Purpose Place of Conduct Involved
Involved
address issues of terrorism,
Indo-Myanmar human trafficking, poaching,
Coordinated patrol
coordinated illegal fishing, drug trafficking and
(CORPAT)
patrol (IMCOR) other illegal activities harmful to
interest of both nations.
enhance interoperability,
Singapore India
strengthen mutual trust, and build
Maritime INS Kolkata and INS
SIMBEX-2019 greater synergy to address
Bilateral Shakti
common maritime concerns
Exercise
among both navies.
Facilitate operational-level
Varuna-19 French Navy and
Indo-French interactions between their armed off the Goa coast
17th edition INDIAN navy
forces
India and bilateral naval cooperation in the coast of
AUSINDEX 2019
Australia strategic Indian Ocean region. Vishakhapatnam
India-Indonesia
Port Blair,
(IND-INDO CORPAT) coordinated peaceful Indian Ocean for benefit
Andaman &
33rd edition patrol of the international community.
Nicobar Islands.
Bay of Bengal off Indian Coast Guard
India and South joint anti-piracy, search and
Sahyog-Hyeoblyeog the Chennai coast (ICG) and Korean
Korea rescue
in Tamil Nadu. Coast Guard (KCG)
Tri-service To build interoperability between
Western coast in
Paschim Lehar maritime Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian
Arabian Sea.
exercise Air Force and Coast Guard.
Indian Coast Guard,
Humanitarian Assistance and State administration,
Chakravat INDIA Kochi Coast
Disaster Relief (HADR) State Disaster
Management
DNYANADEEP ACADEMY FOR UPSC AND MPSC, PUNE 128
DNYANADEEP IAS SUPER SERIES – CAPF2019
Authority, National
Disaster Response
Force (NDRF)
Under aegis of
MILAN Andaman and
Sharing of views and ideas on Port Blair in
(MILAN is 16 countries Nicobar Command
maritime good-order and Andaman and
congregation of participating with theme
enhancing regional cooperation Nicobar (A&N)
littoral navies) of ‘Friendship Across
the Seas’.
Augment operational level
National Maritime
interaction and capacity building Chennai, Tamil Indian Coast Guard
Search and Rescue
INDIA- JAPAN in areas of search and rescue, Nadu in Bay of (ICG) and Japan
Workshop and
pollution response and maritime Bengal. Coast Guard (JCG)
Exercise
law enforcement
Said Bin Sultan Two naval ships –
Naseem-Al-Bahr India and Strengthening of bilateral ties
Naval Base, INS Trikand and INS
(SEA BREEZE) Oman between both countries.
Wudam in Oman. Teg
ICG Pollution Control
Clean Sea- Evaluate preparedness for
India- Indian Port Blair, Vessel and
Regional Level Response Operations for any such
Coast Guard Andaman & integration of ICG
Marine Oil Pollution oil pollution incident in highly
(ICG) Nicobar Islands. Dornier/Chetak
Response Exercise sensitive area of A&B islands.
aircraft.
International
Consolidate bilateral naval
Multilateral Maritime under the aegis of
India and relations between India and
Search and Rescue Bangladesh Indian Ocean Naval
Bangladesh Bangladesh and to explore new
Exercise Symposium (IONS)
avenues for naval cooperation.
(IMMSAREX)
Two aircraft carriers
India, Japan
MALABAR Chennai in Bay of from India and US
and United Submarine-hunting
Bengal and a Japanese
States (US)
helicopter destroyer.
Increase inter-operability amongst Bay of Bengal. Indian Navy and
INDRA NAVY INDIA- RUSSIA
the two navies Visakhapatnam Russian Navy
Provide a unique training India is being
Participation of
RIMPAC (Rim of the opportunity to participants in represented by
navies from 26 Honolulu, Hawaii.
Pacific) order foster cooperative Indian Naval ship
countries.
relationships (INS) Satpura
ADMM-Plus (ASEAN
multinational Maritime Security and Counter Indian warship INS
Defence Ministers’ Brunei
naval exercise Terrorism (Ex MS & CT) Airavat
Meeting Plus)
Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air
Brazil, India
defence, flying operations, INS Mumbai–INS
IBSAMAR and South Goa
surface firing, search and rescue Shalki–INS trishul
Africa
and tactical procedures.
Anti-piracy procedures, search
Coast of Chennai,
and rescue operations and Both countries Coast
Sahayog-Kaijin INDIA- JAPAN Tamil Nadu in the
interoperability between the two guards
Bay of Bengal.
forces
Military Exercise
Exercise Name Countries Involved Purpose Place of Conduct Involved
Targeted at militant groups
India and
Operation Sunrise 2 operating in Manipur, Nagaland On border
Myanmar
and Assam.
aimed at developing military
Joint Military technology, enhance the
Bold Kurukshetra– Babina Cantonment of
Exercise of India maritime security and bolster
2019 Jhansi
and Singapore the nations’ fight against
terrorism.
Air Exercise
Place of
Exercise Name Countries Involved Purpose Involved
Conduct
aimed at enhancing
Indian Air Force
interoperability level of French Mont de IAF contingent: 4 Sukhoi 30
(IAF) and Armée de
Garuda VI 2019 and Indian crews in air Marsan in MKI along with an IL-78 flight
l’Air (French Air
defence and ground attack France. refuelling aircraft.
Force)
missions.
firepower demonstration Exercise Vayu Shakti demonstrtaes the IAF’s ability to strike targets on
EXERCISE VAYU
the ground such as enemy convoys and tanks, radar stations, railway yards and military
SHAKTI-2019
headquarters.
EXERCISE Gagan
air-to-air combat is out into display at another exercise of IAF called Gagan Shakti.
Shakti
Conducted by Southern Air
Indian Air Force
first multilateral Humanitarian Command (SAC) and
(IAF) in association coast of
Samvedna Assistance and Disaster Relief involved representatives
with South Asian Kerala
(HADR) from air forces of Sri Lanka,
Region nations
Bangladesh, Nepal and UAE.
Equivalent Ranks of the Indian Armed Forces – Army, Air Force and Navy
Army Air Force Navy
*Field Marshal *Marshal of the Air Force *Admiral of the fleet
General Air Chief Marshal Admiral
Lt. General Air Marshal Vice Admiral
Major General Air Vice Marshal Rear Admiral
Brigadier Air Commodore Commodore
Colonel Group Captain Captain
Lt. Colonel Wing Commander Commander
Major Squadron Leader Lt. Commander
Captain Flight Lieutenant Lieutenant
Lieutenant Flying Officer Sub Lieutenant
Gallantry awards
Types of Gallantry awards
Second Category of
Gallantry Awards are classified into two First Category of Gallantry
Gallantry Awards
Categories Awards Comprises of the
Comprises of the following
1. Gallantry in the Face of Enemy following Awards
Awards
2. Gallantry Other than in the Face of Enemy • Param Vir Chakra (PVC) • Ashok Chakra
• Mahavir Chakra (MVC) • Kirti Chakra
• Vir Chakra • Shaurya Chakra
• Post-independence, first three gallantry awards namely the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir
Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950 which were deemed to have effect
from the 15th August, 1947.
• Thereafter, other three gallantry awards i.e. the Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II and the
Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted by the Government of India on 4th January, 1952, which were deemed
to have effect from the 15th August, 1947. These awards were renamed as the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra
and the Shaurya Chakra respectively in January, 1967.
• Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti
Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
Eligibility
The Param Vir Chakra, The Maha Vir Chakra & The Vir Chakra
The following categories of persons shall be eligible for the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir
Chakra:
• Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Naval, Military and Air Forces, of any of the Reserve Forces,
of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces.
• Matrons, Sisters, Nurses and the Staff of the Nursing Services and other Services pertaining to Hospitals and
Nursing, and Civilians of either sex serving regularly or temporarily under the orders, directions or supervision
of any of the above-mentioned Forces.
Conditions of Eligibility:
• The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour
or self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air.
• The Maha Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy whether on
land, at sea or in the air.
• The Vir Chakra is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land or at sea or in
the air.
The Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra & Shaurya Chakra
The following categories of persons shall be eligible for the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya
Chakra:
• Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve
Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces.
• Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed Forces.
• Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and members of Police Forces including Central Para-Military
Forces and Railway Protection Force.
Conditions of Eligibility:
• The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of
valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
• The Kirti Chakra is awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
• The Shaurya Chakra is awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy.
All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
• Persons recommended for the award shall not be involved in any adverse report or should not have been
conveyed any displeasure or censure or given any punishment in a court martial proceeding or through
administrative action.
Missile Technology
INDIAN MISSILE TECHNOLOGY
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched in 1983 to develop five missile systems
in the country viz. Trishul, Akash, Nag, Prithvi and Agni-I (intermediate-range surface-to-surface missile). In 1990s, the
program was expanded to develop the long range Agni Missile, Sagarika (ballistic missile), Surya (medium-range
version of the Agni ballistic missile) and Dhanush (naval version of the Prithvi). In 2008, the DRDO announced the
successful completion of the program
Missile Stage TYPE Range Developed
by
Trishul Surface-to-air short-range: 9KM DRDO
Akash Surface-to-air medium-range: 30KM DRDO
Surface to Air Missile (SAM) AKASH was successfully tested with indigenous radio frequency seeker against target UAV
Banshee.
❖ Nag Surface-to-air and Land version: 500m to 4km (Air- DRDO
Air to Surface launched: 7-10km)
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‘fire and forget’
Anti-tank
NAG Variants: NAMICA (NAG missile carrier), HELINA (HELIcopterNAg)
Prithvi-I (Army surface-to-surface short range: 150km range DRDO
Version) ballistic missile
Prithvi-II (Air Force single-stage surface-to-surface short range: 250-350 km DRDO
Version) liquid-fuelled ballistic missile
Prithvi-III (Naval two-stage: 1st surface-to-surface short range: 350 km- 600Km DRDO
Version) Solid and 2nd ballistic missile
Liquid
Prithvi-III Variant: Dhanush Missile (surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship) used by INDIAN NAVY
Prithvi Advanced Air Defence (AAD) supersonic interceptor missile was successfully test-fired from a test range in
Odisha.
Agni-I two-stage: 1st surface to surface medium range (700 km to 1,200 DRDO
(Operational) Solid and 2nd ballistic missile km)
Liquid
Agni-II two-stage: Both surface to surface intermediate range (2,000 km to DRDO
(Operational) Solid Fuelled ballistic missile 2,500 km)
Agni-III two-stage: Both surface to surface intermediate range (3,000 km to DRDO
(Operational) Solid Fuelled ballistic missile 5,000 km)
Agni-IV two-stage: Both surface to surface intermediate range (2,500 km to DRDO
(Testing) Solid Fuelled ballistic missile 3,700 km)
Earlier known
as Agni II prime.
Agni-V Three stage solid surface to surface intercontinental (5,000 km to DRDO
(Testing) fuel ballistic missile 8,000 km)
Agni-VI Three stage solid surface to surface intercontinental (10,000 km to DRDO
(Under fuel ballistic missile 12,000 km)
development)
Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile. The first missile of the
series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program and tested in 1989. After its
success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance. It was
designated as a special program in India's defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development.
K-15 (Sagarika) Version of the submarine-launched 750 km-1,500 km DRDO
land ballistic missile (SLBM)
based Shaurya
missile
K-4 submarine-launched 3,500 km DRDO
ballistic missile (SLBM)
K-5 submarine-launched 5,000 km DRDO
ballistic missile (SLBM)
K-6 Three-stage solid submarine-launched 6,000 km DRDO
fuel ballistic missile (SLBM)
The K family of missiles named after Indian scientist and former Indian President, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam is a series
of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) developed by India to boost its second strike capabilities and thus
augment its nuclear deterrence. "K" missiles are faster, lighter and stealthier than their Agni missile counterparts.
Shaurya missile: It is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed for Indian Army. Its range is 700km
and is capable of carrying a payload of one ton conventional or nuclear warhead.
BrahMos 1st stage: solid Launched from medium-range ramjet supersonic INDIA-
(World’s fastest fuel submarine, ships, cruise missile RUSSIA
anti-ship cruise rocket booster aircraft, or land. Surface/Sea: 450Km
missile in 2nd stage: liquid- Air: 400
operation.) fuelled ramjet
BrahMos-II scramjet air Launched from Hypersonic cruise missile
(Under breathing jet submarine, ships, 450 km
development) engine aircraft, or land.
Top speed will be
double that of the
current BrahMos-I
BrahMos-A launched from a Su- range of 400 km
30MKI
Defence systems
1. Russia's S-400
• The S-400 is one of the most modern air defence systems in the world, and comes at a lower price than its US
competitor, the Patriot.
• it has a range of 400 kilometres (250 miles) and can be deployed within just five minutes.
• It consists of several vehicles: a command centre, various mobile radar stations and up to 12 launch vehicles that
each carry four missiles.
• India bought five S-400 systems for $5.2 billion. Their delivery is due to begin at the end of next year.
2. Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS)
• India and Israel are also in an advanced stage of negotiations for the purchase of two more long-range Phalcon
AWACS.
• The CCS already has approved the deal for additional AWACS in 2016.
• India currently operates three Phalcon AWACS Israeli radars mounted on Russian IL-76 transport aircraft.
3. Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW)
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested indigenously developed
light weight glide bomb Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW).
• SAAW is a long-range lightweight high precision-guided anti-airfield weapon.
• It is 120 kg smart weapon capable of engaging ground targets with high precision up to a range of 100 km.
• It can be used to destroy bunkers, runways, aircraft hangers and other reinforced structures.
• SAAW’s deep penetration capabilities and high explosive warhead carrying capacity will allow Indian Air Force (IAF)
to easily hit targets across border without putting pilot and aircraft at risk.
• It can be integrated into the varied types of fighter jets with the IAF. It will be inducted soon into the Armed Forces
• Cruise missiles that can be launched from various platforms whether from Land, Sea (Submarine, Ship) or Air and
they are characterized by having different forms of guidance whether inertial or beyond visual range satellite gps
guidance. They are known specifically for low-level flight which is staying relatively close to the surface of the earth to
avoid detection from anti-missile systems and are designed to carry large payloads with high precision. The key being
that the missile is guided entirely to the target under its own power.
• Ballistic Missiles - Travel under their power, but at some point fall under the influence of gravity for their terimal stage
- a ballistic path, hence the name.
The Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) of India is the authority responsible for command, control and operational
decisions regarding India's nuclear weapons programme.
Political Council and the Executive Council of the NCA: The Executive Council gives its opinion to the Political Council,
which authorises a nuclear attack when deemed necessary. While the Executive Council is chaired by the National
Security Advisor (NSA), the Political Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.
SPACE
• Geosynchronous satellites have the
ISRO advantage of remaining permanently in the
GSLV-Mk III - M1 / Chandrayaan-2 Mission same area of the sky, as viewed from a
• Chandrayaan-2 will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space location on Earth.
Center at Sriharikota on-board GSLV Mk-III on 15th July 2019. • Geostationary satellites have the special
• Chandrayaan 2 is an Indian lunar mission that will boldly go where property of remaining permanently fixed in the
no country has ever gone before — the Moons south polar region. same position in the sky, meaning that
ground-based antennas do not need to track
• The lunar South Pole is especially interesting because a larger
them but can remain fixed in one direction.
section of its surface stays in the shadow than the North Pole. Such satellites are often used for
• There is a possibility of the presence of water in permanently communication purposes. This orbit is
shadowed areas around it. present at an altitude of approx. 35,786 km
• In addition, the south polar region has craters that are cold traps, in the equatorial plane.
containing a fossilised record of the early Solar System. • Sun Synchronous Orbits (or Low Earth
Orbit): These orbits allow a satellite to pass
• Chandrayaan 2 will use the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to
over a section of the Earth at the same time
attempt a soft landing in a high plain between two craters — of day. These satellites orbit at an altitude
Manzinus C and Simpelius N — at a latitude of about 70° south. between 700 to 800 km.
Speciality of this mission • Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) is an
• India’s 1st space mission headed by Women: Ritu Kharidhal elliptical orbit, with an apogee (high point) of
the mission Director and M. Vanitha the Project Director 35,784 kilometers and an inclination roughly
equal to the latitude of the launch site, into
• 1st space mission to conduct a soft landing on the Moon's
which a spacecraft is initially placed before
south polar region being transferred to a geosynchronous or
• 1st Indian expedition to attempt a soft landing on the lunar geostationary orbit.
surface with home-grown technology Ku vs Ka Band
• 1st Indian mission to explore the lunar terrain with home- • Ku band ranges between 12-18 GHz while Ka
grown technology Band ranges from 26.5-40 GHz.
• Most satellites today use Ku Band
• Chandrayaan 2 will be the first mission to study the south pole
Transponders because it is difficult to build
of the moon. hardware and software for Ka Band
• 4th country ever to soft land on the lunar surface Transponders. (India’s GSAT-11 has 8 Ka
Gaganyaan band transponders)
• It is a crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the basis of the • Hyperspectral Imaging Technology combines
Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. the power of digital imaging and spectroscopy
to attain both spatial and spectral information
• The crewed vehicle is planned to be launched on ISRO's GSLV Mk from an object.
III in December 2021 Satellite-Launch Vehicles Developed By ISRO
• ISRO Pad Abort Test was an Indian Space Research Organisation • PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle):
launch escape system test of its crew module as part of Indian Designed mainly to deliver the “earth-
Human Spaceflight Programme. observation” or “remote sensing” satellites
GSAT-11, with lift-off mass of up to about 1750 Kg to
Sun Synchronous circular polar orbits of 600-
• The heaviest satellite built by ISRO was launched from French
900 Km altitude. And it has four-staged
Guiana by Ariane-V Rocket of Arianespace (a joint venture of launch vehicle with alternating solid and
Airbus and Safran). liquid stages.
• It is part of ISRO’s high-throughput communication satellite • GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
(HTS) fleet that will drive the country’s Internet Broadband from Vehicle): GSLV is designed mainly to deliver
space to untouched areas. the communication satellites to the highly
elliptical (typically 250 x 36000 Km)
HYSIS
Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Two
PSLV C43 recently launched India's first Hyperspectral Imaging versions of the GSLV:
Satellite (HysIS) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. 1. GSLV Mk-II: is a three-stage vehicle with
HysIS is an earth observation satellite built around ISRO’s Mini four liquid strap-ons.
Satellite-2 (IMS-2) bus. 2. GSLV MK-III: It is a three-stage vehicle
1ST MISSION OF 2019 with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage
engine (C25) with two solid fuel strap-on
• Microsat-R, a military satellite and Kalamsat onboard its Polar engines
rocket PSLV C44, in the first mission for the ISRO in 2019.
• Microsat-R is meant for military use.
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• Kalamsat is a communication satellite with a life span of two months. The nanosatellite is a 10cm cube weighing
1.2 kg. It was the first to use the rocket’s fourth stage as an orbital platform. It is the world’s lightest and first ever
3D-printed satellite.
GSAT-31
• GSAT-31 is the country’s 40th communication satellite.
• This satellite will augment the Ku-band transponder capacity in Geostationary Orbit.
• GSAT-31 will be used for supporting VSAT networks, Television uplinks, Digital Satellite News Gathering, DTH-
television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications
Aditya-L1 satellite
• IRSO will launch Aditya-L1 satellite during 2019 – 2020 timeframe by PSLV-XL from Sriharikota.
• The satellite will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1, which is 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• A Satellite placed in the halo orbit has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/
eclipses.
• Aditya-1 was meant to observe only the solar corona, the outer layers of the Sun, extending to thousands of km
above the disc (photosphere) is termed as the corona.
• XPoSat is a 5-year Mission satellite of ISRO which will be used to learn more about cosmic radiation.
Globular cluster NGC 2808.
• The Indian multi-wavelength space observatory AstroSat, launched in September 2015, Using this observatory,
astronomers from Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai have identified a new population of ultraviolet stars in
the globular cluster NGC 2808.
• Globular clusters are collections of thousands to millions of stars, moving as one unit.
PSLV-C45/ EMISAT
• India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), in its 47th mission (PSLV-C45), will launch EMISAT, the primary satellite
and 28 international customer satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
• PSLV-C45: First Launch Vehicle to Use Solar Propulsion.
• This mission will be ISRO’s first attempt at placing payloads in three different orbits.
• EMISAT mission and its significance: It is meant for electromagnetic spectrum measurements. It will be released
into an orbit at 749 km
NASA
OSIRIS-Rex
• NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft has set a new milestone in cosmic exploration by entering orbit around an
asteroid, Bennu, the smallest object ever to be circled by a human-made spaceship.
New Horizons spacecraft
• It became the first explorer to fly past the mysterious object- Ultima Thule
• Ultima Thule is located in the Kuiper belt in the outermost regions of the Solar System, beyond the orbit of Neptune.
Parker Solar Probe
• It is first to fly direct into the Sun’s atmosphere known as corona. The Sun’s unstable corona produces solar winds,
flares, magnetic and plasma explosions.
• It will take measurements of the Sun’s electric fields and waves.
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (Tess)
• It is a mission that will look for planets orbiting the brightest stars in Earth’s sky.
• TESS is designed to build on the work of its predecessor, the Kepler space telescope
Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)
• will also launch the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) between 2020 and 2021, which will target Didymoon
as part of its planetary defence programme
• The programme, designed to protect Earth from dangerous comets and asteroids, aims to crash DART into
Didymoon in 2022 to alter its orbit around Didymos.
SPHEREx.
• NASA will launch a new space telescope in 2023 called SPHEREx.
• It would provide a glimpse of the first moments in the history of the universe and explore how common are the
ingredients for life in our galaxy’s planetary system.
• SPHEREx is the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer.
• Beresheet will attempt to become the first Israeli spacecraft, and the first privately-operated mission, to land on the
Moon.
• If successful, it will make the Jewish state only the fourth nation to ever to achieve a controlled touchdown on the
moon’s surface
Japanese Space Exploration Agency (JAXA)
• JAXA has announced that a probe, Hayabusa2, had successfully landed on an asteroid- Ryugu– 300 million km from
Earth.
• Hayabusa2 is the second Japanese spacecraft to land on an asteroid, after Hayabusa achieved a similar feat back
in 2005.
Other Missions
BepiColombo mission
• BepiColombo is a joint mission between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), executed under
ESA leadership.
• The mission comprises two spacecraft: the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric
Orbiter (MMO).
• The Vernal Equinox is a solar term with great balance. At the equinox, earth’s two hemispheres are receiving the
sun’s rays equally. On the day of the vernal equinox, night and day are often said to be equal in length.
Nepal’s first satellite NepaliSat-1
• It was recently launched into space from the Virginia-based station of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) in the US.
• NepaliSat-1 will collect information about the country’s topography and Earth’s magnetic field.
Mars Mission named- HOPE:
• Emirates Mars Mission project
• This will mark the Arab world’s entry into the era of space exploration and place the UAE among the major scientific
countries that have begun programmes to explore Mars.
Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG).
• Developed by A joint team of German-Russian scientists create a three-dimensional (3D) X-ray map of the universe
and unveil unknown supermassive black holes, dark energy and stars.
• The telescope will be launched into space on a Russian-built Proton-M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakhstan
2017
Essay asked (any four of the following in about 300
words each- (4×20=80))
1. Need for common civil code in India
2. Cashless transaction: Scope and future
prospects in India
3. India versus China in the emerging Economy in
South Asia
Trend Analysis
Essay
Paper 2 pattern changed in the year 2015, the following pattern follows:
o One essay on India’s neighbour (Indian-china, Indian- Nepal, China- Pakistan)
o One essay on economic situation in news (Financial Inclusion, Banking Sector, Cashless transactions, economic
growth)
o One Essay on polity (Role of Governor, centre state relations, Common civil code, Civil wrong, Non-performing
parliament)
Argument Writing
Topics are asked which are general in nature with a broad perspective like Population, democracy, Education, Nuclear
families,
Report Writing
All the topics asked are from the recent news
ESSAY
• You will have to write 4 essays (20 marks each), out of given 6 in the word-limit of 300. It consumes more time
than any other part in the Exam.
• To manage the time, you can squeeze it to 200-220 Words, provided you are maintaining the quality.
• Underline the important words and sentences.
• Link static part with currents. That will show your understanding to the topic.
• Write a paragraph of 4-5 lines. You can also keep a mix of paragraph and points.
• Make a rough synopsis before writing-
✓ Introduction
✓ Body
✓ Conclusion
Introduction-
• Start with a famous Quote that is directly related to the topic. Introduction should reflect that you very well
understood the topic. Write it in 2-3 lines, approx. 20 words.
Body
• See the topic with different angles like Historical angle, Geographical angle, Economy, Polity, Society,
Environment, and Science and technology etc.
• Write Govt schemes and programs, current news related to the topic.
• Write in Points and compulsorily underline important words and sentences.
• Use Diagrams, flowchart, table, and graph and try to include data (Factually Correct).
• If the topic is related to Scheme or Program, then write all schemes related to it, and elaborate 2-3 of them in
detail.
• Try to stick to the latest event and don't go too much in history.
• You can also show your own opinion and thought. Write evidence for your thoughts.
Conclusion-
• Follow same tune, Words and ideology, you followed in Introduction and Body.
• Be concise and Conclusive.
• Use the words like “In conclusion", finally", "In the end" to make it look more natural.
• While trans-versing from one paragraph/point to the other, use connecting words as per the requirement like-
Moreover, whenever, unless, however. Connect the ideas and points.
PASSAGE/COMPREHENSION
• This question is for 20 marks. You really can fetch good marks easily in this question, if show a bit of care.
• 5 questions are given in the passage.
• Write one question in this part within 30 words.
How to do it-
• Read the Passage carefully and quickly- within 3 minute.
• Read the question and directly jump to the section in the passage where the topic has been explained. Write
the answer according to the passage in your own words. Don't copy paste the passage as it is.
• Don't apply your own theory or ideology, Answer the question completely from text.
• Keep approx. 3 minute time frame for each question.
REPORT WRITING
• This question is for 20 Marks. You will have to write 2 Reports (10 Marks each).
• The format of report is very important. Many people don't know the format. It is necessary to write it in proper
format to fetch good marks.
• Don't write conclusion in the report.
• Don't write in points. Write in small passages.
• Complete one report in about 125 words.
• Date- the day you are writing the report.
Example:
Operation Rahat in Yemen
XYZ Correspondent
Delhi, 20/10/2017
Para1: Brief intro of the event, date, place timing and other factual data, every factual data relating to the event.
Short and Crisp
Para2: Details from History, Similar events, causes, need, consequences, stakeholders involved, actions taken
Para3: Reaction of the people, promises made by authority, Government reactions and actions.
PRECIS WRITING
• This question carry 15 marks, and you can complete it in comparatively lesser time. So try to complete it
first.
• You have to write it on additional sheet provided. Complete it in as less words as possible, and try to keep
it in your own words. Don't repeat/copy the sentences from original text.
• First read it carefully, and Try to understand what the writer want to say in the paragraphs.
• Write one word in one box and try to complete it even less than one-third of the original text.
• Write it compulsorily in your own words squeezing it to one-third, and explain all the things of the original
text.
GRAMMAR
This is an important section as it carries 25 solid Marks. This part can be completed in minimum time period, and
Marks here will decide your overall marks and in-turn your selection. You can fetch good marks from this section if
done properly.
• For this part, take any grammar book, and read the sections which are asked in the examination.
• Compulsorily practice previous year’s questions for this section. Questions are repeatedly asked, and many
questions can be done easily.
Probable’s
Probable topics for Probable topics for Argument
Probable topics for Essay
Report Writing writing
• 100 years of Jallianwala Bagh • Simultaneous elections: One
• Women Entry into Temples nation one poll
• Women in Armed Forces • NRC • Demographic transition:
• ISRO Achievements • Addhar constitutional Good/bad
• Water Criss [Chennai] validity: SC verdict • Article 370
• Universal Basic Income • Kerala floods • Customs vs legal rights
• Banking Reforms • Chandrayan 2 (sabarimala issue)
• Technology and Applications • Mob Lynching • DNA technology (Gene editing,
[Aadhar, AI, Cryptocurrency • Electoral bonds designer babies, cloning)
(Libra), Big Data] • Article 35A • SC verdict on Adultry
• Marine/Plastic Pollution • Zero Budget Natural • Data Localisation, Privacy
• Elections: Festival of Democracy Farming • Uniform Civil Code (Triple Talak
• Cyber Security Bill)
• Rohingya conflict