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2020 UPSC CSE PRELIMS CONTENT – Master file by SUNYA IAS
HISTORY
1. Buddhism: Founded by Gautama Buddha who distracted and Prajna paramita: the perfect
was born at Lumbini in 563 BC; main cause of discrimination of phenomena.
origin of Buddhism is expensive and complicated 3. Important terms associated with Buddhism
vedic rituals, rigid caste system and desire of • Parivrajaka-> renunciant and wanderer.
Vaishya to improve their social position due to • Shramana-> seeker, one who performs acts
the increase in trade and commerce. Important of austerity, ascetic.
Features of Buddhism • Upasika-> lay follower of Buddhism
• It did not accept the authority of vedas; • Arhats-> Hinayana monks; selfish beings
Opposition to rituals, sacrifices, ceremonies because they worked for their own salvation.
and priestly class domination; rejected caste • Nirvana-> state of supreme bless
based system in society. • Sheel-> Refers to when a layperson leaves
• Believed in path of moderation against home to live life of a Buddhist renunciate
extreme self-mortification. among a community of bhikkhus.
• Theory of karma is an essential element of • Upasampada-> ritual of ascetic vetting
Buddhist philosophy. (ordination) by which a candidate, if deemed
• Emphasis on the efficacy of Jnana marga acceptable authorised to undertake ascetic
(path of knowledge) to attain salvation; life.
Nirvana is an ultimate goal of life. • Vassa-> Three-month annual retreat
• Believed in Pratityasamutpada-> one state of observed by Theravada practitioners; lasts for
life leads to next state. three lunar months, usually from July to
• Rejected the idea of soul and transmigration October.
of soul. • Upostha-> Buddhist day of observance;
• Buddha neither rejected nor accepted the taught that the Uposatha day is for cleansing
existence of god. of the defiled mind.
• Emphasis on non-violence; allowed eating 4. Important terms associated with Buddhism
non-vegetarian food provided animal not • Arhats: Hinayana monks; selfish beings
killed for that purpose. because they worked for their own salvation.
• Put forward a new varna system-> Kshatriyas • Nirvana: state of supreme bless
given higher status than the Brahmanas. • Sheel: Refers to when a layperson leaves
2. Paramitas: home to live life of a Buddhist renunciate
• It is a Sanskrit term, which means among a community of bhikkhus.
“perfection” • Upasampada: ritual of ascetic vetting
• In Bodhisattva tradition, the accomplishment (ordination) by which a candidate, if deemed
of these perfections results in the achievement acceptable authorised to undertake ascetic
of the ultimate perfection of wisdom that is life.
enlightenment • Vassa: Three-month annual retreat observed
• In Mahayana Buddhism, the path of a by Theravada practitioners; lasts for three
bodhisattva is described in terms of six lunar months, usually from July to October.
paramitas: Dana paramita: to cultivate the • Upostha: Buddhist day of observance; taught
attitude of giving; Sila paramita: refraining that the Uposatha day is for cleansing of the
from harm; Kshanti paramita: the ability not defiled mind.
to be perturbed by anything; Virya paramita: • Anatman: Denial of the belief in an eternal
to find joy in what is virtuous, positive or self.
wholesome; Dhyana paramita: not to be
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• Pratitya-samutpada: It refers to co- medieval age; believed that person could

dependant-origination -> belief that all things achieve nirvana in a single lifetime; popular
are interconnected. in Tibet; taken from India into Tibet by
• Upadana: It refers to attachment and Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche); followed
grasping; it is the result of tanha (craving) and symbolism and rites; tantric practices
part of dukkha (suffering). followed by it combined physical and
• Upeksha: Buddhist concept of equanimity; it spiritual worlds.
is pure mental state cultivated on Buddhist • Zen school: school of Mahayana Buddhism
path to nirvana. that originated in China during the Tang
5. Upasaka: Upasaka refers to the lay followers of dynasty; spread to Japan in 7th century C.E;
Buddhism. They were not monks or nuns, but still meditation is the most distinctive feature of
undertake ethical vows to cultivate beneficial this Buddhist tradition.
Buddhist modes of behavior. • Sects of Buddhism
6. Schools of Buddhism o Dissension occurred because of breach of
• Mahayana Buddhism: It means Greater rules of monastic disciple by monks of
vehicle; contains two philosophical eastern parts of India opposed by monks
schools Madhyamika and Yogachara; of western parts of India; permanent split
considers Buddha as God and worships took place in 2nd Buddhist council ->
idols of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; monks of east called as Mahasanghikas
salvation attained by means of faith and and monks of west called Sthaviravadins.
devotion to the mindfulness of the o Mahasanghikas: It was first located in
Buddha; believes in idol worship of the area of Vaiśālī and spread also to
Buddha and Bodhisattvas; Buddhist schools southern India, with centres at Amarāvatī
in China, Korea, Tibet and Japan belong to the and Nāgārjunakoṇḍa
Mahayana tradition. § Its texts were written in Prākrit
• Hinayana Buddhism: Means literally Lesser § Believed in plurality of Buddhas who
vehicle; believes in the original teaching are supramundane (lokottara); held
of Buddha or Doctrine of elders; does not that what passed for Gautama Buddha
believe in idol worship and tries to attain in his earthly existence was only an
individual salvation through self-discipline appartition; got divided into eight sub-
and meditation; scriptures are in Pali; sects:
patronized by Ashoka; monks known as § Ekavyaharika, Prajnaptivada,
Arhat; against accepting gift of gold and Uttarasaila, Bahusrutiya, Kaukkutika,
silver as Buddha forbade; spread to Nepal, Chaityaka, Lokottaravadin and
Tibet and nearby countries. Aparasaila.
• Theravada: most ancient branch of extant o Sthaviravadins: They are Theravadins;
Buddhism; remains closest to the original divided into 11 sects which are:
teachings of the Buddha; developed in Sri § Sarvastivadins, Haimavata,
Lanka and subsequently spread to the rest of Mahisasaka, Dharmottara,
Southeast Asia; dominant form of religion in Bhadrayaniya, Dharmaguptaka,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Kasyapiya, Sammtiya.
Thailand; strive to become Arhats and gain § Sarvastivadins-> constituents of life
freedom from the cycle of samsara. were not wholly momentary, some
• Vajrayana: means “The Vehicle of the existed forever in latent form
Thunderbolt”, also known as tantric 7. Jainism: Came into prominence in 6th century
Buddhism; came into existence during early BC; word ‘Jain’ is derived from jina which means
conqueror; Mahavira Swami was founder of • Monks also known as Nastika shiromani
Jainism (not originator of entire jain tradition); • Emphasized water, fire, air and earth are only
there were 24 Tirthankaras, Rishabhanath (first fundamental elements
jain Tirthankara) initiated this tradition; doctrine • There is no rebirth, no soul, no god and no
of Jaina is older than Buddhist doctrine karma
• Rejected authority of vedas and vedic rituals; • Pratyaksha (perception) was only way of
advocated a simple and austere life. acquiring valid knowledge
8. Dharmashastra: • Rejected vedas as ultimate source of
• These are based on ancient Dharmasūtra knowledge.
texts, which emerged from the literary 12. Trade Guilds in South India: Several trade
tradition of the Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sāma, and guilds operated in medieval Southern India such
Atharva) composed in 2nd millennium BCE as the Gatrigas, Nagarathar, Mummuridandas,
to the early centuries of the 1st millennium Ayyavolu-500, Ubhayananadesigal, Settis,
BCE Settiguttas, Birudas, Biravaniges, Kavarai, etc.
• The hymns of Ṛigveda are one of the earliest 13. Indigo cultivation in India: Indigo cultivation
texts composed in verse. The Brāhmaṇa started in Bengal in 1777
which belongs to the middle vedic period om • In the nineteenth century, it was one of the
followed by the vedāṇga are composed in most profitable commodities traded in the
prose. The basic texts are composed in an European market often called “Blue Gold”
aphoristic style known as the sutra which • There was a significant increase in the Indigo
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literally means thread on which each production in the 18th and 19th century in
aphorism is strung like a pearl. Bengal and Bihar due to increasing demand
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9. Uchchedavada (Annihilationism): Founded by and production

Ajita kesakamblin • The cultivation of indigo failed after the
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• It believed in materialistic philosophy invention of Synthetic indigo, which made

• Everything ends with death natural indigo non-profitable for farmers as
• Do not believe in idea of sin
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well as traders
• Charvaka school emerged out of it. • The quantity and value of natural indigo were
10. Ajivikas: Established by Nanda vachcha started declining in the last decade of the 19th
1
• Makkhaliputa Gosala was its third religious century and the situation became worse in the
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chief 1st decade of the 20th century.

• also referred as Sudra sanyasins 14. Indigo revolt (1859-60): It was led by Digambar
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• It is based on philosophy based on Niyati Biswas and Bishnu Biswas of Nadia district
(destiny) Bengal
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• Rejected theory of karma • The local peasants were forced by planters to

• Did not believe in efficacy of human efforts grow indigo instead of more profitable crops
• Practiced complete nudity and rigorous like rice; planters forced peasants to take
practices advanced sums and enter into fraudulent
• King Bimbisara was follower of this sect contracts
• Atheistic in nature. • If a farmer refused to grow indigo and planted
11. Charvakas/Lokayatas: Also known as paddy instead, the planters resorted to illegal
Barhaspatya means to get the farmer to grow indigo such
• Barhaspatya sutras is primary literature as looting and burning crops, kidnapping the
• Believes in enjoying luxuries of life (Eat, farmer’s family members, etc.
drink and merry) • The revolt started from the villages of
Gobindapur and Chanugacha in
Krishnanagar, Gobindapur and Chaugacha in 10 January 1800. The Mission started preaching
Krishnanagar, Nadia district, where the message of Jesus from two places in Hughli
Bishnucharan Biswas and Digambar Biswas district. The first Catholic Church in this district
first led the rebellion against the planters in was established at Bandel in 1599. About two
Bengal, 1859. It spread rapidly in hundred years later a Protestant Church was built
Murshidabad, Birbhum, Burdwan, Pabna, in serampore (1800). William Carey established
Khulna, and Narail this Church and the mission on 17 August 1761.
• The revolt was ruthlessly suppressed. Large It was through his initiative that the Baptist
forces of police and military, backed by the Missionary Society was formed.
British Government and the zamindars, 18. Mappila rebellion, 1921: It was the culmination
mercilessly slaughtered a number of peasants of a series of riots by Mappila Muslims of Kerala
• Finally, the British government formed the in the 19th and early 20th centuries against the
Indigo Commissionin 1860 due to Nawab British and the Hindu landlords in Malabar
Abdul Latif's initiative with the goal of (Northern Kerala) led by Variyamkunnath
putting an end to the repressions of indigo Kunjahammed Haji
planters by enacting the Indigo Act 1862. • The Moplahs were the Muslim tenants
15. Fort William College (Calcutta): By 1800s the inhabiting the Malabar region where most of
British territories in India greatly expanded and the landlords were Hindus
there was an urgent need for more thoroughly • Their grievances centred around lack of
organized administration security of tenure, high rents, renewal fees
• This required trained men who could not only and other oppressive exactions
communicate in local languages but also • It merged with Khilafat movement started in
understand the country they were gaining 1919; Khilafat meetings in Malabar incited
control communal feelings among the Moplahs and it
• Indian men were supposed to learn native became a movement directed against the
languages and even paid a sum called British as well as the Hindu landlords of
Munshi’s allowance to pay their Indian Malabar
language tutors. It was to train these British • The prominent leaders of the rebellion were
officials that Fort William college was Ali Musaliyar and Variyankunnath
established by Lord Richard Wellesley in Kunjahammed Haji
1800 • By the end of the year, the rebellion was
• The court of directors of the British East India crushed by the British
Company was never in support of a training • In November 1921, Moplah prisoners were
college in Kolkata (Calcutta) killed when they were being transported in a
• Later a separate College, East Indian closed freight wagon from Tirur to the Central
Company College was established in 1807 at Prison in Podanur -> event called as Wagon
England. Tragedy.
16. William Carey: He was a Scottish missionary 19. Ulgulan or Great Tumult: During the last
who helped establish the Serampore Mission. His decade of the 19th century, the Mundas rose under
work gained him immense respect for his Birsa Munda in a religious movement (“ulgulan”)
missions in Bengal as well as England. His with an agrarian and political discontent
struggle against inhumanity of sati had become • It aimed to establish a Munda Raj in the
well known. region by killing thikadars and jagirdars
17. Serampore Mission (1800-1845): India's first • The reason for the revolt is the British
Christian missionary organisation. William carey replaced the traditional Khuntkari system of
and his two associates established this mission on
Munda tribals by the zamindari system in • His major works are Abhijnana Shakuntalam
1874. (deals with the story of king Dushyanta and
20. Birsa Munda: He is often referred to as ‘Dharti Shakuntala), Malavikagnimitram (the love
Abba’ or the Earth Father affair of Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra
• He led the Ulgulan (revolt) or the Munda Shunga, and Malavika. It mentions that
rebellion against the British government- Pushyamitra Shunga performed Rajasuya
imposed feudal state system sacrifice), Vikramorvasiyam (It is a Sanskrit
• He organized masses to stop paying debts to play revolving around the love story of king
moneylenders and taxes to the British Puruvas and Urvashi).
• He combined religion with politics and 24. Banian: The term banian is the Anglicised form
traveled across villages giving discourses and of the Sanskrit and Bangla word banik (merchant)
building a politico-military organization • In Anglo-Indian society and among the
• His struggle led to the passage of natives too a banian was one who was
Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908 which engaged by an individual western merchant or
restricted the passing of land from the tribal a firm to work for them as a broker, interpreter
people to non-tribals. and agent.
21. Panini (520-460 BC): Panini was a Sanskrit 25. Mirasidars: Mirasdars were hereditary peasant
grammarian who gave a comprehensive and proprietors who cultivated their own fields and
scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and paid land tax at fixed rates to the state
morphology • Under the ryotwari settlement system, the
• He is considered the founder of the language government recognized mirasidars as the sole
and literature proprietors of land, dismissing tenants’ rights
• Astadhyayi (Astaka) is Panini’s major work is completely.
dated around the 3rd-4th century BC; it 26. Mahendravarman I (600 AD- 630 AD): He
consists of eight chapters, each subdivided succeeded the throne from his father Simhavishnu
into quarter chapters • He was a poet and composed Vichitrachita
• Panini gives formal production rules and and Mahavilasa Prahasana
definitions to describe Sanskrit grammar. • He constructed the Mahabalipuram Light
22. Amarasimha: Amarasimha was a Sanskrit house and constructed Kanchi University
grammarian and poet from ancient India and was • He was initially a patron of the Jainism, but
one of the Navratnas during the Gupta dynasty’s he converted into the Saiva faith under the
rule influence of the Saiva saint Appar
• Amarakosha-> It is a vocabulary of Sanskrit • During his period, Pulakeshin II attacked the
roots consists of verses that can be easily Pallava kingdom.
memorized; it is divided into three khaṇḍas or 27. Narasimhavarman (630 AD – 668 AD): Also
chapters. Svargadi-khaṇḍa (heaven and called Narasimhavarman Mahamalla/Mamalla
others) has words pertaining to gods and • He defeated and killed Pulakesin II in 642 AD
heavens. Bhuvargadi-khaṇḍa (earth and and plundered the Chalukyan capital hamlet
others) deals with words about earth, towns, of Vatapi
animals and humans. Samanyadi-khaṇḍa • He took control of Vatapi, the Chalukya
(common) has words related to grammar and capital and assumed the title ‘Vatapikonda’
other miscellaneous words. • He sent a naval expedition to Sri Lanka and
23. Kalidasa: Several historians believe that reinstated the Sinhalese Prince Manivarma
Kalidasa belonged to the court of Chandragupta • He founded the city of Mamallapuram or
II (Vikramaditya) Mahabalipuram
• Hiuen Tsang visited the Pallava kingdom and • The copper-plate inscriptions describe
he describes that people were happier in the Parantaka I's efforts to promote agricultural
kingdom. prosperity throughout the country by digging
28. Pala dynasty (750-1160 AD): The Pala Empire numerous canals
was an imperial power during the post -classical • He is said to have covered the Chidambaram
period (8th and 9th century AD) which originated Siva Temple in gold.
in the Bengal region 31. Hundi: It is a medieval Indian financial
• Pala empire was founded in the 8th century by instrument used in trade and credit transactions
Gopala • According to RBI, "a Hundi is an
• The earliest examples of miniature painting in unconditional order in writing made by a
India executed under the Palas of the eastern person directing another to pay a certain sum
India; scenes of life of Buddha and several of money to a person named in the order.”
god and goddess of Mahayana sects are • They were used for remittance (transferring
depicted; Red, blue, black and white colours monies from one location to another), credit
are used as primary colours (borrowing money]), and commerce
• Pala painting is characterized by sinuous line, transactions (as bills of exchange)
delicate and nervous lines ,sensuous elegance, om • They have no legal status and are not covered
linear and decorative accent and subdued under Negotiable Instruments Act of 1881.
tones of colour. 32. Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar (1869-1912): He
29. Gurjara Pratiharas: The Gurjara Pratihara was a close associate of Sri Aurobindo; published
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dynasty was founded by Nagabhatta I in the a book entitled ‘Desher Katha’ (Story of the
region of Malwa in the eigth century Nation) in 1904 -> described about British
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• Later one of his successors, Vatsaraja commercial and industrial exploitation of India; it
extended his rule over to a large part of North was banned by government of Bengal in 1910
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India and made Kannauj in western Uttara • The book has captured the mind of young
Pradesh his capital Bengal and assisted in preparation of the
• Pratihara were instrumental in containing Swadeshi Movement
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Arab armies moving east of the Indus River • Deuskar uses ‘desh’ in the context of the
• The greatest development of their style of whole country
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temple building was at Khajuraho, now • He popularized the ideas of Naoroji and
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a UNESCO World Heritage Site Ranade and promoted swadeshi in a popular

• Sanskrit Poet & Dramatist Rajasekhara lived idiom
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in the court of Mahipala, grandson of • He was the first person to bring the name of
Mihirbhoja ‘Swaraj’.
• Foreign traveller Al-Masudi had visited
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33. Gandhi-Irwin Pact/Delhi pact (1931): It was

Pratihara empire. concluded between Mahatma Gandhi and the
30. Parantaka Chola I (907- 955 AD): The Lord Irwin in1931
foundation of the Chola Kingdom by Vijayalaya • It was signed before the start of the second
and Aditya Chola-I was further enhanced round table conference in London
by Parantaka Chola I • It placed the Congress on an equal footing
• After ascending to the throne, he attacked the with the government.
Pandyas and captured Madura, and assumed • Gandhi on behalf of INC agreed to: INC
the title Madurakonda agreed to take part in the Round Table
• He laid out the rules for the conduct of village Conference and stop the civil disobedience
assemblies movement.
• Irwin agreed for: Immediate release of all • Phule and his followers formed Satyashodhak
political prisoners not convicted of violence, Samaj (Seekers of Truth) in 1873 to attain
removal of the salt tax, remission of all fines equal social and economic benefits for the
not yet collected, right to make salt in coastal lower castes in Maharashtra
villages for personal consumption, return of • He was bestowed with the title of Mahatma
all lands not yet sold to third parties, lenient by social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji
treatment to those government servants who Vandekar
had resigned; right to peaceful and non- • He attacked the orthodox Brahmins and other
aggressive picketing and withdrawal of upper castes and termed them as "hypocrites"
emergency ordinances. • Important publications are Tritiya Ratna
• Demands not accepted by Lord Irwin: The (1855), Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje
commutation of death sentence of Bhagat Bhosle Yancha (1869), Gulamgiri (1873),
Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev to a life Shetkarayacha Aasud (1881).
sentence, demand for a public enquiry of 36. Savitribai Phule: She was illiterate when she
excesses committed by police during the civil married to Jyotiba Phule at the age of nine years
disobedience movement. • Later Jyotiba admitted Savitribai to a
34. Gopal Babu Walangkar: Also known as Gopal teachers’ training Institute in Pune; and then
Krishna, he was born into a family of the she became the first female teacher in India
untouchable Mahar caste in Raigad district, (1848)
Maharashtra • She also started the practice of Satyashodhak
• He was the first to fight for the rights of the Marriage, where couples took an oath of
Mahars in Maharashtra education and equality
• He developed a racial theory to explain the • They also dug a well at their courtyard for
oppression and also published the first journal untouchables, who had no access to public
targeted at the untouchable people drinking water facilities.
• He claimed that "high-caste people from the 37. Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhiji was a prolific writer
south were 'Australian–Semitic non-Aryans' and he has written many articles throughout his
and African negroes, that Chitpavan life. He edited several newspapers including
Brahmans were 'Barbary Jews', and that the Harijan in Gujarati, Indian opinion in South
high-caste Marathas' forebears were 'Turks'" Africa, and Young India in English
• He published monthly journal titled Vital- • He wrote several books including his
Vidhvansak (Destroyer of Brahmanical or autobiography “The Story of My Experiments
Ceremonial Pollution), which was the first to with Truth” and Hind Swaraj
have the untouchable people as its target • He was associated with “Songs from Prison”,
audience a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics
• He also wrote articles for Marathi-language in English in 1934.
newspapers such as Sudharak and 38. BR Ambedkar: He set up the 'Bahishkrit
Deenbandhu. Hitkarini Sabha in 1923 to spread education and
35. Jyotiba Phule: He was born in 1827 in present- culture amongst the downtrodden
day Maharashtra and belonged to the Mali caste • In 1936, he founded the Independent Labour
of gardeners Party
• He was influenced by Thomas Paine’s book • Important works of Dr. Ambedkar are Mook
titled The Rights of Man and believed that the Nayak (weekly) 1920; Janta (weekly) 1930;
only solution to combat the social evils was The Annihilation of Caste 1936; The
the enlightenment of women and members of Untouchables 1948; Buddha or Karl Marx
the lower castes 1956, etc.
39. Kulyavapa and Dronavapa: In the Gupta era, 42. Ashoka (268 BC- 232 BC): He was the son of
the terms Kulyavapa, Dronavapa, and Adhavapa the Mauryan Emperor, Bindusara and
were related to land measurements mentioned in Subhadrangi born in 304 BC
the copper plate inscriptions found in Bengal • He is known by various names, i.e.
• The Midnapore plate of Subhakirtti refers to Devanampiya (Sanskrit Devanampriya
the gift of forty dronas of land and one meaning Beloved of the Gods) and Piyadasi
dronavapa of homestead land in the village • During his reign, the Mauryan Empire
Kumbharapadraka to a brahmin named covered from Afghanistan to Bangladesh; but
Damyasvamin. did not cover modern-day Kerala and Tamil
Nadu, and Sri Lanka
• In his Edict XII, Ashoka condemns the
practice of elevating one’s own religion at the
expense of someone else’s; The edict
concludes with the admonition that an
individual’s religion grows through Dhamma
and so all faiths are improved by tolerance
and understanding.
• Ashoka’s Dhamma: Idea of paternal kinship
o Everybody should serve parents, revere
teachers, and practice ahimsa and
truthfulness
o Considered his subjects as his children
o He set forth humane treatment of animals,
servants, and prisoners
o He sought to conquer not by war but by
Dhamma
40. Classification of land under Guptas: The land o He sent his children, Mahinda and
during Gupta period was categorized into several Samghamitra to Sri Lanka for the same.
groups such as Kshetra (cultivable land), Khila • Pillar Edicts and Inscriptions: 7 pillar edicts
(wasteland), Aprahata (jungle or forest land), of Ashoka discovered in Topra (Delhi),
Vasti (habitable land) and Gapata Sarah (Pasture Meerut, Kausambhi, Rampurva, Champaran,
land). and Mehrauli.
41. Coinage during Guptas: The Gupta gold coins o Pillar Edict I: Asoka's idea of people
are known as Dinars protection
• The face of the coins generally portrayed the o Pillar Edict II: Dhamma having greatest
governing king and carried legends, while the number of virtues, compassion, liberality,
reverse depicted the figure of a goddess honesty, and purity.
• The most popular Gupta coin depicts the ruler o Pillar Edict III: Removes sins such as
with a bow in his left hand - this type was cruelty, rage etc.
issued by all of the dynasty's kings o Pillar Edict IV: Addresses the
• The king is depicted seated on a sofa playing responsibilities of Rajukas.
the Veena on certain coins of Samudragupta o Pillar Edict V: List of animals and birds
and Kumaragupta I which are prohibited for slaughtering on
• Chandragupta II also issued silver (Denaree) certain days.
and copper (Daler) coins. o Pillar Edict VI: Dhamma policy of
Ashoka
o Pillar Edict VII: Ashoka contribution to

Dhamma policy.
o Minor Pillar Inscriptions
§ Rummindei Pillar: It documents
Asoka’s visit to Lumbini and its
exemption from taxation.
§ Nigalisagar Pillar(Nepal): Extension
of height of Konakamana stupa to
twice its original size.
o Major Pillar Inscriptions
§ Sarnath Lion Capital: Erected by
Ashoka to commemorate
Dhammachakrapravartana.
§ Single lion on Vaishali Pillar
(Bihar): It has no inscription.
§ Uttar Pradesh's Sankissa Pillar
§ Lauriya-Nandangarh, Bihar
§ Lauriya-Araraj, Bihar
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Fig: Gupta Empire
§ Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad pillar.
during Samudragupta’s reign
43. Samudragupta: He was a ruler of Gupta Empire
44. Harshavardhana: Harshavardhan ruled during
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who considerably enhanced his dynasty's political

the 7th century AD and founded the Vardhana
authority; known with the title parakramanka
Dynasty
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• He was known as the Napoleon of India

• He was born Hindu but started embracing the
• 'Prayag Prashati' written by his courtier and
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Mahayana Buddhism religion later in his life

poet Harisena, describes him as the hero of a
• Xuanzang, a Chinese Buddhist traveller,
hundred battles
praised the deeds of King Harshavardhan
• Allahabad Pillar Inscription sheds light on
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Samudragupta's Digvijaya • After obtaining control over Kannauj,

Harshavardhan united the two kingdoms of
• He was given the title of Kaviraj as he written
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Thanesar and Kannauj

several Sanskrit poetry
• He then moved the capital of his kingdom
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• He was a supporter of Buddhist scholar

from Thanesar to Kannauj
Vasubandhu
• He also annexed the kingdoms of Bengal,
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• He was tolerant of all religions, although he is

Bihar, and Odisha after the death of Sasanka
an ardent Brahmin
• He was defeated by Pulakesin II, the
• He gave the king of Ceylon permission to
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Chalukya King in 618-619A.D

create a Buddhist monastery for Buddhist
• The Harshacharita is a biography of
monks at Boudh Gaya.
Harshavardhana composed in Sanskrit by his
court poet, Banabhatta
• He himself wrote Nagananda, Ratnavali and
Priyadarshika
• Ratnavali: Its theme revolves around devious
path adopted by minister Yaugandharaya of
Vatsa king Udayana of Kaushambi to get his
king married to Ceylonese princess Ratnavali
• Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of 48. Hoyasala art: It developed from 1050- 1300 AD
emperor Harshavardhana and compiled his in the Karnataka region with prominent seats at
observations in his book Si-yu-ki. Belur, Halebid and Sringeri
45. Krishnadevaraya: He was the ruler of the • Multiple shrines built around a central
Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagar empire (1509-29 pillared hall
AD) • Shrines led out in shape of stellate pattern
• He is credited with building some fine • Soft sope stone was the main building
temples and impressive gopurams material
• He also founded a suburban township near • More emphasis on fecoration through
Vijayanagar called Nagalapuram after his sculptures
mother • Best example is Hoyasaleshwara temple at
• He composed a work on statecraft in Telugu Halebid.
known as the Amuktamalyada 49. Parivrajaka/Bhikshus: The word Parivrajaka
• He earned the titles Kannada Rajya Rama means ‘roaming ascetic’. They were seekers of
Ramana, Andhra Bhoja and Mooru Rayara truth who wandered from one village to village
Ganda and forest to forest. The famous parivrajakas were
• He defeated the Sultans of Bijapur, Golconda, Gautama Buddha, Makhkhali Goshala,
the Bahmani Sultanate and the Raja of Odisha Vardhamana Mahavira etc.
• The great south Indian mathematician 50. Shramana: Shramana refers to seeker who
Nilakantha Somayaji lived in the Empire of performs acts of austerity, ascetic etc. They
Krishnadevaraya disregarded the higher status of Brahmans and
• Portuguese travellers Domingo Paes and lived in monasteries near villages and towns
Fernao Nuniz visited the Vijayanagara denying caste distinctions.
Empire during his reign.
46. Vijayanagar school of architecture: Walls of
the temples are highly decorated with carvings
and geometrical patterns
• Gopurams were built on all the sides
• More than one mandapa built in each temple;
central mandapa were known as Kalyan
Mandap
• Concept of secular buildings inside the temple
premises was also introduced
• Important example is Vittalaswami temple
and Lotus Mahal.
47. Vijayanagara murals: In Hampi, Virupaksha
temple has paintings on the ceiling of its
mandapa narrating events from dynastic
history and episodes from the Ramayana and
Mahabharata; evolved a pictorial language
wherein the faces are shown in profile and
figures and objects two-dimensionally; lines
become still but fluid, compositions appear in
rectilinear compartments.
ECONOMY
51. Global Financial Crisis: business opportunities, On-shore rupee
• The 2008 financial crisis was the worst market development, easy access to foreign
economic disaster since the Great Depression capital and improved financial system.
of 1929 • Disadvantages of a fully convertible
• It led to the Great Recession, where housing currency: High volatility and foreign debt
prices dropped more than the price plunge burden.
during the Great Depression 53. High Powered Money: M0: The total liability of
• Subprime mortgage crisis, loose lending the RBI is called the monetary base or high-
standards in the housing market, lack of powered money. It consists of Currency in
strong watchdogs are major causes of the Circulation
recession; increasing number of borrowers • Bankers' Deposits with RBI
were unable to repay their loans and the prices • Other Deposits with RBI
of houses in the US started to fall 54. Narrow Money: M1: Coin& Currency with
• Actions which give immunity to India in Public
another global financial crisis-> Lesser • Demand deposits in Bank(CASA)
exposure to the foreign financial markets and • M2: M1+ Demand deposits with Post Office
not depending on short-term foreign 55. Broad Money: M3: M1 + Time deposits with
borrowing as it would lead to the burden of Banks(fdrd), used most commonly for measuring
paying back the debt, and could result in money Supply, also known as Aggregate
stressful conditions; opening more foreign Monetary resources/ Supply
banks increase exposure to global risks, so it • M4: M3 + Demand deposits and Time
does not give immunity. deposits in Post Office
52. Convertibility of Rupee: It means when
currency of a country can be freely converted into 56. Class struggle: It is the political tension and
foreign exchange at market determined rate of economic antagonism which exists in society
exchange. consequent to socio-economic competition
• Current account convertibility: When among social classes.
foreign exchange received for export of 57. Economic determinism: It is a socioeconomic
merchandise and services can be freely theory that economic relationships are the
converted into Indian rupees and vice-versa in foundation upon which all other societal and
case of imports political arrangements in society are based
o Fully convertible since 1994. • The theory stresses that societies are divided
• Capital account convertibility: A currency into competing economic classes whose
is freely convertible into foreign exchange relative political power is determined by the
and vice-versa at market determined nature of the economic system.
exchange rate 58. Interest Coverage Ratio
o After recommendations of the S.S. • It is used to measure how well a firm can pay
Tarapore Committee (1997) it is partially the interest due on outstanding debt.
allowed in India; Limit on external • It measures how many times a company can
borrowing, controlled under Foreign cover its current interest payment with its
Exchange Management Act, 1999. available earnings.
• Advantages of a fully convertible currency:
Sign of stable and mature markets, increased
liquidity in financial markets, improved
• Calculated by dividing a company's earnings • It should have a minimum amount of Rs 5

before interest and taxes (EBIT) by its interest lakh and multiples thereof
expense during a given period. • Maturity: For Banks -> should not be less
• Generally, a higher coverage ratio is better, than 7 days; for Financial institutions>
although the ideal ratio may vary by industry. maturity period should not be less than one
59. Commercial Paper (CP) year and not exceeding three years
• It is an unsecured money market instrument • Loans cannot be granted against certificate of
issued in the form of a promissory note and deposits
held in a dematerialized form through any of • Buyback can be made only 7 days after the
the depositories approved by and registered date of issue.
with SEBI. 61. Call Money Market
• Maturity: 1 to 270 days • It is required by banks to borrow money
• Denominations of Rs.5 lakhs or multiples of without collateral from other banks to
5 lakhs maintain CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio).
• Enable the corporates with a good credit • Funds are transacted on overnight basis and
rating to diversify their resources for short under notice money market, funds are
term fund requirements. om borrowed/lent for a period between 1-14 days.
• They are issued at a discount to face value. • All scheduled commercial Banks and RRBs,
• Companies and All India Financial Cooperative Banks other than Land
Institutions are eligible to issue CPs subject to Development banks, Small Finance Banks,
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condition that any fund-based facility availed Payment Banks and Primary dealers are the
of from banks is not a stressed asset. participants in the market
ai
• Minimum rating needed is A-3 • Rate of interest ‘glides’ with ‘repo rate’ of
• They are actively traded in the OTC market the time.
gm
on Fixed Income Money Market and 62. Treasury Bills (T-Bills)

Derivatives Association of India (FIMMDA) • Also known as Zero coupon bonds (issued at
35
platform. price less than face value and Government

• Buyback offer may not be made before 30 buys them at face value).
days from the date of issue. • The Central Government for its daily
1
60. Certificate of Deposit (CD) operations borrows through T-bills primarily

07
• It is a negotiable money market instrument to fund fiscal deficit.

and issued in dematerialised form or as a • Presently, only the 91-day TBs, 182-day
rth
Usance Promissory Note, for funds deposited TBs and the 364-day TBs are issued by
at a bank or other eligible financial institution government.
pa
for a specified time period. • They also function as short-term

• It can be issued by Scheduled Commercial investment avenues for the banks and
Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks and fulfill requirements of CRR and SLR.
financial institutions such as IDBI, IRBI and • They will be issued for a minimum amount
IFCI permitted by RBI. of Rs. 10,000 and in multiples of 10,000.
• Slightly higher yield than T-Bills (as there is • They are highly liquid, give assured yield
risk of default of banks). and absence of default risk.
• Tradeable and Transferable unlike FDs. 63. Foreign Direct Investment: FDI is the
• They are used by banks when deposit growth investment through capital instruments by a
is less and credit demand is high. person resident outside India in an unlisted Indian
company; or 10% or more of the post issue paid-
up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed • India’s imports of iron and steel have
Indian company. decreased but imports of chemicals, fertilizers
• The capital invested in India via FDI is non and machinery have increased.
debt creating and not allowed to serve debt. • Despite pandemic induced global restrictions
• Components: Equity capital, reinvested and weak tourism revenues, India’s services
earnings, short and long-term borrowing and exports recorded growth of 18.4 per cent to
lending operations direct investors and linked US$ 177.7 billion during 2021-22 (April-
enterprises. December), over corresponding period a year
• FDI in India: India is the world's top earlier.
greenfield FDI destination.
o Computer software and hardware
received the most FDI equity inflows of
US$ 7.1 billion from April to September
2021
o Singapore remains the top investment
country in terms of FDI equity inflow.
64. Foreign Portfolio Investment: An investment is
•As of now, India’s exports of goods are less
called Foreign Portfolio Investment, if the
than its imports but the exports of services
investment made by a person (or institutional
more than its imports. Moreover, the overall
investors) resident outside India in capital
trade balance is negative because of high
instruments is:
trade deficit. Thus, India suffers from an
• less than 10% of the post issue paid-up equity
overall trade/current account deficit.
capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed
66. Non-Financial Debt
Indian company, or
• It consists of credit instruments issued by
• less than 10% of the paid up value of each
governmental entities, households and
series of capital instruments of a listed Indian
businesses that are not included in the
company.
financial sector.
65. International trade of India:
• It includes industrial or commercial loans,
• Merchandise Exports: India’s merchandise
Treasury bills and credit card balances.
exports recovered strongly from the
• Led by the general government debt, the
pandemic-induced collapse and registered
country's non-financial sector debt grew 11.9
positive growth in the current financial year.
per cent year-on-year to Rs 371 lakh crore, or
During 2021-22 (April-December), the
170.2 per cent of GDP, in the September 2021
merchandise exports recorded growth of 49.7
quarter.
per cent to US$ 301.4 billion, compared to
corresponding period of last year and 26.5 per • The total non-financial sector (NFS) debt
cent over 2019-20 (April-December), stood at Rs 371 lakh crore in the September
exceeding the pre-pandemic levels. 2021 quarter, up from Rs 356 lakh crore in the
March 2021 quarter and Rs 361 lakh crore in
• Merchandise Imports: The merchandise
the June 2021 quarter.
imports grew at the rate of 68.9 per cent to
67. Expansionary Monetary Policy/Dovish Stance
US$ 443.8 billion in April-December, 2021
over the corresponding period of last year and • It means injection of more funds into the
21.9 per cent over April-December, 2019, financial system
crossing the pre-pandemic levels. • It is aimed at expansion in lending,
investment and growth.
• Lowering key interest rates and enhancing • Duration is short term (one day, 7 days, and a
market liquidity are used to implement it. maximum of up to 21 days)
• It is adopted when growth needs policy • High repo rate -> access to money is
support and inflation is not immediate expensive for banks and lesser credit will
concern. flow into the system.
• It increases the money supply, lowers interest 71. Indian Economy after 1991 economic
rates, and increases demand and boosts liberalization: Important Trends
economic growth. • Worker productivity has increased for both
• Reducing SLR leaves more liquidity with rural and urban areas. For rural areas it was
banks, which in turn can fuel growth and 37273 in 2004-05 and 101755 in 2011-12,
demand in the economy. while for urban areas it was ?120419 in 2004-
• With the increase of MSF Rate, cost of 05 and ?282515 in 2011-12.
borrowing increases for banks resulting in • The rural share in the total workforce declined
reduced available resources to lend. steadily from 76.1% in 1999-2000 to 70.9%
• Under expansionary monetary policy, RBI in 2011-12.
reduces repo rate and bank rate to increase • Share of the non-farm sector increased from
liquidity in the banking sector. 37% in 1980-81 to 65% in 2009-10.
68. Statutory Liquidity ratio (SLR): Banks • Rural employment showed 2.16% annual
deposits in G-Sec, Cash, gold, T-bills, state growth rate during the pre-reform period,
development loans and other securities notified which decelerated in the post-reform period to
by RBI, mandated under Banking regulation act 1.45% and turned negative (–0.28%) in the
1949 period of economic acceleration.
• Maximum limit: 40%
• Banks should report every alternate Friday
• Mandatory for all scheduled commercial
banks, local area banks, Primary (Urban) co-
operative banks (UCBs), state co-operative
banks and central co-operative banks
• Banks earn returns on money parked as SLR
• The main objectives are to control the
expansion of bank credit; ensures the
solvency of commercial banks.
69. MSF (Marginal Standing Facility): A facility
under which SCBs can borrow additional amount
of overnight (short-term) money from the RBI by
dipping into their SLR portfolio up to a limit
(currently 2% of their deposits) at a penal rate of
interest
• MSF is always fixed above the repo rate
• Provides safety valve against unanticipated
liquidity shocks to the banking system.
70. Repo rate: Introduced in 2000, decided by
Monetary Policy
• It is used for borrowing by banks, state
government, Union government, non-bank
• Collateral is G-Sec, T bill but not from SLR
72. District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs): § Providing banking facilities to rural
It is a cooperative bank which operates at district and semi-urban areas.
level § Carrying out government operations
• It provides banking to the rural hinterland for like disbursement of wages of
the agricultural sector with the branches MGNREGA workers, distribution of
primarily established in rural and semi-urban pensions etc.
areas § Providing Para-Banking facilities like
• They mobilize deposits from the public and locker facilities, debit and credit cards.
provide credit to them and the Primary 74. Agricultural credit: Scheduled commercial
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). banks (78- 80%) in agricultural and allied credit.
73. Scheduled Commercial Banks: These are banks Cooperative institutions (StCBs, DCCBs and
included in second schedule of the Reserve Bank PACSs put together) constituted 15-16%. The
of India Act, 1934 RRBs contributed the remaining 5% of the
• Fulfils conditions: having paid up capital and agricultural credit.
reserves more than 5 Lakh, it becomes 75. Cyber Insurance: It covers business's liability
eligible for debts/loans at the bank rate from for a data breach involving sensitive customer
the RBI; and, it automatically acquires the information, such as social security numbers,
credit card numbers, account numbers etc.. It is
membership of clearing house.
om
• Provisions: Deposits CRR money to RBI's designed to cover expenses and legal costs
office/ Vault, eligible to borrow/ deposit associated with cyber breaches that occur after an
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funds in RBI's window operations. organization has been hacked.

• Types • Coverage: In India, it generally covers E-
ai
o Public sector banks: State Bank of India theft loss, E-vandalism loss, E-threat loss,
and its associates and nationalized banks. Identity theft Cyber -bullying and cyber –
gm
o Private sector banks: The Narasimham stalking, Cyber extortion, Malware intrusion,
Committee-> RBI should permit the Legal expenses arising out of any covered risk
establishment of new banks in the private such as Social Media Cover, Phishing Cover,
35
sector provided they conform to the E-mail Spoofing, Cyber Extortion Cover,
minimum start-up capital and other Privacy Breach by third Party.
1
requirements. Examples of Private banks 76. Minimum Support Price: It is the minimum
07
are ICICI, HDFC bank etc. price set by the Government at which farmers can
o Foreign banks in India: Many foreign expect to sell their produce for the season. When
market prices fall below the announced MSPs,
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banks from different countries set up their

branches in India during the 1990s—the procurement agencies step in to procure the crop
liberalization period. A total of 27 new and support the prices.
pa
foreign banks opened branches in India • Rationale: Protecting farmers from price
following the reforms of 1991. volatility; Incentivizing farmers to grow crops
o Regional rural banks: These are local in short supply and Ensures easy procurement
level banking organizations created to for food security schemes.
serve primarily the rural areas with basic • Declaration: Cabinet committee of
banking and financial services. However, Economic affairs (CCEA) announces MSP
RRBs may have branches set up for urban for various crops at beginning of each sowing
operations and their area of operation may season based on recommendation of
include urban areas too. Functions of Commission for Agricultural costs and prices
RRBs include: (CACP).
• Crops covered: MSP is announced for 22 • Price Support scheme-> For oilseeds, pulses
mandated crops and FRP for Sugarcane. and cotton at the request of state governments.
• Limited Buffer stock: The procurement is • Three components of PM-AASHA
open-ended but it is not unlimited as our o Price Support Scheme: Physical
buffer stock is limited. procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra
• Relation with market price: CACP by nodal agencies of centre with active
considers various factors such as cost of role of state governments. NAFED, FCI
cultivation and production, productivity of will take up it in states/districts.
crops, and market prices for the determination o Price Deficiency Payment Scheme: All
of MSPs. MSP fixed for each crop is uniform the oilseeds for which MSP has been
for the entire country. announced is covered. It is based on
Madhya Pradesh Bhavantar Bhugtan
Yojana.
o Private Procurement and Stockist
scheme: Private player will be
compensated with a service charge of upto
15% of the notified MSP. The selected
private agency will procure commodity at
MSP in notified markets.
o Government Stockpiling: As on July 1
2020, FCI had grain stocks of about 91-92
mmt, against a buffer stock norm of 41.12
mmt that are required for PDS and
strategic reserves
• For wheat and paddy-> Open ended
procurement by FCI
• Course grains-> purchased by state
government with permission from central
government up to extent which is required for
TPDS
GEOGRAPHY
77. Major Minerals: Major minerals are those (Mn), Molybdenum(Mo), Zinc (Zn) and
specified in the schedule appended in the Mines Nickel (Ni).
and Minerals (Development and Regulation) • The amount of fertilizer subsidy: It has
Act,1957. crossed Rs 80,000 crore per annum. Food,
• Fuel Minerals: Coal, Lignite, Natural Gas, Fuel and Fertilizers together constitute 95%
Petroleum (Crude). of the government's subsidy burden where
• Metallic Minerals: Bauxite, Chromite, fertilizer alone contributes 27%.
Copper Ore, Gold, Iron Ore, Lead • Ideal ratio: Current NPK ratio in the country
(Concentrates), Zinc (Concentrates), has reached 6.5:2.9:1 in 2011-12 whereas the
Manganese Ore, Silver, Tin (Concentrates), ideal ratio is at 4:2:1.
Tungsten (Concentrates). 80. Ammonia (NH3): It is synthesized from natural
• Non-Metallic Minerals: Agate, Andalusite, gas. In this process, natural gas molecules are
Apatite, Asbestos, Ball Clay, Barytes, Calcite, reduced to carbon and hydrogen. The hydrogen is
Chalk, Clay, Corundum, Calcarious sand, then purified and reacted with nitrogen to produce
Diamond, Diaspore, Dolomite, Kyanite, ammonia. This synthetic ammonia is used as
Laterite, Limestone, Limestone Kankar, fertilizer, either directly as ammonia or indirectly
Pyrophyllite, Phosphorite, Quartz, Quartzite, after synthesis as urea, ammonium nitrate, and
Fuchsite Quartzite, Silica Sand, Salt (Rock), monoammonium or diammonium phosphates.
Salt (Evaporated), Shale, Slate, Steatite, 81. Sulphur: It is a by-product of processing natural
Sillimanite etc. gas and refining high-sulphur crude oils
78. Minor Minerals: Minor Minerals are those • It is a major by-product of oil refining and gas
specified in schedule appended in Minor Mineral processing. Most crude oil grades contain
concession rules and the common minor minerals some sulfur, most of which must be removed
are Limestone, Decorative stones etc. during the refining process to meet strict
• Bentonite, Boulder, Brick Earth, Building sulfur content limits in refined products
Stones, Chalcedony or Corundum, Fuller’s • It is also mined from underground, naturally-
Earth, Gravel, Lime Stone, Dunite, Felspar, occurring deposits
Fire Clay, Felsite, Flourite (Graded), Flourite • Sulfuric acid is used in the production of both
(Concentrates), Ordinary Sand, Ordinary Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) and
Earth, Pebbles or Kankar, Quartzite and Sand Diammonium Phosphate (DAP).
stone, Road Metal, Salt Petre etc. 82. Subsidy on Non-Urea Fertilisers: The MRPs of
79. Fertilizers: A fertilizer is any organic or non-urea fertilisers are decontrolled or fixed by
inorganic, natural or synthetic material added to the companies
soil to supply one or more plant nutrients • The Centre still pays a flat per-tonne subsidy
essentially to the growth of plants. These on these nutrients to ensure they are priced at
fertilizers provide six macro nutrients and 8 “reasonable levels”
micro-nutrients to plants for well balanced • Examples of non-urea fertilisers: Di-
growth: Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of
• Six macronutrients: nitrogen(N), Potash (MOP)
phosphorus(P), potassium(K), Calcium (Ca), • All Non-Urea based fertilisers are regulated
magnesium (Mg), and sulphur(S). They are under Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme.
consumed by plants in larger quantities and 83. Siachen glacier: It is located in the eastern
make the bulk of fertilizers. Karakoram range in the Himalayas just northeast
• Eight Micronutrients: Boron (B), Chlorine of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control
(Cl), Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese between India and Pakistan ends
• It lies between the Saltoro Ridge immediately • Recent data shows that more than 90% of
to the west and the main Karakoram range to groundwater in India is used for irrigation in
the east. agriculture-> 230 billion metre cubes of
groundwater pumped out each year for
irrigating farm areas in India
• As per the report ‘National Compilation on
Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India,
2017’ of CGWA, 1186 units in various States
(17%) have been categorized as ‘Over-
Exploited’, 313 units (5%) are ‘Critical’, and
972 are semi-critical units (14%)
• As per report of FAO, the countries with the
largest extent of areas equipped for irrigation
with groundwater, in absolute terms, are India
(39 million ha), China (19 million ha) and the
USA (17 million ha).
89. Jim Corbett National park: It is the first
84. Bhilsa: It is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
om national park in India; established in 1936 as
It is located around 60 km northeast of the state
Hailey national park to protect Bengal Tiger; first
capital, Bhopal.
park under Project Tiger initiative.
85. Dwarasamudra: Halebidu, previously known as
l.c
Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra, the ancient • Flora: Dense moist deciduous

Hoysala capital, houses the ornate Hoysaleswara forest mainly consists of Sal, Haldu, peepal,
ai
and Kedareswara temples, and is one of the well- rohini; Forest covers 73% area of the park
and 10% of the area consists of grasslands.
gm
visited tourist attractions of Karnataka state.

86. Girinagar/Revatak Parvata: It is a group of • Fauna: It is well known for its tiger richness;
mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat. Major animals are Elephants, Leopards,
barking deer, hog deer, Chital, Indian Grey
35
This place is sacred to the Jains because it is the

place where Lord Niminatha went to attain Mangoose.
salvation. 90. Sunderbans tiger reserve (West Bengal): It is
1
87. Sthanesvara: It is a historical town an important located in the Ganges delta

07
Hindu pilgrimage centre on the banks of the • It is a national park, tiger reserve, biosphere
Saraswati River in the state of Haryana in reserve and Ramsar site
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northern India. Prabhakarvardhana was a ruler of • It is the only mangrove forest in the world
Thanesar in the early seventh - century CE and inhabited by tigers
• It is a UNESCO World heritage site.
pa
was succeeded by his sons, Rajyavardhana and

Harshavardhana. 91. Ranathambore Tiger reserve: It was
88. Groundwater situation in India: India is the established initially as Sawai Madhopur Game
largest extractor of groundwater in the world - Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India
more than the USA and China put together • In 1973, it was declared as a Tiger Reserve
• According to the Central Groundwater Board under Project Tiger
report (2017), nearly 40 per cent of the 700 • It lies in the eastern part of Rajasthan state in
districts in India have reported ‘critical’ or Karauli and Sawai Madhopur districts, at the
‘overexploited’ groundwater levels junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill
• Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are states ranges
where the magnitude of water problem is not
just large, but also complex
• The vegetation includes grasslands on 94. Conservation tillage: It means any minimal
plateaus and dense forests along the seasonal tillage system that leaves sufficient crop residue
streams to cover the soil surface by at least 30%.
• The forest type is mainly tropical dry
deciduous with ‘dhak’ (Butea monosperma),
a species of tree capable of withstanding long
periods of drought, being the commonest.
92. Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam: It is the largest
tiger reserve in India
• It was notified in the year of 1978 and came
under the protection of Project Tiger in 1983
• Fauna include Bengal Tiger and many other
species like leopard, rusty-spotted cat,
pangolin, Mugger Crocodiles, Indian Rock
Python, and innumerable varieties of birds are
found 95. Cassava/Tapioca: Production in India is
• Flora include variety of forests ranging from estimated to be 4.98 million tonnes. Tamil Nadu,
southern tropical dry mixed deciduous forest followed by Kerala accounts for major amount of
till southern thorn forest. production
93. Zero Tillage/No Tillage • It has high starch content and ability to grow
• It is the process where the crop seed will be under low management conditions
sown through drillers without prior land • Agricultural residues of cassava like peels,
preparation and disturbing the soil where stems and leaves are the potential feedstock
previous crop stubbles are present. for 2G bioethanol production.
• Advantages: Less soil erosion from wind and 96. Groundnut
water (because the mulch cover of previous • It is a species in the legume or "bean"
crops covers the soil), less soil compaction, family; known by many other local
more fertile and resilient soils, less moisture names such as earthnuts, ground nuts,
evaporation, lower fuel and labor costs goober peas, monkey nuts and pig nuts.
(because there are less passes across the • India is the second largest producer of
field), reduces the cost of cultivation, groundnuts in the world.
irrigation requirement and weed effect. • Indian groundnuts are available in
• Disadvantages: initial cost of zero tillage different varieties: Bold or Runner,
equipment (the upfront costs can be high), Java or Spanish and Red Natal.
gullies can form in the fields, increased use of • The main Groundnut varieties produced
herbicides. in India are Kadiri-2, Kadiri-3, BG-1,
• Zero-Tillage Direct seeded rice: It is an BG-2, Kuber GAUG-1, T-28, T-64,
alternative crop establishment method for rice Chandra, Chitra, Kaushal, Parkash,
where seeds are sown directly without raising Amber etc.
them in a nursery, and can be done in zero- • Major growing states are Gujarat,
tillage conditions. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
• Carbon Sequestration is possible if crops Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan,
are not burnt and land is prepared through Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Uttar
mechanical agitation. Pradesh.
• India exported 638,582.97 MT of • Maturity period: It is a kharif crop and

groundnuts to world during the year requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
2020-21. • Genetical modification: BT Cotton to fight
• Major Export Destinations environmental stress and pest attacks.
are Indonesia, Vietnam, China, • Government initiatives: Silver Fibre
Philippines, Malaysia. Revolution and Technology Mission on
97. Horsegram/Kulthi Cotton
• It was well recognised by the folk medicine as
a potential therapeutic agent to treat kidney
stones, urinary diseases, piles, common cold,
throat infection, fever, lowering cholesterol
levels and blood sugar levels etc.
• It is cultivated in southern Asia, mainly from
India to Myanmar, for the poor.
• It is also grown and used as a forage and green
manure in many tropical countries, especially
Africa.
• In India, it is the most extensively grown
pulse in Uttarakhand and south India,
especially Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu.
• Essential fatty acids in horse gram have been
found to slow the onset of Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s disease and to prevent
atherosclerosis in animals.
98. Sugar beet: Beet has emerged as a global
alternative to water-guzzling sugarcane when it
comes to sugar extraction 100. Jute/Golden Fibre
• It requires less than a third of the water • Temperature: Between 25-35°C.
consumed by sugarcane • Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm.
• The crop matures in 4 months compared to • Soil Type: It is mainly concentrated in
15-month cycle of sugarcane eastern India because of the rich alluvial soil
• In 2020, Russia, the United States, Germany, of Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.
France and Turkey were the world's five • Top Jute Producing States: West Bengal,
largest sugar beet producers. Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha.
99. Cotton • Comparison with world: India is the largest
• Temperature: Between 21-30°C producer of jute.
• Rainfall: Around 50-100cm. • Use: It is used in making gunny bags, mats,
• Soil Type: Well drained black cotton soil of ropes, yarn, carpets etc.
Deccan Plateau. • Challenge: Due to its high cost, it is losing
• Top Cotton Producing States: Gujarat, market to synthetic fibres and packing
Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, materials, particularly nylon.
Rajasthan. • Government initiatives: Golden Fibre
• Conditions: Cotton needs 210 frost free days Revolution, Technology Mission on Jute &
and bright sun-shine for its growth. Mesta.
101. Sugarcane • Unique facts: Tea is processed within the tea

• Temperature: Between 21-27°C with hot garden to retain its freshness.
and humid climate. • Government Initiatives: Tea Development
• Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm. and Promotion Scheme, Wage Compensation
• Soil Type: Deep rich loamy soil. Scheme and Tea Boutiques.
• Top Sugarcane Producing States: Uttar 103. Pulses
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil • Temperature: Between 20-27°C
Nadu, Bihar. • Rainfall: Around 25-60 cm.
• Comparison with world: India is the second • Soil type: Sandy-loamy soil.
largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil. • Top Pulses Producing States: Madhya
• Unique facts: It can be grown on all variety Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar
of soils given these soils should be well Pradesh, Karnataka.
drained. It needs manual labour from sowing • India is the largest producer as well as the
to harvesting. consumer of pulses in the world.
• Government initiatives: Scheme for • In India, the important pulse crops grown in
Extending Financial Assistance to Sugar winter (rabi) are chickpea, lentil, lathyrus,
Undertakings (SEFASU), National Policy on field pea and kidney bean.
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Biofuels. • Green gram, black gram and cowpea are
• Bud chip technology: it reduces the mass and grown in both spring and rainy season.
enables quick multiplication of seeds; it has • UNGA adopted 2016 as the International
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proved to be more economical than the Year of Pulses (IYP).

traditional method of planting two to three • World Pulses Day 2021 Theme: #LovePulses.
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bud setts; returns are relatively better, with • India accounted for 62% of world’s total
substantial savings on the seed material
gm
pulses production in 2019-20.

• Setts having two buds are giving germination • In the last five-six years, India has
about 65 to 70% with better yield. increased pulses production from 140 lakh
35
• Large setts have better survival under bad tonnes to more than 240 lakh tonnes.
weather but single budded setts also give 70% • share of pulse production in 2018- 19 was
germination if protected with chemical
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comprised of Tur (15.34%), Gram (43.29%),

treatment.
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Moong (green gram,10.04%), Urad (black

102. Tea gram, 13.93%), Lentil (6.67%), and Other
• Temperature: Between 20-30°C Pulses (10%).
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• Rainfall: Around 150-300 cm. • In the last three decades, both, the production
• Soil type: Deep and fertile well drained soil, of kharif pulses and the production of rabi
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rich in humus and organic matter. Slopes of pulses have increased.

eastern hills have humid climate and evenly • Benefits of pulses: rich in nutritional and
distributed rainfall without water logging protein values and are an important part of
which are optimal conditions for terrace a healthy diet; play a critical role in
farming of tea. marking challenges of poverty, food chain
• Top Tea Producing States: Assam, West security, degraded health, and climate
Bengal, Tamil Nadu. change; The nitrogen-fixing properties of
• Comparison with world: India is the second pulses improve soil fertility, which
largest producer of tea. increases the productivity and fertility of
• Labour intensive: It requires abundant, the farmland.
cheap and skilled labour.
104. Black gram: It is a warm weather crop and comes organic matter and reduce erosion and leaching
up in areas receiving an annual rainfall ranging loss.
from 600 to 1000 mm 107. Tensiometer: It literally means tension
• It is mainly cultivated in a cereal-pulse measurement. To absorb water from soil, the
cropping system primarily to conserve soil plant has to overcome the suction tension of the
nutrients and utilize the left over soil soil -> measured by tensiometer. It helps farmers
moisture particularly, after rice cultivation and other irrigation managers to determine when
• The majority of black gram cultivation falls to water the soil.
in either rabi or late rabi seasons particularly 108. Vertical farming: It is the practice of growing
in peninsular India. crops in vertically stacked layers and often
105. Crop Diversification: It refers to the addition of incorporates controlled-environment agriculture,
new crops or cropping systems to agricultural which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless
production on a particular farm taking into farming techniques.
account the different returns from value- added
crops with complementary marketing
opportunities
• Benefits include increase in farmer income,
reduce risk of total crop failure, food security,
manage price risks etc.
• Types
109. Aquaponics: It is a system that combines

hydroponics and aquaculture within a closed
system. 3 biological components in the
aquaponics process -> fishes, plants, and bacteria.
110. Mekong river: It originates in the icy
headwaters of the Tibetan highlands, flows
through the steep canyons of China through lower
basin countries Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and
106. Legume intensification: A leguminous plant is a Cambodia, before fanning an expansive delta in
group of plants that have vegetables or as foods Vietnam and emptying into the South China Sea.
grown from the ground knobs that enhance the 111. River Thames: It is the longest river in England,
ability of nitrogen- rich material. Examples flows 215 miles from the Cotswolds to the North
include acacia, peas, clover, beans etc.. Legume Sea. The main tributaries of Thames are Buscot,
can improve soil health, by adding nitrogen and Reading, and Kingston.
112. Volga River: It is the longest river in Europe, from mines in 2019), followed by Canada
runs through Russia with its delta flowing into the (13%) and Australia (12%).
Caspian Sea just south of the Kazakhstan border. • India imports Uranium from Russia,
113. Zambezi river: It rises in the Kalene hills in Kazakhstan and France.
north-western Zambia and flows eastwards for • Recently Uranium reserves discovered in
about 3000 km to the Indian Ocean. parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
between Seshachalam forest and Sresailam.
117. Nagarhole national park: Located in Kodagu
and Mysore district of Karnataka; part of Nilgiri
biosphere reserve; also an important bird area
(IBA). Fauna: Tigers, Gaurs, Indian elephants
etc. Tribes: Jenu kurubas are primary
inhabitants; Kabini, a tributary of the Cauvery
River, is the largest river draining the park.
118. Wayanad wildlife sanctuary: It is the second
largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala; formed in
1973 and was brought under the Project
Elephant in 1991–92; integral part of the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve; Kabini river (a tributary of
Cauvery river) flows through the sanctuary.
114. Brent: It is a combination of crude oil from 15 • Flora: contains species of Moist deciduous
different oil fields in the Brent and North Sea forest consists of maruthi, karimaruthi,
areas rosewood, venteak, vengal, chadachi,
• It is a reasonably “light” and sweet crude oil mazhukanjiram, bamboos.
with API gravity of 38.3 degrees; comprises • Fauna: Elephants, tigers, panthers, jungle
0.37 percent of Sulphur cats, civet cats, monkeys, wild dogs, bisons,
• Ideal for making Motor Spirit (Petrol) and deer, bears, monitor lizards and a variety of
middle distillates snakes are seen also Peacocks, babblers,
115. Rare Earth Minerals: The 17 Rare Earths are cuckoos, owls, woodpeckers and jungle
cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), fowls.
europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), 119. Papikonda National Park: It is located in
lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), Andhra Pradesh's East and West Godavari
praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium districts, and Telangana's Khammam district;
(Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), located in the Godavari River Basin.
ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y). They are called • Flora: Latifolia, Albizzia Amara, Albizzia
'rare earth' because earlier it was difficult to Lebbeck, Tectona Grandis, Terminalias,
extract them from their oxides forms Tomentosa, Lagerstroemia Lanceolata,
technologically. Albizzia Amara, Pterocarpus etc.
116. Uranium • Fauna: Tiger, Hyena, Muggers, Sloth bear,
• It is a silvery-gray metallic radioactive Jackals, Panthers, Gharial, Gaur, Sambar,
chemical element which is only naturally lack Buck, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Sloth
formed in supernova explosions. Bear, Wild Dog, Marsh Crocodile, Sloth
• The largest viable deposits are found Bear, Muggers etc.
in Australia, Kazakhstan, and Canada.
• Kazakhstan produces the largest share
of uranium from mines (42% of world supply
120. Sathyamangalam Tiger reserve 124. Tal Chhapar wildlife sanctuary

• It is located at the confluence region of • Located 85 km from Churu in Shekhawati
Western and Eastern Ghats. District, it is known as the home of blackbuck
• It is contiguous to other Tiger conservation and a variety of birds in Rajasthan.
landscapes like BRT, Bandipur, Mudumalai • The sanctuary is flanked by the Great India
and Nagarahole. Desert, Thar and boasts a unique ecosystem
• The region is also a part of Nilgiri-Eastern and is an important birdwatching destination
Ghats Elephant Reserve. in India.
• Apart from Tigers, the region is noted for • Top halting places for migratory birds such as
Elephants, Gaur, Black Buck, Four Horned harriers. The migratory birds pass through Tal
Antelope, White Backed Vulture, and a Chhapar Sanctuary during September.
variety of other creatures. • Migratory birds seen are harriers, eastern
• In the northern part of Erode district, Palar imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle,
river flows into Cauvery river. sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis
121. Kanha National park: Largest NP of Madhya and demoiselle cranes and skylarks, crested
Pradesh and one of important tiger reserves of larks, ring doves, and brown doves are seen
India; declared as a national park in 1955. om round the year.
• Flora: lush green forests of Kanha, composed 125. Askot wildlife sanctuary: Established in 1986 to
majorly of Sal (Shorea Robusta) and other protect the endangered Musk Deer and its habitat;
mixed forest trees known as ‘Green Paradise on the Earth’.
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• Fauna: Tiger, Hard ground Barasingha, • Fauna: snow leopard, Himalayan black bear,
Gaurs, Leopard, Dhole, Indian python etc. Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, serow loong,
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122. Manas National park: UNESCO World monal, kalij pheasant besides musk deer.
Heritage Site, an elephant reserve and a biosphere • This sanctuary has been set up primarily with
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reserve; located in the Himalayan foothills in the object of conserving the musk deer and its
Assam; contiguous with the Royal Manas habitat.
126. Kishanpur wildlife sanctuary
35
National Park in Bhutan. Fauna: known for its

rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the • It is a part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve near
One-horned Rhino, Manipur bush quail, Assam Mailani in Uttar Pradesh founded in 1972.
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roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur pygmy • Fauna: tiger, chital, hog deer, wild boars,
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hog and wild water buffalo. otters etc.

123. Mudumalai National park: It is part of Nilgiri • migratory birds like falcons, drongos, owls,
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biosphere reserves; Moyar river separates egrets, and peacocks can be spotted in the
Bandipur and Madumalai. open meadows.
• Flora: tall grasses, commonly referred to as
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127. Gangotri National park

Elephant Grass; Bamboo of the giant variety, • Fourth largest NP in the country with total
valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, area of 2390km2; situated in the upper
etc. catchment of Bhagirathi River;
• Fauna: Flagship Species are Tiger and Asian • It forms a continuity between Govind
Elephant; Other species are Indian Gaur, National Park and Kedarnath Wildlife
Spotted Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Sanctuary
Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat among • Flora: Common vegetation include Chir pine,
others; rare birds like Malabar grey hornbill, Deodar, Fir, Spruce etc.
Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar laughing • Fauna: Snow leopard, Tiger, Himalayan
thrush among others. Snowcock, Himalayan Thar, musk deer, Ibex;
birds include Bulbul, Doves, Parakeet, • It is the only place where State Bird of
patridges etc. Rajasthan (Great Indian Bustard), Khejri tree
128. Jet Streams: Jet streams are relatively narrow are found naturally.
bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the • Fauna: Great Indian Bustard (CR) is native
atmosphere. They follow the boundaries between to the park, oriental white backed vulture,
hot and cold air. They occur in both the Northern Long billed Gyps, Stoliczka's Bushchat
and Southern Hemisphere. Saxicola macrorhyncha, Green Munia
129. Cyclone Eye: The eye develops when maximum Amandava formosa MacQueen's or Houbara
sustained wind speed is above 119 km/h and is the Bustard Chlamydotis maqueeni.
calmest part of the storm. The mature cyclones 131. National Park: WPA, 1972 provides for
have well-developed eye, but some extra-tropical declaration of NP by state governments of areas
cyclones may not have an eye. which are of adequate ecological, faunal, floral,
• Temperature inside Eye: The temperature geomorphological, natural or zoological
inside the eye of a cyclone is warmer than that importance; In some cases, Central government
of the surroundings. The temperature in the can also declare an area as NP; boundaries are
eye is nearly 10°C warmer or more at an fixed and defined; main objective is to protect
altitude of 12 km than the surrounding natural environment and biodiversity
environment. conservation.
• Conditions favorable for tropical cyclone • Human activities: Settlement and private
formation: Large sea surface with ownership of land not permitted
temperature higher than 27° C, A pre-existing o Grazing and fuel wood collection also
weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic prohibited
circulation, Upper divergence above the sea o Only those human activities which are
level system, Presence of the Coriolis force, allowed by Chief Wildlife warden of state
Small variations in the vertical wind speed. permitted inside NP
o Species mentioned in Schedules of WPA
not allowed to be hunted or captured
o No alteration of the boundaries of a
national park shall be made except on a
resolution passed by State Legislature.
132. Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT)
• It is measured up to a depth of 26 Degree C
isotherm, seen at depths varying from 50 –100
metres. During January –March, the mean 26
Degree C isotherm depth in the Southwestern
Indian Ocean is 59 metres.
130. Desert National Park • OMT is a better indicator of monsoon rainfall
• It is situated in the Jaisalmer and Barmer than sea surface temperatures as it measures
districts of Rajasthan. It is one of the largest Ocean’s thermal energy and is a stable
national parks covering an area of 3162 km². indicator. OMT has 80% success rate when
• There are numerous settlements/Dhanis compared to SST which only have 60%
existing within the park. success rates.
133. Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
• It is the second largest national park of India;
became UNESCO world heritage site in 1980. • It is the water temperature close to the ocean's
surface. Air masses in the Earth's
atmosphere are highly modified by sea
surface temperatures within a short distance o But, rock phosphate is not water soluble
of the shore. and thus not suitable for fertigation
• Warm sea surface temperatures are known to o Application of super phosphorus through
be a cause of tropical cyclogenesis over fertigation must be avoided as it makes
the Earth's oceans. precipitation of phosphate salts. Thus
• SST changes diurnally; less SST variation on phosphoric acid is more suitable for
breezy days than on calm days fertigation as it is available in liquid form.
• Coastal SSTs can cause offshore winds to • Fertilizer use efficiency ranges between 80-
generate upwelling, which can significantly 90 per cent, which helps to save a minimum
cool or warm nearby landmasses. of 25% of nutrients.
• It is usually used for predicting whether total • It reduces the leaching of chemical nutrients
amount of rainfall which India receives as fertilizers are applied in a targeted manner.
during monsoon season will be less or more • Fertilizer used in fertigation: Urea, potash
than long-term mean of 887.5 mm. and highly water soluble fertilizers are
134. Fertigation: It is a method of fertilizer available for applying through fertigation
application in which fertilizer is incorporated o Special fertilisers like mono ammonium
within the irrigation water by the drip system; phosphate (Nitrogen and Phosphorus),
fertilizer solution is distributed evenly in poly feed (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and
irrigation. In this method liquid fertilizer as well Potassium), Multi K (Nitrogen and
as water soluble fertilizers are used. Fertilizer use Potassium), Potassium sulphate
efficiency is increased from 80 to 90 per cent. (Potassium and Sulphur) are highly
Advantages of Fertigation: suitable for Fertigation as they are highly
• Drip irrigation helps to avoid water spillage soluble in water.
on field which increase soil alkalinity because
of water logging.
• Urea, potash and highly water soluble
fertilizers are available for applying through
fertigation
ENVIRONMENT
135. Bonn climate change conference (COP 23), • It was established in 1970 by renaming the
2017: Powering past coal alliance (coal phase-out Exploratory Tubewells Organization under
in OECD and EU28 by 2030); and by 2050 in rest the Ministry of Agriculture and later on
of world. It has no particular phase-out date merged with the Groundwater Wing of the
commitments; Gender action plan; ocean Geological Survey of India during 1972.
pathway partnership; Insu resilience global 139. Critical Tiger Habitats: Critical wildlife habitat
partnership (climate and disaster risk finance and means such areas of National Parks and
insurance solutions). sanctuaries which are required to be kept as
• Talanoa dialogue: Talanoa is a traditional inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation
word used in Fiji and across the Pacific to • It is determined and notified by the Central
reflect a process of inclusive, participatory Government in the MoEF&CC after an open
and transparent dialogue process of consultation by an Expert
o The Talanoa Dialogue of UNFCCC is to Committee
take stock of the collective efforts of • They are identified under the Wild Life
Parties in relation to progress towards the Protection Act, 1972 based on scientific
long-term goal of the Paris Agreement om evidence
and to inform the preparation of nationally • Notified by the state government in
determined contributions consultation with the expert committee
o It involves sharing of ideas, skills and constituted for the purpose
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experience through storytelling. • Area of the core/critical tiger habitat->

136. Under2 Coalition: It is a global community of Corbett (Uttarakhand): 821.99 sq. kms,
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state and regional governments committed to Ranthambore (Rajasthan): 1113.36 sq. kms,
ambitious climate action in line with the Paris
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Sundarbans (West Bengal): 1699.62 sq. kms

Agreement and Nagarjunsagar Srisailam (part of Andhra
• Signatories commit to keeping global Pradesh): 2595.72 sq. kms
temperature rises to well below 2°C with
35
140. Wildlife (Protection) act, 1972

efforts to reach 1.5°C • Definition of wildlife: It include any animals,
• It brings together over 270 governments bees, butterflies, fish and moths; and aquatic
1
representing 1.75 billion people and 50% or land vegetation which form part of any
07
of the global economy. habitat.

137. Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA): It • Jurisdiction: The act extends to whole of
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was constituted under Section 3 of the India. After enactment of Jammu & Kashmir
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the Reorganization Act, 2019, Wildlife
purposes of regulation and control of ground
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Protection Act, 1972 also became applicable

water development and management in the to the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
country. It regulates, control development and • Five types of protected areas: National
management of ground water resources. parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, community
138. Central Ground Water Board: It is a reserves, conservation reserves and tiger
subordinate office of the Ministry of Water reserves.
Resources entrusted with the responsibilities of • Key provisions: Prohibition of hunting,
providing scientific inputs for management, protection and management of wildlife
exploration, monitoring, assessment, habitats, establishment of protected areas,
augmentation and regulation of groundwater management of zoos etc.
resources of the country
• Prohibition of Hunting
o Prohibition of hunting: It prohibits the license granted under this section shall
hunting of any wild animal specified in specify the area in which and the
Schedules I, II, III and IV of the act. conditions, if any, subject to which the
§ Exception: A wild animal listed licensee shall cultivate a specified plant."
under these schedules can be hunted 141. Invasive plant species: These are species that
only after getting permission from the occur outside the natural range and threaten
Chief Wildlife Warden of the state if native plants and animals or other aspects of
it becomes dangerous to human life or biodiversity. Important Invasive species in
to property or is disabled or suffering India:
from a disease that is beyond • Prosopis Julifora/Angreji Babool: Native to
recovery. Mexico, South America and become an
• Six schedules invasive weed in Africa, Asia and Australia
o Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II: It o It is an aggressive colonizer distributed
provides for absolute protection-> highest throughout the country
penalties. o It is a water-greedy plant that depletes
o Schedule 3 and 4: The penalties for ground water
offences under these schedules are less o It is one of the world’s top 100 least
and these animals are protected. wanted plants
o Schedule 5: Vermins includes animals o It is also affecting wild ass population in
which can be hunted. For instance, Kutch, Gujarat
common crow, mice and rats. o It is also used to erect fences.
o Schedule 6: Plants which are prohibited • Black Mimosa: It is a woody invasive shrub
from cultivation and planting. These originates from tropical America
mainly include medicinal plants such as o It is now widespread throughout tropics
Beddomes cyad, Blue vanda, Kutch, o It forms dense, thorny, impenetrable
Ladies slippers orchids, pitcher plant, red thickets in wet areas
vanda. The hunting to the Enforcement o It is distributed throughout India
authorities have the power to compound o It is abundant especially in still or slow
offences under this Schedule (i.e. they floating waters.
impose fines on the offenders). The • Partheniumhysterophorus (Carrot Grass):
schedule has been added to include Annual herb native to American Tropics
specified plants species to be protected by o It is invasive species in India
Wildlife (Protection) amendment act of o It is also known as Congress grass or
1991. Gajar Ghans
• Specified Plants o It produces allelopathic chemicals that
o Definition: The wildlife Protection Act suppress crop and pasture lands that
defines "specified plant" as any plant affects humans and livestock.
specified in Schedule VI. • Lantana Camara: Also known as red sage
o It further states that "Cultivation of and tickberry
specified plants without license o It is native to American tropics
prohibited. - (1) no person shall cultivate o It outcompetes more desirable species
a specified plant except under, and in o It spread from native Central and South
accordance with a license granted by the America to 50 different countries.
Chief Wildlife Warden or any other • Siam weed: Common invasive species of
officer authorized by the State kerala, locally known as Communist pacha as
Government in this behalf; 2) Every it spread all over the state within a short span
of time just like Communism. Siam weed is • Important Ancient Ports on West Coast:
native to South America. Barygaya, Suppara, Calliena, Semylla,
• Senna Spectabilis: Plant species of legume Mandagore, Palaepatme, Malizigara, Chaul,
family. It is an invasive species in India Aurranobbas, Naura, Tyndis, Muziris and
caused threat to wildlife habitat in the Nilgiri Nelcynda.
Biosphere reserve. • Important Ancient Ports on East coast: The
• Needle Bush: Native to tropical south ports on the east coast were Tamralipti,
America Charitrapur, Paluru, Dantapur,
o It is distributed throughout India Kalingapatnam, Pithunda, Sopatma,
o It is found occasional in thorny scrub and Ghantasala, Kadura, Poduca, Puhar, Korkai
dry degraded forests. and Camara.
• Black Wattle: It is native to South East • Motupalli Port
Australia o Motupalli was the famous and important
o It is primarily present in Western Ghats trading seaport of the Kakatiyas.
o It is introduced for afforestation in o The famous traveller Marco Polo passed
Western Ghats through this port and described the wealth
o It regenerates rapidly after fire and forms of the Kakatiya Kingdom in his
dense thickets. travelogue.
• Goat Weed: Native to tropical America • Ghantasala
o It is distributed throughout India o It is situated in the state of Andhra
o It is aggressive colonizer Pradesh located at a distance of about
o It is considered as troublesome weed in 11kms from River Krishna.
gardens and forests. o This place is believed to be named after
• Prickly Poppy: Native to tropical central and the horse of Buddha known as
South America ‘Kantakasaila’.
o It is distributed in throughout India o The Stupa is of an exclusive design
o It is aggressive colonizer and fringes of resembling to the architecture of
forests. Satavahana periods and is also known as
• Water Hyacinth: Native to Tropical ‘Maha Chaitya’. I - There is a 3-D
America engraved structure of two garland bearers
o It is an aggressive colonizer on the top of the Stupa made up of
o It is abundant in still or slow floating limestone.
waters. o Representing the birth of Buddha there is
• Impatiens, Balasam: It is native to Tropical an item called ‘Purna Kalash’ that
America, distributed throughout India contains lotus flowers.
o It is common along streams of moist o Satavahana and Roman Gold coins can
forests and occasionally along railway also be found in the Ghantashala
tracks Museum.
o It also runs wild in gardens. o A temple known as Jaladheeswaraswamy
• Touch Me Not, Sleeping Grass: It is native is a significant religious attraction as Lord
to Brazil Shiva and Goddess Parvathi is placed
o It is distributed throughout India together here. Adi Shankarachary was
o It is a common weed of cultivated fields, said to perform his first rites in this
scrub lands and degraded forests. temple.
142. Important Ports in Ancient and Medieval • Kadura
India
o It is an ancient Port located on the eastern Muziris port, other commodities shipped
coast of India in the State of Andhra include semi-precious stones, diamonds,
Pradesh. ivory and pearls, among others.
o During the ancient period, India had trade 143. Places visited by Buddha: Sarnath, Varanasi,
and cultural contacts with Egypt, Rome, Rajagriha (Bimbisara built vihara named
Greeks, Arabs, China and almost all Veluvana for Buddha residence), Vaishali (met
Southeast Asian countries. Amrapali here and allowed women entry in
• Chaul sangha), Susumargiri, Kaushambi, Champa,
o The idyllic town of Chaul on the west Sravasti (delivered maximum number of
coast of Maharashtra was known globally sermons), Pawapuri and Kushinagara (attained
as a thriving port in medieval times. Mahaparinirvana).
o The earliest mention of Chaul is in 144. Buddhist Pilgrimage Locations in India
inscriptions at Buddhist caves of Kanheri.
o Hieun Tsang calls it Chimolo and says
that “great riches come from the sea”
o In 1490 CE, Chaul passed to Ahmednagar
Sultanate and it was their chief port.
o The first European traveler to reach Chaul
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is British writer John Mandeville.
• Lothal
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o The oldest port in India, Lothal was an

important port city of Indus valley
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civilization and was located in today’s

Bhal region of Gujarat.
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o Existed about 4500 years ago, the remains

of the port city of Lothal were discovered
in 1954 and were excavated by the
35
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

from 13 February 1955 to 19 May 1960.
1
o The excavations led to the discovery of a

07
mound, a township, a marketplace as well

as the dock, cementing the existence of
145. Major Types of BioFuels
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the port in Lothal.

• Bioethanol: Derived from corn and
• Muziris
sugarcane using fermentation process. It
o Muziris, the ancient port city located in
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improves the combustion performance and

today’s Indian state of Kerala, was one of
lowers the emissions of carbon monoxide and
the most important trading ports in the
sulphur oxide when mixed with petrol.
world almost 2,000 years ago.
o Existed in the first century BC, the • Biodiesel: Derived from vegetable oils like
Muziris port had played a significant role soybean oil, vegetable waste oils, and animal
in connecting the region with the Persians, fats by a biochemical process called
the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the “Transesterification.”
Greeks, the Egyptians and the Roman • Biogas: Produced by anaerobic
Empire. decomposition of organic matter like sewage
o While spices, particularly black pepper, from animals and humans.
were the key item exported from the 146. Social cost of carbon (SCC): It is an estimate, in
dollars, of the economic damages that would
result from emitting one additional ton of Addressing human-elephant conflict issues,
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere Improving welfare of captive animals
• It puts the effects of climate change into 150. Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants
economic terms to help policymakers (MIKE) programme: Launched in 2003, it is an
understand the economic impacts of decisions international collaboration that tracks trends in
that would increase or decrease emissions information related to illegal killing of elephants
• India’s country-level social cost of carbon from across Africa and Asia; currently 28 sites
emission was estimated to be the highest at participating in the programme in Asia distributed
$86 per tonne of CO2 across 13 countries.
• India is followed by the US ($48) and Saudi 151. Haathi Mere Saathi: It is a campaign launched
Arabia ($47). by MoEFCC and WII to improve conservation of
147. Asian Elephants the elephant population; launched at E-8
• Three subspecies: Indian, Sumatran and Sri ministerial meeting held in Delhi in 2011;
Lankan. envisions setting up of Gajah centres in elephant
• Indian subspecies has the widest range and landscapes across the country to spread
accounts for the majority of the remaining awareness and encourage people’s participation.
elephants on the continent. 152. Ceylon frogmouth: It is a grey-brown nocturnal
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: bird species found in the Western Ghats and Sri
Endangered; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Lanka’s forested habitats. It has hooked bill with
Schedule I; CITES: Appendix I. slit-like nostrils and a large head with eyes facing
• The elephant herd is led by the oldest and forward.
153. Coppersmith barbet/crimson-breasted
largest female member.
barbet/coppersmith: It is an Asian barbet with
• They have longest-known gestational period
crimson forehead and throat, known for its
of all mammals, lasting up to 680 days (22
metronomic call that sounds similar to a
months).
coppersmith striking metal with a hammer.
• Females between 14 - 45 years may give birth 154. White-throated Redstart: It is a species of bird
to calves approximately every four years with in the Muscicapidae family found in Bhutan,
the mean interbirth intervals increasing to five China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
years by age 52 and six years by age 60. 155. Grey-Chinned Minivet: It is a species of bird in
• Karnataka has the highest number of the Campephagidae family found in Bangladesh,
elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia,
and Kerala (3,054). Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan,
148. Elephant census, 2017 report: The total Asian Thailand and Vietnam. natural habitat is
Elephant population in India is estimated at subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
27,312 across 23 states (a decrease over 2012); 156. Barasingha/Swamp Deer
birth rate indicates elephant population is
• It is a deer species distributed in the Indian
increasing; geographical range has also subcontinent.
increased-
• Populations in northern and central India are
149. Project Elephant: It was launched by GOI in
fragmented, and two isolated populations
1992 as a centrally sponsored scheme;
occur in southwestern Nepal.
implemented in 16 states such as Assam,
Arunachal, Jharkhand etc. • In Assamese, barasingha is called dolhorina;
dol meaning swamp.
• Objectives: Assist states having free ranging
population of wild elephants, Protect • They occur in the Kanha National Park (M.P),
elephants, their habitats and corridors, in two localities in Assam, and in only six
localities in Uttar Pradesh.
• IUCN Red List: Endangered • Musk is a substance with a persistent odour

• CITES: Appendix I obtained from a gland of the male musk deer
• Wildlife Protection Act of 1972: Schedule I (only male produces the musk).
157. Musk deer • The substance has been used as perfume
• Musk deer is found mainly in forested and fixative, incense material and medicine.
alpine scrub habitats in the mountains of • IUCN Status: Endangered
southern Asia.
• Kashmir, Kumaon and Sikkim in India and
Himalayas of Nepal and China.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

158. Carbon Nanotubes:
• CNTs are cylindrical molecules which consist
of rolled-up sheets of single-layer carbon
atoms (graphene);
• They can be single-walled (diameter of less
than 1nm) or multi-walled, consisting of
several concentrically interlinked nanotubes,
with diameters reaching more than 100 nm
• They are well-suited for any application
requiring high strength, durability, electrical
conductivity, thermal conductivity and 159. Voyager-2:
lightweight properties compared to • It is a space probe launched by NASA in 1977
conventional materials to study the outer planets and interstellar
• Applications of Carbon nanotubes include space beyond the Sun's heliosphere
production of electric wires to reduce losses, • It is the only spacecraft to have visited all four
replace silicon made transistors, carriers of gas giant planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
drugs and antigens in human body, used as Neptune
additives to synthetics, can be spun into fibres
• It was the fourth of five spacecraft to achieve
- specialty textiles
the solar escape velocity, which allowed it to
• NASA has demonstrated the use of carbon leave the Solar System
nanotube arrays as biosensor
• It fulfilled its primary mission of visiting the
• They are biodegradable (Bacteria, fungi and Jovian system in 1979, the Saturnian system
other microbes have ability to degrade carbon in 1981, Uranian system in 1986, and the
nanotubes (CNTs) and their derivatives). Neptunian system in 1989
• It remains in contact with Earth through the
NASA Deep Space Network
• Their five-year lifespans have stretched to 41 161. Evolved LISA (e-LISA):

years, making Voyager 2 NASA’s longest • Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)
running mission is a mission led by the European Space
• It is the only probe ever to study Neptune and Agency to detect and accurately measure
Uranus during planetary flybys gravitational waves - tiny ripples in the fabric
• It discovered 16 moons and various of space-time - from astronomical sources
phenomena like Neptune’s mysteriously • It aims to measure gravitational waves
transient Great Dark Spot, the cracks in directly by using laser interferometry
Europa’s ice shell, and ring features at every • It involves scientists from eight European
planet. countries ‒ Denmark, France, Germany, Italy,
160. New horizons: The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the
• It is an interplanetary space probe that was UK ‒ as well as the support of several US-
launched by NASA in 2006 as a part of based ones
NASA's New Frontiers program • LISA concept has a constellation of three
• It is the first spacecraft which successfully fly spacecraft arranged in an equilateral triangle
by the dwarf planet Pluto, for its exploration with sides 2.5 million km long, flying along
in the Kuiper Belt om an Earth-like heliocentric orbit
• The goal of the mission is to understand the • It consists of a “Mother” and two “Daughter”
formation of the Plutonian system, the Kuiper spacecrafts which will orbit the Sun in a
belt, and the transformation of the early Solar triangular configuration
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System • The interferometer will be capable of

• In 2015, it flew above the surface of Pluto, detecting gravitational waves at frequencies
ai
making it the first spacecraft to explore the in the range of 0.1 mHz to 1 Hz.
dwarf planet 162. LISA Pathfinder:
gm
• The spacecraft collected data on the • Formerly called Small Missions for
atmospheres, surfaces, interiors of Pluto and Advanced Research in Technology-2
35
its moon (Charon) (SMART-2), it is an ESA spacecraft launched

• It became the first explorer to fly past the in 2015. It has begun orbiting a point called
mysterious object called Ultima Thule which Earth-sun L1, roughly 930,000 miles from
1
is located 4 billion miles from Earth Earth in the sun’s direction

07
• The mission first close-up image of the • It involves European space companies and
surface revealed that surface is youngest ever research institutes from France, Germany,
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found in the solar system, falsifying previous Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland,
theories that Pluto made up of ice and rock. UK, and the US space agency NASA
• Primary goal is to test current technology by
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flying around an identical pair of 1.8-inch (46

millimeter) cubes made of a gold-platinum
alloy
• It also carries a NASA experiment called the
ST-7 Disturbance Reduction System which
combines novel “electrospray” thrusters with
drag-free control software provided by
Goddard on a dedicated computer
• It has tested technologies needed for the Laser
Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), an
ESA gravitational wave observatory planned • It allows scientists to selectively edit genome
to be launched in 2034. parts and replace them with new DNA
163. Gene Editing: stretches
• Also called Genome editing, or genome • Cas9 is the enzyme which acts as a
engineering, it is a type of genetic “molecular scissors” and helps in cutting the
engineering in which DNA is inserted, DNA sequence.
deleted, modified or replaced in
the genome of a living organism
• Technologies used in Gene Editing are:
Clustered regularly interspaced short
palindromic repeats (CRISPR)- associated
protein 9 (Cas9), Transcription activator-like
effector nucleases (TALENs), Zinc-finger
nucleases (ZFNs) and Homing endonucleases
• Significance of Gene editing: Exploration in
research of single-gene disorders such
as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, and sickle cell
disease
• It can also be used for increasing yield, 165. PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine):
introducing resistance to disease and pests,
• It is a pneumococcal vaccine which gives
tolerance of different environmental
prevention against pneumococcal diseases,
conditions
caused by bacteria Streptococcus
• It is also beneficial for pharmaceutical pneumoniae, or pneumococcus
development, xenotransplantation, gene and
• It can also prevent septicaemia (a kind of
cell-based therapies
blood poisoning) and meningitis
• Germline gene therapy is when DNA is
• They can reduce AMR by preventing
transferred into the cells that produce
(resistant) bacterial diseases and their
reproductive cells, eggs or sperm, in the body
transmission, and by reducing antibiotic use
• Genome of a person can be edited before birth and misuse
at the early embryonic stage
• It can have side effects ranging from fever,
• Researchers have experimented by injecting loss of appetite to headache, fussiness
several different forms of human stem cells
• It was introduced in India’s Universal
into pig embryos to see which cell -type
Immunisation Programme (UIP) in a phased
would survive best. The cells that survived
manner from June 2017 onwards
longest and showed the most potential to
continue to develop were intermediate human • India’s first fully indigenously
developed pneumococcal conjugate
pluripotent stem cells.
164. CRISPR- Cas9: vaccine “Pneumosil” was launched in 2020
(Developed by the Serum Institute of India
• CRISPR stands for clustered regularly
Private Limited (SIIPL) in collaboration with
interspaced short palindromic repeats;
partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates
CRISPR is a collection of DNA sequences
Foundation)
that direct Cas9 where to cut and paste
• Advantages of the conjugate vaccine include
• Alteration of genes: A DNA sequence is cut
improved immune and memory response and
at a particular spot and then with help of a
longer lasting protection.
guide RNA (gRNA) that place is re-made
166. Public Key Infrastructure:
with desired base pairing
• It is a technology for authenticating devices

and users in the digital world
• The basic idea is to have one or more trusted
parties digitally sign documents certifying
that a particular cryptographic key belongs to
a particular user or device
• The users can exchange data or money in a
secured way through the Internet by using a
pair of cryptographic keys
• PKI govern encryption keys through the
issuance of digital certificates and their
management therefore verifying the owner of
the private key
• Bt cotton is the only Genetically Modified
• The Reserve Bank of India has been
(GM) crop allowed in India. It is a joint
promoting Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)-
venture between Monsanto and Mahyco. It
based mode of transactions
has alien genes from the soil
• SSL certificates on websites are one of the
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ->
most common examples of PKI.
allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to
the common pest pink bollworm. At present,
96% of India’s cotton cultivation area is under
Bt cotton crops.
• Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton
derived from another soil bacterium allows
the plant to resist the common herbicide
glyphosate.
• Bt brinjal -> the gene allows plant to resist
attacks of fruit borers. GEAC cleared Bt
brinjal for commercialization in 2009 ->
concerns raised by some scientists and anti-
GMO activists, the Government of India has
imposed a moratorium on its commercial use.
• India has the world’s 5th largest GM crop
167. Genetically Modified Crops: acreage (USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada,
• These are living organisms whose genetic India).
material has been artificially manipulated in a • DMH-11 mustard -> allows cross-
laboratory through genetic engineering. pollination in a crop that self-pollinates in
nature. It is developed by the Delhi
University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation
of Crop Plants. It is Herbicide Tolerant (HT)
crop.
• Penalties: Use of the unapproved GM variant
can attract a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs
1 lakh under the Environmental Protection
Act, 1989.
168. Steel Slag
• It is a by-product of the steel making process • Applications in construction of roads, drains,

produced during the separation of the molten harbour works, and breakwaters, and for land
steel from impurities in steel-making reclamation. It is mostly used for filtration
furnaces. and separation in the road constructions.
• It is used as a base course material -> under • Generally made from polypropylene or
the surface layer of an asphalt road. polyester.
• It can be used in the agricultural sector due to 172. Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA)
its ability to correct soil acidity. • It is a combination of stone, sand, or gravel
• It can be used to produce cement; slag cement bound together by asphalt cement, a product
used in concrete, either as a separate of crude oil.
cementitious component or as part of a • Its usage leads to environmental pollution as
blended cement. these plants emit a huge amount of
• Surat has become the first city in the country greenhouse gases.
to get a processed steel slag (industrial waste) 173. Portland cement
road built as part of a joint-venture project by • It is a binding material in the form of a finely
the Council of Scientific and Industrial ground powder manufactured by burning and
Research (CSIR), Central Road Research om grinding a mixture of limestone and clay. Its
Institute (CRRI), Union Ministry of Steel, production generates greenhouse gases.
government think-tank NITI Ayog, and 174. Coal Ash/Coal combustion residuals
ArcelorMtttal-Nippon Steel. • They are produced primarily from the burning
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169. Copper slag of coal in coal-fired power plants.

• It is a by-product obtained during smelting • It contains contaminants like mercury,
ai
and refining of copper. cadmium and arsenic.

• It can be used as abrasive tools, road • Without proper management, these
gm
construction, and ballast. contaminants can pollute waterways, ground

• Its use in cement provides potential water, drinking water, and the air.
35
environmental and economic benefits for all • Coal based thermal power plants are major
related industries, particularly in areas where source of Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen
a considerable amount of copper slag is oxides emissions.
1
produced. • Ash content of coal produced in India is

07
170. Cold Mix Asphalt generally 25 to 45% whereas average ash

• Produced by mixing of unheated mineral content of imported coal varies from 10 to
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aggregate with emulsified bitumen. 20%.

• Cold asphalt mixes suitable for medium 175. Bio-char
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trafficked roads when used in base and • It is a high-carbon, fine-grained residue which
surface courses. is produced through modern pyrolysis
171. Geo-Textiles processes.
• These are a specialised group of textiles • It produces a mixture of solids such as bio-
which are permeable to liquids and gas, char proper, liquid and gas such as syngas
usually through the small holes or pores in the products
material. • Its use in vertical farming increase the output
• permeable fabrics which, when used in significantly.
association with soil, have the ability to • Bio-char supports the growth of nitrogen
separate, filter, reinforce, protect, drainage or fixing microorganisms; helps in decreasing
act as fluid barrier. soil nitrogen emission and increasing nitrogen
use efficiency.
• The porous nature of bio-char enables action is cyclic and can be driven by pistons,
medium to retain water for a longer time screws, gears etc.
• It is a desirable soil material in many locations • Advantages of Solar pumps: Reliable in
due to its ability to attract and retain water. regional and remote areas, easy to transport
• Composition of Bio-char: Approximately and relocate, cost-efficiency in the long run.
70% of its composition is carbon. The • Disadvantages of Solar pumps: Initial
remaining percentage consists of nitrogen, investment cost is very high, weather
hydrogen and oxygen among other elements. dependent Even though solar energy can still
Biochar’s chemical composition varies be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the
depending on the feedstocks used to make it efficiency of a solar system drops.
and methods used to heat it. • State of India’s solar capacity: India added
• Ideal temperature: The ideal temperature of 10 GW of solar energy to its cumulative
biochar creation is at 400 – 500 °C. installed capacity in 2021. India’s capacity
• Benefits of Bio-char in agriculture: additions rank the country fifth in solar power
Enhancing soil structure, increasing water deployment, contributing nearly 6.5% to the
retention and aggregation, decreasing acidity, global cumulative capacity of 709.68 GW.
reducing nitrous oxide emissions, improving 177. Drones: A drone, also known as an unmanned
porosity, regulating nitrogen leaching, aerial vehicle or UAV, is basically a flying robot
improving electrical conductivity, improving that can be controlled remotely or it may have the
microbial properties and increased abundance technology to fly on its own using software-
of mycorrhizal fungi -> assists in nutrient controlled flight plans which are embedded in
uptake by plants. their systems.
176. Solar Pumps • Applications of Drones: Spraying pesticides
• Solar pumps present a clean, simple and on crop field, Used to collect whale mucus
energy-efficient alternative to traditional from humpback whales at sea in a technique
electric and fuel-driven pump sets. They are which help monitor the health of whales and
classified as submersible and surface pumps DNA analysis, Inspection of the craters of an
based on their placement- Underwater and active volcano, Mapping of Landslide
above the waterline. Affected Area, Infested Crop Damage
Assessment, 3-Dimensioinal Terrain Model
Construction, Aerial photography for
journalism and film, Gathering information or
supplying essentials for disaster management,
Precision crop monitoring, Unmanned cargo
transport, Law enforcement and border
control surveillance, Storm tracking and
forecasting hurricanes and tornadoes
178. Benzene: Benzene is a natural constituent of
crude oil and is one of the elementary
petrochemicals. It increase the risk of cancer,
• Centrifugal and Piston pumps: Centrifugal bone marrow failure and other illnesses
pumps are the common choice for rotation • Natural sources include volcanoes and
and are designed for fixed head applications. forest fires.
Their output increases in proportion to their • Industrial processes such as processing of
speed of rotation. Solar power can also be petroleum products, production of xylene
used for running piston pumps. The pumping and other aromatic compounds, use in
industrial and consumer products as • Wood smoke was the biggest contributor
chemical intermediate and component of of many organic compounds, including
petrol (gasoline) and heating oil. benzene, ethene and ethyne.
• Automobile exhaust accounts for the • It could be released from varnished
largest source of benzene in environment. wooden furniture or new carpets and
using products made of polyurethane.
POLITY
179. Rakhmabai case of 1884: Rukhmabai Raut was • Under this technique, first the healthy donated
born on 22 November,1864 was one of the first egg/s (provided by the mitochondrial donor)
female practicing women doctor is fertilised with the intending male parent
• She was an Indian physician and feminist best sperm
known for being one of the first practising • It can prevent mitochondrial disease in the
women doctors in colonial India as well as offspring as Mitochondrial DNA is
being involved in a landmark legal case transmitted maternally.
involving her marriage as a child bride 181. Artificial Intelligence (AI): It refers to the
between 1884 and 1888 ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks
• In 1885, after 12 years of her marriage, Dadaji like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem
Bhikaji (her husband) filed a petition in the solving and decision making
court and sought “restitution of conjugal • It includes technologies like machine
rights” learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural
• Rakhmabai Defense Committee was formed networks, self-algorithms etc
by Behramji Malabari and Pandita Ramabai • Major applications of AI are disease
in her defence. The case continued for 4 years diagnosis, Text to speech conversation,
until Dadaji was compensated in 1888, Wireless transmission of electrical energy,
outside of court. The case was instrumental in Create meaningful short stories and songs,
the drafting of the Age of Consent Act in 1891 Online shopping and advertising, digital
• The legal and social controversies provoked personal assistants, machine translations,
by the case revolved round notions of colonial smart homes and cities, self-driving vehicles,
law, marriage and conjugality, and the fighting cyber threats, analyse large quantities
prospect of state intervention. of health data and discover patterns that could
180. Pro nuclear transfer technology: Pronucleus is lead to new discoveries in medicine and ways
the nucleus of a sperm or an egg cell during the to improve individual diagnostics.
process of fertilization 182. FAIR1M: world’s largest satellite image
• Pro nuclear transfer technology involves the database
transfer of pronuclei from one zygote to • Satellite imaging database containing detailed
another information of millions of locations has been
launched in China to help reduce errors made • The technology uses fluorescent lamps to
by artificial intelligence (AI) when transmit signals at 10 kbit/s, or LEDs for up
identifying objects from space to 500 Mbit/s over short distances
• The database is called ‘fine grained object • It is a preferred communication technique
recognition in the high resolution remote because of its high bandwidth and immunity
sensing imagery’ (FAIR1M). to interference from electromagnetic sources
183. Fake Buster: a ‘Deepfake’ detection tool • It can transmit large amounts of data faster
developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, than Bluetooth and has no electromagnetic
Ropar and Monash University (Australia) interference.
• ‘Deepfakes’ are real time mimicked visuals
(videos) in video calling platforms through
spoofing tools based on transfer of facial
expressions that are manipulated using
artificial intelligence
• They can even be used during online
examinations and job interviews
• It can identify imposters attending virtual om
conference without anybody’s knowledge
• It works in both online and offline modes
• It is independent of video conferencing
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solutions like Zoom, Skype, etc

184. NBDriver: Researchers at the Indian Institute of
ai
Technology (IIT) Madras have developed an

Artificial Intelligence-based mathematical model
gm
called NBDriver (neighbourhood driver) to

identify cancer-causing alterations in cells
• The underlying hypothesis was that these
35
patterns would be unique to individual types

of mutations -- drivers and passengers
1
186. Blockchain technology: It is a decentralized,

• Driver Mutation: A driver mutation is an
07
distributed, and oftentimes public, digital ledger

alteration that gives a cancer cell a consisting of records called blocks that is used to
fundamental growth advantage for its record transactions across many computers so
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neoplastic transformation that any involved block cannot be altered

• Passenger mutations: Passenger mutations retroactively, without the alteration of all
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can be defined as mutations that do not subsequent blocks

directly drive cancer initiation and • It allows the participants to verify and audit
progression, as opposed to driver mutations, transactions independently
such as mutations in oncogenes, TSGs or • It is open, permissionless, or public->
repair genes. applications can be added to the network
185. Visible Light Communication technology: It is without the approval or trust of others, using
a data communications variant which uses visible the blockchain as a transport layer.
light between 400 and 800 THz (780–375 nm).
VLC is a subset of optical wireless
communications technologies which is a short-
range communication
• The main features of Indian Parliamentary

system are presence of nominal and real
executive, collective responsibility, political
homogeneity, dual membership, leadership of
PM and dissolution of Lok Sabha.
188. Direct democracy: Direct Democracy is a form
of self-government in which all collective
decisions are taken through participation of all
adult citizens of the state in the spirit of equality
and open deliberations
• Principles: People are sovereign, Sovereignty
is inalienable and cannot be represented,
People must express their general will and
make decisions directly through referenda
and Decisions are to be based on majority rule
• Mechanisms of direct democracy are:
189. DPSPs: They provide guidelines to Central and

State governments in India, to be kept in mind
while framing laws and policies
187. Parliamentary system of government: It is a • Articles 36-51 under Part-IV deal with DPSPs
form of government where executives hold the • They cannot be enforced by any court, but
power with the majority support of the legislature these principles are fundamental in the
• Article 74 and 75 provide the parliamentary governance of the country and it shall be the
system for the centre duty of the State to apply these principles in
• Executives can exercise power and stay in the making laws
office as long as they have the support of the • The framers of the Constitution borrowed this
lower house of the legislature idea from the Irish Constitution of 1937
• In India, the Council of Ministers is • Dr B R Ambedkar described these principles
collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha-> as ‘novel features’ of the Indian Constitution
the council of ministers has joint • The basic aim of DPSPs is to set up social and
responsibility for their actions towards Lok economic goals before the lawmakers, bring
Sabha. Even if a decision has been taken by a socio-economic change in the country,
single minister, under the principle of reshape the structure of Indian society in
collective responsibility the whole council of direction of greater socio-economic equality
ministers has responsibility for it
• They embody the concept of a welfare state-> maintains the federal balance and prevents
Article 38 of the Constitution states that: “The tyranny of executives
state shall strive to promote the welfare of the • It is considered a basic structure of the
people by securing and protecting as constitution (Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain
effectively as it may, a social order in which Case 1975).
justice – social economic and political – shall 193. Gandhism and Marxism- Goal of Stateless
pervade all institutions of national life.” society: For both Gandhism and Marxism the
190. Welfare State: A welfare state is a concept of final goal is stateless and classless society,
government where the state plays a key role in the although they differ the means adopted
protection and promotion of the economic and • For Marx, State is an instrument of oppression
social well -being of its citizens which only works for maintaining the class
• It is based on the principles of equality of dominance; thus he strives for class struggle
opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and revolution which will result in a stateless
and public responsibility for those unable to society
avail themselves of the minimal provisions • For Gandhi also, in an ideal state, there is no
for a good life. State.
191. Basic structure: The concept of ‘basic structure’ 194. Differences between Marxism and Gandhism:
came into existence in the landmark judgment in Marx took the violent path to achieve stateless
Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala case society, but Gandhiji believed in non-violence as
(1973) a tool
• The elements of basic structure of the • According to Gandhiji, capitalism could be
constitution include the supremacy of the overthrown by the decentralisation of the
Constitution, the rule of law, Independence of economy, like encouraging having cottage
the judiciary, doctrine of separation of industries; Karl Marx believed this condition
powers, sovereign democratic republic, the in Europe could be abolished through
parliamentary system of government, the violence. He wanted to revolt against the
principle of free and fair elections, welfare government to destroy capitalism’s roots and
state, federalism, effective access to justice, branches
limited power of parliament to amend the • Gandhi has firm faith in democracy, although
constitution etc. he considered the democracy in Western
192. Judicial Review: It is the power of Judiciary to countries to be incomplete; Marxists believed
review any act or order of Legislative and in the ideology of the Proletariat’s
Executive wings and to pronounce upon the Dictatorship-> most powers should be given
constitutional validity when challenged by the to the workers
affected person • Marxists did not accept private ownership of
• It comes from the Constitution of India itself land and favoured collective farming;
- Articles 13, 32, 136, 142 and 147 of the Gandhiji did not want to snatch off the land
Constitution by force from the landlords and believed in
• It is considered a basic structure of the cooperative farming and trusteeship model.
constitution (Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain 195. Bureaucracy: It refers to an administrative
Case 1975) policy-implementation group, which is a body of
• Significance: maintaining the supremacy of non-elected government officials
the Constitution, checking the possible • It is an agency for implementation of public
misuse of power by the legislature and policy. They are politically neutral and their
executive, safeguard citizen’s liberties and main job is to facilitate effective working of
ideals on which constitution is based,
different government departments and policy 198. Directive principles of State Policy (DPSPs):
implementations The provisions of Directive principles are
• Other functions are running the contained in the Part IV of the constitution
administration, advisors to political from Article 36 to 51
executives, assisting ministers in law making, • They are not enforceable by any court, but the
record keeping, financial administration etc. principles laid down there in are considered in
196. Max Weber’s bureaucracy the governance of the country, making it the
duty of the State to apply these principles in
making laws to establish a just society
• The framers of the Constitution borrowed this
idea from the Irish Constitution of 1937
• Dr B R Ambedkar described these principles
as ‘novel features’ of the Indian Constitution
• The basic aim of DPSPs is to set up social and
economic goals before the lawmakers, bring
socio-economic change in the country,
om reshape the structure of Indian society in
direction of greater socio-economic equality.
199. Qualifications for Minister: Constitution does
not mention eligibility as a condition to be made
197. Preamble: The Preamble to the Indian
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a minister in a State. Qualifications a person

Constitution of India is a brief introductory
should possess to become eligible for
statement that reflects the hopes and aspirations
ai
appointment as a minister are: He should be a

of the people. It embodies the basic philosophy
citizen of India, He should be above 25 years, He
gm
and the fundamental values on which our

should not hold any office of profit under the
constitution is based
government of India
• It indicates source of the authority of the
• If he is not a member of Parliament, then he
35
Constitution lies with the people of India

should be elected to the Lok Sabha or the
• In Kesavananda Bharati case, 1973 Sc held
Rajya Sabha within six months after his
1
that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution

appointment as a minister.
07
and should be read and interpreted in the light

200. Representation of People’s act, 1951: Section 8
of the grand and noble vision expressed in the
in The Representation of the People Act, 1951
Preamble; but it has no legal effect
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states that A person convicted of any offence and

independent of other parts
sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two
• In LIC vs. Union of India Case, years shall be disqualified from the date of such
pa
1995 Supreme Court again held that the conviction and shall continue to be disqualified
Preamble is an integral part of the for a further period of six years since his release.
Constitution but it is not directly enforceable
in court of justice
• 42nd Amendment - Description of India
changed from “sovereign democratic
republic” to a “sovereign, socialist secular
democratic republic” and Changed the
words “unity of the nation” to “unity and
integrity of the nation”.
• It is a 12-digit random number issued by the

Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) to the residents of India.
• Any individual, irrespective of age and
gender, who is a resident of India, may
voluntarily enroll to obtain an Aadhaar
number.
• Person should provide minimal demographic
and biometric information during the
enrolment process which is totally free of
201. Salient features of Representation of the cost.
People Act (RPA), 1950: Lays down procedures • An individual need to enroll for Aadhaar only
for delimitation of constituencies once and after de-duplication only one
• Provides for the allocation of seats in the Aadhaar shall be generated.
House of the People and in the Legislative • Aadhaar metadata cannot be retained beyond
Assemblies and Legislative Councils of six months.
States • Private bodies like telecom companies, e-
• Lays procedure for the preparation of commerce firms cannot ask for biometric and
electoral rolls and the manner of filling seats other data from consumers for their services.
• Lays down the qualification of voters. • IRDAI has advised insurers not to
202. Salient Features of the Representation of mandatorily seek Aadhaar and PAN/Form 60
People Act 1951: Conduct of elections of the from customers, existing or new, for KYC
Houses of Parliament and to the House or (Know Your Customer) purpose.
Houses of the Legislature of each State • Any individual who is desirous of availing
• Details about the structure of administrative any subsidy, benefit or service for which the
machinery for the conduct of elections expenditure is incurred from the Consolidated
• Qualifications and disqualifications for Fund of India, shall require to furnish proof of
membership of those Houses possession of Aadhaar number or undergo
• Corrupt practices and other offences at or in Aadhaar based authentication.
connection with such elections • Aadhaar will be sought for all transactions for
• The decision of doubts and disputes arising an amount INR 50,000 or above.
out of or in connection with such elections • Section 139AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961
• By-elections to the vacant seats provides for mandatory quoting of Aadhaar /
• Registration of political parties. Enrolment ID of Aadhaar application form,
203. Parliament: Article 85(1) of the Constitution for filing of return of income and for making
empowers the President to summon each House an application for allotment of Permanent
of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he Account Number.
thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene
between its last sitting in one Session and the date
appointed for its first sitting in the next Session.
In other words, the Parliament should meet at
least twice a year. There is no minimum number
of days that Parliament is required to meet in a
year.
204. Salient Features of Aadhar
205. Rajya Sabha has equal power with Loksabha • It is a central sector scheme
in matters of • Each year MPs receive Rs. 5 crores in two
instalments of Rs. 2.5 crore each which are
non-lapsable
• MPs are to recommend every year, works
costing at least 15% of the MPLADS
entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by
SCs and 7.5% for areas inhabited by S.T.
population
• District Authority would be responsible for
overall coordination and supervision of the
206. Special Powers of Lok Sabha works at the district level and inspect at least
• Only the Lok Sabha can introduce a money 10% of the works under implementation
bill under Article 110. every year
• Only the Lok Sabha can introduce a financial • Lok Sabha Members can recommend works
bill under Article 110 (1). within their Constituencies and Elected
• The Speaker of the Lok Sabha determines Members of Rajya Sabha can recommend
whether bills are Money Bills or not. works within the State of Election
• The Lok Sabha can express a lack of • Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha
confidence with the government: and Lok Sabha can recommend works
o By failing to pass a motion of thanks for anywhere in the country
the President's inaugural address. • Funds for MPLADS can be converged with
o By Rejecting a money bill MGNREGS for creating more durable assets
o By passing a censure motion or an and with National Program for Development
adjournment motion of Sports
o By defeating the government on a vital • Union Cabinet has approved the restoration of
issue MPLADS for Financial Year 2021-22 till
o By passing a cut motion. 2025-26 which will be co-terminus with the
207. Special Powers of Rajya Sabha: It can authorise period of the 15th Finance Commission.
the Parliament to make a law on a subject 209. One MP – One Idea: The scheme is
enumerated in the State List (Article 249) implemented by MoSPI
• It can authorise the Parliament to create new • Based on the innovative ideas received from
All-India Services common to both the Centre the local people regarding developmental
and states (Article 312) projects, an ‘One MP – One Idea’
• It can alone initiate a move for the removal of Competition may be held in each Lok Sabha
the Vice- President of India. constituency annually to select the three best
208. Member of Parliament Local Area innovations for cash awards on the specific
Development (MPLADS) Scheme: It was request of an MP to promote such a scheme in
launched in 1993 to enable MPs to recommend his/her constituency
development works in their constituencies with • Individuals, groups, NGOs, industry, and
emphasis on the creation of durable community academia can take part in this competition.
assets based on the local needs 210. Right to Equality (Article 14-18): It protects the
• The scheme is implemented by Ministry of citizens against any discrimination by the State on
Statistics & Programme Implementation the basis of religion, caste, race, sex, or place of
(MoSPI) birth.
• Article 14: All citizens enjoy equal privileges by the State or established under any
and opportunities. endowment or trust
• Article 15: State shall not discriminate o Moreover, no person is required to attend
against any citizen on grounds only of any religious instructions or worship
religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. without his consent in any educational
• Article 16: No citizen can be discriminated institution recognised by the State or
against or be ineligible for any employment or receiving aid out of State funds.
office under the State on grounds of only 213. Right to Constitutional remedies (Article 32):
religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of It is considered the most important article of the
birth or residence. Constitution as it provides that the right to get
• Article 17: It abolishes ‘untouchability’ and Fundamental Rights protected is itself a
forbids its practise in any form. fundamental right
• Article 18: It abolish all titles national or • The Supreme Court has ruled that Article 32
foreign which create artificial distinctions in is a basic feature of the Constitution
social status amongst the people. • Only the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by
211. Right Against Exploitation (Article 23 and 24) the Constitution can be enforced under Article
• Article 23: It prohibits human trafficking and om 32 and not any other right like non-
begar (forced labour without payment) fundamental constitutional rights, statutory
o The right is available to citizens of India rights, customary rights etc.
as well as to non-citizens. • It contains the following four provisions:
l.c
• Article 24: It forbids employment of children o The right to move the Supreme Court by
below the age of 14 years in dangerous jobs appropriate proceedings for the
ai
like factories and mines enforcement of the Fundamental Rights.

o However, it did not prohibit their o The Supreme Court shall have power to
gm
employment in any harmless or innocent issue directions or orders or writs for the
work. enforcement of any of the fundamental
rights.
35
212. Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25-28)

• Article 25: It provides the freedom of o Parliament can empower any other court
conscience, to profess, to practice and to to issue directions, orders and writs of all
1
propagate any religion. These rights are kinds – It does not include high courts
07
available to citizens as well as non-citizens. because (Article 226) it already conferred

• Article 26: It provides every religious these powers on the high courts.
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denomination (or any section of it) the right to o The right to move the Supreme Court
establish and maintain institutions for shall not be suspended except as
otherwise provided for by the
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religious and charitable purposes.

Constitution - In the case of national
• Article 27: It lays down that no person shall
be compelled to pay any taxes for the emergency, the right can be suspended by
promotion or maintenance of any particular the President (Article 359).
religion or religious denomination. 214. Separation of Judiciary from Executive:
Article 50 of Constitution (DPSP) gives a
• Article 28: No religious instruction shall be
direction to the State to keep Judiciary
provided in any educational institution wholly
independent of the Executive, particularly in
maintained out of State (the territory of India)
judicial appointments.
funds
215. Seventh Schedule: The seventh schedule under
o However, the provision is not applicable
Article 246 of the constitution deals with the
to educational institutions administered
division of powers between the union and the o Escape Clause: During National
states Security/Act of War, National calamity,
• It contains three lists- Union List, State List fall in agriculture output and farm income,
and Concurrent List fall in real output or GDP growth
• The union list details the subjects on which government can escape the target. Note:
Parliament may make laws while the state list The term “escape clause” has not been
details those under the purview of state used in the act. It was used by FRBM
legislatures review committee headed by NK Singh.
• The concurrent list on the other hand has o Budget 2021: Amended the FRBM act to
subjects in which both Parliament and state provide fiscal deficit to 6.8% (2011-22)
legislatures have jurisdiction. and 4.5% (2025-26).
o Required documents to be presented
with Budget (Section 3): FRBM act
requires following documents to be
presented with budget.
§ Macroeconomic Framework
Statement: Shows economic data,
GDP growth rate, imports-exports and
government receipts and expenditure.
§ Medium Term Fiscal Policy
Statement
§ Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement:
Explains how government controls the
deficits, provide for the deviation.
§ Medium term Expenditure
Framework
217. NK Singh committee to review FRBM act
(2016)
• Scrap the FRBM act, 2003 and a new Debt
and Fiscal Responsibility and Debt
216. Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management management act be adopted.
act, 2003: It is an act to provide for responsibility
• Creation of a Fiscal council -> Proposed 3-
of Central Government to ensure
member body for preparing multi-year fiscal
intergenerational equity in fiscal management
forecast, providing independent assessment
and long-term macro-economic stability by
of central government’s fiscal performance.
removing fiscal impediments.
• Gradual reduction in fiscal deficit to 2.5% of
• Key Provisions
GDP
o Provisions: Originally reduce Fiscal
deficit to 3% for Union government, 3% • Reduction of revenue deficit to 0.8% by 2002-
to State government by 2008, Eliminate 23 in a phased manner
Revenue deficit by 2008, total liabilities • Bringing Debt to GDP ratio to 60% by 2023-
of central government should not rise by > 38.7% for central government and 20% for
more than 9% a year. the state government.
o Amendment in 2012: No need of 0% • Escape clause-> allowing up to 0.5% slippage
revenue deficit rather 0% Effective • Buoyance clause-> Fiscal deficit must fall at
Revenue Deficit by 2015. least 0.5% below the target if real output
grows 3% faster than average of previous four according to the constitution, separation of
quarters. power, sovereignty of the people and
• Borrowing from RBI: Prohibits the democratic government, constitutional
government from borrowing from the RBI review, independent judiciary etc.
except in the following circumstances: 222. Multi Party Government: It is a system in
o Centre must meet a temporary shortfall in which multiple political parties have the capacity
receipts. to gain control of government offices, separately
o RBI subscribes to government securities or in coalition
to finance any deviations from specified • These are systems in which more than two
targets, or parties are represented and elected to public
o RBI purchases government securities on office
the secondary market. • Australia, Canada, Nepal, Pakistan, India,
218. Article 114: As per article 114 of the Ireland, and Norway are examples of
Constitution, the government can withdraw countries with two strong parties and
money from the Consolidated Fund only after additional smaller parties that have also
receiving approval from Parliament. obtained representation.
219. Article 112: It deals with the Annual financial 223. Fundamental Duties: Idea inspired from the
statement. President shall in respect of every Constitution of Russia
financial year cause to be laid before both the • These were incorporated in Part IV-A of the
Houses of Parliament a statement of the estimated Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional
receipts and expenditure of the Government of Amendment Act, 1976 on the
India for that year. recommendations of Swaran Singh
220. Article 110 Committee
• They are originally 10 in number, one more
duty was added through the 86th
Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002
• They serve as a reminder to citizens that while
enjoying their rights, they have also to be
quite conscious of duties they owe to their
country
• They are non-justiciable in nature.
224. National Legal Services Authority: It was
constituted under the Legal Services Authorities
Act, 1987
221. Constitutional Government: It seeks to limit
and regulate the exercise of political power by the • Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-
government Chief and the second senior most Judge of
SCis the Executive Chairman of the
• Constitutional government is by definition
Authority
limited government-> government conducted
according to rules and principles, which are • Article 39 A of the Constitution provides for
binding on all political actors free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections
of the society, to promote justice on the basis
• It may not have legislature, could be a bi-party
of equal opportunity.
government and need not be a popular
225. Free Legal Services: They are provided in
government and can instead be a monarchy
matters before Civil, Criminal and Revenue
• Constitutionalism could be seen as
Courts, Tribunals or any other authority
constituting elements such as government
exercising judicial or quasi- judicial functions
• The sections of the society as enlisted under 226. Institutions which provide Free Legal Services
Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities • National Level: National Legal Services
Act are entitled for free legal services, they Authority (NALSA) was constituted under
are: the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The
o A member of a Scheduled Caste or Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief.
Scheduled Tribe; • State Level: State Legal Services Authority
o A victim of trafficking in human beings or headed by the Chief Justice of the State High
begar as referred to in Article 23 of the Court who is its Patron-in-Chief.
Constitution; • District Level: District Legal Services
o A woman is entitled for free legal aid Authority; district Judge is its ex-officio
irrespective of her income or financial Chairman.
status. • Taluka/Sub-Division Level: Taluka/Sub-
o Child is eligible for free legal aid till the Divisional Legal Services Committee headed
age of majority i.e. 18 years; by a senior Civil Judge.
o A mentally ill or otherwise disabled • High Court: High Court Legal Services
person; Committee
o A person under circumstances of • Supreme Court: Supreme Court Legal
undeserved want such as being a victim of
om Services Committee.
a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste 227. What includes free legal aid?
atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or • Representation by an Advocate in legal
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industrial disaster; or proceedings.

o An industrial workman; or
• Payment of process fees, expenses of
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o In custody, including custody in a

witnesses and all other charges payable or
protective home within the meaning of incurred in connection with any legal
gm
clause (g) of Section 2 of the Immoral

proceedings in appropriate cases;
Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956(104 of
• Preparation of pleadings, memo of appeal,
1956); or in a juvenile home within the
35
paper book including printing and translation

meaning of clause(j) of Section 2 of the
of documents in legal proceedings;
Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 (53 of 1986).
• Drafting of legal documents, special leave
1
o A person in receipt of annual income less

petition etc.
07
than the amount mentioned in the

following schedule (or any other higher • Supply of certified copies of judgments,
amount as may be prescribed by the State orders, notes of evidence and other
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Government), if the case is before a Court documents in legal proceedings.

other than the Supreme Court, and less • Free Legal Services also include provision of
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than Rs 5 Lakh, if the case is before the aid and advice to the beneficiaries to access
Supreme Court. the benefits under the welfare statutes and
o Limit for Transgender: Rs. 2,00,000 schemes framed by the Central Government
o Senior citizens: Eligibility for free legal or the State Government and to ensure access
aid depends on the Rules framed by the to justice in any other manner.
respective State Governments in this 228. National Legal Services Day: It is celebrated
regard. In Delhi for example, senior every year on 9th November in order to spread
citizens are eligible for free legal aid awareness for ensuring reasonable fair and justice
subject to prescribed ceiling of annual procedure for all citizens
income. Any individual above the age of • It was first started by Supreme Court of India
60 can apply for free legal aid/services. in 1995 to provide help and support to poor
and weaker sections of the society.
229. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee • Its main function is overall supervision and
(GEAC): development of Insurance sector in India
• It functions in the Ministry of Environment, • Its headquarters is situated at Hyderabad,
Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Telangana.
• As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for • Composition: Chairman, Five whole-time
appraisal of activities involving large scale members and Four part-time members
use of hazardous microorganisms and appointed by GOI.
recombinants in research and industrial • Objectives: Protect the interest and fair
production from the environmental angle. treatment of policyholders; Regulation of
• The committee is also responsible for insurance industry; Frame regulations to
appraisal of proposals relating to release of ensures industry operates without ambiguity.
genetically engineered (GE) organisms and • Powers and Functions: These are laid down
products into the enviornment including in the IRDAI Act, 1999, and Insurance Act,
experimental field trials. 1938. Important functions include: Grant,
• It is chaired by the Special renew, suspend, cancel certificates of
Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC insurance company. Protecting the interests of
and co-chaired by a representative from the the policyholder; specify code of conduct,
Department of Biotechnology (DBT). qualifications and training for insurance
230. Regulation of Imported crops: It was initially agents. Specify code of conduct for loss
done by GEAC; but its role was diluted with the assessors and surveyors.
enactment of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 233. Draft Drone rules, 2021: Ministry of Civil
2006 and FSSAI was asked to take over Aviation has unveiled the Draft Drone Rules,
approvals of imported goods. 2021 based on “trust, self-certification and non-
231. National Policy on Biofuels (2018) intrusive monitoring”. It would replace the
existing Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
Rules, notified in March, 2021.
• Security clearance: It exempts drone
operator from seeking security clearance
before registering a drone or applying for a
license.
• Foreign companies: Those registered in
India allowed to import and operate drones
and their parts; regulated by Directorate
General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
• Drone Coverage: Increased from 300kg to
500kg; it will also cover drone taxis, while
issuance of certificate of airworthiness has
been delegated to the Quality Council of
India.
• Development of drone corridors: MoCA
232. Insurance Regulatory and Development facilitates development of drone corridors for
Authority of India (IRDAI): It is a statutory cargo deliveries, and a drone promotion
agency established by IRDA Act of 1999 council will be set up to facilitate a business-
following the recommendations of Malhotra friendly regulatory regime.
committee • Reduction in Airport Perimeter: It reduces
airport perimeter from 45 km to 12 km.
• Digital sky platform: Initiative by MoCA to • Licensing requirement: No pilot license

provide a secure and a scalable platform that needed for micro drones for non-commercial
supports drone technology frameworks. It is use, nano drones and for R&D organizations.
to developed as a business-friendly single-
window online system with minimal human
interference.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
234. Pneumonia: the first woman to pass the test as early as
• It is an acute respiratory infection of the lungs 1878
caused by bacteria called Streptococcus • Her success encouraged Bethune College to
pneumoniae introduce Fine arts and Graduation courses in
• It doesn’t have one single cause -> can 1883.
develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi 237. Gold Tranche (Reserve tranche): It is the
in the air component of a member country’s quota with
• It can spread through coughing or sneezing the IMF that is in the form of gold or foreign
• Easily preventable with vaccines-> three currency
doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine • For any member country, out of the total
(PCV) is recommended to prevent it. quota, 25% should be paid in the form of
235. Differences between Plant cells and Animal foreign currency or gold. Hence this is called
cells: as reserve tranche or gold tranche
• It can be utilized for member country own
purposes without a service fee or economic
reform conditions.
238. Credit tranche: It refers to a system of
releasing loan funds in phases that IMF uses to
govern its lending activities with member
countries. When a member nation applies for a
loan to help with economic difficulties, the
IMF will disburse the loan in a series of credit
tranches
• The credit tranches are portions of the loan
that are released to the member country,
236. Kadambini Ganguly: She was one of the first usually upon the member fulfilling conditions
women graduates from India and the entire British or requirements set forth by the IMF.
Empire who moved on to become one of the first 239. Loan system of World Bank
female physicians trained in western medicine in
• International Bank for Reconstruction and
the whole of South Asia
Development (IBRD): It helps creditworthy
• She completed her formal education from middle-income and low-income countries by
Banga Mahila Vidyalaya, later merged with providing loans and guarantees.
the Bethune School
• International Development Association
• She was the first candidate from the Bethune (IDA): Its principal goal is to provide grants
School to appear for the University of Calcutta and low-interest loans to the world's poorest
entrance exam and created history becoming countries
o It makes loans to developing countries241. Alma Ata declaration, 1978: It emerged as a

with the lowest Gross National Income major milestone of 20th century in the field of
(GNI), the worst credit ratings, and the public health, and it identified primary health care
lowest per capita income. as the key to the attainment of the goal of Health
• International Finance Corporation (IFC): for All
It makes loans to companies and private- • It is a joint declaration of nations under the
sector projects. umbrella of WHO that was adopted and
240. Universal Declaration of human rights (1948): announced to the world in 1978 during the
It is a milestone document in the history of human International Conference on Primary Health
rights Care in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• It was proclaimed by the United Nations 242. Hague convention: The Hague Convention on
General Assembly in Paris on 10 December the Civil Aspects of International Child
1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) Abduction is a multilateral treaty developed by
• It sets out, for the first time, fundamental Hague Conference on Private International
human rights to be universally protected and it Law that provides an expeditious method to
has been translated into over 500 languages return a child internationally abducted by a
• It include civil and political rights, like the parent from one-member country to another
•
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right to life, liberty, free speech and privacy The convention was signed in 1980 and
and economic, social and cultural rights like entered into force in 1983
the right to social security, health and • India has not signed Hague Abduction
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education, etc. Convention

• India took an active part in drafting of the • The convention applies only to children below
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UDHR. It is not a treaty, so it does not directly the age of sixteen.

create legal obligations for countries
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• [UDHR + International Covenant on Civil and 243. Aurang: It was a Persian term for a warehouse
Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols – a place where goods are collected before
+ International Covenant on Economic, Social being sold. The term also refers to a workshop.
35
and Cultural Rights form the so-called

International Bill of Human Rights] 244. Impacts of Industrial revolution on India:
1
• It is described as the “International Magna The discovery of steam power created threat to
07
Carta” the Indian textile industry

• The Preamble, the Fundamental Rights and • Indian farmers forced to produce cotton
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the DPSPs reflect the principles and plantation so that it can fuel English factories
provisions of the Universal Declaration of • Farmers were forced to grow cash crops in
place of food crops (commercialization of
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Human Rights (1948).

agriculture)
• Ruining of Indian handicrafts
• Deindustrialization in India
• Positive impacts: Introduction of assembly
line and factories, electricity development
contributed to faster and more efficient
production of goods and materials.
245. Atal Bhujal Yojana: It is a central sector
scheme worth Rs. 6,000 crores for sustainable
management of groundwater with community
participation, implemented from 2020-21 to • Key outcomes of Summit:

2024-25 o Leaders committed to the key Paris
• It envisages people's participation through the Agreement goal of limiting global
formation of ‘Water User Associations’, water warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above
budgeting, preparation & implementation of pre-industrial levels.
Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans, o pledged to reach a target of net zero
etc. carbon emissions “by or around mid-
• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal century”, instead of setting a clear
Shakti 2050 date, as campaigners and summit
• It is funded by the Government of India and host Italy were hoping for.
the World Bank on 50:50 basis o stop funding new dirty coal
• Identified priority areas are Gujarat, plants abroad by the end of 2021.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, o commitment to mobilise $100 billion
Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. for developing countries for climate
246. G20 adaptation costs.
• Founded in 1999 with the aim to discuss o approved on an agreement that will
policy pertaining to the promotion of subject multinationals to a minimum 15
international financial stability. percent tax, as part of an effort to build
• First Head of State Summit was held “a more stable and fairer international
in 2008 (Due to Economic Crisis). tax system”.
• G20 economies account for around 85% of 248. Kisan Credit Card Scheme
the gross world product (GWP), 80% of world • It was introduced in 1988 to provide adequate
trade and two-thirds of the world population. and timely short term credit needs for farmers
• It does not have any permanent secretariat during cropping season.
staff and its chairmanship rotates annually • It is implemented by RRBs, Cooperative
between nations divided into regional banks, public sector commercial banks and
groupings. private sector banks.
• Each G20 country is represented by • If loan amount is above Rs 1.6 lakhs, then
its Sherpa, who plans, guides, implements, cardholder has to pledge his land as mortgage.
etc. on behalf of the leader of their respective • Card is valid for five years and any number of
country. withdrawal and repayments can be made
within the limit.
• It covers post-harvest expenses, produce
marketing loan, consumption requirements of
farmer household, working capital for
maintenance of farm assets and activities
allied to agriculture, investment credit
requirement for agriculture and allied
activities.
• Eligibility: Farmers - individual/joint
borrowers who are owner cultivators, Tenant
farmers, oral lessees & share croppers and Self
247. G20 Summit 2021: Latest Summit was held in Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups
Rome, Italy (2021) (JLGs) of farmers including tenant farmers,
• Theme: “People, Planet, Prosperity” share croppers etc.
• They have adopted the Rome Declaration
249. Consumer Price Index (CPI): It measures the o Indirect taxes are excluded.
average change of prices paid by final consumers • Categories: It consists of 3 categories (in
for a basket of goods and services decreasing order of weight): Manufacturing->
• CPI = (Weighted price for current year/ Primary articles-> Fuel and power.
Weighted price for base year) * 100 • Recent changes to WPI (2017)
• RBI uses CPI-C as sole inflation measure for o Base year for All-India WPI revised from
monetary policy. 2004-05 to 2011-12.
• Recent changes o Do not include indirect taxes in order to
o CPI (Rural, Urban and Combined) are remove impact of fiscal policy.
published at all India as well as state wise o New “WPI Food Index” to capture
levels. inflation in food items.
o Base year changed from 2010 to 2012. o Item level aggregates compiled using
o Basket of items and their weight diagrams Geometric Mean.
prepared using Modified Mixed Reference o Number of items increased to 697 from
Period (MMRP) data of Consumer earlier 676.
Expenditure Survey (CES), 2011-12 of o Decrease in weight of manufacturing
th
68 round of National sample survey items from 64.9% to 64.2%.
(NSS). o Decrease in weight of fuel and power from
o Number of Items: 448 (Rural) and 460 14.9% to 13.1%.
(Urban). o Increase in weight of primary articles from
o Weight of Core group increased from 20.1% to 22.6%.
42.9% to 47.3%. Table showing new commodity groups and
o Increase in number of groups-> Pan, their weights
tobacco and intoxicants which was a Group Weights Number of
subgroup under ‘Food, beverages and items
Tobacco’ made as a separate group. All 100 697
Sub-group commodities
Weight Rural Weight Urban Weight Combined
Food and Beverage 54.18 Primary
36.29 22.62
45.86 117
Pan, Tobacco and intoxicants 3.26 articles
1.36 2.38
Clothing and Footwear 7.36 Fuel
5.57 and Power 13.15
6.53 16
Housing Manufactured 10.07
21.67 64.23 564
Fuel and Light 7.94 Products
5.58 6.84
251. West Texas Intermediate: It is a light, sweet
Miscellaneous (Household goods 27.26 29.53 28.32
crude oil that serves as one of the main global
and services, health, transport and oil benchmarks
communication etc.)
• It is sourced primarily from US oil fields,
250. Wholesale Price Index (WPI): It measures
primarily in Texas, Louisiana, and North
change in price of commodities supplied to
Dakota and is one of the highest quality oils in
wholesale market; based on value of production
the world which is easy to refine
adjusted for net imports.
• WTI is the underlying commodity for the
• Features: It captures inflation closest to
NYMEX's oil futures contract.
producers
252. International Atomic Energy Agency
o It does not capture price inflation in
• Established as an autonomous organisation in
services
1957 during Cold War between the U.S. and
o Headline inflation measured through WPI
USSR.
o It is measured year-on-year basis
• Although it was established independently of

the UN, it reports to both UNGA and UNSC.
• It is an international organization that seeks to
promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy
and to inhibit its use for any military purpose,
including nuclear weapons.
• It is entrusted with the task of upholding the
principles of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty of 1970.
• Safeguards are activities by which the IAEA
can verify that a State is living up to its
international commitments not to use nuclear
programmes for nuclear-weapons purposes - • Textile and Textile articles: India exports
verification measures include on-site about $2.25 billion-worth textile and clothing
inspections, visits, and ongoing monitoring products to Bangladesh and imports $336
and evaluation. million textile and clothing products from
• There are 14 operational reactors under IAEAom Dhaka.
safeguards as these use imported fuel. 255. Bangladesh: Bangladesh is India’s largest
• Under safeguards agreement, IAEA has the trading partner in South Asia; Bilateral trade
right and obligation to ensure that safeguards between the two countries is $10billion; $9bn
l.c
are applied on all nuclear material in the Trade surplus for India.
territory, jurisdiction or control of the State for 256. India-Sri Lanka
ai
the exclusive purpose. • Bilateral trade: 2020: US $ 3.6 billion.

253. Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMS)
gm
• Trade Relations: Sri Lanka is India’s 2nd

• It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round largest trading partner in the SAARC
1986-1994. o India is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner
• WTO members have agreed not to apply
35
o Indian Investments: Petroleum retail,

certain investment measures that discriminate tourism & hotel, manufacturing, banking
against foreign goods that restrict or distort
1
and financial services

trade (national treatment under GATT Article o India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
07
III) or leads to quantitative restrictions (ISFTA) in 2000.

(Article XI), both of which violate basic WTO o Joint Marine Resources Management
rth
principles. Authority between two countries. (Palk

• This agreement applies only to measures that bay fisheries conflict).
pa
affect trade in goods. • Infrastructure development: Indian housing

• The Committee on Trade-Related Investment project in war affected areas
Measures monitors the operation and o Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing technique
implementation of the TRIMs Agreement and o Trincomalee port and oil tank farms
affords Members the opportunity to consult on development
any matters related. The Committee reports to o Joint India-Japan agreement - Mattala
the Council for Trade in Good Airport & East container terminal (ECT)
254. India- Sri Lanka Trade o Jaffna-Colombo rail track and other
• Value of trade: Bilateral trade between India railway lines.
and Sri Lanka increased nine times between
2000-01 and 2018-19. Peaking in 2013-14, the
bilateral trade reduced in the following years.
257. India-Bangladesh
• Bilateral trade: $10billion
• Trade Relations: $9bn Trade surplus for
India.
• Border Trade: Easing of restrictions in Land
port starting from Akhaura (Tripura) and
Ghojadanga (West Bengal).
• FDI: India invested over $3.1Bn (expected to
rise to $9Bn).
• Line of Credits: Developmental assistance -
at $8bn $500 Million for defense (during 2021
Indian PM’s visit).
• Energy Sector: Cooperation in power sector
Bangladesh imports 1200MW of Electricity b.
Roopur nuclear plant- a joint collaboration of
India and Russia.
• Connectivity: Protocol on Inland water transit
& trade. Intra and inter border connectivity—
Chattogram and Mongla Port.
• Vaccine Diplomacy: India gave 1.2 million
free doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus
vaccine to Bangladesh.
• Overland Goods Transit: Bangladesh
granted permission to use its territory for the
transit of Indian goods
258. India-Nepal
• Bilateral Trade: $8.27 Billion (2018-19)
• Trade Relations: India is Nepal’s largest trade
partner.
• Bilateral Free trade agreement (2009):
between India and Nepal.
• FDI: India is the largest source of FDI in
Nepal
• Indian development assistance -> Budgetary
aid to Nepal.
• Humanitarian aid -> 2015 Nepal Earthquake.
• 4 lines of credit extended -> $1 billion
dispersed since 2006.

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• Pratitya-samutpada: It refers to co- medieval age; believed that person could

9. Uchchedavada (Annihilationism): Founded by and production

• It believed in materialistic philosophy invention of Synthetic indigo, which made

chief 1st decade of the 20th century.

• Rejected theory of karma • The local peasants were forced by planters to

a UNESCO World Heritage Site Ranade and promoted swadeshi in a popular

33. Gandhi-Irwin Pact/Delhi pact (1931): It was

o Pillar Edict VII: Ashoka contribution to

who considerably enhanced his dynasty's political

• He was known as the Napoleon of India

Mahayana Buddhism religion later in his life

Samudragupta's Digvijaya • After obtaining control over Kannauj,

Thanesar and Kannauj

• He was a supporter of Buddhist scholar

• He was tolerant of all religions, although he is

Chalukya King in 618-619A.D

• Calculated by dividing a company's earnings • It should have a minimum amount of Rs 5

on Fixed Income Money Market and 62. Treasury Bills (T-Bills)

platform. price less than face value and Government

60. Certificate of Deposit (CD) operations borrows through T-bills primarily

• It is a negotiable money market instrument to fund fiscal deficit.

for a specified time period. • They also function as short-term

funds in RBI's window operations. organization has been hacked.

banks from different countries set up their

Dorasamudra or Dwarasamudra, the ancient • Flora: Dense moist deciduous

visited tourist attractions of Karnataka state.

This place is sacred to the Jains because it is the

87. Sthanesvara: It is a historical town an important located in the Ganges delta

was succeeded by his sons, Rajyavardhana and

• India exported 638,582.97 MT of • Maturity period: It is a kharif crop and

101. Sugarcane • Unique facts: Tea is processed within the tea

proved to be more economical than the Year of Pulses (IYP).

pulses production in 2019-20.

comprised of Tur (15.34%), Gram (43.29%),

Moong (green gram,10.04%), Urad (black

rich in humus and organic matter. Slopes of pulses have increased.

109. Aquaponics: It is a system that combines

120. Sathyamangalam Tiger reserve 124. Tal Chhapar wildlife sanctuary

National Park in Bhutan. Fauna: known for its

hog and wild water buffalo. otters etc.

127. Gangotri National park

experience through storytelling. • Area of the core/critical tiger habitat->

Sundarbans (West Bengal): 1699.62 sq. kms

140. Wildlife (Protection) act, 1972

of the global economy. habitat.

Protection Act, 1972 also became applicable

o The oldest port in India, Lothal was an

civilization and was located in today’s

o Existed about 4500 years ago, the remains

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

o The excavations led to the discovery of a

mound, a township, a marketplace as well

the port in Lothal.

improves the combustion performance and

• IUCN Red List: Endangered • Musk is a substance with a persistent odour

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Their five-year lifespans have stretched to 41 161. Evolved LISA (e-LISA):

System • The interferometer will be capable of

its moon (Charon) (SMART-2), it is an ESA spacecraft launched

is located 4 billion miles from Earth Earth in the sun’s direction

flying around an identical pair of 1.8-inch (46

• It is a technology for authenticating devices