UPSC CSE PRELIMS 2021

CONTENT DOCUMENT
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 HISTORY
1. Annie Besant: She founded the All India Home Rule
League in 1916. This was India's first faction to
demand complete independence
• She was one of the founders of the Banaras Hindu
University
• She also founded the Central Hindu School to
promote education
• By 1918, she had founded Madras Parliament,
Madanapalle College (now in Andhra Pradesh),
Adyar Arts League, Bombay Home Rule League,
Women's Indian Association at Adyar and the
Women's Indian Association at Adyar.
2. Debendranath Tagore: Debendranath was the eldest
son of Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, who was often
referred to as the "Indian Croesus" and was born in
Jorasanko, in Calcutta, West Bengal. In October 1839,
he along with his friends started the Tattwaranjini
Sabha which was later renamed to Tattwabodhini
Sabha. Its object was the dissemination of the
knowledge of the Upanishads and promotion of
religious enquiry.
3. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: In his book, "Barno-
Porichoy" (Introduction to the letter), Vidyasagar
refined the Bengali language and made it accessible to
the common strata of the society
• He proposed and pushed for the Widow
Remarriage Act of 1856 in India and raised
concern for the abolition of child marriage and
polygamy
• He also opened the doors of the colleges and other
educational institutions to lower caste students,
which was earlier reserved only for the Brahmins
• Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar was the first
Secretary of Bethune Female School.
4. Sarojini Naidu: Also known as the 'Nightingale of
India' or 'Bharat Kokila', a name given by Mahatama
Gandhi
• She was one of the major figures to have led the
Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India
Movement
• She was instrumental in establishing the
Women’s India Association, founded by Annie
Besant in 1917
• She was appointed the President of the Indian
National Congress in 1925 and later became the
Governor of the United Provinces in 1947,
becoming the first woman to hold the office of
Governor in the Dominion of India.
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5. Bethune college: The College owes its origin to John
Elliot Drinkwater Bethune (1801-1851) who
established Calcutta Female School, the first school
for girls in Calcutta with the help of Raja
Dakshinaranjan Mukhopadhyay, Ramgopal Ghosh,
and Pandit Madan Mohan Tarkalankar in 1849
• The school established by Bethune was
maintained from the private funds of its founder
until his death in August, 1851
• Bethune School later in 1878 was reorganised
after its amalgamation with Banga Mahila
Vidyalaya.
6. Kamini Roy: She became one of the first girls to
attend school in British India from Bethune School in
1883. She was also India’s first woman to graduate
with honours and started teaching in the same college.
She went on to be known for her social work in
women’s education and helped to advance feminism
in the Indian subcontinent. She also helped Bengali
women to win the right to vote in 1926.
7. Chandramukhi Basu: She had ranked first in
university entrance exam of 1876 but she was
discriminated to enter university until 1878. She
became the Principal of Bethune College in 1888, thus
becoming the first female head of an undergraduate
academic institution in South Asia.
8. Benares Hindu University (1916): Anne Besant was
the founder of Theosophical Society in India and
along with Madan Mohan Malaviya she founded the
Benares Hindu University in 1916.
9. Fatima Sheikh: She was the first Muslim woman
educator of India who used to teach Dalit children at
the school run by the Phule couple. She helped
Savitribai Phule to set up the first school called
“Indigenous Library”, in her own house, challenging
the upper-caste Hindus as well as the Orthodox
Muslims.
10. Leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott movement:
Important leaders are Lala Lajpat Rai, Syed Haider
Raza, Chidambaram Pillai, Bipin Chandra pal, Laikat
Hossain, Rabindranath Tagore, Aurobindo Ghosh,
Surendranath Banerjee and Abdul Halim Guznavi
among others.
11. Red Fort trials: Between November 1945 and May
1946, ten courts-martial were held in public at the Red
Fort in Delhi. Claude Auchinleck, the Commander-in-
Chief of the British-Indian army, hoped that by
holding public trials in the Red Fort, public opinion
would turn against the INA. General Shah Nawaz
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 Khan, Colonel Prem Sahgal and Colonel Gurbaksh
Singh Dhillon were court martialed. The three accused
were from the three major religions of India:
Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. Indians felt the INA
represented a true, secular, national army when judged
against the British-Indian Army, where caste and
religious differences were preserved amongst ranks.
The Congress quickly came forward to defend soldiers
of the INA who were to be court-martialled. The INA
Defence Committee was formed by the Indian
Congress and included prominent Indian legal figures,
among whom were Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai
Desai, Kailashnath Katju and Asaf Ali. Bhulabhai
Desai was the head of the committee.
12. Indian National Army (INA): In 1939, Subash
Chandra Bose resigned from the congress and
organised Forward Bloc for a more vigorous national
struggle. In 1943 he reached Japan and organise an
armed struggle against British rule with Japanese help.
In 1942 Capitan Mohan Singh formed INA
comprising the captured Indian soldiers along with
Indian Independence league of Rash Bihari Bose.
Rash Behari Bose handed over control of the
organization to Subhas Chandra Bose. In 1944, the
INA tried to invade India through Imphal and Kohima
but the campaign failed. The INA members were
imprisoned and tried. Officers of INA: Prem Kumar
Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurubaksh Singh
Dhillon were officers of Indian National Army whose
trial were held in 1945 at the Red Fort in Delhi. This
was the first trial of INA Prisoners of wars.
13. Drafting committee members: Alladi Krishnaswami
Ayyar, N. Gopalaswami; B.R. Ambedkar, K.M
Munshi, Mohammad Saadulla, B.L. Mitter and D.P.
Khaitan. At its first meeting on 30th August 1947, the
Drafting Committee elected B.R Ambedkar as its
Chairman.
14. Interim Government (1946) members
• Jawaharlal Nehru- External affairs and
commonwealth relations
• Sardar Vallabhai patel- House, Information and
Broadcasting
• Rajendra Prasad – Food and Agriculture
• John Mathai- Industries and Supplies
• Jagjivan Ram – Labour; Sardar Baldev singh-
Defence
15. Nizamat of Arcot: It was established by Aurangzeb
and was the legal dependency of the Nizam of
Hyderabad. However, it did not emerge from the
Hyderabad state. It emerged as an independent state
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after the weakening of the Mughal empire in the first
half of the eighteenth century.
16. Siege of Arcot (1751): During second carnatic war, to
undermine the growing French power in the region,
the English decided to support Muhammad Ali.
Robert Clive attacked Arcot, the capital of the
Carnatic, as a divisionary tactic. This is called the
Siege of Arcot, in which the British won.
17. Mysore Kingdom: After the decline of Vijayanagar
Empire, Mysore became independent state under the
Hindu Wodeyar Dynasty in AD 1565. In 1761, Hyder
Ali overthrew the regaining dynasty in Mysore and
established his own control over the state.
18. Rohilkhand kingdom: The state of Rohilkhand was
a fall out of the Afghan migration into India. The
Kingdom arose under the declining Mughal Empire in
1721 and continued to exist until 1774 when
annexation by the British transformed its significantly
reduced borders into the Princely State of Rampur.
19. Mysore Kingdom
• British Conquest of Mysore: First Anglo-
Mysore war (1767-69)- Treaty of Madras; Second
Anglo-Mysore war (1779-1784) – Treaty of
Mangalore; Third Anglo-Mysore war (1790-92)-
Treaty of Seringapatnam; Fourth Anglo-Mysore
war (1799)- Mysore conquered by British forces.
• Administration of Mysore Kingdom: Land
were classified into various categories and the
mode of assessment varied from one category to
the other. Jjara land was leased on fixed rents to
the peasants. On hissa land rent was assessed as a
share of the produce. A strong system of state
control was evolved where an amildar controlled
the revenue administration and asufdar looked
after the legalities of rent disputes.
20. Vijayanagara Empire (1336- 1646 AD): It was
founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka (with the
blessings of Guru Vidyaranya) of the Sangama
dynasty who originally served under the Kakatiya
rulers of Warangal
• They later proclaimed their independence and
founded a new city on the south bank of the
Tungabhadra River named it “Vijayanagar” (City
of Victory)
• The most famous king of vijayanagara was
Krishnadevaraya; he waged war against
Bahamani kingdom and kept them under check;
Liberated Mohammad Shah & assumed the title
“Yavanarjya Prathishtapanacharya”.
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21. Rohilkhand Kingdom: The Kingdom of Rohilkhand
was a powerful Indian State, nominally under Mughal
Suzerainty, that arose under the declining Mughal
Empire in 1721 and continued to exist until 1774 when
annexation by the British transformed its significantly
reduced borders into the Princely State of Rampur.
Nawab Ali Mohammed Khan, a scion of the ancient
Barha Dynasty became the first Nawab of
Rohilkhand, having been previously elected as
overlord by various Afghan Chiefs at the age of
fourteen.
22. Hyderabad State: In 1591 CE, the Qutb Shahi ruler
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah created the city of
Hyderabad. The Hyderabad Kingdom was an
autonomous state in India's south-central Deccan
region. Qilich Qamaruddin Khan, also known as
Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah, and Nizam I, was the first
Nizam of Hyderabad.
23. Ajanta caves: There are 30 caves at Ajanta-> 5
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Chaityas and 25 Viharas. These caves are discovered
by Captain John Smith in 1819. These caves were
included in UNESCO’s list of World heritage sites in
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1983. The caves are cut into a U- shaped cliff
overlooking River Waghora.
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• Features of the caves: The figures in these caves
painted with frescoes and exhibit a high level of
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naturalism
o Outlines painted in red; absence of
blue colour in the paintings is the most
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remarkable elements
o Paintings are themed around Buddhism->
Life of Buddha and Jataka stories
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o Early caves belong to Hinayana Buddhism
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and later caves belong to Mahayana
Buddhism
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o Mahaparinirvana of Buddha in Cave No. 26
and Naga King and his consort in Cave.no 19
are some of the most famous sculptures
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o Cave no. 10 is the oldest cave and Cave no.
26 is the latest caves.
24. Sanchi Stupa: Also known as Mahastupa, it was
originally built by Ashoka with bricks but it was
destroyed by Pushyamitra Shunga
• The stupa was enlarged to twice of its original size
by addition of more layers to its anda by
Agnimitra
• Ornamented gateways known as toranas were
added during post-mauryan age
• The stupa was discovered by General Herbert
Taylor in 1818 AD
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• The monuments at Sanchi were included in
UNESCOs list of World heritage sites in 1989
• Sanchi lies in an upland plateau region, just west
of the Betwa River and about 8 kms southwest of
Vidisha.
25. Pandav Leni Jain caves: It is ancient rock-cut
sculptures complex located at Gomai River around 6
kilometer north of Shahada, Maharashtra. They are a
group of 23 caves carved between the 1st century BCE
and the 3rd century CE. Most of the caves are viharas
except for Cave 18 which is a chaitya of the 1st
century BCE.
26. Ellora caves (600 AD- 1000 AD): There are a total of
34 caves in Ellora-> Cave No. 1 to 12 belong to
Buddhism; Cave No. 13 to 29 belong to Brahmanical
religion and Cave No. 30 to 34 belong to Jainism->
indicates high level of tolerance. These caves are
included in UNESCOs list of world heritage sites.
27. Amaravati Stupa: It pradakshinapatha enclosed
within a vedika portrayed with much narrative
sculpture. Domical stupa structure covered with relief
stupa sculptural slabs
• The Torana of the Amaravati Stupa has
disappeared over time
• Depicts the events from the life of the Buddha and
the Jataka stories
• Early phase devoid of Buddha images except in
the later stage during the second and third
centuries CE Buddha images were carved upon
the drum slabs and at many other places
• It lies in the gorge of Krishna river.
28. Pre-historic cave paintings
• Discovery of pre-historic rock paintings: First
discovery in India in 1867–68 by an archaeologist,
Archibold Carlleyle, before discovery of Altamira
in Spain; remnants found on walls of caves in
M.P, U.P, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and from
Kumaon hills in Uttarakhand; executed on rocks
and rock engravings called Petroglyphs.
• Upper Paleolithic period:
o Walls of rock shelter caves made of quartzite
walls-> used minerals for pigments; linear
representations in green and dark red.
o common minerals were ochre or geru mixed
with lime and water; Red was used for hunters
and the green mostly for dancers.
o Mainly depict huge animal figures such as
bisons, elephants, tigers besides stick-like
human figures and geometrical patterns.
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 o Richest paintings reported from Vindhya
ranges of Madhya Pradesh and their
Kaimurean extensions.
• Mesolithic period:
o Largest pre-historic paintings belong to this
period; more themes than Paleolithic period;
smaller in size than the upper paleolithic
period.
o painting of both fear and affection towards
animals ; animals painted in naturalistic style
but humans were painted in
a stylistic manner; mainly sees the use of red
colour.
o Hunting scenes depicting people hunting in
groups, community dancing, people gathering
fruit or honey from trees, women grinding etc;
o Remarkable inclusivity-> young, old,
animals, etc all found space in Bhimbetka
paintings
o Men adorned with elaborate head-dresses,
and sometimes painted with head masks
o Langhnaj in Gujarat, Bhimbetka and
Adamagarh in Madhya Pradesh,
SanganaKallu in Karnataka are prominent
Mesolithic painting sites.
o Elephant, bison, tiger, boar, deer, antelope,
leopard, panther, rhinoceros, fish and at times
birds are also depicted.
29. Chausath Yogini temple near Morena
• Patronage: The Chausath Yogini temple is
located in Mitaoli village, Morena district in
Gwalior. It was built during the reign of
Kachchhapaghata king Devapala (1055 – 1075).
• Associated religion: It is dedicated to Yognis (the
female masters of yoga) and not the Vaishnava
cult.
• Inspiration: The Parliament house was inspired
by the circular Chausath Yogini Temple.
30. Chausath Yogini temple, Jabalpur: Built by the
Kalachuris in the 10th century CE
• Situated near the river Narmada in the Bhedaghat
area, between Dhuandhar falls and Marble Rocks
• The main temple has a mandapa in front and holds
the murti of Shiva and Parvati on Nandi in the
sanctum.
31. Indian Parliament: The foundation stone was laid in
1921, by Duke of Connaught. It was designed by Sir
Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker.
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32. Neo-Roman style of architecture: Anonymous
constructions, focus on circular buildings, overuse of
oriental motifs to realise western architectural
designs. Concept of upturned dome as can be seen in
Supreme court and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
33. Fernao Nuniz: He was a native of Portugal who
visited Vijayanagar during the reign of Achyuta Raya
• He wrote a book titled ‘The Chronicles of
Fernao Nuniz’
• He noted presence of women
soothsayers, astrologers, accountants,
bailiffs, watchwomen and wrestlers in
Vijayanagar
• Polygamy was common practice among
the rich
• Child marriage was common
• Brahmins were honest and good at
accountancy
• Sati was also a common practice.
34. Megasthenes Indica references
• There are seven castes in Indian society
during Mauryan period-> Philosopher,
Farmers/Husbandmen, Herdsmen, Trades and
artisans, warriors, overseers and councilors.
• Slavery and Usury (money lending) was
completely absent in India.
• Laws in India were severe and crimes were
rare.
• Pataliputra was surrounded by a wooden
palisade; had well-developed municipal
administration.
• There was peace and prosperity throughout
Mauryan empire; there was no famine in
India.
• Indians worshipped Dionysius (Shiva) and
Heracles (Krishna).
• India has a number of mountains with a wide
variety of fruit trees.
• Indian elephants are far superior to Libyan
elephants in terms of strength and size.
• Gold, silver, copper, and iron are all abundant
in India.
• India's plains are extremely fertile; Rice,
millet, a crop called bosporum, cereals,
pulses, and other food plants were main crops.
35. Dholavira: It is the fifth largest metropolis of IVC. It
has a fortified citadel, a middle town and a lower
town with walls made of sandstone or
limestone instead of mud bricks in other Harappan
sites.
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 • It is known for its water management system,
giant water reservoir, unique water harvesting
system, stadium, dams and embankments.
• Copper smelting remains found-> indicate
knowledge of metallurgy
• Artefacts made of copper, stone, jewellery of
terracotta, gold and ivory have been found
• No mortal remains of humans discovered at
Dholavira unlike graves at other IVC sites.
36. Kalibangan: Key hole skull surgery (trepanation)
evidence found at Kalibangan. Bangle factory, toy
carts, bones of camel, decorated bricks and lower
town are also found.
37. Rakhigarhi: Recent DNA study at Rakhigarhi->
People in the Harappan Civilization have an
independent origin and negates theory of Harappans
having ancient Iranian farmer ancestry.
38. Ropar: Dog buried with human oval pit burials.
39. Harappa (Pakistan): Two rows of six granaries with
big platform, stone symbol of lingam and yoni, mother
goddess figure, wheat and barley in wooden mortar,
copper scale and mirror, sculpture of dog chasing a
deer in bronze metal, nude dancing girl of stone and a
red sandstone male torso.
40. Mohenjo-daro (Pakistan): Great Bath, Great
granary, post cremation burial, sculpture of bearded
priest.
41. Factories of English East India Company: By 1623,
English East India Company had established factories
at Surat, Broach, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Agra,
Masulipatam and Armagaon near Pulicat. The English
opened their first factory in the South at Masulipatam
in 1611.
42. Factories of Portuguese: Portuguese established
their first factory in India at Calicut in 1500 AD. This
factory was abandoned in 1525 AD due to the
opposition of Zamorin of Calicut.
43. Factories of Dutch: In India, they established the first
factory in Masulipattanam in 1605, followed by
Pulicat in 1610, Surat in 1616, Bimilipatam in 1641
and Chinsura in 1653. In Bengal they established a
factory in Pipli, but it was abandoned for Balasore
later.
44. Factories of Danish: In 1616 AD, the Danish East
India company established their first factory at
Tranquebar in Tamilnadu (1620) and Serampur in
Bengal (1676).
45. British East India Company was established as a
trading company in 1600 and transformed into a ruling
body in 1765. After the Battle of Buxar (1764), the
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East India Company got the Diwani (right to collect
revenue) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and gradually, it
started interfering in Indian affairs.
46. Important Kingdoms: In the sixth century CE, the
Huns occupied Malwa, Gujarat, Punjab and
Gandhara. As the Hun invasion weakened the Gupta
hold in the country, independent rulers emerged all
over the north like Yasodharman of Malwa, the
Maukharis of Uttar Pradesh, the Maitrakas in
Saurashtra and others in Bengal. Thaneswar, lying
north of Delhi between Sutlej and Yamuna, was
formed into an independent state by Pushyabhutis.
Later Gupta dynasty ruled the Magadha region in
eastern India between the 6th and 7th centuries CE.
47. Paramars of Malwa: They were feudatories of
Pratiharas. They declared their independence in the
10th century and Dhara was their capital. They have
ruled until 1305, when Malwa was conquered by Ala
ud din Khilji. Raja Bhoja (1010-1055) was the most
famous ruler of this period; He constructed a beautiful
lake more than 250 sq. miles near Bhopal and also set
up a college at Dhara for the study of Sanskrit
Literature.
48. Yadavas of Devagiri: The Yadavas of Devagiri were
the descendants of the feudatory nobles of the Western
Chalukyan (Chalukyas of Kalyani) Empire. They held
territory Devagiri (Modern Daultabad) and Nasik and
was known as Sevana or Seuna.
49. Madanapalle: Rabindranath Tagore translated "Jana
Gana Mana" from Bengali to English as ‘Morning
song of India’ and also set it to music in Madanapalle.
National Anthem was written by Rabindranath Tagore
and was first sung on December 27, 1911 at the
Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.
50. Pingali Venkayya: The Indian tricolour was designed
by Pingali Venkayya, who was a freedom fighter and
was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He presented it to
Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 during the session of the All
India Congress Committee in Vijaywada. The flag, at
that time, was made of Green and Saffron colour,
representing Muslim and Hindu communities of India.
51. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah: Indian Nationalism (1913),
The Redistribution of Indian Provinces on a Linguistic
Page 6
 Basis (1916) and Non Cooperation (1921) were
famous books penned by Pattabhi Sitaramayya. He
was also the founder of the Andhra Bank in 1923 in
Masulipatnam. He also founded ‘Krishna Cooperative
Central Bank’ in 1915, Andhra Insurance Company in
1925 and Bharat Laxmi Bank Ltd. in 1929 etc.
52. Madame Blavatsky and Olcott: The Theosophical
Society was founded by Madame H. P. Blavatsky and
Colonel Olcott in New York in 1875. In 1882, the
headquarters of the Society were established in Adyar,
near Madras (now Chennai) in India.
53. Duggirala Balaramakrishnaya: He initiated a no-
revenue campaign in 1931 in coastal Andhra, Krishna
district. He also wrote a telugu ballad Gandhi Gita
which aroused patriotic sentiments.
54. Alluri Sitaram Raju: He led the tribals in Andhra and
combined their demands with those of Non-
cooperation movement. In 1922, he led
Rampa/Manyam rebellion against the British raj for
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their imposition of the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which
severely restricted the free movement of the tribal
community within their own forests.
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55. Komram Bheem: Bheem was a member of the
Gond community and grew up in the populated
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forests of the Chanda and Ballalpur kingdoms. He
had escaped from prison to a tea plantation in
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Assam. Here, he heard about the rebellion being
led by Alluri, and found a new sense of
inspiration to protect the Gond tribe to which he
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belonged.
56. Burzahom: It is a Neolithic site; people built pit-
houses, which were dug into the ground, with steps
1
leading into them. From subterranean dwelling pits,
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the evidences in the site show the emergence of mud-
structures. The range of tools recovered from the site
shows the evolution in tool making Neolithic men
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skilled hunters and their knowledge in applying the
implements for cultivation. Important findings are pit
pa
dwelling, man and dog burial (custom of pet burial).
57. Chandraketugarh: Chandraketugarh (Fort of
Chandraketu), often called “the city that never
existed”. Various excavations unearthed a number of
terracotta artworks.
58. Ganeshwar: The Ganeshwar-Jodhpura Chalcolithic
culture was first discovered in the 1970’s post the
excavation at Jodhpura and Ganeshwar respectively.
It yielded copper objects such as arrowheads,
spearheads, chisels, ornaments like rings, hairpins,
bangles, antimony rods, double spiral headed pin
amongst others.
59. Hire Benkal: Megalithic site in Karnataka
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• It consists of almost 1000 megalithic burial
structures situated on a granite peak for more than
2500 years
• Another unique feature of Hire Benkal is
prehistoric rock paintings. 11 rock shelters have
been discovered with motifs like human figures,
horse rider holding battle-axe, row of deers, bull
with long horns, peacock, etc.
60. Medieval India Important Information
• Chengiz Khan: The Khwarezm ruler Jalaluddhin
who was being pursued by Chengiz khan fled to
Delhi Sultanate. Iltutmish, who was ruling Delhi
then, refused the request of Jalaluddhin for
asylum.
• Taimur: Taimur crossed Indus during the reign
of Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351 -1388).
• Vasco da Gama: Vasco da Gama reached the
coast of Kerala during the reign of Zamorin of
Calicut.
• Battle of Delhi: In 1398 the Mongol-Turkish
warrior Timur, ruler of Central Asia from his
capital at Samarkand, found a pretext to strike
south into India. His victory over the sultan of
Delhi confirmed the irresistible fighting qualities
of his army and the awesome destructiveness that
made him a legend of cruelty.
• Iltutmish Mongol policy: Mongols, led by
Chengez Khan, arrived on India's borders in 1220
AD. They invaded Ujjain and demolished the
‘Mahakal' temple. Iltutmish used diplomacy to
save India from Mongol annihilation. Iltutmish
assassinated Mankbarni's messenger and refused
to comply with the Khwarizm prince by sending a
formal response stating that the climate in India
would be unsuitable for him. As a result of this
diplomatic manoeuvre, he avoided Chengez
Khan's wrath.
• Muhamad Bin Tughlaq: The rebellion of Hasan
Shah resulted in establishment of Madurai
Sultanate. In 1336, the Vijayanagara kingdom
was founded; In 1347 Bahamani kingdom was
established.
• Ibn Batuta: He came to India during reign of
Sultan Muhammad- bin- Tughluq. He wrote a
travelogue titled Kitab-i-Rehala. He visited
Vijayanagar empire during the reign of King
Harihara I.
• Nicolo Conti: He was a native of Italy; visited
India during king Devaraya I of vijayanagar.
Noted that king was more powerful than other
Page 7
 kings in India. About 90,000 men in Vijayanagar
city could bear arms.
61. Francis Xavier: He led an extensive mission into
Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time and
was influential in evangelization work, most notably
in India. He was the first Christian missionary to
venture into Japan, Borneo, the Maluku Islands, and
other areas. Known as the “Apostle of the Indies” and
“Apostle of Japan”, he is considered to be one of the
greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle
• Saint Francis Xavier, was a Catholic
missionary and saint who was a co-
founder of the Society of Jesus. He was
born in Javier and was a companion of
Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first
seven Jesuits
• Francis died in the island of Sancian, off
the Chinese coast
• Feast of St. Francis Xavier is observed on
Dec 3rd each year in Goa.
62. William Carey: He was a Scottish missionary who
helped establish the Serampore Mission. His work
gained him immense respect for his missions in
Bengal as well as England. His struggle against
inhumanity of sati had become well known.
63. Serampore Mission (1800-1845): India's first
Christian missionary organisation. William carey and
his two associates established this mission on 10
January 1800. The Mission started preaching the
message of Jesus from two places in Hughli district.
The first Catholic Church in this district was
established at Bandel in 1599. About two hundred
years later a Protestant Church was built in serampore
(1800). William Carey established this Church and the
mission on 17 August 1761. It was through his
initiative that the Baptist Missionary Society was
formed.
64. Mitakshara and Dayabhaga
• Dayabhaga and Mitakshara are both the civil laws
for the upper castes. Dayabhaga system prevailed
in eastern India and Mitakshara in remaining parts
of the country.
• Sons claim for property: In Mitakshara system
all the members enjoy coparcenary rights during
the father’s lifetime. Whereas in Dayabhaga
system, sons do not enjoy coparcenary rights
when the father is alive.
• Male Vs Female rights: Both the systems deal
with the property rights of both of men and
women. In Mitakshara school women were
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believed to never be able to become a coparcener.
In Mitakshara, a wife cannot demand partition but
has the right to a share in any partition between
her husband and her sons. In Dayabhaga, a widow
has the right to inherit her deceased husband share
and could enforce a partition against his brothers.
• Recent Supreme Court ruling: SC ruled that
daughters will have equal rights to their father’s
property even prior to the enactment of the Hindu
Succession Act (HSA) of 1956
• It ruled that the property of a man who had died
without executing a will and is survived only by a
daughter will devolve upon the daughter and not
others such as his brother
• If a female Hindu dies intestate without leaving
any issue, then the property inherited by her from
her father or mother would go to the heirs of her
father whereas the property inherited from her
husband or father-in-law would go to the heirs of
the husband.
65. Bhavabhuti: He was a major dramatist of the later
Sanskrit dramatic period, was the court poet of King
Yashovarman of Kannauj, in north India in 8th CE. He
wrote plays based on the Ramayana, such as the
Mahaviracharita (Exploits of a Great Hero), which
depicts the early life of Rama and Uttaramcharita (The
Latter History of Rama), which shows the final years
of Rama’s life as written in the Uttara Kanda of the
Ramayana. His third drama, Malatimadhava (Malati
and Madhava), is a Prakarana play centered on the
love story of Malati, the daughter of a minister and
Madhavya, her beloved.
66. Hastimalla: He was 13th century Kannada poet and
writer in Hoysala Empire. He wrote Purvapurana.
67. Kshemeshvara: He was an 11th-century Sanskrit
poet from Kashmir in India. His work is called
Dasavatar Charita.
68. Jain Monks- Various sects
• Svetambaras: Liberal jain monks who favoured
relaxation of rules; monks allowed to wear white
cloth; follow only four vows (except
Brahmacharya); Sthulabhadra was exponent of
this sect.
o Sthanakvasi: Founded by Lavaji in 1653
AD; oppose idol worship and accepts
Svetambara Jain agamas; roots of the sect can
be traced to teachings of Lonkashah.
o Murtipujaka: They worship idols of
Tirthankaras; do not use muhapatti (cloth
used to cover mouth during prayers).
Page 8
 o Svetambara Terapanth: Acharya Bhikshu
was founder of this sect; opposed idol
worship; emphasis on 13 religious principles
which are 5 samitis, 5 mahavratas and 3
Guptis.
• Digambaras: Refused to accept changes; rejected
12 angas as true jain canons; believe in complete
nudity; follow all the five vows; believe that
women cannot achieve salvation; Bhadrabahu
was exponent of this sect.
o Mula sangha: Literally means original or
root; Acharya Kundakunda was founder this
sect.
o Bisapantha: support the Dharma-gurus, the
religious authorities known as Bhattarakas;
worship the idols of Jain Tirthankaras and
also the idols of Ksetrapala, Padmavati and
other deities; idols are worshipped with
saffron, flowers, fruits, sweets and incense
sticks; Presently they mainly belong to
Maharashtra, Karnataka and South India.
69. Indian council act, 1892: Limited and indirect use of
election. Although members elected, viceroy has
discretion whether to add them in central council or
not.
70. Government of India Act 1919: It introduced for the
bicameralism and direct elections in the country. It
extended the principle of communal representation by
providing separate electorates for Sikhs, Christians,
Anglo Indians and Europeans. It granted franchise to
a limited number of people on the basis of property,
tax or education. Women were given the right to vote.
But there was no universal adult suffrage.
71. Government of India Act 1935: It further extended
franchise. About 10% of the total population got the
voting right. The act abolished dyarchy in provinces
and introduced provincial autonomy in its place.
Consequently, the federal subjects were divided into
reserved and transferred subjects. However, this
provision of the act did not come into existence. The
act further extended principle of communal
representation by providing separate electorate for
depressed classes, women and labour.
72. 8th August 1942: In July 1942, the CWC met at
Wardha and resolved that it would authorise Gandhi
to take charge of the non-violent mass movement. The
resolution generally referred to as the ‘Quit India’
resolution. Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and
seconded by Sardar Patel, it was to be approved by the
All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay in
August.
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73. Cripps Proposal: The proposal of the Cripps mission
was that “India would be a dominion associated with
the United kingdom”
• For the first time, British government recognized
the “Right of Dominion’ for India
• Indians were given promise of liberty to frame
their own constitution
• The Cripps mission which was a move to appease
the Congress, Muslim League and Indian states at
the same time was rejected by all of them
• Gandhi wanted an undivided India, Muslim
league wanted a separate Pakistan , Congress
demanded a full control over defense “stating that
a slave country cannot have any inspiration”
• Sikhs rejected because of non-accession of
provinces
• Hindu Mahasabha rejected because the “Pakistan
Virus” was alive
• The Dalits and depressed classed also rejected
because there was nothing new for them.
74. Extension of Viceroy Executive council: More
Indians were added to Viceroy’s executive council by
Government of India Act 1919. For the first time,
an Indian was added in this council by Government of
India act 1909.
75. Resignation of Congress ministries: Congress
resigned from ministries in seven provinces in 1939 as
they decided not to support war as India could
not be party to a war for democratic freedom while
that freedom was being denied to India.
76. Bal Gangadhar Tilak: He was an Indian nationalist,
teacher and an independence activist conferred with
the title of Lokmanya
• He founded the Deccan Education Society in 1884
along with his associate Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
and others to create a new system of education
that taught young Indians nationalist ideas
through an emphasis on Indian culture
• Tilak helped found the All India Home Rule
League in 1916–18 with G. S. Khaparde and
Annie Besant
• Tilak’s Home Rule League worked in
Maharashtra, Central Provinces and Karnataka
and Berar region. Besant’s League was active in
the rest of India
• Newspapers: Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta
(English)
• Books: Shrimadh Bhagvad Gita Rahasya and
Arctic Home of the Vedas.
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77. Sarojini Naidu: Sarojini Naidu was an Indian
independence activist, poet and politician
• ‘The Nightingale of India’
• She wrote the play "Maher Muneer"; she became
the second woman president of the Indian
National Congress.
• She was the first woman Governor of an Indian
state after independence.
78. Jawaharlal Nehru: He was a nationalist leader,
social democrat, author, and humanist
• He was a prolific writer and authored books such
as ‘The Discovery of India’ and ‘Glimpse
• Nehru was elected President of the Lahore
Session of INC (1929), where complete
independence for the country was adopted as the
goal
• He was elected President of the Lucknow Session
in 1936 again.
79. MK Gandhi: Gandhiji was a prolific writer and he
om
has written many articles throughout his life. He
edited several newspapers including Harijan in
Gujarati, Indian opinion in South Africa, and Young
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ECONOMY
82. Casual Workers: Workers on a temporary
employment contract; absence of a continuing
35
relationship of any stability with an employer, which
could lead to their not being considered ‘employees’
1
at all.
• EPF Coverage: The Supreme Court in Pawan
07
Hans Limited & Ors. Vs Aviation Karmachari
Sanghatana ruled that casual workers are also
rth
entitled to social security benefits under EPF act.
All casual workers are covered under the
Employee Provident Fund act from the date of
pa
their joining the establishment.
• Working hours and overtime payment: Section
6 and 7 of the Code of Wages, 2020 relates to
number of regular working hours and weekly day
of rest and overtime provisions respectively.
• Payment of wages: The Payment of Wages
(Amendment) Act, 2017 enables that the
Government may specify that employer of any
industrial or other establishment shall pay wages
to every employee only by cheque or by crediting
the wages in his bank account.
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• He wrote several books including his
autobiography “The Story of My Experiments
with Truth”
• Mahatma Gandhi was associated with “Songs
from Prison”, a translation of ancient Indian
religious lyrics in English in 1934.
80. Administration in Medieval India: The entire Suba
was divided into Sarkars (districts), each being looked
after by a military officer called the chief Shiqdar.
Each Sarkar was divided into smaller units called
Parganas. There was a Shiqdar (military officer),
Amin or Munsif (Civilian Judge), one Fotahdar
(treasurer) and two Karkuns (clerks or writers) in each
Pargana.
81. Kula, Grama, Vis, Jana, Rashtra: The Early vedic
society was a tribal society based on kinship ties. The
tribe was referred to as Jana. Many clans (vis) formed
the tribe. The clans settled in villages called Grama.
The basic social unit was Kula or family and Kulapa
is the one who protects the family. Rashtra or state was
a much later concept which did not exist in the early
vedic period.
83. Casualization trends: Agriculture and construction
sectors have showed consistent rise in casual workers
over the last decade.
84. Urban Co-operative Banks in India
• Supervision and regulation: The Urban Banks
Department of the Reserve Bank of India is vested
with the responsibility of regulating and
supervising primary (urban) cooperative banks.
• Issuance of shares: Urban co-operative banks
with prior approval of RBI can issue equity
shares, preference shares to its members or to any
person residing within its area of operation.
• Legal framework: They are regulated by the RBI
under Banking regulation act, 1949 and Banking
laws act, 1965.
• 2020 Amendment: It was introduced to bring
UCBs under the supervision of RBI. As a result,
1482 urban cooperatives and 58 multi state
cooperative banks were brought under direct
supervision of RBI.
• Regulation: Banking related functions (viz.
licensing, area of operations, interest rates etc.)
are governed by RBI and registration,
Page 10
 management, audit and liquidation, etc. governed
by State Governments as per the provisions of
respective State Acts.
• Issuance of bonds: Urban cooperative banks can
also issue unsecured debentures/bonds with
maturity varying not less than 10 years.
• Status of UCBs: They have witnessed a decline
in deposits from 6.1 per cent in 2018-19 to 3.5 per
cent in 2019-20. In terms of loans and advances,
there has been a sharp decline from 8 per cent in
2018-19 to 0.8 per cent in 2019-20.
85. Bond yields: It refers to the expected earnings
generated and realized on a fixed-income investment
over a particular period of time, expressed as a
percentage or interest rate. It depends on the price of
the bond which is impacted by its demand.
86. Factors influencing Government Bond Yields:
• Actions of US Federal Reserve: It impacts the
inflow of investments in India -> Investments in
government bonds affected-> There will be
changes in demand for government securities
which can result into decline in the yields.
• Actions of RBI: Inflation management tools
determine liquidity and cost of funds available in
economy-> Affect demand of government
securities and thereby influences the yield of
Government bonds.
• Inflation and short-term interest rates: They
determine purchasing capacity of the people in the
economy, thereby impact on demand and price of
the government -securities thereby influencing the
yield.
87. Operation twist: RBI sells shorter duration G-sec
(less than 1 year) and purchases longer duration G-sec
to reduce bond yield on long term, make borrowing
cheaper, make corporates to invest in economy.
88. AT1 bonds: No maturity date, Banks pays interest for
infinite time/perpetuity and no principal payment.
89. Access to Government Gilt bonds to retail
investors: RBI allowed retail investors to directly buy
government debts (gilt bonds), making India the first
Asian country to do so
• It will broaden investor base and provide retail
investors with enhanced access to participate in
government securities market
• G-Secs are tradeable investment instruments
issued by government which are mostly risk-free
as they are backed by sovereign.
90. Demand pull inflation: It is caused by overall
increase in demand for goods and services
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• Too much money chasing too few goods
• It is often promoted by Keynesian school of
economics
• Major reasons are increase in money supply
(increased salary, increased expenditure of
government etc.), economy close to full capacity,
increase in exports which undervalues rupee,
aggregate demand for a good or service overtakes
aggregate supply.
• Expansionary Policies: It lead to increase in the
supply of money in an economy; thereby can
cause demand pull inflation in the economy.
• Fiscal Stimulus: The government stimulate
economy by providing tax rebates, incentives to
promote private sector-> job creation; thereby can
lead to demand pull inflation.
• Inflation-indexing wages: Wages moves as
inflation changes in the economy; they are
intended to reduce the effect of inflation on
wages. However, effective change in the wages is
zero and it does not alter the purchasing power.
Therefore, it cannot lead to demand pull inflation.
• Higher purchasing power: Higher purchasing
power can lead to demand-pull inflation as it
increases the spending capacity of a household.
• Rising interest rates: It will deter people to
borrow money and hence it will not
cause/increase the demand pull inflation.
91. Cost Push inflation: It occurs when firms respond to
increase in factor input costs by increasing prices in
order to protect their profits
• Major reasons are rise in labour cost, rise in raw
material price, fall in exchange rate and increase
in taxes
• For example, Brent crude prices crossed $65 per
barrel in May 2021, which is more than double of
2020.
92. Water Credit
• Microfinance tools: Water Credit is a powerful
solution and the first to put microfinance tools to
work in the water and sanitation sector. It helps
bring small loans to those who need access to
affordable financing and expert resources to make
household water and toilet solutions a reality.
• Non-profit organization: Water credit is an
initiative of Water.org. Water.org is a global non-
profit organization working to bring water and
sanitation to the world.
• Reduce subsidies dependence: It helps poor
people get access to safe water and sanitation
Page 11
 through affordable financing and reduce
dependence on subsidies.
• Working of Water credit: It identifies a region
where people need access to water and sanitation
and that is ready for a microfinance solution.
Partners with selected institutions to provide
affordable financing for water and sanitation to
families in need. It enables poor households to
meet their water and sanitation needs without
depending on subsidies.
93. Recession: It is a situation characterized by negative
growth rate of GDP in two successive quarters.
Increase in public project expenditure triggers
virtuous cycle of investment. It will lead to increase in
GDP and increase in income -> Rise in consumption
and increased demand.
• Effects of Recession: Budget Deficit, decline in
real income, close down of companies, lower
levels of inflation, fall in exchange rates, fall in
asset prices etc.
• Measures to tackle recession: Reduction in tax
rates, increase in government expenditure,
Quantitative easing, reduction in interest rates.
• Pump Priming: It is the action taken to stimulate
an economy, usually during a recessionary period,
through government spending and interest rate
and tax reductions.
94. Market demand for a good: Demand for a good
increases when price of one of its substitutes rises, if
the price of a good falls-> the quantity demanded of
that good increases.
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95. Inferior good -> Demand drops when people's
incomes rise. Examples of inferior goods include low
quality food items like coarse cereals.
96. Giffen Goods: Demand goes up when their price goes
up while demand goes down when prices go down.
These are low-income, non-luxury products that do
not have substitutes. The demand curve is upward
sloping for Giffen goods instead of the usual
downward sloping curve.
97. Veblen Goods: It is a good for which demand
increases as the price increases. These are typically
high-quality goods that are made well, are exclusive,
and are a status symbol. Examples include designer
jewelry, yachts, and luxury cars.
98. Components of FDI: Foreign Currency Convertible
Bonds (FCCB), Foreign Institutional Investment with
certain conditions (subject to overall limit of 24%),
Global Depository Receipts (GDR), Equity capital
(purchase of shares in a firm in a country other than
one's own by a foreign direct investor)
• Reinvested earnings (portion of a direct investor's
earnings that are not paid as dividends by affiliates
or returned to the direct investor)
• Short and long-term borrowing and lending
operations between direct investors and linked
enterprises are known as intra-company loans.
• Note: Non-Resident external deposits not part of
Foreign Direct investments.
Page 12

101. Black Money: There is no official definition of
om
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07
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99. Devaluation: Reducing the price (exchange rate) of
one nation's currency in terms of other currencies. It
pa
happens in countries with a fixed exchange rate (or
also where it is managed floating rate)
• Effects of Devaluation: It increases the export
competitiveness of goods and services from the
domestic country and decreases the foreign value
of domestic currency. The trade balance depends
upon both export as well as imports and it is not
necessary that devaluation of currency improves
trade balance.
100. Revaluation: Increasing the price (exchange rate) of
one nation's currency in terms of other currencies. It is
done to raise the price of the country's exports and
lower the price of foreign imports.
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• Objectives of Revaluation: When exports are
higher than imports, the government could go for
currency revaluation for reducing the current
account surplus. It can be undertaken to manage
inflation as revaluation can make the imports
cheaper which can, in turn, reduce the inflation
rate in the domestic economy.
• Impacts of Revaluation: It leads to a decrease in
the country's exports because the exports become
less competitive in the international market. It
decreases the value of remittances coming from
abroad. As imports become cheaper the overall
inflation increases. It impact both the currency
being examined and the value of assets held by
foreign companies in that particular currency.
black money in economic theory, with several
different terms such as parallel economy, black
money, black incomes, unaccounted economy,
illegal economy and irregular economy. In simple
terms, it is the money that is hidden from tax
authorities.
• Concerns of Black money: The major cause of
worry is loss of revenue to state exchequer. It
reduces government capacity to spend more on
social infrastructure and also lead to higher
inflation-> increases disparity between rich and
poor.
• Impact of black money on Economy: Due to
parallel economy, neither government nor
industries get actual picture of investment
sentiments-> market distortions
o Corruption in government projects and
procurements creates low quality
infrastructure
o It drives up the prices of real estate
o Forward trading of goods by cash rich
speculators cause fluctuation in prices due to
hoarding
o Black money leads to further corruption by
creating a vicious cycle.
• Legislative Framework to deal with Black
Money: Prevention of Money Laundering Act,
2002, Benami Transactions Prohibition Act,
1988, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, The
Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets
(Imposition of Tax) Bill, 2015, Public
Procurement Bill, Lokpal and Lokayukta Act.
• Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income
and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015
Page 13
 o It penalises the concealment of foreign
income and provides for criminal liability for
attempting to evade tax in relation to foreign
income.
o It gives one-time opportunity to Indian
residents to declare undisclosed foreign
income and assets.
o The concerned person had to pay tax at the
rate of 30% and an equal amount by way of
penalty if found having undisclosed overseas
wealth.
o The Act provides for punishment of jail for 3-
10 years for the willful evasion.
102. Deficit Financing: Creation of new money to finance
a budget deficit will have more inflationary effect than
any of the above, as it will lead to an increase in total
money supply in the market. Thus it is inherently
inflationary as it increases flow of money in the
economy.
• It is the practice where the government spends
more money than it receives as revenue, the
difference being made up by borrowing or
minting new funds
• The deficit is financed by borrowing loans from
the central bank, commercial banks, and even
state governments through Ad-hoc Treasury Bills.
• Means of Deficit Financing: External aids and
borrowings, internal borrowings, withdrawing
cash balances held with RBI, printing currency
(last resort as it increases inflation
proportionally).
• Impact: Increases aggregate expenditure which
in turn increases aggregate demand and hence the
risk of inflation. It can also lead to the process of
economic surplus which causes economic growth.
• Advantages:
o Increases financial strength of the
government
o It leads to inflation which can prove to be
beneficial under certain circumstances
o Multiplier effect on economic development as
it encourages the government to utilize
unemployed and underemployed resources.
• Disadvantages: It causes inflation and a rise in
prices
o Individuals with fixed sources of income are
not benefited
o It disturbs the entire investment system as
most of the investment is attracted towards
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the quick profit-yielding industries which are
not beneficial for long-term growth
o Decrease in purchasing power of money
leading to an outflow of capital from the
country.
103. Money Multiplier: It is a phenomenon of creating
money in the economy in the form of credit
creation, based on the fractional reserve banking
system. It is the maximum limit to which money
supply can be affected by bringing about changes
in the amount of money deposits. It is seen in
commercial banks as they accept deposits, and
after keeping a certain amount as a reserve,
distribute the money as loans for injecting liquidity
in the economy. Thus, money multiplier increases
with increase in banking habit of people.
• Money multiplier: Complete rotation of money
(RBI issues currencies- Banks gives loans - Banks
gets the deposits - further makes the loans),
Dependent upon Cash reserve ratio (CRR) of
Banks. Every R% CRR cash generates 1/R new
money.
• Stock of Total Money (M3)/ Stock of high
powered Money(M0)
• Example: Presently, CRR is 4% which means
money multiplier is 100/4 = 25. Printing of 100 Rs
note by RBI would generate Rs.2500 in economy.
• Not exactly 25x in real life: Black money, lack of
financial inclusion, Banks do not loan to last
extent, not Demand of loans in economy.
• Example: Money multiplier during Corona 2020
was 5.5. (Economic Survey 2020). Money
multiplier is reducing because economic activities
are down and people are not seeking loans.
• Velocity of money circulation: No of times
money passes from one hand to another. Poor
people -> rich people, developed countries >
developing countries (More consumption
oriented)
• Currency in circulation (CIC): Usage cash as
payment than cheque, digital payment. CIC down:
People keeping cash in bank and using less to
spend.
104. Retail investors in primary market: In February,
2021, RBI allowed retail investors to directly
purchase government bonds by opening gilt
accounts with RBI. RBI has provided retail
investors with online access to the government
securities market through the RBI (Retail Direct).
Page 14
105. Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching(NDS-
OM) is a screen based electronic anonymous order
matching system for secondary market trading in
Government securities owned by RBI. The
membership of the system is open to entities like
Banks, Primary Dealers, Insurance Companies,
Mutual Funds etc. i.e. entities who maintain SGL
accounts with RBI.
106. Central Depository Services Limited: It is promoted
by BSE Ltd. jointly with leading banks such as State
Bank of India, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC
Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Union Bank of
India
• It is an Indian electronic securities depository,
founded in 1999 and based in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. It is India's second-largest securities
depository and allows for account transfers
• Depository holds securities of investors like
Shares, bonds, debentures, mutual fund, Licensed
by SEBI.
107. Access to Government Gilt bonds to retail
investors: RBI allowed retail investors to directly buy
government debts (gilt bonds), making India the first
Asian country to do so. It will broaden investor base
and provide retail investors with enhanced access to
participate in government securities market. G-Secs
are tradeable investment instruments issued by
government which are mostly risk-free as they are
backed by sovereign.
• Lenders of Last Resort: It is an institution,
usually a country’s central bank, that offers loans
to banks or other eligible institutions that are
experiencing financial difficulty or are considered
highly risky or near collapse. It functions to
protect individuals who have deposited funds and
to prevent customers from withdrawing out of
panic from banks with temporary
limited liquidity. Commercial banks are account
holders in RBI and it maintains banking account
GEOGRAPHY
109. Permaculture: It is an innovative framework for
creating sustainable ways of agriculture. It is a
practical method of developing ecologically • Soil salinity: Usage of techniques such as natural
harmonious, efficient and productive systems that can
be used by anyone, anywhere.
• Discourages Monoculture: It discourages
monoculture and promote growing a wide range
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of all scheduled banks. RBI provides financial
assistance against mortgaged securities and
rediscounts bills of exchange.
• Monetary Functions of RBI
§ Issue of Currency: All currency in India
(except Rs.1 notes and coins of all
denominations) are issued and circulated by
RBI. [Note: Rs.1 notes and all coins issued by
Ministry of Finance but circulated by the
RBI].
§ Minimum reserves system: RBI has to keep
a minimum reserve of 200 crores comprising
of Gold and foreign exchange.
§ Implements Monetary policy: It implements
and monitors the monetary policy and ensures
price stability. RBI amendment act provided
statutory basis for implementation of
the flexible inflation targeting framework and
provided for empowered six-
member Monetary Policy Committee
(MPC) to be constituted by the Central
Government.
• Banker and Debt Manager to government: It
maintains bank account for government, receive
and make payments out of it. It helps GOI to raise
money from public through issue of bonds In
2020, RBI increase the Ways and Means Advance
limits of states by 60% over and above levels of
31st March till Sep 2020.
108. Union Budget (2020-21): It proposed to develop
iconic sites with on-site Museums at Harappan
sites of Rakhigarhi (Haryana) and Dholavira
(Gujarat). National Maritime Heritage Museum at
Lothal-> India and Portugal will cooperate in the
setting up of the museum (Implemented by
Ministry of Shipping with involvement of ASI,
State government and other stakeholder).
of food grains, fruits and vegetables and thereby
expanding the food basket.
mulching, rainfall harvesting, legume cultivation
in permaculture improves soil properties, increase
soil organic matter content and reduce soil
salinity.
Page 15
 • Semi-arid regions: Permaculture focuses on • RBD palm oil is used to produce biodiesel due to
water management and water conservation the low FFA content (0.1-0.5%). Palm oil contains
through rainwater harvesting, so it is very much various phytonutrients that can be separated out
suitable for arid and semiarid regions. prior to biodiesel production
• Rainwater harvesting, less machinery to be used, • Top consumers of Palm oil are India, China, and
Seasonal agriculture and Multi cropping/ Crop the European Union (EU).
diversification.
• Mulching: It basically involves application of a
protective layer of material to the field soil surface
just after sowing any crop. The material could be
organic and biodegradable (paddy straw,
sugarcane bark, dry grass, trees leaves and even
newspaper) or inorganic and non-biodegradable
such as polythene sheets. It improves crop yield
and optimize water use which is an essential
component of permaculture.
• Components of Perma-Culture
111. Indus River System: It originates from a glacier
near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region at an altitude
om
of 4,164 m in the Kailash Mountain range near the
Mansarovar Lake.
l.c
ai
gm

110. Palm Oil: It is an edible vegetable oil derived from

the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of oil palms
35

• The main source of palm oil is the Elaeis

guineensis tree, which is native to the coastal 112. Jhelum: Originates at Vernag, in western Jammu
1

countries of West and Southwest Africa, and Kashmir union territory, in the Indian-
07

including Angola, Gabon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, administered portion of the Kashmir region, from a
Nigeria, and others deep spring. The river flows northwestward from
• In recent years, oil palm growth has expanded to the Pir Panjal Range's northern slope through the
rth

Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Vale of Kashmir to Srinagar's Wular Lake, which
Indonesia. These two countries currently produce regulates its flow. The Jhelum emerges from the
lake and flows westward, cutting through the Pir
pa

more than 80% of the world’s palm oil supply

• Palm oil is now one of the least expensive and
most popular oils worldwide, accounting for one-
third of global plant oil production
• More than 90% is grown in Southeast Asia, with
Indonesia and Malaysia are leading producers.
Palm oil is native to Africa
• It is used in cosmetics for its moisturising and
texturising properties. Also used in lipstick as it
holds color well; makes perfumed and deodorants
more effective and helps the fragrance to last
longer
Panjal in a gorge that is 7,000 feet (2,100 metres)
deep.
113. Ravi: The Ravi River rises in the Himalayas in the
Multhan tehsil of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra
district. It is a perennial river that flows in a north-
westerly direction. The Budhil and Nai or Dhona,
two of its major tributaries, meet 64 kilometres
downstream from its source. The Budhil River rises
in the Lahul range of hills and receives its water
from the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Manimahesh
Kailash Peak and Manimahesh Lake.

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 114. Sutlej: It rises in China's Western Tibet, near the
source of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra
rivers, in the Kailas mountain range. The river has a
length of 1,536 kilometres and a catchment area of
75369 square kilometres (of which 70 percent is in
India). Often referred to as the Red River. The Sutlej
River usually flows west to southwest, entering
India through the Shipki La Pass in Himachal
Pradesh. Jhelum and Ravi join Chenab, Beas joins
Sutlej, and then Sutlej and Chenab join to form
Panjnad, 10 miles north of Uch Sharif in Muzaffar
Garh district. The combined stream runs southwest
for approximately 44 miles and joins the Indus
River at Mithankot.
115. Saline lake: It is a landlocked body of water with a
much greater concentration of salts and other
dissolved minerals than other lakes. Salt lakes can
contain more salt than sea water in rare situations;
these lakes are known as hypersaline lakes and are
sometimes referred to as pink lakes due to their colour.
• Important Facts: Chilika Lake in Odisha is the
largest saline water lake in India. The largest
inland saltwater lake in India is Sambhar Lake in
Rajasthan.
• Important Salt water lakes in India
o Lonar Lake, Maharashtra: It is a saline and
alkaline lake located at Lonar in Buldhana
district, Maharashtra. It is situated inside the
Deccan Plateau—a massive plain of volcanic
basalt rock created by eruptions. It is a
notified National Geo- heritage monument.
The colour of Lonar lake water in
Maharashtra’s Buldhana district turned
pink due to a large presence of the salt-loving
‘Haloarchaea’ microbes-> The water samples
tested by the Nagpur-based National
Environmental Engineering Research
Institute (NEERI) and the Agharkar Research
Institute in Pune.
o Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan: It is India's
largest inland salt water lake. It is a wetland
of international significance under Ramsar
convention. It gets its water from the Samood,
Khari, Mantha, Khandela, Medtha, and
Roopangarh rivers.
o Chilika Lake, Odisha: It is the world's
biggest lagoon; declared as the first Ramsar
Convention wetland of international
importance in India in 1981. Irrawaddy
dolphins are major attraction.
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o Pulicat Lake, AP and Tamil Nadu: Each
year, a vast variety of species, such as grey
pelicans and painted storks, visit the location.
The annual Flamingo Festival will take place
in Pulicat Lake in January.
o Pangong Tso Lake, Ladakh: It is an
endorheic (landlocked) water body with a
long boomerang form. It is a transborder lake
between eastern Ladakh and western Tibet.
o Pachpadra Lake, Rajasthan: The
Pachpadra Lake is a salt lake near Pachpadra
in Barmer District, Rajasthan, India. Its
sodium chloride level is marked at 98%.
o Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are
names of towns with or near saline lakes.
116. Nagavali River: It forms a prime river of north
eastern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha. The
origin of Nagavali River lies in the eastern slopes of
the Eastern Ghats near Lakhbahal, located at an
altitude of 1,300 metres in the Kalahandi district of
the Indian state Odisha.
117. Brahmani River: It is a major seasonal river in the
Odisha state of eastern India. It is formed by the
confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers near
the major industrial town of Rourkela. The Sankh has
its origins near the Jharkhand -Chhattisgarh border.
118. Vamsadhara river: It rises in the Eastern Ghats on
the border Kalahandi district and Rayagada district of
Odisha. It runs for a distance of about 254 kilometers,
where it joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh.
119. Subarnarekha River: It flows through the Indian
states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. After
originating near Ranchi it traverses a long distance
through Ranchi and East Singhbhum. Thereafter, it
flows for shorter distances through West Bengal and
Odisha before joining the Bay of Bengal.
120. River systems originating in Western Ghats: The
major river systems originating in the Western Ghats
are the Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Thamiraparani
and Tungabhadra rivers.
121. Rivers flowing through the Eastern Ghats:
Brahmani, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Mahanadi,
Subarnarekha and Tungabhadra.
122. Rivers originating on the Eastern Ghats: Baitarani
River, Budhabalanga River, Rushikulya River,
Vamsadhara River, Palar River, Nagavali River,
Champavathi River, Gosthani River, Sarada River,
Sabari River, Sileru River, Tammileru,
Gundlakamma River, Pennai Yaru River,
Page 17
 Swarnamukhi, Kundu River, Vellar River and Penna
River
123. Tropical Zone: Warmer water is transported
westward in the ocean by the Northeast trade winds in
the Northern hemisphere of the tropical zone.
Therefore, in tropical zones, the western section of
ocean is warmer than eastern sections due to influence
of trade winds.
124. Temperate Zone: westerlies make the eastern
sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.
125. Trade winds: They blow from the sub-tropical high
pressure areas towards the equatorial low pressure belt
• They flow as the north-eastern trades in the
northern hemisphere and the south-eastern trades
in the southern hemisphere
• This deflection in their ideally expected north-
south direction is explained on the basis of
Coriolis force and Farrel’s law
• Trade winds are descending and stable in areas of
their origin (sub-tropical high pressure belt), and
as they reach the equator, they become humid and
warmer after picking up moisture on their way
• The eastern parts of the trade winds associated
with the cool ocean currents are drier and more
stable than the western parts of the ocean.
126. Westerlies: These are the winds blowing from the
sub-tropical high pressure belts towards the sub polar
low pressure belts
• They blow from south-west to north-east in the
northern hemisphere and north-west to south-east
in the southern hemisphere
• The westerlies of the southern hemisphere are
stronger and persistent due to the vast expanse of
water, while those of the northern hemisphere are
irregular because of uneven relief of vast land-
masses
• Best developed between 40° and 65°S latitudes
• These latitudes are often called Roaring Forties,
Furious Fifties, and Shrieking Sixties.
127. Tropical rain forests
• Region: Occur near the equator; Found in Central
and South America, western and Central Africa,
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western India, Southeast Asia, the island of New
Guinea, and Australia.
• Climate: Most diverse and rich communities on
earth; temperature and humidity remain high and
uniform; annual rainfall exceeds 200cms and
distributed throughout the year.
• Flora: vertically stratified with tall trees covered
with vines, epiphytic orchids. Vegetation is
largely composed of plant forms that reach up into
the canopy, by climbing the trees or growing as
epiphytes.
• Soils are red latosols, high rate of leaching->
useless for agri purposes, undergrowth restricted
by lack of sunlight at ground level.
• Fauna: The fauna species encompass okapi, tapir,
rhinoceros, spider monkey etc.
128. Coniferous forests: Covers most of inland Canada
and Alaska, Sweden, Finland, Russia and northern
parts of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Japan
• Present in cold regions with high rainfall
• Strong seasonal climates with long winters and
short summers; Evergreen plant species such as
spruce, fir, pine trees; Animals such as red fox,
porcupine, bear etc; Soils characterized by thin
podzols, acidic and are mineral deficient;
Productivity and community stability is lower.
129. Tropical Dry deciduous forest: Found throughout
northern part of country except in North-east; also
found in M.P, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
and Tamil Nadu
130. Shed their leaves in dry season, closed but even
canopy-> enough light reaches to ground for growth
of grass and climbers
• Important species are teak, sal, acacia, common
bamboo, red sanders, satinwood etc.
• Suffer from over grazing, fire etc.
131. Mangroves: small tree or shrub that grows along
coastlines, taking root in salty sediments, often
underwater. It belong to the families
Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae,
Combretaceae, and Arecaceae.
• Characteristics: Mostly evergreen forests grow
in sheltered low lying coasts, estuaries, mudflats
etc.
o Highly productive ecosystems
o It protect shoreline from the effect of cyclones
o Best example of ecotone
o Grow below high water level of spring tides
o Salt tolerant trees (halophytes)
Page 18
 o Adapted to the low oxygen (anoxic)
conditions of waterlogged mud
o Produce pneumatophores (blind roots) to
overcome the respiration problem
o Occur worldwide mainly between latitudes
25° N and 25° S
o Succulent leaves (store fresh water in leaves),
viviparous (Their seeds germinate while still
attached to the parent tree. Once germinated,
the seedling grows into a propagule).
• Largest Mangrove Forest: Sundarbans in West
Bengal are the largest mangrove forest regions in
the world
o Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site
o Home to the Royal Bengal tiger, Gangetic
dolphins and Estuarine crocodiles.
132. Water On Earth
om
l.c
ai
gm
35
133. Black Cotton soil: It is typical of the Deccan trap
1
(Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau
07
and is made up of lava flows. They cover the plateaus
of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh
and Chhattisgarh and extend in the south east direction
rth
along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys. They are
made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They
pa
are well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.
These soils are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium
carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. These soils
are generally poor in phosphoric contents. The Deccan
trap, which is the source of the black soils, is a basaltic
province formed during the hot spot volcanism when
the Indian plate was above the Reunion island about
66 million years ago. These soils are black in colour
and are also known as regur soils. This is ideal for
growing cotton. Black soil is formed due to the
weathering or erosion of the basalt rocks.
134. Brown Forest soil: Brown soils, often referred to
as brown forest soils or brown earths, are well drained
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with brownish subsoils where iron oxides created
through weathering processes are bonded to silicate
clays. Mainly found in the warm temperate belt lying
at heights ranging from 900 to 1800 metres, which has
deciduous forests.
135. Granite and Schist: Granite is an igneous rock ->
formed when the magma of the volcano oxidises and
then begins to slowly solidify under the ground. It has
very dense silica content -> So, highly resistant to
decay. Schist is a foliated metamorphic rock made up
of plate-shaped mineral grains. It usually forms on a
continental side of a convergent plate boundary
where sedimentary rocks, such as shales and
mudstones, have been subjected to compressive
forces, heat, and chemical activity.
136. Shale and Limestone: Shales are fine-grained
sedimentary rocks formed of organic-rich mud at the
bottom of ancient seas. Shale is the most abundant of
the sedimentary rocks, accounting for roughly 70
percent of this rock type in the crust of the Earth
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of
calcium carbonate also known as dolomite. It is
usually yellow, white or grey. Limestone is formed
when minerals like Calcite and aragonite are
precipitated out from the water in which calcium is
dissolved.
137. Sugarcane: It has the largest value of production
among all the commercial crops in India
• It is indigenous to India and belongs to bamboo
family
• Two-third of the total sugarcane produced in India
used for preparing jaggery and khandsari
• Molasses, bagasse and pressmud are the
byproducts of sugar industry
• It requires hot (21°-27°C) and humid (75- 150 cm)
climate
• Short cool dry winter season during ripening and
harvesting is ideal; frost is detrimental to
sugarcane
• Cheap abundant labor is required for successful
cultivation of sugarcane
• Area-wise India has largest area under sugarcane
cultivation in the world; whereas in production-
wise India lags behind Brazil which is the world’s
largest producer of sugarcane
• To produce 1 kg of sugarcane, it takes about 210
litres of water.
138. Sunflower: India import nearly 2.5 million tonnes
sunflower oil which included around 70% from
Page 19
 Ukraine, 20% from Russia and remaining from other
countries including Argentina
• India’s own sunflower production has been
stagnant for the past few years at around 60,000
tonnes (2019-20), which is grown on around 2.40
lakh hectares
• According to 2019-20 data, India’s total edible oil
consumption was 25 million tonnes (250 lakh
tonnes) oil, the domestic availability was 10.53
million tonnes and remaining 14.46 million
tonnes was import which included 2.5 million
tonnes import of sunflower oil and it was 17% of
the total import of all the edible oils
• Sunflower crop water foot print is around 7 to 9
litre per kg.
139. Pearl Millet: It is a high source of proteins. Also
known as Bajra in Hindi, Sajje in Kannada, Sajjalu in
Telugu, Kambu in Tamil. They are sown in dry areas
which have minimal irrigation facilities.
140. Pulses: Major pulses of India include Gram, Tur or
arhar (Pigeon Pea or Red Gram), urd (black gram),
mung (green gram), masur (lentil), kulthi (horse
gram), matar (peas) etc.
• Red gram: It requires 35 to 40 cm water, during
its entire growth period. It is a rain-fed crop grown
in assured rainfall areas, which generally does not
require irrigation.
• Moringa and Tamarind
• Moringa is a green leafy fast-growing
deciduous plant which is native to Indian
subcontinent. It grows in the wild or is
cultivated in Central America and the
Caribbean, northern countries of South
America, Africa, South and Southeast Asia,
and various countries of Oceania. Common
names include moringa, drumstick tree,
horseradish tree, and ben oil tree or benzolive
tree.
• Tamarind is a leguminous tree which is
indigenous to tropical Africa and not South
Asia. It is widely cultivated in tropical and
subtropical regions for its edible fruit which is
extensively used in foods and traditional
medicines.
• It is collected mostly as the minor forest
produce in India.
• India exports tamarind and moringa seeds to
the US, China, Canada, South Korea, and
European countries. Globally, the demand for
Moringa products, such as Moringa Leaf
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Powder and Moringa Oil, has been witnessing
healthy growth for its nutritional, medicinal,
culinary uses.
• The oil from the Moringa considered to be a
more sustainable biodiesel feedstock than
jatropha oil.
141. Rare Earth Minerals: Two potential sources
for rare earth elements: polymetallic nodules consist
of manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earth
minerals.
142. Copper: It is a good conductor of electricity
and is ductile in nature. It is used by the automobile
and defense industries, and in the electrical industry
for making wires, electric motors, transformers, and
generators. India does not have rich reserves of
copper; also lag in production of copper. India has low
grade copper ore (less than 1% metal content). The
major supply comes from the USA, Canada,
Zimbabwe and Japan. Major copper ore deposits are
located in the Singhbhum district (Jharkhand),
Balaghat district (Madhya Pradesh), and Jhunjhunu
and Alwar districts (Rajasthan).
143. Copper Mining: The common ore used in the
extraction of copper is Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) also
known as Copper Pyrites and other such sulphides.
The percentage of copper in the actual ore is too low
for direct extraction of copper to be viable. The
concentration of ore is required and it is done by the
Froth Flotation method.
144. Phosphorous cycle: Occurs in large amounts
in phosphate rocks and enters cycle from erosion and
mining activities
• Main storage is earth’s crust and it is available by
weathering and erosion
• Phosphates also enters rivers and ocean
• After million years crustal plates rise and expose
phosphates on land and the geochemical phase
begin again
Page 20
 • The weathering of rocks is the main source of
release of nutrient to enter the phosphorous cycle
• Much of the phosphorus on Earth is tied up in rock
and sedimentary deposits, from which it is
released by weathering, leaching, and mining.
Phosphorus moves in a cycle through rocks,
water, soil and sediments and organisms.
145. Sulphur cycle: Reservoir is in soil and sediments
(locked in coal, oil etc) and inorganic deposits (pyrite
rock and sulphur rock) in the form of sulphates,
sulphides and organic Sulphur. It is released through
weathering of rocks, erosional runoff and
decomposition of organic matter and is carried to
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in salt solution.
• Sulphur enters the atmosphere from several
sources like volcanic eruptions, combustion of
fossil fuels, from the surface of the ocean and
gases released by decomposition.
• Atmospheric sulphur dioxide carried back to earth
after being dissolved in rainwater as
weak sulphuric acid (acid rain).
• Sulphur in the form of sulphates is taken up by
plants and incorporated through a series of
metabolic processes into sulphur bearing amino
acid which is incorporated in the proteins of
autotroph tissues. It then passes through the
grazing food chain.
• Sulphur bound in a living organism is carried back
to the soil, to the bottom of ponds and lakes and
seas through excretion and decomposition of
dead organic material.
146. Nitrogen cycle: Elemental form of Nitrogen cannot
be used directly by most living organisms. It needs to
be fixed to ammonia, nitrites or nitrates before it is
taken by plants. It occurs in three ways:
• By microorganisms (bacteria and blue-green algae)
• By man using industrial processes (fertilizer
factories): It exceeded amount fixed by natural cycle
and has became a pollutant which can disrupt balance
of nitrogen lead to acid rain, eutrophication etc.
• Atmoshperic phenomenon such as thunder and
lightning
o Step 1: N2 Fixing ==> Nitrogen → Ammonia or
Ammonium Ions
o Step 2: Nitrification ==> Ammonia or Ammonium Ions
→ Nitrite → Nitrate
o Step 3: Ammonification ==> Dead Matter + Animal
Waste (Urea, Uric Acid) → Ammonia or Ammonium
Ions.
§ Most of the ammonia escapes into the atmosphere.
Rest is Nitrified (Step 2) to nitrates.
§ Some of the nitrates is available for plants. Rest is
Denitrified (Step 4).
o Step 4: Denitrification ==> Nitrate → Nitrogen
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147. Carbon cycle: Carbon is present in the atmosphere
in form of CO2
• Cycle involves continuous exchange of carbon
between the atmosphere and organisms
• Carbon from atmosphere -> green plants by
photosynthesis
• Carbon from animals -> Through respiration and
decomposition of dead organic matter, it returns
to the atmosphere
• It is usually a short term cycle; also accumulates
as un-decomposed organic matter in the peaty
layers of marshy soil in bottom sediments of
aquatic systems which take a long time to be
released
• Ocean is the second largest carbon sink
• CO2 is a greenhouse gas and traps heat in the
atmosphere. Without it and other GHGs, Earth
would be a frozen world.
148. Oxygen cycle-> most vital element on Earth-
roughly 21% of the atmosphere.
• Processes that produce oxygen: Photosynthesis in
plants; Sunlight + water vapour = some oxygen is
produced. Processes that consume oxygen:
Breathing, decomposition, combustion and
rusting.
• Cycling of oxygen: Highly complex process;
Oxygen + nitrogen = nitrates; Photosynthesis-
oxygen is released as a byproduct. Animals and
humans consume oxygen during respiration and
release CO2 into the atmosphere. This carbon
dioxide is then again utilised by plants for
photosynthesis and thus the cycle moves on.
149. Bhedaghat Lametaghat: Madhya Pradesh
• Here the towering marble rock rises
perpendicularly on both sides, creating a stunning
spectacle.
• It is referred to as the Grand Canyon of India
• Besides, dinosaur fossils have been found in the
Narmada valley particularly in this area
• Narmada originates at Amarkantak and flows
west in the rift valley between the Satpura and
Vindhya Range.
Page 21
 ENVIRONMENT
150. Blue carbon: It is stored in the coastal ecosystem such
as Mangroves, seagrass meadows and intertidal salt
marshes. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal
marshes and seagrass meadows sequester and store
more carbon per unit area than terrestrial forests and
are now being recognized for their role in mitigating
climate change. These ecosystems also provide
essential benefits for climate change adaptation,
including coastal protection and food security for
many coastal communities. Dedicated conservation
efforts can ensure that coastal ecosystems continue to
play their role as long-term carbon sinks.
• Black carbon: It is a kind of an aerosol and sooty
black material emitted from gas and diesel
engines, coal-fired power plants due to
incomplete combustion. Comprises high levels of
particulate matter. Short lived climate pollutant
(few days to weeks). They are 2nd most
anthropogenic agent for climate change.
om
o Main Sources: Incomplete burning of coal,
biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels,
l.c
diesel exhausts etc.
o Impact: When deposited on ice, reduces the
ai
reflective capacity, good absorber of sunlight-
> absorb million time more energy than CO2;
gm
affect cloud formation and rainfall. It may
also lead to depletion of ozone layer. Key
component of PM 2.5 -> negative health
35
impacts.
o Facts: India contributes around 25% of the
world’s black carbon emissions; second
1
largest contributor to black carbon in the
07
world.
• Brown carbon: It is emitted majorly by biomass
rth
combustion. It is ubiquitous and unidentified
component of organic aerosol. It is light absorbing
organic matter.
pa
o Major sources: Biomass burning (including
domestic wood burning), agricultural
fires including stubble burning etc.
• Brown Vs Black carbon: Black carbon is
produced by high temperature combustion and
brown carbon is emitted by biomass combustion.
151. New York Declaration on Forests (2014)
• Endorsement: The New York Declaration on
Forests (NYDF) is a political declaration calling
for global action to protect and restore forests. It
is first endorsed at United Nations Secretary-
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General's Climate Summit held in New York in
2014.
• Timeline: The declaration includes ambitious
targets to end natural forest loss by 2030, with a
50% reduction by 2020 as a milestone toward its
achievement.
• Legality: It is a voluntary and non-legally binding
political declaration.
• Stakeholders: It grew out of dialogue among
governments, companies and civil Society and
indigenous communities.
• Signatories: It is currently endorsed by over 190
entities including more than 50 governments,
more than 50 of the world’s biggest companies,
and more than 50 influential civil society and
indigenous organizations. It is not endorsed by
India.
152. Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and
Land Use: It is an ambitious declaration initiated by
United Kingdom to “halt deforestation” and land
degradation by 2030. India is not a signatory as it
objected to “trade” being interlinked to climate
change and forest issues in the agreement. It has over
105 signatories including the UK, US, Russia and
China.
153. Detritivores: These are heterotrophs that obtain
nutrients by consuming detritus. There are many
kinds of invertebrates, vertebrates and plants that
carry out coprophagy. By doing so, all these
detritivores contribute to decomposition and the
nutrient cycles. Examples include Earthworms,
blowflies, millipedes, maggots, and woodlice.
154. Seahorse: It is considered a secondary consumer;
occupy a middle position in their food chain. They
primarily feed on plankton, small fish and small
crustaceans, such as shrimp and copepods. It gains
energy by eating other living organisms.
155. Jelly Fish: These are excellent predators. They have
long tentacles with multiple cells on it called
cnidoblasts, which shelter nematocysts that contain
stinging threads. They sting with tentacles to subdue
small aquatic fish and eat eggs that stick to their
tentacles.
156. Detritus food chain: Starts from dead organic matter
of decaying animals and plant bodies consumed by
microorganisms and then to detritus feeding
organism called detrivores. It is maximum in
terrestrial/land.
Page 22
 157. Functions of Detritivores: They contribute to the
breakdown of all of the dead and decaying material
in any ecosystem-> important role in the cycling of
nutrients and are an essential part of
most biogeochemical cycles, such as the carbon
cycle, nitrogen cycle and the phosphorus cycle.
158. Symbiotic relationship: It is a close ecological
relationship between the individuals of two or more
different species-
• Cnidaria is an invertebrate phylum which has a
symbiotic relation with the unicellular
dinoflagellate algae, called zooxanthellae.
• Fungi live inside the roots of plants -> plants
provide nutrients to the fungus and, in return, the
fungus provides water and certain nutrients. Fungi
also lives in a symbiotic relation with algae as a
lichen.
• Protozoa has a close mutualistic association with
unicellular symbiont (like bacteria, cyanobacteria
or/and unicellular algae) or multicellular
organism (ruminants, lower termites, wood-eating
cockroaches, plants).
• Coral and Zooxanthellae: Corals live in a
symbiotic relationship with algae called
zooxanthellae. Coral provide CO2, ammonium
and protection to zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae
provide coral with nutrients through
photosynthesis; Corals need these organic
products of photosynthesis to grow, thrive, and
build up the reef.
• Symbiosis: Three types of behaviours observed-
Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism.
159. R2 Code of Practices
• R2 stands for Responsible Recycling; It is a
standard created for the electronics recycling
industry by Sustainable Electronics Recycling
International (SERI).
• Expected outcomes of certification of R2
Standard: An electronics recycling company that
is R2 certified will benefit by achieving higher
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profit margins and additional market share
through improvements in its operating systems
and processes, and the status bestowed by
certification. It will be able to assure its upstream
clients and customers that it takes appropriate
measures at its facility to protect the environment,
worker and public health, and data security.
• Authorization: Only International Accreditation
Forum (IAF) multilateral recognition
arrangement signatory accreditation bodies (ABs)
meeting the requirements of this Code of Practices
and authorized by R2 Solutions may accredit CBs.
• SERI: It is the housing body and ANSI -
accredited Standards Development Organization
for the R2 Standard. Stakeholders who
contributed to the creation of these standards
include the U.S. Environmental protection
agency; regulators from state agencies;
electronics recyclers, refurbishers, and their trade
associations; OEMs/customers of electronics
recycling services; and non -governmental
organizations
160. Ramsar Convention: It is an international treaty for
the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It
is also known as the Convention on Wetlands
• It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where
the convention was signed in 1971
• Under the “three pillars” of the Convention, the
Contracting Parties commit to: Work towards the
wise use of all their wetlands; Designate suitable
wetlands for the list of wetlands of international
importance (the “ramsar list”) and ensure their
effective management; Cooperate internationally
on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland
systems, and shared species.
161. Ferns: Nonflowering vascular plants that possess
true roots, stems, and complex leaves and that
reproduce by spores. Ferns require indirect sunlight,
moist soil, and a humid atmosphere. It prefers potting
soil with good drainage and high organic content.
162. Mosses: Non-flowering plants which produce spores
and have stems and leaves, but do not have true roots.
It needs virtually nothing except shade and moisture
to thrive.
163. Mushroom: It is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting
body of a fungus, typically produced above ground,
on soil, or on its food source.
164. Lichens: They are symbiotic associations of fungi
and algae in which fungi (mycobiont) facilitate
water, minerals etc to the algae and algae
Page 23
 (phycobiont) prepare carbohydrate by the process of
photosynthesis and supply the food to the fungi. They
can grow on any undisturbed surface such as bark,
wood, mosses, rock, peat, glass, metal, plastic etc.
• Lichens: Lichens are indicator species and
capable to indicate air pollution, water pollution,
heavy metals as well as radioactive particles.
• Main types of Lichens: Crustose lichens form
crust over rocks, soil, tree barks or on roofs.
Foliose lichens are flat but are convoluted or in
leafy form. Fruticose lichens are hair like
structures mostly found hanging from trees.
• Utility: They have the ability to separate the
minerals by eroding rocks; contribute in
formation of soil; important role in fixing
nitrogen. Lichens like Reindeer mosses, Iceland
moss etc. are also utilized as food stuffs.
• Lichen Park: Uttarakhand forest department has
developed India’s first lichen park in Kumaon’s
Munsiyari, Pithoragarh district.
165. Congress grass: Congress grass or parthenium, a
native of tropical America, came to India accidentally
in 1955. It is an invasive species which competes for
nutrients and space and reproduces fast. Many
methods, ranging from manual uprooting, chemical
herbicides to biological control agents, are proposed
to limit the spread of this uncontrollable variety of
grass.
166. ProsopisJulifora/AngrejiBabool: Native to Mexico,
South America and become an invasive weed in
Africa, Asia and Australia. It is anaggressive colonizer
distributed throughout the country. It is awater-greedy
plant that depletes ground water. It is one of the
world’s top 100 least wanted plants. It is also affecting
wild ass population in Kutch, Gujarat. It is also used
to erect fences.
167. Black Mimosa: It is a woody invasive shrub
originates from tropical America. It is now
widespread throughout tropics. It forms dense, thorny,
impenetrable thickets in wet areas. It is distributed
throughout India. It is abundant especially in still or
slow floating waters.
168. Partheniumhysterophorus (Carrot Grass): Annual
herb native to American Tropics. It is invasive species
in India. It is also known as Congress grass or
GajarGhans. It produces allelopathic chemicals that
suppress crop and pasture lands that affects humans
and livestock.
169. Lantana Camara: Also known as red sage and
tickberry. It is native to American tropics. It
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outcompetes more desirable species. It spread from
native Central and South America to 50 different
countries.
170. Siam weed: Common invasive species of Kerala,
locally known as Communist pacha as it spread all
over the state within a short span of time just like
Communism. Siam weed is native to South America.
171. Elephant Grass: The elephant grass is tall grasses
that came to Africa in 1913 and it grows in dense
clumps which a height up to 10 feet tall. It grows in
the savanna in Africa along the lake beds and rivers
where the soil is rich.
172. Nut Grass: A perennial sedge (Cyperus rotundus) of
wide distribution that has slender rootstocks bearing
small edible tubers resembling nuts.
173. Lemongrass: The plant is known to be an excellent
mosquito repellant. According to a study conducted
in 2011, around 95% mosquitos from a specific range
of species were either killed or completely repelled
due to the intense odor of lemongrass oil.
174. Copepods: These are small aquatic crustaceans and
are one of the most numerous metazoan groups in
aquatic communities. These are major secondary
producers in the World Ocean which represent an
important link between phytoplankton, micro
zooplankton and higher trophic levels such as fish.
175. Cyanobacteria: Also called blue-green algae, these
are microscopic organisms found naturally in soils
and all types of water. Important primary producers
in the food chain of oceans and form a part of the
phytoplankton.
176. Diatoms: These are photosynthesising algae; found
in almost every aquatic environment including fresh
and marine waters; major primary producers in the
ocean, responsible annually for ~20% of
photosynthetically fixed CO2 on Earth.
• Diatom test: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad
(ATS) relied on a diatom tests for leads in the
alleged murder case of Mansukh Hiran
o It helps in diagnosing the death caused by
drowning. It tests diatoms in the body being
tested
o If person is alive when he enters the water->
diatoms will enter the lungs when person
inhales water while drowning.
o These diatoms are then carried to different
body parts by blood circulation
o If a person is dead when is thrown in the
water-> no circulation and no transport of
diatom cells to various organs
Page 24
 o It is reliable unless and until the deceased
person has been drinking water from the same
source of water before his death.
177. Foraminifera: Foraminifera are amoeba-like, single-
celled protists (very simple micro- organisms). They
have been called ‘armoured amoebae’ because they
secrete a tiny shell usually between about a half and
one millimetre long.
178. Neuston: unattached organisms live at air-water
interface; E.g: beetles and Backswimmers. Nekton:
Swimmers; live under water; large and powerful to
overcome water currents; E.g: All sea animals.
179. Periphyton: Attached to stems of rooted plants; lives
submerged in water; E.g: Sessile algae.
180. Plankton: Includes both microscopic plants and
animals like crustaceans; limited locomotory power->
distribution controlled largely by currents; E.g: Algae
and crustaceans.
181. Hedgehog: It is an insectivorous spiny (needle-like
anatomical structure) mammal of the subfamily
om
Erinaceidae. It curls his head and feet into his body
and forms a ball to protect his soft, delicate underside.
l.c
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern; Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 4. Found
ai
throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and
New Zealand. Three species found in India:
gm
o Indian Long-eared: It is native to northern
India and Pakistan; mainly follow their
excellent sense of hearing for the hunt, as their
35
eyesight is quite poor.
o Indian hedgehog: It is native to India and
Pakistan. It mainly lives in sandy desert areas
1
but can be found in other environments.
07
o Bare-bellied or Madras hedgehog: Called
mul eli – mul meaning thorn in Tamil and eli
rth
meaning rat – or irmal eli aka cough rat; it is
used as an ingredient in traditional medicine,
or in household remedies for coughs and
pa
rheumatism.
182. Marmot: It belongs to the squirrel family (Sciuridae)
within the order Rodentia
• Well suited for life in cold environments and
have small fur-covered ears, short, stocky
legs, and strong claws for digging
• Marmots are diurnal (active during the day)
and are almost entirely vegetarian
• They are found primarily in the continents of
Europe, Asia and North America
• While digging burrows, marmots increase
aeration in the soil which increases nutrient
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circulation and helps different plants to
propagate
• Threats include hunting for meat and fur
• It whistles to warn the others in the area, after
which it typically hides in a nearby rock pile
until there is no more threat. Due to the
absence of scales or spines, they do not roll up
and protect their vulnerable parts.
183. Pangolin: These are only mammals wholly-covered
in scales and use them to protect themselves from
predators in the wild. Upon seeing predator, it
immediately curls into a tight ball and use their
sharp-scaled tails to defend themselves.
184. Indian Pangolin: Distributed across India except in
the arid region, high Himalayas and the North-East.
The species also occurs in Bangladesh, Pakistan,
Nepal and Sri Lanka. IUCN Status: Endangered.
Wildlife Protection Act,1972: under Schedule I.
185. Chinese Pangolin: Found in Northern India, Nepal,
Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, northern Indo
China, through most of Taiwan, and Southern China.
Major threats are poaching, susceptible species due
to its food specialization, and stenophagy. IUCN
Status: Critically Endangered; Wildlife Protection
Act,1972: Under Schedule I.
186. Oyster: Oysters are natural filter feeders -> they eat
by pumping large volumes of water through their
body. Water is pumped through the oyster’s gills by
beating of cilia. Plankton, algae become trapped in
the mucus of the gills. From there these particles are
transported to the oyster’s mouth and esophagus to
be eaten, then to the stomach to be digested.
187. Catfish: African catfish is a carnivorous species
introduced in India without official sanction. They
thrive well in the freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps
and urban sewage systems. It feeds on living and
dead animal matter, including fish. Despite a ban
imposed in 2000, farming of catfish continues in
India. To protect indigenous aquatic species inside
the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), members of tribal
eco-development committee carried out a special
drive to eradicate African catfish from the Periyar
lake. African catfish is also invasive in Keoladeo
National park.
188. Octopus: Octopuses are sea animals famous for
their rounded bodies, bulging eyes, and eight long
arms. They live in all the world’s oceans but are
especially abundant in warm, tropical waters. Most
octopuses stay along Oceans floor, although some
species are pelagic, which means they live near the
water’s surface.
Page 25
189. Spot billed Pelican/Grey Pelican: It breeds in
southern Asia from southern Iran across India east to
Indonesia. It is a bird of large inland and coastal
waters, especially large lakes. The breeding
population of these pelican species is limited to India,
Sri Lanka and Cambodia. IUCN status: Near
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
190. Bollgard I and Bollgard II: Bollgard I Bt cotton
(single-gene technology) is India’s first biotech crop
technology approved for commercialization in India
in 2002, followed by Bollgard II – double-gene
technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee (GEAC).
191. Bollgard II technology: It contains a superior double-
gene technology - Cry1Ac and Cry 2Ab which
provides protection against bollworms and
Spodoptera caterpillar, leading to better boll retention,
maximum yield, lower pesticides costs, and protection
against insect resistance.
192. Clonal propagation of crop plants: Production of
genetically identical copies of a plant without
interference of sex organ is called Clonal Propagation.
The most widely used ‘in vivo’ methods of cloning
agricultural crops include cuttings of vegetative parts,
layering, grafting and budding.
193. Biofertilizers: They contain different types of fungi,
root bacteria or other microorganisms; form a
mutually beneficial or symbiotic relationship with
host plants as they grow in the soil
• Advantages include - Increase the nitrogen and
phosphorus available to plants more naturally
than other fertilizers, less soil pollution and
increase in yield
• Disadvantages include requirement of special
facility for long term storage and soil must contain
adequate nutrients for biofertilizer organisms to
thrive and work
• Solid-state fermentation and submerged
fermentation are two main types of fermentation,
used for the production of biofertilizers.
194. Pressure cooker: It works on a principle of Steam
pressure. A sealed pot, with a lot of steam inside,
builds up high pressure, which helps food cook faster.
When cooking a stew or steamed vegetables, the heat
of cooking is limited to the boiling point of water
(100°C). But with the steam's pressure the boiling
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Threatened; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule
IV (Hunting prohibited but the penalty for any
violation is less compared to the first two schedules).
point can get as high as 138°C. This higher heat helps
the food to cook faster.
• Area of hole in the lid: The larger hole will
lead to increase in the steam going out which
leads to greater reduction in temperature.
• Temperature of the flame: As the
temperature of the flame increases the
temperature inside at which food is cooked
also increases.
• Weight of Lid: By increasing the surface
pressure on the liquid inside the closed cooker
cooking temperature can be raised. This
pressure can be adjusted by changing the
weight of the cooker lid.
195. Artificial medium: It is an environment used for the
growth of different types of microorganisms. It
contains agarose and nutrients required for the
growth of the microorganism
• Bacteria and Fungi: Microbes like bacteria
and many fungi can be grown on nutritive
media to form colonies that can be seen with
the naked eyes. Bacteria, yeast, protozoans,
fungi, and algae are grown in the medium and
not the viruses.
• Viruses: Viruses are nonliving organisms
that get active when they come in contact with
host cell. No virus can be grown on an
artificial culture medium as there is no living
cell present.
196. Solvent properties of Water: Water is called the
universal solvent since it is capable of dissolving a
variety of different substances more than any other
liquid. Because of its polarity and ability to form
hydrogen bonds, water makes an excellent solvent,
meaning that it can dissolve many different kinds of
molecules.
197. Conductors of heat: Materials that allow heat to
pass through them easily are called good conductors
of heat. Metals like copper and aluminium have the
Page 26
 highest thermal conductivity while steel and bronze
have the lowest. Gold, Silver, Iron etc are other
important examples of good heat conductors as well
as electrical conductors.
198. Sodium lamps: High-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps
are part of the family of high intensity light bulbs that
put out large amounts of light generally needed for
street lighting and security lighting. The combination
of metals and gasses within inside the glass tube
produces an orange-white light commonly found in
street lights. High pressure sodium lights contain a
small amount of toxic mercury-> hazardous material
that can present a waste disposal issue at the end of
light’s life. They produce light in 360 degrees but it is
not so in the case of LED lamps. Sodium vapor lights
are omnidirectional -> Omnidirectional lights produce
light in 360 degrees. Whereas, LEDs are extremely
energy efficient and have 180-degree bulb angle to
preserve light efficiency and allow for target lighting
over areas. Sodium lamps have on an average shorter
lifespan than LED lamps. High Pressure Sodium
lamps tend to have a lifespan averaging 24,000 hours.
Whereas, new LEDs can last 50,000 to 100,000 hours
or more The spectrum of visible light from sodium
lamps is almost monochromatic (yellow-orange).
Whereas, LED lamps offer significant colour
advantages in street-lighting. Whereas LEDs offer
variety of colour options providing better lighting
solutions and a very broad spectrum of color rendering
index (CRI) is available with LEDs ranging generally
from 65 -95.
199. LEDs: LEDs are extremely energy efficient relative
to every other commercially available lighting
technology. Reasons: They waste very little energy in
the form of infrared radiation, and they emit light
directionally (over 180 degrees versus 360 degrees
which means there are far fewer losses from the need
to redirect or reflect light). Advantages include very
high light quality and very low maintenance costs and
hassle. The up-front costs of an LED lighting project
are typically greater than most of the alternatives.
200. Differences between Sodium vapor bulbs and
LEDs: Sodium vapor bulbs contain metals that are
evaporated into inert gas within the glass casing while
LEDs are a solid state technology. Both LEDs and
sodium vapor lights emit electromagnetic radiation
across a small portion of the visible light spectrum,
however, LEDs waste much less energy producing
waste heat and they also provide an incredibly better
variety of high color rendering index options to the
user.
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201. ACE 2: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is an
enzyme attached to the membrane of cells in the
intestines, kidney, testis, gallbladder; it has been
identified as the receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 viral
• Research has found that human enzyme ACE2
may be offering protection against COVID-19
• It is of importance in protecting against
cardiovascular, lung and kidney diseases
• It is linked to X chromosome, thus women have
twice as many active genetic instructions to make
ACE2
• Because of their chromosomes, women (XX
Chromosome) have two copies of the ACE2 gene
and men (XY Chromosome) have only one copy
• This makes female COVID-19 patients face less
severe disease complications and a lower risk of
dying than male patients.
202. Genes introduced in GM plants: Bt cotton, the
only GM crop which is allowed in India, has two
alien genes from soil bacterium Bacillus
thuringiensis that allow crop to develop a protein
toxic to common pest pink bollworm. Ht BT from
another soil bacterium which allows the plant to
resist common herbicide
203. Radio collars for wildlife tracking: A wild elephant
was radio-collared in Assam by the state’s Forest
Department, in collaboration with NGO World
Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India. Radio collars are GPS-
enabled collars that can relay information about an
elephants’ whereabouts; they weigh roughly 8 kg and
are fitted around the elephant’s neck.
204. Bisphenol A (BPA): It is a chemical produced in
large quantities for use primarily in production of
polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA is an
Page 27
 endocrine system disruptor and also contributes to
high blood pressure. Rice University researchers
enhanced micron-sized titanium dioxide particles to
trap and destroy bisphenol A (BPA).
205. Low density polyethylene: It is a soft, flexible,
lightweight plastic material. LDPE is noted for its low
temperature flexibility, toughness, and corrosion
resistance. It is not suited for applications where
stiffness, high temperature resistance and structural
strength are required. It is often used for orthotics and
prosthetics. LDPE has good chemical and impact
resistance and is easy to fabricate and form.
206. Polyethylene terephthalate: PET is a clear, strong,
and lightweight plastic that is widely used for
packaging foods and beverages, especially
convenience-sized soft drinks, juices and water. It is
also popular for packaging salad dressings, peanut
butter, cooking oils, mouthwash, shampoo, liquid
hand soap, window cleaner, even tennis balls.
om
207. Polyvinyl chloride: It is an economical and versatile
thermoplastic polymer widely used in the building and
construction industry to produce door and window
l.c
profiles, pipes (drinking and wastewater), wire and
cable insulation, medical devices, etc. It is the world’s
ai
third-largest thermoplastic material by volume after
polyethylene and polypropylene. It is a white, brittle
gm
solid material available in powder form or granules.
Due to its versatile properties, such as lightweight,
durable, low cost and easy processability, PVC is now
35
replacing traditional building materials like wood,
metal, concrete, rubber, ceramics, etc.
1
07
rth
pa
208. Triclosan: It is a preservative and antibacterial agent
found in personal care products such as antiperspirant,
soap, hand wash and tooth paste. Tests on mammals
and other animals have shown endocrine disruptor
effects.
209. Food preservatives: High Fructose Corn Syrup
(HFCS): Cheap, sweet and produced in abundance as
compared to regular sugar, HFCS has crept into food
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supplies over the past few decades. HFCS can increase
your bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, leads to obesity
and contribute to the development of diabetes
• Aspartame: Problems attributed to these
sweeteners include severe headaches, nausea,
vertigo, slurred speech, memory loss, blindness,
ringing in the ears, loss or change of taste
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): It is a salt form
of a non-essential amino acid, is a flavour
enhancer and common food additive. An
excitotoxin, MSG works by triggering the brain to
produce excess quantities of the feel-good drug
dopamine
• Potassium Bromate (E924): Potassium Bromate
is added to bread as a flour enhancer – to make it
rise better and give it a uniform consistency.
A study by the Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE) found that nearly 84 % of
commonly available brands of packaged breads in
India tested positive for potassium bromate; this
additive was banned by FSSAI.
• Fruit ripening substances: Ripening agents
speed up the process of ripening of fruits after
they are picked prior to full ripening
o These agents are particularly Unsaturated
hydrocarbons; acetylene, ethylene, etc.
o Calcium Carbide (CaC2) is most commonly
used for artificial ripening of fruits
o Other fruit ripening substances are ethylene
and ethephon
o Ripening of fruits with Ethylene and
Ethephon is permissible if used in a limited
concentration.
o Many countries including India has allowed
the use of Ethylene and Ethephon for ripening
of fruits as it is less harmful if compared with
Calcium carbide.
210. Speed of light is always same: Astronomical
distances are measures in light-years as the speed of
light is constant. A light-year is how astronomers
measure distance in space; defined by how far a beam
of light travels in one year. Light travels at the speed
of about 300,000 km per second and it is always same
throughout the universe.
211. Gravity is one of the basic forces in the universe. The
gravity of the sun keeps all the planets in orbit in our
solar system. However, each planet, moon and
asteroid have their own gravitational pull defined by
their density, size, mass, and proximity to other
celestial bodies.
Page 28
212. Light travels in a straight line, but not every time. It is
curved when passes by a heavy object having gravity
like sun
213. Magnetite particles: These are highly magnetic
mineral form of iron and key constituent of air
pollution and have potentially large impacts on the
brain due to its unique combination of redox activity,
surface charge and strongly magnetic behaviour.
• Sources: Brakes of motor vehicles, Engines
of motor vehicles, Microwave stoves within
homes, Power plants, telephone lines, forest
fires, wood -burning stoves and many high -
temperature industrial processes.
214. ITMO Researchers Develop New Method of
Magnetite Nanoparticle Synthesis
• Magnetite nanoparticles: These are extremely
miniscule particles consisting of iron and oxygen.
Their properties differ from that of bigger pieces
of the same material.
• Applications: Used to manufacture prototypes of
memristor devices. These devices imitate
synapses – the connections between neurons of
the human brain. Production of healing-
accelerating bindings. Treatment of
neurocognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s by
restoring brain function.
215. Recombinant Vector vaccines
• Genetic Engineering is applied in the
development of Recombinant vector vaccines.
The techniques of genetic engineering used
include creation of recombinant DNA, use of gene
cloning and gene transfer.
• Recombinant vaccines are made of a viral or
bacterial vector. They are used as channels for
entry into host organisms.
o These vaccines are similar to DNA vaccines
except the weakened or attenuated germ is
used to carry DNA to the cells to stimulate
immunity. Similar to live, attenuated
vaccines, recombinant vector vaccines are
similar to the actual disease. Currently,
scientists are working on HIV, rabies, and
measles vaccines using this technology.
Live, • The whole germ is attenuated
attenuated (weakened) so that it cannot cause
vaccines disease, but can cause an immune
response. Since these types of
vaccines are most similar to the actual
disease, they are more effective and
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often only require one or two doses for
lifetime immunity.
• They should not be given to
individuals with weakened or
damaged immune systems. Examples
include MMR vaccine.
Inactivated • The whole germ is killed using heat or
vaccines chemicals. The immune system
response is not as strong as with live
attenuated vaccines, therefore several
doses and boosters may be required to
achieve immunity.
• An inactivated vaccine cannot cause
disease and is generally safe for those
with weakened or damaged immune
systems.
DNA • It involves the direct introduction into
vaccines appropriate tissues of a plasmid
containing the DNA sequence
encoding the antigen(s) against which
an immune response is sought, and
relies on the in situ production of the
target antigen.
• Advantages include improved vaccine
stability, the absence of any infectious
agent and the relative ease of large-
scale manufacture.
mRNA • They carry the molecular information
vaccines to make the protein in the host using
the synthetic RNA of the virus. The
host body produces the viral protein
that is recognised by the immune
system, thereby enabling the body to
fight against the disease.
• These are considered safe as mRNA is
non-infectious, non-integrating in
nature, and degraded by standard
cellular mechanisms.
• They are highly efficacious because of
their inherent capability of being
translated into proteins in the cell.
• Promising alternative to conventional
vaccine approaches because of their
high potency, capacity for rapid
development, and potential for low-
cost manufacture and safe
administration.
• mRNA vaccines have elicited potent
immunity against infectious disease
targets in animal models of influenza
virus, Zika virus, rabies virus and
others.
Page 29
216. Furnace oil
• It is one of the cheapest fuels available for
industrial use. It is a by-product of petroleum
refineries. While processing the Crude oil, it is
one of the products along with other petroleum
fuels like HSD, Petrol etc.
• Uses of Furnace oil: As fuel for Power
Generation in Diesel Generator sets, As fuel for
Boilers/ Furnaces/ Air preheater/ Any other
Heaters, Fuel for Bunkering and Fuel/ Feedstock
in Fertilizer Plants.
• Emission of Sulphur: The oxides of sulphur
emissions are a direct result of the sulphur content
of the fuel oil. During the combustion process this
fuel-bound sulphur is rapidly oxidised to sulphur
dioxide (SO2). It also contributes to the formation
of secondary particulate matter (PM).
• Benefits of Furnace oil: Cheapest petroleum fuel
available - gives most heat per litre at lowest cost;
Readily stored - occupies half the space of coal for
equivalent heat content; Easily handled, regulated
and controlled; Less maintenance than coal-fired
equipment; Less labor required than with coal, no
stoking, ash removal or conveyors required; Less
capital expenditure than equivalent coal plant;
Clean operation - no fly ash or dust problems, easy
smoke control.
217. Pet Coke: It is one of the many industrial by products
produced during oil refining
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• Categorized as bottom of barrel fuel as it is a
residual waste material which is obtained after
refining crude oil to extract lighter fuels like petrol
• It is used as a source of energy, in manufacturing
industries such as cement, steel and textile
• India is the world’s biggest consumer of petcoke
• Half of annual petcoke imports (27 million
tonnes) comes from USA
• More potent pollutant than coal; source of fine
dust and other toxic gases such as nitrous oxide,
arsenic and nickel
• DGFT banned its import for use as a fuel; import
allowed only for use as feedstock in some
industries such as cement and lime kiln industries.
218. Copper Smelting
• It is the process through which the copper ore is
purified through intense heating and melting to
derive high quality copper or copper products.
• Carbon Monoxide is used in copper smelters to
reduce copper oxide. But it is unlikely that a
smelter will release lethal quantities of carbon
monoxide in to the environment.
• Smelting produces by-products such as slag
which may leach heavy metals such as arsenic,
lead and mercury into groundwater.
• The smelting process releases sulphur dioxide as
most of copper ores are Sulphur based.
Page 30
 POLITY

219. . Central Government’ in 1950 recommended for the

Indian model Westminster grouping of ministries, improvement in the
(British) model capabilities of the personnel, and also in the working
Constitution Head of the State of the O&M Division. 1st Administrative reforms
envisage Republican by a hereditary committee suggested that a minister and a secretary be
system -Elected Head of position. (not designated solely for pursing the subject of
the State i.e., President elected) administrative reform and promoting it.
Written Constitution, Sovereignty of 223. Department of Personnel: In 1970, the
judicial review, parliament. Department of Personnel was constituted on the
constitutional rights recommendation of the Administrative Reforms
limits sovereignty Commission, 1966, and this was placed under the
of Parliament. charge of Cabinet Secretariat
PM may be a member of PM should • It is the coordinating agency of the Central
any of the two houses necessarily be Government in personnel matters specially issues
(Rajya Sabha and Lok member of House concerning recruitment
Sabha) of Commons • It determines Government policy for the
(Lower house) maintenance of the integrity of the public services
om
No system of legal System of legal and eradication of corruption and coordinates the
responsibility of the responsibility of activities of various Ministries/Departments in
minister in India. the minister that area
l.c

Person who is not a Members of • Recently, the Department of Personnel and

member of Parliament Parliament alone Training (DoPT) has sent communication to the
ai

can also be appointed as are appointed as States that the Union government proposes to
minister for a maximum ministers. amend Rule 6 (deputation of cadre officers) of the
gm

period of six months. Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules

Institution of “Shadow Institution of 1954. On the basis of the recommendations of
cabinet” does not exist in “Shadow cabinet” the Administrative Reforms Commission, the
35

India. by members of Department of Personnel was set up in the Cabinet

opposition party is Secretariat. It was placed under the Prime
Minister’s Office
1

followed.
224. Right to Privacy: It refers to respecting and
07

220. Limited power of parliament: Britain follows ensuring the privacy of the individual. The nine-
Parliamentary Sovereignty -> Parliament is supreme. judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a
rth

But, India follows constitutional government where landmark unanimous decision has declared right to
the power of Parliament to legislate is limited by the privacy a fundamental right under the constitution
constitution. Parliament of India is a creation of the overruling SC’s judgements in MP Sharma case
pa

Constitution and hence it has its limitations too.
Further the Indian state has an elected head, while the
British state has hereditary head (monarchy).
221. Constitutionality of amendment act: The provision
for a Constitution bench has been provided in the
Constitution of India under Article 143 and Article
145(3). A constitution bench consists of at least five
or more judges of the court which decide on the
constitutionality of the Amendment of an Act of the
Parliament.
222. Gopalaswamy Iyengar Committee: The committee
in its report ‘Reorganization of the Machinery of
(1954) and Kharak Singh case (1961). It ruled that
right to privacy is an intrinsic part of Right to Life
and Personal Liberty under Article 21 and entire
Part III of the Constitution.
• Significance of Right to Privacy: Prevent the
government from spying on people, keep groups
from using personal data for their own goals, help
maintain social boundaries, help build trust,
protect freedom of speech and thought, protect
reputations and protect your finances.
225. Rights part of Article 21: Right to live with human
dignity, Right to livelihood, Right to shelter, Right to

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 health, Right to travel abroad, Right to emergency custody, the person has the right to legal counsel, right
medical aid, Right to timely medical treatment in to be informed of the grounds which the police have
government hospital, right against public hanging, to ensure. In the judicial custody in jails, while the
right to electricity, Right to sleep etc. person under responsibility of the magistrate, the
226. Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination): It Prison Manual comes into picture for routine conduct
provides that no citizen shall be discriminated on of the person.
grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of
birth. Exception: provisions can be made for the
women, children, citizens from any socially or
educationally backward class for their upliftment
(such as reservation and access to free education).
227. Article 19: Article 19 guarantees to all citizens the six
rights of freedom including Right to freedom of
speech and expression, Right to assemble peacefully
and without arms, Right to form associations or unions
or co-operative societies, Right to move freely
throughout the territory of India, Right to reside and
settle in any part of the territory of India and Right to
practice any profession or to carry on any occupation,
trade or business.
228. Article 29: It provides that any section of the citizens
residing in any part of India having a distinct
language, script or culture of its own, shall have the
right to conserve the same. It grants protection to both
religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.
Supreme Court held that the scope of this article is not
necessarily restricted to minorities only, as use of the
word ‘section of citizens’ in the Article includes
minorities as well as the majority.
229. Judicial custody: Judicial custody means that the 231. Parole: The provision of Parole is a
person is detained under the purview of the judicial privilege/concession but not a right of any convicted
magistrate is lodged in central or state prison. The prisoner. It is given to a prisoner for a specific reason,
person can apply for a bail as per the CrPC chapter 33 such as a death in the family or a wedding of a blood
pertaining to the bails and bonds. The judicial custody relative
can extend up to 60 or 90 days as a whole, depending • It may be denied to a prisoner even when he
upon the maximum punishment prescribed for the makes out a sufficient case, if the competent
offence. An undertrial person cannot remain in authority is satisfied that releasing the convict
judicial custody beyond half the time period of would not be in the interest of society
prescribed maximum punishment. During Judicial • Parole is a system of releasing a prisoner with
Custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not suspension of the sentence. The release is
allowed to interrogate the suspect. However, the court conditional, usually subject to behaviour, and
may allow the interrogations to be conducted if it requires periodic reporting to the authorities for a
opines the interrogation being necessary under the set period of time. Parole is considered a
facts produced before the court. reformative process
230. Police custody and Judicial custody: Police • In the United States and Britain, every sentence
Custody means that police have the physical custody above 18 months is eligible for parole, after
of the accused while Judicial Custody means an completion of one-third of prison time
accused is in the custody of the concerned Magistrate. • In India, parole is covered under The Prisons Act
In police custody, the investigating authority can of 1894
interrogate a person while in judicial custody, officials
need permission of the court for questioning. In police

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 • Prisoners convicted of multiple murders or under
the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
(UAPA) are not eligible for parole
• Parole is granted by the state executive — the jail
authorities submit the report to state government
— and the competent authority takes a final
decision on grant of parole on humanitarian
considerations
• If a plea for parole is rejected, the convict can
move the High Court challenging the order of the
competent authority
• Apart from regular parole, the superintendent of a
jail can also grant parole up to a period of seven
days in emergencies
• Since prisons is a State subject in the Constitution,
the Prisons Act of each state government defines
the rules under which parole is granted in that
state. For instance, in Rajasthan, initial parole is
granted for 20 days; a second parole is for 30 days,
and a third for 40 days. Thereafter, the prisoner
can apply for permanent parole.
232. Furlough: It is given in cases of long-term
imprisonment. The period of furlough granted to a
prisoner is treated as remission of his sentence
• It is a matter of right for a prisoner, to be granted
periodically irrespective of any reason, and
merely to enable the prisoner to retain family and
social ties, and to counter the ill-effects of
prolonged time spent in prison
• Both parole and furlough are considered
as reformative processes
• Parole and furlough are covered under the Prisons
Act of 1894.
233. Forest Rights act, 2006: It provides for restitution of
deprived forest rights across India, including both
individual rights to cultivated land in forestland and
community resources over common property
resources.
• Nodal Agency: Ministry of Tribal affairs
• Definition of Minor Forest produce: It includes
all non-timber forest produce of plant origin,
including bamboo, brush, wood, stumps, tendu,
kendu leaves etc.
• Four types of rights
o Title rights
§ It gives Forest dwelling scheduled tribes
and other traditional forest dwellers the
right to ownership to land farmed by
tribals or forest dwellers subject to a
maximum of 4 hectares.
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§ Ownership is restricted for land that is
actually being cultivated by the
concerned family and no new lands will
be granted.
o Use rights: The rights of the dwellers extend
to extracting Minor Forest Produce, grazing
areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.
o Relief and development rights: To
rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or
forced displacement, subject to restrictions
for forest protection.
o Forest management rights: Right to protect,
regenerate or conserve or manage any
community forest resource which they have
been traditionally protecting and conserving
for sustainable use.
o Nature of rights: The rights under the act
shall be heritable but not alienable or
transferrable.
o Competent authority: The Gram Sabha has
been designated as competent authority for
initiating process of determining the nature
and extent of individual or community forest
rights that may be given to forest dwelling
scheduled tribes.
234. Article 14: It ensures that all citizens are equal and
that no person shall be discriminated on the basis of
sex, religion, race or place of birth. It ensures that
there is a separation of power between the three
wings of the government and the executive. Thus, a
legislation which confers on the executive or
administrative authority, an unguided and
uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of
application of law, will violate Rule of law as
prescribed under Article 14.
235. Independence of Judiciary: The establishment of
an independent judiciary necessarily indicates the
federal character of Indian polity. The Constitution
establishes an independent judiciary headed by the
Supreme Court to settle the disputes between the
Centre and the states or between the states.
236. Federal features of Indian Constitution: Dual
polity consisting of the Union at the Centre and the
states at the periphery, Written Constitution,
Division of powers between the Centre and the
states, Supremacy of the Constitution, Rigidity of
the constitution, Bicameral legislature consisting of
Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and Independency of
judiciary.
237. Fundamental rights: They are justiciable,
implying they are enforceable by courts. People can
Page 33
 approach the SC directly in case of violation of
fundamental rights.
238. Composition of Union Cabinet: Composition of the
cabinet is flexible. It is for the Prime Minister to
determine from time to time the compositions of the
Cabinet. It can have elected representatives from
regional parties. Cabinet Ministers must be a member
of either House of Parliament.
239. State: State is a political organization of society. The
elements of the state are – People (community of
persons permanently living), Government (A political
organization or agency through which the collective
will of the population is expressed, i.e. government),
Territory (A territory upon which they permanently
reside) and Sovereignty: Internal sovereignty and
independence from foreign control.
240. Article 218: The Chief Justice of India may, at any
time, with the previous consent of the President,
request any person who has held the office of a Judge
om
of the Supreme Court to sit and act as a Judge of the
Supreme Court.
241. Article 215: As a court of record, a high court also has
l.c
the power to review and correct its own judgement or
order even though no specific power of review is
ai
conferred on it by the constitution. The Supreme
court, on other hand has been specifically conferred
gm
with power of review by the constitution.
242. Appointment of Judges: The judges of Supreme
court are appointed by president after consultation
35
with such judges of SC and HCs as he deems
necessary. The other judges are appointed by
president after consultation with chief justice and such
1
other judges of the Supreme court and high courts as
07
he deems necessary. The consultation with CJI is
obligatory in case of appointment of a judge other than
Chief Justice.
rth
243. Court of record for Subordinate courts: The ruling
of the High Courts must be followed by the lower
pa
courts. All future cases will relate to its procedures
and decisions. It has the authority to penalize those
who disobey it and its subordinate courts. It can also
look through the records of its subordinate courts.
244. Separation of powers: The Separation of
powers between the legislature, the executive and the
judiciary constitute an important safeguard of liberty
in a liberal democracy. The separation of powers
between executive, legislative and judiciary
minimizes the possibility of arbitrary excesses by the
government -> demarcation prevents the
concentration of excessive power by any branch of the
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Government, thus helps to safeguard the liberty and
rights of the people in a democracy.
245. Separation of powers: It was Aristotle who for the
first time classified the functions of the Government
into three categories viz., deliberative, magisterial
and judicial.
• Indian context: The doctrine of separation of
powers has no place in strict sense in Indian
Constitution, but the functions of different organs
of the Government have been sufficiently
differentiated, so that one organ of the
Government could not usurp the function of
another. In Indian Constitution there is provision
that “Executive power of the Union shall be
vested in the President, and the executive power
of the State shall be vested in Governor.” (Article
154(1) of Indian Constitution). But there is no
express provision that legislative and judicial
powers shall be vested in any person or organ. The
President of India also exercises judicial function.
• Constitutional Provisions Ensuring Separation
of Power
o Article 50: State shall take steps to separate
the judiciary from the executive.
o Article 121 and 211: Judicial conduct of a
judge of the Supreme Court and the High
Courts’ cannot be discussed in the Parliament
and the State Legislature.
o Article 122 and 212: Validity of proceedings
in Parliament and the Legislatures cannot be
called into question in any Court.
o Article 361: The President or the Governor
shall not be answerable to any court for the
exercise and performance of the powers and
duties of his office.
246. Committed judiciary: It refers to the judiciary
which is committed to uphold the policies of the
government in power by interpreting the laws and
the Constitution in a way palatable to the
Government in power.
247. DPSPs: They provide guidelines to Central and
State governments in India, to be kept in mind while
framing laws and policies
• Articles 36-51 under Part-IV deal with DPSPs
• They cannot be enforced by any court, but these
principles are fundamental in the governance of
the country and it shall be the duty of the State to
apply these principles in making laws
• The framers of the Constitution borrowed this
idea from the Irish Constitution of 1937
Page 34
 • 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, reshape
the structure of Indian society in direction of
greater socio-economic equality
248. DPSPs: Article 39 (c) states that "the operation of the
economic system does not result in the concentration
of wealth and means of production to the common
detriment.”
249. Right to Equality: Article 14 provides that the State
shall not deny to any person: equality before the law
or the equal protection of the laws within the territory
of India
• The concept of “equality of law” is borrowed
from the British Constitution and connotes:
the absence of any special privileges in favor
of any person, equal subjection of all persons
to the ordinary law of the land and No person
is above the law
• The concept of “equal protection of laws” is
borrowed from the American Constitution
and connotes: The equality of treatment under
equal circumstances, The similar application
of the same laws to all persons and The like
should be treated alike sans any
discrimination.
250. Right to Freedom: The right to freedom guarantees
citizens, among other things, the freedom to live in
dignity. They are regulated in Articles 19, 20, 21A and
22 of the Indian Constitution.
251. Concept of welfare: The welfare state is a concept of
government in which the state plays a key role in the
protection and promotion of the economic and social
well-being of its citizens
• It provides a social security net which may include
education, housing, sustenance, healthcare etc
• Without equality of opportunity and equitable
distribution of wealth, welfare of the marginalised
sections cannot be ensured.
252. Right to property: Originally, provided
through Article 19(1)(f) and Article 31. However,
the 44th Amendment Act of 1978 repealed it.
According to Article 300A of the Indian Constitution,
"no person shall be deprived of his property save by
authority of law. As this right is mentioned in
constitution, it is a constitutional and legal right.
253. Right to private property: The Supreme Court held
that a citizen’s right to own private property is a
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human right and the state cannot take possession of it
without following due procedure and authority of law;
it referred to an earlier verdict in State of Haryana v.
Mukesh Kumar case (2011) wherein it was held that
the right to property is not only a constitutional or
statutory right but also a human right. The state cannot
trespass into the private property of a citizen and then
claim ownership of the land in the name of ‘adverse
possession.
254. Preamble: In the original preamble, during 26th
January-1950, constitutional status of India was
declared as "Sovereign Democratic Republic." The
42nd Constitutional Amendment added two more
words i.e., "Socialist and Secular."
255. Preamble: A preamble is an introductory statement
in a document that explains the document’s
philosophy and objectives. In a Constitution, it
presents the intention of its framers, the history
behind its creation, and the core values and
principles of the nation.
256. Sovereign: India has its own independent authority
and it is not a dominion of any other external power.
Legislature has the power to make laws which are
subject to certain limitations.
257. Socialist: The term means the achievement of
socialist ends through democratic means. It holds
faith in a mixed economy where both private and
public sectors co-exist side by side.
258. Secular: All the religions in India get equal respect,
protection and support from the state. It was
Page 35
 incorporated in the Preamble by 42nd Constitutional
Amendment, 1976.
259. Democratic: Constitution of India has an established
form of Constitution which gets its authority from the
will of the people expressed in an election.
260. Republic: Head of the state is elected by the people.
In India, the President of India is the elected head of
the state.
261. Constitutional government: Constitutional
Government is a regime type that is characterized by
the fact that "Government" operates within a set of
legal and institutional constraints that both limits its
power and protects the individual liberty of the citizen
of a polity
• Central elements of constitutional government are
the set of rules or "basic laws" that establish the
duties, powers and functions of government (i.e.
the institutional autonomy) and define the
relationship between state and individual (i.e.
individual autonomy)
• The origins and development of
"constitutionalism" can be traced to its roots in the
18th Century enlightenment and the Bourgeois
Revolutions in the US and Europe
• It seeks to limit and regulate the exercise of
political power by the government. The core
element of constitutional government is, the
existence of a "Rule-of Law" or set of “basic
laws” that binds both public office-holders and all
members of a society (i.e. citizens) within a given
territory.
262. Dance forms of northwest India
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263. Tribal languages: Some of the popular languages
spoken by the tribes of India are Bhatri, Bhilli,
Bhunjia, Chakma, hhatisgarhi, Dhanki, Dhodia,
hundhari, Gadiali, Gamit/Gavti, Garasia / Girasia,
Gojri / Gujjari, Gujarati, Hajong, Halbi, Harauti,
Hindi, Jaunsari, Kachchi, Konkani, Marathi,Mavchi,
Mewnri, Nagpuri, Naikadi, Nimari, Oriya, Rathi,
Sardohi, Shina, Tharu, Wagri, Warli among many
others. Halabi is spoken in the states of Maharashtra
and Madhya Pradesh whcih belongs to the group of
Indo Aryan Tribal languages. Important Dravidian
Tribal languages are Kui, Konda, Koya, Gondi, Parji
and Oroan.
264. Reserve Bank of India: It is India’s central bank
which was set up on April 1, 1935 under the RBI
act,1934 based on the recommendation of Hilton
Young Commission Report (1926) with a share
capital of 5 crores. Originally, RBI was privately
owned but in 1949 it was nationalized and is now
fully owned by the Government of India.
• Administration of RBI: The Board of directors
(21 members) is the key decision making body of
RBI. The board is appointed by GOI in keeping
with RBI Act. The directors are
appointed/nominated for a period of four years. It
consists of:
o RBI Governor
o Four Deputy Governors
o Two Finance Ministry representatives-
Economic affairs secretary and Financial
services secretary.
o 10 government nominated directors
o 4 directors to represent local boards
headquartered at Bombay, Calcutta, Madras
and New Delhi.
• RBI Governor and Deputy Governors are
appointed by the Central Government. Their
appointments are made by Cabinet Committee on
Appointments.
• Appointment of Governor of RBI: RBI is
India’s central bank set up on April 1, 1935 under
the RBI act,1934. According to Section 8 of the
act, Governor and Deputy Governors are
appointed by the Central Government. Their
appointments are approved by Cabinet Committee
on Appointments.
• RBI Act, 1934: Section 7 of RBI act, states that
Central Government may from time to time give
such directions to the Bank as it may, after
consultation with Governor of the Bank, consider
Page 36
 necessary in the public interest. There is no such
provision in constitution of India.
• Legal Framework: The major duties and
responsibilities of RBI flow from RBI act, 1934.
However, its functions are governed by other
statutes as well such as FEMA,1999, Payment and
settlement act, 2007 etc. According to Section 7
of the RBI act, The Governor of the RBI draws his
power from the RBI Act.
• Functions of RBI
o Public Debt Functions: Section 20 of RBI
act-> Central government to entrust RBI with
its debt and cash management functions.
Market borrowing through issuance of
various bonds.
o Foreign Exchange Management: Section 10
of FEMA empowers RBI to authorize person
to deal in foreign exchange as an authorized
dealer as it deems fit. Custodian of Foreign
om
Exchange reserves in India. It facilitates
external trade and payment and promotes
orderly development and maintenance of
l.c
foreign exchange market in India. Maintains
external value of rupee.
ai
o Monetary Functions
§ Issue of Currency: All currency in India
gm
(except Rs.1 notes and coins of all
denominations) are issued and circulated
by RBI. [Note: Rs.1 notes and all coins
35
issued by Ministry of Finance but
circulated by the RBI].
§ Minimum reserves system: RBI has to
1
keep a minimum reserve of 200 crores
07
comprising of Gold and foreign
exchange.
rth
§ Implements Monetary policy: It
implements and monitors the monetary
policy and ensures price stability. RBI
pa
amendment act provided statutory basis
for implementation of the flexible
inflation targeting framework and
provided for empowered six-
member Monetary Policy Committee
(MPC) to be constituted by the Central
Government.
o Banker and Debt Manager to government:
It maintains bank account for government,
receive and make payments out of it. It helps
GOI to raise money from public through issue
of bonds. In 2020, RBI increase the Ways and
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Means Advance limits of states by 60% over
and above levels of 31st March till Sep 2020.
o Bankers Bank: Commercial banks are
account holders in RBI and it maintains
banking account of all scheduled banks.
Provides financial assistance against
mortgaged securities and rediscounts bills of
exchange. It also acts as lender of last resorts
by providing fund to banks.
o Developmental role: Various functions to
support national objectives such as making
institutional arrangements for rural or
agricultural finance. SCBs lend loans to
small-scale industrial units as per its
directives (Priority Sector Lending).
o Financial Inclusion: No Frills accounts
(account either with nil or very low minimum
balance). Use of technology (Devices such as
ATMs, hand held devices to identify user
accounts through a card and biometric
identifier etc).
o Controller of credit: By making frequent
changes in monetary policy (like CRR, SLR,
Repo Rate and Reverse Repo Rate), it ensures
that the monetary system in the economy
functions according to the nation’s needs and
goals.
o Inflation control: The RBI has targeted to
keep the mid-term inflation at 4 four percent
(+/- 2 percent).
o Payment and settlement functions:
Payment and settlement systems act, 2007
designate RBI for regulation and supervision
of payment systems in India.
o Regulatory role: Maintains public
confidence in the system, protect depositors'
interest and provide cost-effective banking
services such as commercial banking, co-
operative banking, to the public. It covers
commercial banks, co-operative banks and
certain categories of NBFCs registered with
it. All India financial institutions such as
EXIM, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI are
covered under regulation of RBI.
• Subsidiaries of RBI
o Deposit Insurance and Credit
Guarantee Corporation (DICGC): It
insures various deposits with eligible
banks. Every bank depositor insured upto
Rs. 5 Lakh for both principal and interest.
Page 37
 o Bharatiya Reserve Bank note mudran
private limited (BRBNMPL)
o Reserve Bank Information Technology
Private Limited (ReBIT)
o Indian Financial Technology and Allied
Services (IFTAS)
• Independence of RBI: Central government
may from time to time give such directions to
the RBI as it may, after consultation with RBI
governor. There is no legal act
mandating autonomy of the RBI.
• Assets of RBI: Foreign currency assets, Gold
coin Bullion, Rupee securities (including
treasury bills), Loans and advances to Central
and State Governments, commercial and
cooperative banks and others in terms of
section 17 and 18 of RBI act, 1934.
• Liabilities of RBI: Notes issued, Notes in
circulation, Notes held in banking
departments, cash balances maintained with
Reserve Bank by Central and State
governments, banks, All India Financial
institutions such as EXIM Bank, NABARD,
foreign central banks and balance in different
accounts relating to Employee’s Provident
Fund, Gratuity and Superannuation Funds.
265. Representation of People Act, 1950: It lays down
procedures for delimitation of constituencies.
Provides for the allocation of seats in the House
of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies
and Legislative Councils of States. Procedure for
the preparation of electoral rolls and the manner
of filling seats. Qualification of voters.
266. Representation of People Act, 1951: Conduct of
Elections to Houses of Parliament and to the House
or Houses of the Legislature of each State; structure
of administrative machinery for conduct of elections;
Qualifications and disqualifications for membership
of those Houses; bye-elections to vacant seats and
registration of political parties.
267. Representation of People’s act: According to
Section 33(7) of the RPA, "a person shall not be
nominated as a candidate for election, in the case of a
general election to the House of the People, from more
than two Parliamentary constituencies.". More
constituencies were allowed until 1996. In 1991 Lok
Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three
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Lok Sabha constituencies. If a candidate is contesting
from more than one constituency, he has to lodge a
separate return of election expenses for every election
which he has contested. The election for each
constituency is a separate election.
268. Citizenship
• Single citizenship: Though the Indian
constitution is federal and envisages dual polity
(Centre and States), it provides for only a single
citizenship that is Indian citizenship. There is no
separate state citizenship. The Uttarakhand High
Court (2010) ruled that there is no separate
domicile for each State and there is only one
domicile for the entire country.
• Eligibility: In India, both a citizen by birth as well
as naturalized citizen are eligible for office of
President. While in USA, only a citizen by birth
and not a naturalized citizen is eligible for the
office of the President.
• Acquisition of Citizenship: The Citizenship Act,
1955 provides five modes of acquiring the
citizenship of India. They are Citizenship by birth,
Citizenship by descent, Citizenship by
registration, Citizenship by naturalization and by
incorporation of territory (by the Government of
India).
• Loss of Citizenship: The Citizenship act, 1955
prescribes three ways – By renunciation, By
termination and by deprivation.
• Deprivation of Citizenship: A foreigner, who
has been earlier granted Indian citizenship, can be
deprived of his citizenship. His Indian citizenship
can be terminated by the Central government,
if: he has obtained the citizenship by fraud; he has
shown disloyalty to the Constitution of India; he
has unlawfully traded or communicated with the
enemy during a war; he has, within five years after
registration or naturalisation, been imprisoned in
any country for two years; and he has been
ordinarily resident out of India for seven years
continuously.
Page 38
 CURRENT AFFAIRS
269. National Edible Oil Mission- Oil Palm: It was
launched to achieve self-reliance in edible oil. It
involves investment of over Rs. 11,000 crores over a
five-year period. It aims to raise the domestic
production of palm oil by three times to 11 lakh MT
by 2025-26. Special emphasis of the scheme will be in
India’s north-eastern states and the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands due to the conducive weather
conditions in the regions. Oil palm farmers will be
provided financial assistance and will get
remuneration under a price and viability formula.
270. Recent Developments: Ban on Exports: Indonesia,
the world’s biggest producer, exporter, and consumer
of palm oil, banned all exports of palm oil and its raw
materials to reduce domestic shortages of cooking oil
and bring down its rising prices.
• Impact on India: India meets half of its annual
need for 8.3 million tons of palm oil from
Indonesia. This would lead to a rise in wholesale
inflation.
• Important Facts: According to US Department
of Agriculture, Palm oil is the world’s most
widely used vegetable oil with its global
production in the year 2020 being over 73 Million
Tones (MT). Palm oil makes up 40% of the global
supply of the four most widely used edible
oils: palm, soybean, rapeseed (canola), and
sunflower oil. Indonesia is responsible for 60% of
the global supply of palm oil.
271. Indus Water Treaty, 1960: Under the treaty all the
waters of three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas
were allocated to India for exclusive use. While, the
waters of Western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and
Chenab were allocated to Pakistan except for
specified domestic, non-consumptive, and agricultural
use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty. India
has also been given the right to generate
hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects
on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific
criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.
272. Climate Smart Village: CCAFS proposes to address
the fundamental questions via participatory research
at Climate-Smart Villages (CSVs), sites ranging from
village to district scale at which portfolios of CSA
interventions are tested in a globally comparable
manner with farmers, development agencies and the
private sector.
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273. Climate Smart Agriculture: It is an approach that
helps guide actions to transform agri-food systems
towards green and climate resilient practices
• It aims to tackle three main objectives: sustainably
increasing agricultural productivity and incomes;
adapting and building resilience to climate
change; and reducing and/or removing
greenhouse gas emissions, where possible
• It supports the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-
2031 based on the Four Betters: better production,
better nutrition, a better environment and a better
life for all, leaving no one behind.
274. CGIAR: It is a global partnership that unites
international organizations engaged in research
about food security.
• Aims to reduce rural poverty, increase food
security, improve human health and nutrition, and
sustainable management of natural resources.
• It is carried out at 15 centers (CGIAR Consortium
of International Agricultural Research Centers)
that collaborate with partners from national and
regional research institutes, civil society
organizations, academia, development
organizations, and the private sector
• CGIAR is an ad-hoc organization funded by its
members which include the USA, Canada, the
UK, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Japan,
the Ford Foundation, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the
International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD), the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the
European Commission, the Asian Development
Bank, the African Development Bank, and the
Fund of the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC Fund)
• The governance of CGIAR research program on
Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
(CCAFS) are based on lessons learned by CGIAR
headquartered in France.
275. CCAFS: It generates evidence and supports adoption
of climate-smart agricultural policies, practices, and
services that alleviate poverty and support
sustainable landscapes. It promotes climate-smart
policies, practices, and services that enable
agriculture to meet the triple goals of food security,
climate change adaptation, and mitigation.
Page 39
276. ICRISAT (50th Anniversary): It is an international
organization which conducts agricultural research for
rural development
• Headquartered at Patancheru, Hyderabad
• Founded in 1972 by a consortium of organisations
convened by the Ford and the Rockefeller
foundations
• Charter was signed by the FAO and the UNDP
• It conducts its research under four themes: Agro-
ecosystems development, Harnessing plant
biotechnology and bioinformatics, Crop
improvement and management, and Institutions,
Markets, policy and Impacts
• It is managed by a full-time Director General
functioning under the overall guidance of an
international Governing Board
• It founded the Smart Food Initiative in 2013 with
the vision to create a world where food is ‘Smart’
– good for you, the planet and the farmer
om
• ICRISAT genebank serves as a repository for the
collection of germplasm of the six mandate crops
– sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, chickpea,
l.c
pigeonpea and groundnut; and five small millets –
foxtail millet, little millet, kodo millet, proso
ai
millet and barnyard millet
• It is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana,
gm
India, with two regional hubs and six country
offices in sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the
CGIAR’s research centres.
35
277. Mitochondria: Mitochondria are membrane-bound
organelles present in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic
1
cells, that produces adinosine triphosphate (ATP), the
main energy molecule used by the cell. Functions
07
include regulates the metabolic activity of the cell,
promotes the growth of new cells and cell
rth
multiplication, helps in detoxifying ammonia in the
liver cells, plays an important role in apoptosis or
programmed cell death.
pa
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278. Mitochondrial diseases: Mitochondrial diseases
are chronic, genetic, often inherited disorders that
occur when mitochondria fail to produce enough
energy for the body to function properly. Many
conditions can lead to secondary mitochondrial
dysfunction and affect other diseases, including
Alzheimer’s disease and Muscular dystrophy.
279. Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy: It is a
medical technique in which defective mitochondria
carried by a woman is replaced with the healthy
mitochondria of a donor. Common techniques in
mitochondrial donation are maternal spindle
transfer and pronuclear transfer. Benefits include
prevent transmission of mitochondrial (genetic)
disease from one generation to the next, give parents
chance of having a child that is genetically matched
to them and free from mitochondrial disease. It
prevents the transmission of mitochondrial (genetic)
disease from one generation to the next either before
or after in vitro fertilization of egg.
280. Hereditary diseases: Common genetic disorders in
India are Beta-Thalassemia (blood disorder), Cystic
Fibrosis (damages lungs), Sickle Cell Anaemia
(Affects RBCs), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (wasting
in muscles) and Haemophilia. The genetic and
congenital disorder is the second most common
cause of infant and childhood mortality with a
prevalence of 25-60 per 1,000 births. The sperm
contains very low number of mitochondria and
mitochondrial gene. So, in the offspring the
mitochondrial genes are entirely inherited from the
mother.
281. Plant Harmones: Auxin is a group of plant
hormones that induce plant growth, phototropic
response through the stimulation of cell elongation
(photopropism), stimulation of secondary growth
and the development of leaf traces and fruit.
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 Gibberellins include a large range of chemicals that
are produced naturally within plants and by fungi;
important in seed germination, affecting enzyme
production that mobilizes food production used for
growth of new cells.
282. Common cold: Adenoviruses can cause cold-like
symptoms, fever, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia,
diarrhea, and pink eye (conjunctivitis) whereas AIDS
is caused by retrovirus.
283. Street Light National Programme (SLNP):
Government aims to replace 3.5 crore conventional
street lights with energy efficient LED lights
• It is implemented across 28 states and union
territories. Energy Efficiency Services
Limited under the administration of Ministry
of Power is the implementing agency for
SLNP
• EESL undertakes social audits in all states
post the completion of the project
• Core objective is to mitigate climate change
by implementing energy efficient LED based
street lighting and reduce energy consumption
in lighting which helps DISCOMs to manage
peak demand.
284. Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA):
It was launched in 2015 with a target of replacing 77
crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs and to
nullify the high-cost of LEDs that acted as a barrier
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previously in the adoption of energy-efficient
systems. The objective is to promote efficient
lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient
equipment that will reduce electricity bills and
preserve the environment.
285. Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
(IRNSS), NavIC: IRNSS is an independent regional
navigation satellite system being developed by India
• It is designed to provide accurate position
information service to users in India as well as the
region extending up to 1500 km from its
boundary, which is its primary service area
• It will provide two types of services, namely,
Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is
provided to all the users and Restricted Service
(RS), which is an encrypted service provided only
to the authorised users
• Applications of IRNSS include terrestrial, Aerial
and Marine Navigation, Disaster Management,
Vehicle tracking and fleet management,
Integration with mobile phones, Precise Timing,
Mapping and Geodetic data capture and Visual
and voice navigation for drivers.
286. Right to City: UDHR commits to social justice
through the promotion, defense and fulfillment of
all human rights related to habitat, including the
Human Right to Adequate Housing, Land and the
Right to the City in every region of the world
• This right claims for the social function of the
city; quality public spaces; sustainable and
inclusive rural-urban linkages; inclusive
economies; inclusive citizenship; enhanced
political participation; gender equality;
and cultural diversity
• It guarantees the common goods and services
which are essential for the quality of life
• It is the individual and collective right of all
residents of a city/town/village to an equal share
of its benefits and to participate in its development
• It is at the heart of the New Urban Agenda agreed
at Habitat III
• UN-Habitat partners with national and local
governments, civil society and private sector in
monitoring of the commitment made by each
country in this regard
• The Right to the City is the right of all inhabitants
to inhabit, use, occupy, produce, transform,
govern and enjoy cities, towns and human
settlements that are just, inclusive, safe,
sustainable and democratic
Page 41
 • State can deny any public service or facility to the
unauthorized colonies in the city.
287. UN-HABITAT: It is a UN agency responsible for
sustainable urban development and human
settlements
• It is an intergovernmental body established in
1978
• It is headquartered at UN Office at Nairobi, Kenya
• It promotes socially and environmentally
sustainable towns and cities with the goal of
providing adequate shelter for all + It is also a
member of UNDP
• It focuses on seven areas: Urban Legislation, Land
and Governance; Urban Planning and Design;
Urban Economy; Urban Basic Services; Housing
and Slum Upgrading; Risk Reduction and
Rehabilitation; Urban Research and Capacity
Development
• World cities report is published by UN-
HABITAT.
288. Bharat ratna awards: The award was instituted on
2nd January 1954
• Conferred as a mark of recognition for
exceptional service or performance of highest
order
• India council of ministers headed by PM
recommends names to the President of India
• Recipients get a certificate signed by President
and medallion shaped like Pipal leaf
• C Rajagopalachari, Radhakrishnan and CV
Raman were first Indians to receive this honour in
1954
• Lal Bahadur Shastri was first individual to receive
this honour in 1966
• Mother Teresa was only naturalized citizen to
receive this honour
• Khan Abdul Ghaffar khan and Nelson Mandela
were only foreigners to get Bharat Ratna so far
• The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted
to a maximum of three in a particular year.
289. Padma awards: The Padma Awards are one of the
highest civilian honours of India announced annually
on the eve of Republic Day
• Given in three categories-> Padma Vibhushan
(for exceptional and distinguished service),
Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher
order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service)
• Awards are conferred on the recommendations
made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is
constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The
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nomination process is open to the public; Even
self-nomination can be made
• All persons without distinction of race,
occupation, position or sex are eligible for these
awards. However, Government servants including
those working with PSUs, except doctors and
scientists, are not eligible for these Awards
• The award is normally not conferred
posthumously. However, in highly deserving
cases, the Government could consider giving an
award posthumously
• A higher category of Padma award can be
conferred on a person only where a period of at
least five years has elapsed since conferment of
the earlier Padma award
• The total number of awards to be given in a year
(excluding posthumous awards and to
NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than
120
• Padma Awards are instituted in the year 1954 and
are announced every year on Republic Day;
suspended during the years 1978 and 1979 and
1993 to 1997.
290. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards: The Supreme
Court in 1966 upheld the constitutional validity of the
Bharat ratna and Padma awards. It stated that the
awards do not amount to ‘titles’ under Article 18
which prohibits only hereditary titles of nobility.
Hence the awards are not violative of Article 18 as
the theory of equality does not mandate that merit
should not be recognised.
291. Tree City of the World: Hyderabad is the only city
from India to have been recognised as a 2020 Tree
City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for its
commitment to growing and maintaining urban
forests.
292. Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a
year following its commitment to grow and maintain
the urban forests. Hyderabad earned recognition in
the Foundation’s second year of the programme
along with 51 other cities globally (120 cities from
63 countries assessed) and the only city in India to
get this recognition so far. Through this recognition,
Hyderabad joins a network of like-minded cities who
recognise the importance of trees in building healthy,
resilient and happy cities.
293. UNCDF: It was established by the United Nations
General Assembly(UNGA) in 1966
Page 42
 • Its objective is to provide microfinance access to
Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
• It is an autonomous, voluntarily funded UN
organization affiliated with UNDP
• Funding comes from UN member states,
foundations, and the private sector
• It is headquartered at New York
• Financing model work through two channels:
Financial Inclusion and localized investments.
294. Arbor Day Foundation: It is a nonprofit
conservation and education organization founded in
1972 in Nebraska, United States, by John Rosenow. It
is the largest nonprofit membership organization
dedicated to tree planting. Its vision is to help others
understand and use trees as a solution to global issues
such as air quality, water quality, poverty, and hunger.
295. FAO: It is a UN body established in 1945 which leads
international efforts to defeat hunger
• HQ: Rome, Italy
om
• It is a source of knowledge and information, and
helps developing countries and countries in
transition modernize and improve agriculture,
l.c
forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good
nutrition and food security for all
ai
• India is a member of FAO
• Important reports: World State of Forest Report,
gm
State of World Fisheries and
Aquaculture(SOFIA), State of Food Security and
Nutrition in the World (SOFI), etc.
35
296. Laureus World Sports Awards: It is an annual
award ceremony that honours individuals and teams
1
from the world of sports
• The awards were established in 1999 by Laureus
07
Sport for Good Foundation founders Daimler and
Richemont
rth
• Six categories: Laureus Sporting Moment Award,
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus
pa
World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World
Team of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of
the Year, Laureus, World Breakthrough of the
Year, Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year
• Neeraj Chopra is the third Indian athlete to be
nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards after
wrestler Vinesh Phogat in 2019 and Sachin
Tendulkar
• Laureus World Sportsman of the year 2000 was
given to American golfer Tiger Woods
• The award was received mostly by tennis players
• Roger Federer has won the maximum Laureus
World Sports Awards including five for
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Sportsman of the Year and one for Comeback of
the Year.
297. 32nd Summer Olympics:
• Official Motto: The International Olympic
Committee decided upon the change with the new
motto being, "Faster, Higher, Stronger -
Together." The specific motto for the Tokyo
games remains unchanged, "United by Emotion."
• New changes: Surfing, Skateboarding, Sport
Climbing, Karate, Baseball and Softball are
included in 32nd Summer olympics.
298. Winter Olympics: It is the premier competition for
sports that are played on ice or snow
• Held every four years and features participants
from across the world
• Ice skating, ice hockey, skiing and figure skating
are some of the popular sports that are played
• The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in
Chamonix, France
• This years’ edition of the Winter Olympic Games
will be held in Beijing, China from 4th February
to 20th February 2022
• India has been participating in the Winter
Olympics since 1964.
299. Mission Olympics 2024: NITI Aayog has devised a
short-term and medium-to-long term action plan to
help India achieve 50 medals in 2024 summer
Olympics + It will focus on identifying talent at a
young age, a dedicated training programme for
coaches, having sports curriculum in schools. After
each Olympics, a fixed 4-year contract will be signed
between Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Group
A sportspersons, keeping in mind their funding
requirement for the next Olympics.
300. International Olympic committee: It is a non-
governmental international organisation that came
into existence in 1894. It aims of ensuring the
regular holding of the Olympic Games and fostering
Olympism and the Olympic movement. It is a
permanent organisation that elects its own members
- Each member must speak French or English and
be a citizen of or reside in a country that has a
National Olympic Committee. Members were
originally elected for life, but those elected after
1965 must retire at 75.
301. 2024 Paris Summer Olympics: Host city is Paris,
France; Motto is “Made for sharing”.
Skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and breaking
are additional sports proposed.
Page 43
 302. ICC World Test Championship
• World Test Championsip league standings
would be determined by the percentage of points
(PCT) earned by teams. PCT is the percentage of
points won out of the total number of points
contested by each team.
• New Zealand: It was ranked ahead of England in
WTC 2019-21 table because the percentage of
points won by New Zealand was more than
England.
303. International Mother Language Day
• UNESCO: 21st February is declared as
International Mother Language Day by
UNESCO. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO
General Conference and has been observed
throughout the world since 2000. The day also
commemorates a long struggle by Bangladesh to
protect its mother language Bangla.
• Bangla as national language: Statem
Dhirendrana Datta requested a motion to include
Bengali at the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
The Chief Minister of East Pakistan, West
Pakistani leaders, and the Prime Minister Liaquat
Ali Khan opposed the motion.
• 2022 Theme of International Mother Language
Day: “Using technology for multilingual
learning: Challenges and opportunities”.
304. UNESCO Creative cities network: It was created in
2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities
that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for
sustainable dvt.
• Seven fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts,
Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.
305. Six Indian cities in the network
• Hyderabad – Gastronomy (2019)
• Mumbai – Film (2019).
• Chennai - Creative city of Music (2017).
• Jaipur - Crafts and Folk Arts (2015).
• Varanasi - Creative city of Music (2015).
• Srinagar- Creative city in crafts and folk arts
(2021).
306. International Seabed Authority: The state parties to
UNCLOS organize and control all mineral-resources
activities through International Seabed Authority
(ISA). Licences for seabed exploration and mining in
international waters are granted by International
Seabed
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Authority (ISA) + India exclusive rights to explore
polymetallic nodules in Central Indian Ocean Basin
(CIOB) have been extended by five years.
307. International Seabed Authority: It was
established in 1982 by UNCLOS; it is the institution
through which Parties to UNCLOS design and
control all the mineral-related resources activities in
the area. It regulates the exploration of poly-metallic
nodules. India was re-elected as a member of ISA in
2020.
308. Global Ocean Commission: It was an international
initiative to raise awareness, and promote action to
address, the degradation of the ocean and help
restore it to full health and productivity.
309. Pioneer Investor: India is the first country which
received the status of ‘Pioneer Investor ‘in 1987 and
was given an area of about 1.5 lakh sq km in the
Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) for nodule
exploration.
310. Savannah
• Distribution: West African Sudan, East Africa,
South America (Llanos and campos), Australia
(Queensland). In general, savannas grow in
tropical regions 8° to 20° from the Equator.
• Conditions: Savanna is heterogeneous
environments characterized by presence of trees,
bushes, and grasses. Usually Nutrient and soil
moisture availability are limiting factors affecting
the biomass growth. Fire, grazing herbivore and
seasonal rainfall are factors behind scarce forest
development in the region.
• Climate: It is a transitional type of climate found
between the equatorial rainforests and hot deserts.
• Temperature: Mean annual temperature is
greater than 18° C. Extreme diurnal range of
temperature. Confined dry and wet season.
• Precipitation: Annual precipitation is around 80
cms. Rainfall is confined to limited period. In
northern hemisphere, rainy season begins in May
and lasts till September. In southern hemisphere,
the rainy season is from October to March.
• Natural vegetation: Typified by tall grass and
short trees (elephant grass). It has presence of
deciduous trees like Acacius. Trees are deciduous
and shed the leaves in the cool, dry season to
prevent excessive loss of water through
transpiration. Broad trunks with water storing
devices to survive droughts. Presence of grasses
with scattered trees and fire resisting thorny
shrubs.
Page 44
 • Fauna: Antelopes, buffaloes, elephants and and protecting the climate through actions to
rhinoceros; carnivores include lion, cheetah, reduce short-lived climate pollutants
hyena and many rodents. • It focuses on Black carbon, Methane,
• Other names: Brazil (Campos), Venezuela Hydrofluorocarbons and tropospheric ozone.
(Llanos). 315. Making peace with nature report: It is released by
311. UN Water: It was created in 2003 as an UN Inter UNEP. The report explains how climate change,
Agency organization that works on water issues. It’s biodiversity loss and pollution add up to three self-
headquarter is in Geneva, Switzerland. UN World inflicted planetary emergencies that are closely
Water Development Report (WWDR) is UN-Water's interconnected and put the well-being of current and
flagship report on water and sanitation issues, future generations at unacceptable risk.
focusing on a different theme each year; it is published 316. Dholavira and Ramappa temple are the latest
by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water and its addition to the list under the ‘Cultural’ category.
production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Decision was made in UNESCO World Heritage
Water assessment programme. committee’s 44th session held in China. At present,
312. Common carbon metric by UNEP: This tool total World Heritage sites in India are 40.
provides a way to establish a baseline, measure,
report, and verify energy savings and emissions
reductions from buildings around the world in a
consistent and comparable way. It is applied to the
specific inventory of the buildings under study. Such
an inventory can be developed from a top-down or
bottom-up approach, depending on the scope and goal
of the investigation.
313. UNEP @ 50: Founded in 1972 following the
landmark UN Conference on the Human Environment
• It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes
the sustainable development within the United
Nations system, and serves as an authoritative
advocate for global environment protection
• Major Reports: Emission Gap Report,
Adaptation gap report, Global Environment
Outlook, Frontiers, Invest into Healthy Planet
• Major Campaigns: Beat Pollution, UN75,
World Environment Day, Wild for Life
• Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
• The United Nations Environment Assembly
(UNEA) is the governing body of the UN
Environment programme; It meets biennially to
set priorities for global environmental policies
and develop international environmental law.
314. Climate and Clean Air Coalition: The governments
of Bangladesh, Mexico, Sweden, Ghana, Canada and
USA along with UNEP came together in 2012 to treat
short-lived climate pollutants as a collective and
urgent challenge
• It is a voluntary partnership of governments,
intergovernmental organizations, businesses,
scientific institutions and civil society
organizations committed to improving air quality

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