B only

• 1-Located at the junction of the Cardamom Hills,

Anaimalai Hills and Palani Hills, Anaimudi/Anamudi
Peak of Munnar, Kerala, has an elevation of 2,695
metres above sea level. The name Anaimudi literally
translates to “elephant’s forehead”.
• 2-The peninsular plateau extends further east
beyond the Rajmahal hills to from Meghalaya or
the Shillong plateau.
• Garo-Rajmahal Gap separates this plateau from the
main block.
Piedmont Glaciers - The piedmont glaciers form a continuous ice sheet at the base of
mountains.
5- 1 and 2 only

The Western Ghats are a mountain range running parallel along the western coast of
India starting from Gujarat and ending in Tamil Nadu covering the states of
Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. 
6-riverine valleys
7- About Aravalli
The Aravallis of Northwestern India, one of the oldest fold mountains of the world, now
form residual mountains with an elevation of 300m. to 900m. They stretch for a distance
of 800 km. from Himmatnagar in Gujarat to Delhi, spanning Haryana, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, and Delhi, the 692 kilometre (km).

The mountains are divided into two, main ranges – the Sambhar Sirohi Range and
the Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where their extension is about 560 km

Why in News?
In February 2019, the Haryana legislative assembly amended the Punjab Land
Preservation Act (PLPA) which was effectuated in 1900 for “conservation of sub-soil
water” and “prevention of erosion,” by giving the state the power to “regulate, restrict or
prohibit” certain activities, including “clearing or breaking up” of land.

This amendment also removed several hills of the Aravalli range from the category of
“restricted area,” making around 63,000 acres of the Aravalli range available for
construction and mining activities. By the same amendment, the Haryana government
also attempted to legitimise several illegal constructions in the range. However, the
Supreme Court, through an order, promptly nullified the amendment
8) “Iron Dome”
Na

Pa

Ja

She

Ni

An

Ca
10 --• It regulates all archaeological activities
as per the provisions of the Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
Remains Act (AMSAR), 1958. It also regulates
Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
• It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of
Culture.Headquarters: New Delhi. Established
in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
11-the Greater Himalayas from the Trans -
Himalayas
About: 
Patta means cloth, and Chitra means picture. Hence, Pattachitra is a
picture painted on a piece of cloth. 
It is based in the states of West Bengal and Odisha. 
Bengal tradition: It is centered around Kalighat (in Kolkata). Theme
is Not much devotional. 
Odisha tradition: 
It is centered around Puri. 
These paintings are based on Hindu mythology and specially
inspired by Jagannath and Vaishnava sect. 
 All colours used in the Paintings are natural and paintings. 
14- Vice President released a postage
stamp to commemorate the 750th birth
anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan.
Shri Vedanta Desikan is one of the most
prominent preceptors in the Sri
Vaishnava tradition and one of the most
effulgent luminaries of South India.
He followed the philosophy of
Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita.
VishishtAdvaita literally means
Advaita with uniqueness;
qualifications, it is a non-dualistic
school of Vedanta philosophy
He had authored brilliant poems,
prose, drama, epics, commentaries,
scientific texts and philosophical
treatises in Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrit and
Manipravalam.
The formation of Arctic Council can be traced
in the establishment of the Arctic
Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) in
1991 as a framework for intergovernmental
cooperation on environmental
protection initiatives among the Arctic States
including Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the
United States.

India launched its first scientific

expedition to the Arctic Ocean in
2007 and opened a research base
named "Himadri”
-First observer -India, 2013
- In 2019, India has been re-elected
as an Observer to the Council.
Qs 17 & 26
 Fast Track Courts
• However, 56% of the States and Union Territories, including
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, had no FTCs.
• In terms of money, Rs. 870 crore was released by the Centre
between 2000-2001 and 2010-2011 towards these FTCs.
• It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments to
establish these courts in consultation with the concerned
High Courts.
• The Central assistance under the above said scheme is limited
to an approved norm i.e. Rs. 4.80 lakh per court per annum
(recurring) and Rs. 8.60 lakh (non-recurring). Any expenditure
incurred by the State in excess as recurring and /or non-
recurring expenditure would have to be borne by the State
Government.
20-The GER can be over 100% as it includes students who may be older or
younger than the official age group. For instance, in India it improved from
25.8 to 26.3,the GER includes students who are repeating a grade, those
who enrolled late and are older than their classmates, or those who have
advanced quickly and are younger than their classmates. This allows the
total enrolment to exceed the population that corresponds to that level of
education
The Vindhyan Range, overlooking (have a view of from above) the Narmada
valley, rises as an escarpment (a long, steep slope at the edge of a plateau or
separating areas of land at different heights) flanking (neighboring on one
side) the northern edge of the Narmada-Son Trough (the rift through which
the Narmada river flows)(trough is opposite of ridge. It is a narrow
depression).

It runs more or less parallel to the Narmada Valley in an east-west direction

from Jobat in Gujarat to Sasaram in Bihar for a distance of over 1,200 km.
The general elevation of the Vindhyan Range is 300 to 650 m.

Most parts of the Vindhayan Range are composed of horizontally bedded

sedimentary rocks of ancient age. {Rock System}

The Vindhyas are continued eastwards as the Bharner and Kaimur hills.

This range acts as a watershed between the Ganga system and the river
systems of south India.
The rivers Chambal, Betwa and Ken rise within 30 km of the Narmada.
 D-SASAKAWA AWARD

About: 
Bodies involved: It is Jointly organized by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNDRR) and the Nippon Foundation. 

Objective: The Award recognizes individuals, organizations and initiatives that have

contributed to ensure inclusive participation in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities
for all sections of society, especially the poor.

Cash Prize: The Sasakawa Award will give a maximum of US $50,000 to one or more
winners. 

History: In 1986 the founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa,
established the following three prizes –
The World Health Organization Sasakawa Health Prize,

The UN Environment Programme Sasakawa Environment Prize and

The United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction.

Q24- D 3&4,
The Chhota Nagpur Plateau (also referred as Chhota Nagpur) is a
plateau in Eastern India, which covers much of Jharkhand state
as well as adjacent parts of Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and
Chhattisgarh. The total area of the Chhota Plateau is
approximately 65000 square kilometers. The highest point of
Chhota Nagpur plateau is Pareshnath Hill.
The Union Government has already set up New Space India Limited (NSIL), a wholly owned
Government of India undertaking/ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), under the
administrative control of Department of Space (DOS) on 06th March 2019 to commercially
exploit the research and development work of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Centres and constituent units of DOS.

NSIL has been incorporated to carry out the following roles and functions as part of its
madate viz.
(i) Small Satellite technology transfer to industry, wherein NSIL will obtain license from
DOS/ISRO and sub-license it to Industries;
(ii) Manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in collaboration with Private
Sector;
(iii) Productionisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Indian Industry;
(iv) Productionisation and marketing of Space based products and services, including
launch and application;
(v) Transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS;
(vi) Marketing spin-off technologies and products/services, both in India and abroad; and
(vii) any other subject which Government of India deems fit.

----It differs from ISRO’s existing commercial arm Antrix Corporation:

Antrix will handle ISRO’s commercial deals for satellites and launch vehicles with foreign
customers.
NSIL will deal with capacity building of local industry for space manufacturing.
Qs 17 & 26
Scientists found dead Noctiluca scintillans along the shore in the
Mandapam region when they conducted the survey.

The absence of secondary algae in the reef areas of Shingle Island

confirmed the recent death of these coral colonies due to the
smothering effect of the microalgae while settling, they said.
28- A- The Kashmir valley is an oval-shaped basin, 140 km long
and 40 km wide, trending in the NNW–SSE direction. It is an
intermountain valley fill, comprising of unconsolidated gravel
and mud. A succession of plateaus is present above the Plains
of Jhelum and its tributaries. These plateau-like terraces are
called ‘Karewas’ or ‘Vudr’ in the local language. Despite
continuous erosion since millions of years, more than half of
the valley is still occupied by the Karewa.
 29-National Statistical Office (NSO)

The National Statistical Office (NSO) headed by a Director General is

responsible for conduct of large scale sample surveys in diverse
fields on All India basis.

Primarily data are collected through nation-wide household surveys

on various socio-economic subjects, Annual Survey of Industries
(ASI), etc. Besides these surveys, NSO collects data on rural and
urban prices and plays a significant role in the improvement of crop
statistics through supervision of the area enumeration and crop
estimation surveys of the State agencies.  It also maintains a frame
of urban area units for use in sample surveys in urban areas. 
The Bhabar
•It is a narrow, porous, northern most stretch of Indo-Gangetic plain.
•They show a remarkable continuity from the Indus to the Tista.
The porosity of bhabar is the most unique feature.
The porosity is due to deposition of huge number of pebbles and rock debris across the
alluvial fans.

The Terai
Terai is an ill-drained, damp (marshy) and thickly forested narrow tract to the south of
Bhabar running parallel to it.

The Bhangar
The Bhangar is the older alluvium along the river beds forming terraces higher than the
flood plain.
The terraces are often impregnated with calcareous concretions known as ‘KANKAR’.
‘The Barind plains’ in the deltaic region of Bengal and the ‘bhur formations’ in the middle
Ganga and Yamuna doab are regional variations of Bhangar.

The Khadar
The Khadar is composed of newer alluvium and forms the flood plains along the river
banks.
A new layer of alluvium is deposited by river flood almost every year.
•31-A

•India joined France, New Zealand, Canada and several other

countries in launching a major initiative in Paris to combat
terrorism and extremism online and to secure the internet.
•
The gathering in Paris has been organized by France and New
Zealand. Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter also
signed on to the document, pledging to work more closely with
one another and governments to make sure that their sites do
not become conduits for terrorism.

•U.S.’s stand: free-speech concerns prevented U.S. from formally

signing onto the largest campaign to date targeting extremism
online.
 River Tributaries
1. Gomti 2. Ghaghra 3. Gandak 4. Kosi 5. Yamuna 6. Son 7.
Ganga Ramganga
Yamuna 1. Chambal 2. Sindh 3. Betwa 4. Ken 5. Tons 6. Hindon
1. Indravati 2. Manjira 3. Bindusara 4. Sarbari 5. Penganga
Godavari 6.Pranahita
1. Tungabhadra 2. Ghataprabha 3. Malaprabha 4. Bhima 5.
Krishna Vedavati 6. Koyna
1. Kabini 2. Hemavathi 3. Simsha 4. Arkavati
Cauvery 5. Bhavani 6.Amaravati
Narmada 1. Bhukhi 3. Tawa 4. Banger
Indus 1. Sutlej 2. Dras 3. Zanskar 4. Shyok 5.Gilgit 6. Suru
1. Dibang 2. Lohit 3. Jia Bhoreli (Kameng) 4. Dikhow 5. Subansiri
Brahmaputra 6. Manas
Damodar 1. Barakar 2. Konar
Ravi 1. Budhil 2. Nai or Dhona 3. Seul 4. Ujh
Mahanadi 1. Seonath 2. Hasdeo 3. Jonk 4. Mand 5. Ib 6. Ong 7. Tel
Chambal 1. Banas 2. Kali Sindh 3. Shipra 4. Parbati 5. Mej
33-A
The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) is an international forum of
29 countries and the European Union with an overarching mission of
reducing the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by
preventing, combating, and prosecuting terrorist acts and countering
incitement and recruitment to terrorism.

One of the important goals of the Forum is to support and catalyze

implementation of the 
United Nations (UN) Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, reviewed in June
2016, and the UN CT Framework more broadly, including for instance
the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism
 presented to the UN General Assembly in January 2016. In pursuance of
this goal, the GCTF works closely with UN bodies.

forum brings together experts and practitioners from countries and

regions around the world to share experiences and expertise, and
develop tools and strategies on how to counter the evolving terrorist
threat. The GCTF is Co-Chaired by Canada and Morocco.
Integrated Defence Staff

•Integrated Defence Staff was created in 2001 following the

recommendation of GoM which was set up after the Kargil war to
review India’s defence management.
•IDS was established to ensure a high degree of synergy between
the Armed forces.
•IDS works towards integration of policies, war fighting and
procurement by employing best management practices. 
•The IDS comprises of Service Officers, Civilian Officers and
Scientists who perform roles and functions allocated to them based
on responsibilities of Integrated Defence Staff.
•It is headed by Chief of Integrated Staff as Chairman (who enjoys
 status equivalent to that of Vice Chief of Service.)
•It has representation from all three services, Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA), Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) and Department of Defence (DoD) and Def (Finance)
37- The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, usually known
as the Basel Convention, is an international treaty that was designed
to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and
specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed
 to less developed countries (LDCs)

The Rotterdam Convention is a multilateral treaty to promote

shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous
chemicals

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an

international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from
May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of
persistent organic pollutants
39--

The conditions which favour the formation and intensification of

tropical cyclone storms are:Large sea surface with a temperature
higher than 27° C
Presence of the Coriolis force
Small differences in the vertical wind speed
A pre-existing weak- low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic
circulation
Upper divergence above the sea level system
 A landfall is frequently accompanied by sturdy winds, heavy rain
and mounting sea waves that could threaten people and cause
damage to properties.
Cyclones which cross 20 degrees North latitude are more
destructive.
Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plain is the largest alluvial
tract of the world.
It stretches for about 3,200 km from the mouth of the
Indus to the mouth of the Ganga. Indian sector of the
plain accounts for 2,400 km.
The northern boundary is well marked by
the Shiwaliks and the southern boundary is a wavy
irregular line along the northern edge of the Peninsular
India.
The western boarder is marked by Sulaiman and Kirthar
ranges. On the eastern side, the plains are bordered by
Purvanchal hills.
The width of the plain varies from region to region. It is
widest in the west where it stretches for about 500 km. Its
width decreases in the east.
Dormant-The Fujiyama volcano of
Japan, Krakatoa volcano of
Indonesia and the Narcondam
island volcano of Andaman and
Nicobar islands are the examples of
dormant volcanoes.

Baratang located in Andaman

Islands, contains the only known
examples of mud volcanoes in
India. These mud volcanoes have
erupted sporadically, with recent
eruptions in 2005

The active volcano in India

is Barren Island and is uninhabited,
located about 140 km from Port
Blair.
Salient features of Protection of Women from Domestic
Violence Act 2005
Includes physical and mental ill-treatment.
Primarily meant for the protection of wife or female live-in
partners.
Law also extends to sisters, widows or mothers.
Harassment in the form of dowry demands also included in
this law.
Gives women right to secure housing.
Court can also issue protection orders that prevent the abuser
to harass the women by acts at her workplace.
Act proposes appointment of protection officers and NGOs.
Breach of protection order is a non-bailable offense.
Antecedent Drainage or Inconsequent Drainage
A part of a river slope and the surrounding area
gets uplifted and the river sticks to its original
slope, cutting through the uplifted portion like a
saw [Vertical erosion or Vertical down cutting], and
forming deep gorges: this type of drainage is called
Antecedent drainage.
Example: Indus, Sutlej, Teesta, Brahmaputra and
other Himalayan rivers that are older than the
Himalayas themselves. There are usually called
as ANTECEDENT RIVERS.
A. A human atlas initiative named Manav has been
launched by the Department of Biotechnology
(DBT) and Persistent Systems, a biotechnology
company.
B. The aim is to create a unified database of molecular
network of all the tissues in the human body and to
derive a holistic picture of working of the human
body.
C. In this public-private venture, DBT and Persistent
Systems will invest Rs 13 crore and Rs 7 crore
respectively.
45 & 47 Himalayan Rivers
1. Indus River System 
Origin - Bokhar Chu glacier, Lake Mansarovar, Tibet
Enters India through Ladakh 

Upper tributaries - Zaskar, Shyok, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar, Gasting

and Dras

Important tributaries - o
 Jhelum - Verinag, Pir Panjal Range
 Chenab - largest tributary , called Chandrabhaga, originates
near Bara Lacha Pass
 Ravi - Rohtang Pass , flows through Chamba Valley and Kullu
Hills o
 Beas - Beas Kund, Rohtang Pass, meets Satluj at Harike Lake -
Indira Gandhi Canal
 Satluj - Rakas Lake , Mansarovar Range , passes through Shipki
La pass
ABHYAS drone
It is built by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)
of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for
the Indian Armed Forces.
Abhyas is an evolution of an older Indian target drone, the
Lakshya.
The first experimental launch (without the main engine) of the
Abhyas was held at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in June
2012.
'Abhyas' is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an
autopilot.
1. Indus River System 
Origin - Bokhar Chu glacier, Lake Mansarovar, Tibet
Enters India through Ladakh 

Upper tributaries - Zaskar, Shyok, Hunza, Nubra, Shigar,

Gasting and Dras
Bluetongue disease is a noncontagious, insect-borne, viral disease of
ruminants, mainly sheep and less frequently cattle, goats, buffalo, deer,
dromedaries, and antelope. It is caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV)

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious infection. It's caused by

viruses from the Enterovirus genus, most commonly the coxsackievirus.

Rabies is caused by lyssaviruses, including the rabies virus and Australian bat

lyssavirus

Brucellosis is a disease caused by a group of bacteria from the genus Brucella.

These bacteria can infect both humans and animals.
Munroe Thuruthu, in Kollam district, Kerala is slowly going under water, and its
fleeing residents join the swelling ranks of climate refugees.

Where is Munroe Thururthu?

Munroe Thuruthu (13.4 sq. km.) is a string of eight islets at the confluence of the
Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River

Critically Endangered Mammals
Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania).
Andaman White-toothed Shrew
(Crocidura andamanensis)
Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew (Crocidura
jenkinsi)
Nicobar White-tailed Shrew (Crocidura
nicobarica)
Kondana Rat (Millardia kondana)
Large Rock Rat or Elvira Rat (Cremnomys
elvira)
Namdapha Flying
Squirrel (Biswamoyopterus biswasi)
Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina)
Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus
sumatrensis)
Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)
Critically Endangered Amphibians
Anamalai Flying Frog (Rhacophorus
pseudomalabaricus)
Gundia Indian Frog (Indirana gundia)
Kerala Indian Frog (Indirana phrynoderma)
Charles Darwin’s Frog (Ingerana
charlesdarwini)
Kottigehar Bubble-nest Frog (Micrixalus
kottigeharensis)
Amboli Bush Frog (Pseudophilautus amboli)
Chalazodes Bubble-Nest Frog (Raorchestes
chalazodes)
Small Bush Frog (Raorchestes chotta)
Green-eyed Bush Frog (Raorchestes
chlorosomma)
Griet Bush Frog (Raorchestes griet)
Kaikatt’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes kaikatti)
Mark’s Bush Frog (Raorchestes marki)
Munnar Bush Frog (Raorchestes
munnarensis)
Large Ponmudi Bush Frog (Raorchestes
ponmudi)
Resplendent Shrub Frog (Raorchestes
resplendens)
Sacred Grove Bush frog (Raorchestes
National Water Grid
A national water grid, will help transfer
water from water-rich to water-deficit
regions. This has led to proposals for
water transfer from one river basin to
another. The Special Committee for
Inter-Linking of Rivers has submitted its
progress report for the work done from
July 2016 to March 2018.

Inter-Linking of Rivers Programme

The Inter-Linking of Rivers programme
aims to connect various surplus rivers
with deficient rivers. The idea is to
divert excess water from surplus
regions to deficient regions to help
improve irrigation, increase water for
drinking and industrial use, and
mitigate drought and floods to an
extent
World Economic Situation and Prospects

WESP is a joint product of the United Nations

Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA),
the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) and the five United Nations
regional commissions (Africa, Europe, Latin America and
the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Western Asia).
It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises.
Under the Honey Mission, KVIC provides awareness, training and ‘Bee
Boxes’ along with Bee Colonies to the farmers.
The mission was launched in August 2017 in line with the ‘Sweet
Revolution’.
The 'Sweet Revolution' was launched in 2016 to promote
beekeeping and associated activities.
 56-
It is the pilot project of the Delhi High Court.

It is one of its kind project in India aimed to study the life
cycles of cases to come up with optimal timelines for cases.

The primary goal of the project was to study the flow of cases
in the absence of backlog.

The aim of project is to provide information on the judicial

time required to dispose of a case together with the gathering
stage wise details in each case.

It was undertaken in certain subordinate courts of Delhi to

identify benchmarks for different types of cases timelines,
number of judges required, case flow management rules and a
host of other relevant factors.
A negative movement occurs when there is an uplift of land or a fall in sea level. This will
steepen the slope so that active down-cutting is renewed. A fall in sea level leaves the
flood-plain at an increased altitude above the sea level.

A positive movement occurs when there is a depression of land or a rise in sea level. This
submerge the lands along the coast, `drown' the valleys and weaken the erosive power of
the river. The flow is checked and large quantities of sediment will be dropped
1. Hamada or rocky deserts: This  consists of large stretches of bare rocks, swept clear of
sand and dust by the wind. The exposed rocks are thoroughly smoothed and polished.
The region is bare and sterile. The best known rocky deserts are those of the Sahara
Deserts e.g. the Hamada, in Libya, which covers an area of almost 20,000 square miles.

2. Reg or stony deserts: This is composed of extensive sheets of angular pebbles and

gravels which the winds are not able to blow off. In Libya and Egypt the term serir is used;
elsewhere in Africa, stony desert are called reg.

3. Erg or sandy desert: This is a sea of sand in which winds deposit vast stretches of
undulating sand-dunes in the heart of the desert. The intricate patterns of ripples on the
dune surfaces indicate the directions of the winds.

4. Mountain deserts: Some deserts are found on highlands such as plateaux and

mountains ranges. Erosion has dissected the desert highlands into harsh, serrated outlines
of chaotic peaks and craggy ranges. Their steep slopes are cut by winds and the action of
frost has carved out sharp, irregular edges. Tibesti Mountains are good examples of desert
mountains.
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=tvBKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA154#v=onepage&q&f=t
rue
Learning Zone: It is Jointly launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Facebook.
It aims at encouraging, inspiring and guiding tribal women from across India to become
local level digitally literate leaders.
The program will give technical support to the socially and economically marginalized
women for their needs to succeed, using the technology they may otherwise have not
had access to.
Why this question is important? 2nd phase of GOAL: Digital Skill Training Programme
for Tribal Women has recently started.
Tonnes of plastic waste wash up on the shores of the Galapagos Islands where
microparticles end up in the stomachs of species found only in the Pacific archipelago
1,000 km west of mainland Ecuador.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands an archipelago of volcanic islands part of the Republic of
Ecuador, distributed on either side of the Equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the
centre of the Western Hemisphere.

Reunion Island:
Reunion Island is French island strategically located in Indian Ocean east of Madagascar
and southwest of Mauritius.
Indian and French navies conducted final and third phase of Varuna naval exercise 2018
near Reunion Island in Indian Ocean region (IOR) to enhance their operational
coordination.

Reunion
The island is 63 km (39 mi) long; 45 km (28 mi) wide; and covers 2,512 km2 (970 sq mi).
It is above a hotspot in the Earth's crust. The Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on
the eastern end of Réunion Island, rises more than 2,631 m (8,632 ft) above sea level
 and is sometimes called a sister to Hawaiian volcanoes because of the similarity of
climate and volcanic nature
•Sands and gravels for
highway Construction
•Moulds for metal casting
•Natural reservoirs
•Hydro-electric power
generation
•Tourism
A. Disturbances affecting coral reefs include anthropogenic and natural events
B. Recent accelerated coral reef decline is related mostly to anthropogenic
impacts (overexploitation, overfishing, increased sedimentation and nutrient overloading).
C. When corals face stress by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they
expel the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely
white. This phenomenon is called coral bleaching.
D. Natural disturbances which cause damage to coral reefs include violent storms, flooding, high and
low temperature extremes, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, sub aerial exposures,
predatory outbreaks and epizootics.
The Earth’s shadow
During a lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth, and the moon are aligned such that the Earth’s
shadow falls onto the moon. The Earth’s shadow has been observed to be curved as
the planet is.

Double sunset
Poljes--elongated basin having a flat floor and steep walls; it is formed by the coalescence of
several sinkholes. The basins often cover 250 square km (about 100 square miles) and may
expose “disappearing streams.” Most such basins have steep enclosing walls that range from 50
to 100 m (165 to 330 feet) in height, giving rise to the name “blind valley.” The flat floor of a
polje is characteristically covered with a soil composed of the residues of limestone solution. 

An oxbow is a crescent-shaped lake lying alongside a winding river. The oxbow

lake is created over time as erosion and deposits of soil change the river's course.
Meghalaya Plateau and Mikir Hills: 
Consisting of the Garo, Khasi,Jaintia hills and the outlying Milar and
Rengma hills, it is a plateau which has been detached from the Indian
Peninsula by the Malda Gap.
The mechanism of Arid Erosion
Arid landforms are the result of many combined factors, one reacting upon the other.
Low precipitation and high rate of evaporation are the major causes of aridity. The
desert rocks devoid of vegetation, exposed to mechanical and chemical weathering
processes due to drastic diurnal temperature changes, decay faster and wind and the
torrential rains help in removing the weathered materials easily.

Weathering
This is the most potent factor of denudation in arid regions.
Weathering is defined as the breakdown of rocks by agents of weathering acting in
situ.
Mechanical weathering and Chemical weathering dominates in the arid landforms
Without abundant water in the arid environment, the chemical breakdown of rocks
proceeds extremely slowly. However, the mechanical breakdown of rock proceeds
relatively quickly in the arid climate.
Drastic diurnal temperature changes in deserts cause stress in the rocks due to
continuous expansion and contraction. This stress helps in speeding up the weathering
process through exfoliation of the outer rock surface
Ria coasts are formed due to submergence of river valleys but fiord
coasts are formed due to submergence of glaciated valleys.When the
glaciers melt sea water get mixed with the melted ones to give rise to
fiord coasts.

In Ria coast the depth increases seawards but in case of Fiord coasts the
depth decreases seawards.This means in case of Ria coasts the coasts
are shallower than the adjoining sea but in case of fiord coast the coast
is deeper than the adjoining sea. So, the junction between the sea and
fiord is marked by a threshold.

Fiord coasts are found in the high latitudes but ria coasts can be found in
all latitudes. It’s because fiord coasts are glaciatd which is possible only
in high latitudes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enlih8M5DN0
Learning Zone: It is a scheme to support small and medium scale
food businesses to comply with the food safety laws and facilitate
licensing and registration, hygiene ratings and training.
Why this question is important? Food Safety Mitras will be chosen.
They undergo training and certification by FSSAI to do their work and
get paid by food businesses for their services.
 The Livestock Census
The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country
periodically since 1919-20. Since then it has been conducted once
every 5 years.
It covers all domesticated animals and their headcounts.
So far 19 such censuses have been conducted by the Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in participation with
State Governments and UT Administrations.
Uttar Pradesh has observed a maximum decrease in cattle
population though the state has taken several steps to save cattle.
West Bengal has seen the highest rise of 15% in cattle
population.
Characteristics of Fold Mountains
Rock Type - Formed due to the folding of sedimentary rocks by strong compressive
forces. Furthermore, these rocks are of marine origin i.e. formed due to deposition and
consolidation of sediments in water bodies.

Shallow water deposits - The marine fossils found in the sedimentary rocks belong to
such organisms which can survive only in shallow waters.

Size - They are the loftiest, most extensive and elongated mountain chains on the Earth
s surface. Their length is far greater than their width. For example, the Himalayas have an
east-west length of 2400 km but their maximum width is only 400 km.

Volcanicity - They may or may not have active volcanism but volcanic rocks
of ancient times may be found there. For example, Himalayas don t have active
volcanism but volcanic rocks are found in Pir Panjal, Dalhauji (Himachal Pradesh) and
Bhimtal (Kumaun).
Earthquake - Generally the region is prone to earthquakes due to the presence of active
plate boundaries.
They are one of the youngest mountains of the world.
 I. The survey has found that milk samples from Telangana followed by
Madhya Pradesh and Kerala has shown the highest number of cases of
adulteration.
II. Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Kerala were the top states where the Aflatoxin-M1
was found maximum.
III. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory
autonomous body under Food Safety and Standards Act,2006.It comes
under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Livestock plays an important role in Indian economy. About 20.5 million people depend
upon livestock for their livelihood. Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm
households as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Livestock provides
livelihood to two-third of rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of
the population in India. India has vast livestock resources. Livestock sector contributes
4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.
Wind Eroded Arid Landforms

The wind or Aeolian erosion takes place in the following

ways, viz. deflation, abrasion, and attrition.
I. Deflation == removing, lifting and carrying away dry,
unsorted dust particles by winds. It causes depressions
known as blow outs.
II. Abrasion == When wind loaded with sand grains
erodes the rock by grinding against its walls is called
abrasion or sandblasting.
III. Attrition == Attrition refers to wear and tear of the
sand particles while they are being transported.
WHO has been publishing global TB report every year since 1997.

Rifampicin, also known as rifampin, is an antibiotic used to treat several types of

bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, leprosy,
and Legionnaires’ disease.
Peneplain is a region that is almost a plain. It is formed due to erosion by rivers and
rain, that continues until almost all the elevated portions are worn down; the most
resistant rocks generally stand above the general level of the land.

When a peneplain is raised, it becomes a Plateau, that is then dissected by the river as
they pass through a fresh cycle from youth to old age
Sand dunes

I. Dry hot deserts are good places for sand dune formation.
II. According to the shape of a sand dune, there are varieties of sand dune forms like
Barchans, Seifs etc.
III. The crescent-shaped dunes are called as Barchans and they are the most common
one.
IV. Seif is similar to Barchans but has only one wing or point.
What is Spectroscopy?

Spectroscopy means the dispersion of light into component colors. In simple words,
it is a method to measure how much light is absorbed by a chemical substance and at
what intensity of light passes through it.

As per analytical science, every element or compound has unique characteristic
spectrum. Each compound absorbs and disperses light over a certain range of
wavelength.
Western Coast of India
A. The west coast strip extends from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south including
Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. The western coastal plains are an example of
submerged coastal plain.
B. It is believed that the city of Dwaraka which was once a part of the Indian mainland
situated along the west coast is submerged under water.
C. Because of this submergence, it is a narrow belt and provides natural conditions for the
development of ports and harbours.
D. The western coastal plains in the north have a varied topography. There are marshes,
lagoons, mud-flats, peninsulas, creeks, gulfs and islands.

Eastern Coast of India

E. The east coast strip extends from the Bay of Bengal to the tip of the Eastern Ghats
including the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
F. The Eastern coastal plains are an example of emergent coastal plain and are broader
than the western coastal plains.
G. There are well-developed deltas in the eastern coast formed by the deposition of
sediments from the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri.
H. In East Coast, the continental shelf here extends up to 500 km into the sea, so it is
difficult to develop good natural harbours and ports in this region.
Vertical erosion makes a river channel deeper. This happens more in the upper stages of
a river (the V of vertical erosion should help you remember the V-shaped valleys that are
created in the upper stages). Lateral erosion makes a river wider. This occurs mostly in the
middle and lower stages of a river
 Fringing Reefs (Shore Reefs)
Fringing reefs are reefs that grow directly from a shore. They are located
very close to land, and often form a shallow lagoon between the beach and the
main body of the reef.
A fringing reef runs as a narrow belt [1-2 km wide]. This type of reef grows from
the deep sea bottom with the seaward side sloping steeply into the deep sea. Coral
polyps do not extend outwards because of sudden and large increase in depth.

The fringing reef is by far the most common of the three major types of coral reefs,
with numerous examples in all major regions of coral reef development.
AUTHORIZED WORLD SKILLS INDIA TRAINING CENTERS (AWSITC)

Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), announced the launch of 14
Authorized World Skills India Training Centers (AWSITC) across 9 cities in India, for the Media and
Entertainment sector
About:
The new institutes are being set up
for advanced skill training of candidates in
the media and entertainment sector, not
just to compete in the WorldSkills and
IndiaSkills competitions but also to further
develop the skilling eco-system for training
candidates for the international market.

The state of the art AWSITCs will be set up in

partnership with the MESC (Media &
Entertainment Skill Council).

The training programs will be designed as

per the NSFQ level, which will be industry
linked.

Cities include Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi,

Hyderabad, Indore, Mumbai, Pune, Shillong
and Trivandrum. 
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MOEFCC)
I. 40% of the India’s coastline is subjected to high, medium or low coastal erosion.
II. Wave energy is considered to be the primary reason for coastal erosion.
III. Natural hazards like cyclones, thermal expansion of sea water, storm surges,
tsunami etc due to the melting of continental glaciers and ice sheets as a result
of climate change hamper the natural rhythm and precipitate erosion.
IV. Strong littoral drift resulting is sand movement can also be considered as one of
the major reasons for coastal erosion.

V. Dredging, sand mining and coral mining have contributed to coastal erosion
causing sediment deficit, modification of water depth leading to long shore drift
and altered wave refraction.

VI. Coastal erosion has been sparked by fishing harbors and dams constructed in
catchment area of rivers and ports reducing the flow of sediments from river
estuaries.
99942 Apophis previousl
y known by its
provisional designation
2004 MN4) is a near-
Earth asteroid with a
diameter of 370 metres
that caused a brief
period of concern in
December 2004 because
initial observations
indicated a probability of
up to 2.7% that it would
hit Earth on April 13,
2029.
Bars, spits, and Tombolo

Bars are deposits of sand and

gravel laid down by waves and
currents which separate the
shoreline from the sea.
They act as a barrier between
the mainland and the sea.

When one end of such bar is

attached to the coast and other
extends into the sea, it is called
as a spit.

Tombolo is a deposition
landform in which an island is
attached to the mainland by a
narrow piece of land such as a
spit or bar
Concordant Drainage

The pattern of drainage which arises from

and closely follows the trends of the
underlying strata is called concordant
drainage.

Consequent Streams: Those streams

whose courses are the direct consequence
of the initial topography are called
consequent streams.

Subsequent Streams: These are developed

after the master consequent.

Obsequent streams: These flow in

opposite direction to the master
consequent.

Resequent Streams: A resequent stream

flows in the same direction as that of the
initial consequent stream, but which
develops in response to a new base level
formed due to inversion of relief.
1. Unlike tropical corals, cold-
water corals don't have
symbiotic algae living in their
polyps so they don’t need
sunlight to survive.
2. They feed solely by capturing
food particles from the
surrounding water.
3. Their polyps tend to be much
bigger than tropical corals.
4. Cold-water coral reefs are
commonly found where
current flow is accelerated.
5. They are found on the
continental shelf, and also in 
deep-sea areas with
topographic highs, such as 
seamounts, mounds, ridges,
and pinnacles.
6. Deep-sea corals grow slowly
(5-25mm a year), but over
time they form extensive reefs
The Continental Shelf
It is the seaward extension of the
continent from the shoreline to the
continental edge. Shelves are formed due
to the following reasons:
Submergence of a part of a continent
The relative rise in sea level Sedimentary
deposits brought down by rivers
Smaller continental shelves could have
been caused by wave erosion where the
land is eroded by the sea.
It is gently sloping with a gradient of 1 in
500 for most continental shelves.
 The average width of the shelf is 70
-80kms.
The width of continental shelf varies
greatly, from a few kilometres in the North
Pacific off the coast of North America to a
few hundred kilometres off Northwest
Europe.
The shelves are almost absent or very
narrow along some of the margins like the
coasts of Chile, the west coast of Sumatra,