#Permaculture
Permaculture is a set of design principles centered on whole systems thinking, simulating, or directly utilizing the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems.It uses these principles in a growing number of fields from regenerative agriculture, rewilding, and community resilience.
Bill Mollison and David Holmgren coined the word Permaculture in 1978.
It originally meant "permanent agriculture", but was expanded to stand also for "permanent culture".
#National_Board_for_Wildlife
It is constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Roles and functions:
Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.
Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the NBWL.
The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister.
It has 47 members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.
#Adaptation_for_Smallholder_Agriculture_Programme (ASAP)
It is a flagship initiative of International Fund for Agricultural Development
It is a programme for channeling climate and environmental finance to smallholder farmers.
The ASAP fund allows programmes to design projects from a climate-informed perspective and leverage resources for technical assistance.
#Conventional_Polyhouse
A conventional polyhouse has a stationary roof to reduce the effect of weather anomalies and pests.
However, roof covering leads to excessive heat and insufficient light (early morning) to the crops.
Besides, they are also prone to insufficient levels of CO2, transpiration, and water stress.
Hence, a combination of open-field conditions and conventional polyhouse conditions is a more effective.
#Retractable_Roof_Polyhouse_Technology is an all-weather structure.
It has an automatic retractable roof that will be operated based on weather conditions and crop requirements from the conditional database using a PLC software.
Temperature, humidity and ventilation can be controlled or automated in the polyhouse.
It can help farmers to cultivate off-season crops and reduce threats such as extreme heat and pest attacks in crops.
#Prosopis_Juliflora
It is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, it is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
It has become established as an invasive weed in Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
It is a contributing factor to continuing transmission of malaria, especially during dry periods when sugar sources from native plants are largely unavailable to mosquitoes.
Recently it has encroached over half Banni, one of Asia’s largest grasslands in Gujarat.
It causes stomach poisoning in livestock by inducing a permanent impairment of its ability to digest cellulose.
It causes drying up of water bodies and ground water as it absorbs more than 4 litres of water to obtain one kg of biomass.
It cannot even shelter birds as it produces less oxygen and more carbon dioxide.
It causes land erosion due to the loss of the grasslands that are habitats for native plants and animals.
It Makes the grassland more susceptible to wildfires.
Dispersal of the species is mainly through animals by endozoochory (dispersal by vertebrate animals).
Other modes of seed dispersal are –
#Autochory – Self dispersal
#Barochory – Dispersal by gravity
#Anemochory – Dispersal by air
#Hyderochory – Dispersal by water
#Chiropterochory – Dispersal by bats
#Pre_Revision
Permaculture is a set of design principles centered on whole systems thinking, simulating, or directly utilizing the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems.It uses these principles in a growing number of fields from regenerative agriculture, rewilding, and community resilience.
Bill Mollison and David Holmgren coined the word Permaculture in 1978.
It originally meant "permanent agriculture", but was expanded to stand also for "permanent culture".
#National_Board_for_Wildlife
It is constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Roles and functions:
Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.
Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests.
It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the NBWL.
The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister.
It has 47 members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.
#Adaptation_for_Smallholder_Agriculture_Programme (ASAP)
It is a flagship initiative of International Fund for Agricultural Development
It is a programme for channeling climate and environmental finance to smallholder farmers.
The ASAP fund allows programmes to design projects from a climate-informed perspective and leverage resources for technical assistance.
#Conventional_Polyhouse
A conventional polyhouse has a stationary roof to reduce the effect of weather anomalies and pests.
However, roof covering leads to excessive heat and insufficient light (early morning) to the crops.
Besides, they are also prone to insufficient levels of CO2, transpiration, and water stress.
Hence, a combination of open-field conditions and conventional polyhouse conditions is a more effective.
#Retractable_Roof_Polyhouse_Technology is an all-weather structure.
It has an automatic retractable roof that will be operated based on weather conditions and crop requirements from the conditional database using a PLC software.
Temperature, humidity and ventilation can be controlled or automated in the polyhouse.
It can help farmers to cultivate off-season crops and reduce threats such as extreme heat and pest attacks in crops.
#Prosopis_Juliflora
It is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, it is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
It has become established as an invasive weed in Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
It is a contributing factor to continuing transmission of malaria, especially during dry periods when sugar sources from native plants are largely unavailable to mosquitoes.
Recently it has encroached over half Banni, one of Asia’s largest grasslands in Gujarat.
It causes stomach poisoning in livestock by inducing a permanent impairment of its ability to digest cellulose.
It causes drying up of water bodies and ground water as it absorbs more than 4 litres of water to obtain one kg of biomass.
It cannot even shelter birds as it produces less oxygen and more carbon dioxide.
It causes land erosion due to the loss of the grasslands that are habitats for native plants and animals.
It Makes the grassland more susceptible to wildfires.
Dispersal of the species is mainly through animals by endozoochory (dispersal by vertebrate animals).
Other modes of seed dispersal are –
#Autochory – Self dispersal
#Barochory – Dispersal by gravity
#Anemochory – Dispersal by air
#Hyderochory – Dispersal by water
#Chiropterochory – Dispersal by bats
#Pre_Revision
#Swinhoe's_softshell_turtle
Aka the Hoan Kiem turtle or Yangtze giant softshell turtle.
In Vietnam, these animals have great cultural significance as people in Hanoi revere this creature as a living god.
Scientific Name: Rafetus swinhoei
These turtles are gray with light gray or yellow spots.
Some researchers have highlighted their importance to the seafloor biosystem, where they contribute by enriching soil nutrients and facilitating seed dispersion.
The natural habitat for these turtles are wetlands and large lakes.
Native to China and Vietnam.
The species is endemic to eastern and southern China and northern Vietnam.
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
CITES: Appendix II
They have been driven to the brink by hunting for its meat and eggs, as well as by destruction of its habitat.
Revise - #Black_Softshell_Turtle
#Peacock_Soft_shelled_Turtle
WPA, 1972: Schedule I
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
Scientific Name: Nilssonia hurum.
They have a large head, downturned snout with low and oval carapace of dark olive green to nearly black, sometimes with a yellow rim.
The head and limbs are olive green; the forehead has dark reticulations and large yellow or orange patches or spots, especially behind the eyes and across the snout.
Males possess relatively longer and thicker tails than females.
This species is confined to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
In india, it is widespread in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent.
These are found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds with mud or sand bottoms
Revise - #Turtles
Turtle Conservation:
National Marine Turtle Action Plan
#Indian_Ocean_Sea_Turtle_Agreement (IOSEA):
India is a signatory to IOSEA of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), a United Nations backed initiative.
It puts in place a framework through which States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region, as well as other concerned States, can work together to conserve and replenish depleted marine turtle populations for which they share responsibility.
#KURMA_App
It has a built-in digital field guide covering 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises of India.
It was developed by the Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN) in collaboration with the Turtle Survival Alliance-India and Wildlife Conservation Society-India.
World Turtle Day is observed every year on 23rd May.
Revise - #Turtle_Survival_Alliance
#Black_Softshell_Turtle
#Pre_Revision
Aka the Hoan Kiem turtle or Yangtze giant softshell turtle.
In Vietnam, these animals have great cultural significance as people in Hanoi revere this creature as a living god.
Scientific Name: Rafetus swinhoei
These turtles are gray with light gray or yellow spots.
Some researchers have highlighted their importance to the seafloor biosystem, where they contribute by enriching soil nutrients and facilitating seed dispersion.
The natural habitat for these turtles are wetlands and large lakes.
Native to China and Vietnam.
The species is endemic to eastern and southern China and northern Vietnam.
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
CITES: Appendix II
They have been driven to the brink by hunting for its meat and eggs, as well as by destruction of its habitat.
Revise - #Black_Softshell_Turtle
#Peacock_Soft_shelled_Turtle
WPA, 1972: Schedule I
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
Scientific Name: Nilssonia hurum.
They have a large head, downturned snout with low and oval carapace of dark olive green to nearly black, sometimes with a yellow rim.
The head and limbs are olive green; the forehead has dark reticulations and large yellow or orange patches or spots, especially behind the eyes and across the snout.
Males possess relatively longer and thicker tails than females.
This species is confined to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
In india, it is widespread in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent.
These are found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds with mud or sand bottoms
Revise - #Turtles
Turtle Conservation:
National Marine Turtle Action Plan
#Indian_Ocean_Sea_Turtle_Agreement (IOSEA):
India is a signatory to IOSEA of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), a United Nations backed initiative.
It puts in place a framework through which States of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asian region, as well as other concerned States, can work together to conserve and replenish depleted marine turtle populations for which they share responsibility.
#KURMA_App
It has a built-in digital field guide covering 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises of India.
It was developed by the Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN) in collaboration with the Turtle Survival Alliance-India and Wildlife Conservation Society-India.
World Turtle Day is observed every year on 23rd May.
Revise - #Turtle_Survival_Alliance
#Black_Softshell_Turtle
#Pre_Revision
#Abanindranath_Tagore
150th birth anniversary- 7th August.
The nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, was one of the most prominent artists of Bengal school of art in India.
He first created the ‘Indian Society of Oriental Art’ and later went on to establish Bengal school of art.
He believed that Indian art and its art forms gave importance to spirituality as opposed to the West which stressed on materialism, thus rejecting it.
His idea of modernizing Mughal and Rajput paintings eventually gave rise to modern Indian painting, which took birth at his Bengal school of art.
Most of his works revolved around Hindu philosophy.
In his later works, Abanindranath started integrating Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions into his style. The intention behind this move was to construct an amalgamation of the modern pan-Asian artistic tradition and the common elements of Eastern artistic and spiritual culture.
Another source of inspiration came from the visit of the Japanese philosopher and aesthetician Okakura Kakuzo to Kolkata in 1902.
Famous paintings are:
Bharat Mata, The Passing of Shah Jahan (1900), My Mother (1912–13), Fairyland illustration (1913), Journey’s End (circa 1913).
Some of his books like ‘BudoAngla’, ‘KhirerPutul’ and ‘Rajkahini’ are best examples of Bengali children’s literature.
Arabian Nights series was one of his notable works.
#Bengal_School_of_Painting
It is also called the Renaissance School or the Revivalist School, as it represented the first modern movement of Indian art.
It rediscovered the glories of Indian art and consciously tried to produce what it considered a truly Indian art inspired by the creations of the past.
Broke the tradition of oil painting (Raja Ravi Verma)
Its leading artist was Abanindranath Tagore and its theoretician was E.B. Havell, the principal of the Calcutta School of Art.
Nandalal Bose famous for white and black Gandhi sketch.
Revise - #Rabindranath_Tagore
#Agarose
An Indian scientist has recently developed an advanced wound dressing based on agarose.
Agarose is a natural polymer derived from seaweed agar.
It is used for the treatment of infected diabetic wounds and patients suffering from chronic wounds.
#Pradhan_Mantri_Dakshta_Aur_Kushalta_Sampann_Hitgrahi’ (DAKSH) Yojana
It is a National Action Plan for the marginalized persons of SC, OBC, EBC, DNTs.
The programme also engages with skilling the Safai Karamcharis including Waste Pickers, Transgenders and Women so that they can engage in self-employment activities.
The main purpose of the scheme is to increase the skill levels of the target youth by providing for long term and short term skills, followed by settlement in employment/selfemployment.
The Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
The scheme would be implemented through three Corporations namely:
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)
National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
#Pre_Revision
150th birth anniversary- 7th August.
The nephew of Rabindranath Tagore, was one of the most prominent artists of Bengal school of art in India.
He first created the ‘Indian Society of Oriental Art’ and later went on to establish Bengal school of art.
He believed that Indian art and its art forms gave importance to spirituality as opposed to the West which stressed on materialism, thus rejecting it.
His idea of modernizing Mughal and Rajput paintings eventually gave rise to modern Indian painting, which took birth at his Bengal school of art.
Most of his works revolved around Hindu philosophy.
In his later works, Abanindranath started integrating Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions into his style. The intention behind this move was to construct an amalgamation of the modern pan-Asian artistic tradition and the common elements of Eastern artistic and spiritual culture.
Another source of inspiration came from the visit of the Japanese philosopher and aesthetician Okakura Kakuzo to Kolkata in 1902.
Famous paintings are:
Bharat Mata, The Passing of Shah Jahan (1900), My Mother (1912–13), Fairyland illustration (1913), Journey’s End (circa 1913).
Some of his books like ‘BudoAngla’, ‘KhirerPutul’ and ‘Rajkahini’ are best examples of Bengali children’s literature.
Arabian Nights series was one of his notable works.
#Bengal_School_of_Painting
It is also called the Renaissance School or the Revivalist School, as it represented the first modern movement of Indian art.
It rediscovered the glories of Indian art and consciously tried to produce what it considered a truly Indian art inspired by the creations of the past.
Broke the tradition of oil painting (Raja Ravi Verma)
Its leading artist was Abanindranath Tagore and its theoretician was E.B. Havell, the principal of the Calcutta School of Art.
Nandalal Bose famous for white and black Gandhi sketch.
Revise - #Rabindranath_Tagore
#Agarose
An Indian scientist has recently developed an advanced wound dressing based on agarose.
Agarose is a natural polymer derived from seaweed agar.
It is used for the treatment of infected diabetic wounds and patients suffering from chronic wounds.
#Pradhan_Mantri_Dakshta_Aur_Kushalta_Sampann_Hitgrahi’ (DAKSH) Yojana
It is a National Action Plan for the marginalized persons of SC, OBC, EBC, DNTs.
The programme also engages with skilling the Safai Karamcharis including Waste Pickers, Transgenders and Women so that they can engage in self-employment activities.
The main purpose of the scheme is to increase the skill levels of the target youth by providing for long term and short term skills, followed by settlement in employment/selfemployment.
The Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
The scheme would be implemented through three Corporations namely:
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)
National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
#Pre_Revision
#Giraffe
INCN - vulnerable
Appendix II of the CITES.
Giraffes are most often found in savanna/woodland habitats and range widely throughout Africa.
They thrive in areas that are very hot. Giraffes grow to a height of 5 to 6 metres,world's tallest mammal.
According to IUCN, the four principal factors that have led to a population decline among giraffes are habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching and ecological issues.
They are uniquely adapted to reach vegetation inaccessible to other herbivores.
Giraffes drink water when it is available, but they don’t need to drink water on a daily basis, which allows them to survive in areas with scarce water.
Traditionally, giraffes were thought to have little or no social structure, and only fleeting, weak relationships.
But a recent study suggests that giraffes have been misunderstood and are in fact a highly complex and social species.
Female giraffes maintain long-term relationships with other females and their own offspring, the study found.
Close bonds form between females and their calves, who are sometimes cared for by other females in a kind of creche.
Female giraffes show distress when a calf in the group dies even if it's not their own.
Male giraffes, however, only associate consistently with their mothers.
#Grandmother_effect
The study also found that the grandmother hypothesis - the idea that some animals survive well beyond their reproductive years to ensure their grandchildren thrive - may apply to giraffes.
It's only been observed in a handful of species - including orcas, elephants and of course, human beings.
#Giraffe_Conservation_Foundation
It is the only conservation organization that provides innovative approaches to save Giraffe in the world.
#Himalayan_Serow
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
WPA, 1972: Schedule I
Himalayan serow resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
It’s a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.
There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia.
The Himalayan serow, or Capricornis sumatraensis thar, is restricted to the Himalayan region.
Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
Himalayan serows are herbivores.
Geographical Location:
They are typically found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres. They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans Himalayan region.
The Trans-Himalayas Mountain Region or Tibet Himalayan Region is located to the north of the Great Himalayas which consists of Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and Kailash mountain ranges.
Sighted for the first time in the Himalayan cold desert region (Himachal Pradesh).
#Indian_Green_Building_Council
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was formed in the year 2001
The council offers a wide array of services which include developing new green building rating programmes, certification services and green building training programmes. The council also organizes Green Building Congress, its annual flagship event on green buildings.
#Collateral_Margin
The facility is not restricted to shares and can be availed against mutual fund units, bonds, gold ETFs and fixed deposits too.
Earlier brokers had pledged client securities without their knowledge, to meet collateral requirements of other clients.
Clients gave their brokers a power of attorney (POA) to deal with their demat on their behalf.
But the misuse of this facility has led SEBI to introduce more steps in the pledging process.
Before September 2020, the process of using the shares lying in your demat account as collateral margin was automatic.
According SEBI’s new rules for availing collateral margin, control over the securities held in demat account is completely with client and broker.
INCN - vulnerable
Appendix II of the CITES.
Giraffes are most often found in savanna/woodland habitats and range widely throughout Africa.
They thrive in areas that are very hot. Giraffes grow to a height of 5 to 6 metres,world's tallest mammal.
According to IUCN, the four principal factors that have led to a population decline among giraffes are habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching and ecological issues.
They are uniquely adapted to reach vegetation inaccessible to other herbivores.
Giraffes drink water when it is available, but they don’t need to drink water on a daily basis, which allows them to survive in areas with scarce water.
Traditionally, giraffes were thought to have little or no social structure, and only fleeting, weak relationships.
But a recent study suggests that giraffes have been misunderstood and are in fact a highly complex and social species.
Female giraffes maintain long-term relationships with other females and their own offspring, the study found.
Close bonds form between females and their calves, who are sometimes cared for by other females in a kind of creche.
Female giraffes show distress when a calf in the group dies even if it's not their own.
Male giraffes, however, only associate consistently with their mothers.
#Grandmother_effect
The study also found that the grandmother hypothesis - the idea that some animals survive well beyond their reproductive years to ensure their grandchildren thrive - may apply to giraffes.
It's only been observed in a handful of species - including orcas, elephants and of course, human beings.
#Giraffe_Conservation_Foundation
It is the only conservation organization that provides innovative approaches to save Giraffe in the world.
#Himalayan_Serow
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
WPA, 1972: Schedule I
Himalayan serow resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
It’s a medium-sized mammal with a large head, thick neck, short limbs, long, mule-like ears, and a coat of dark hair.
There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia.
The Himalayan serow, or Capricornis sumatraensis thar, is restricted to the Himalayan region.
Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
Himalayan serows are herbivores.
Geographical Location:
They are typically found at altitudes between 2,000 metres and 4,000 metres. They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas, but not in the Trans Himalayan region.
The Trans-Himalayas Mountain Region or Tibet Himalayan Region is located to the north of the Great Himalayas which consists of Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and Kailash mountain ranges.
Sighted for the first time in the Himalayan cold desert region (Himachal Pradesh).
#Indian_Green_Building_Council
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was formed in the year 2001
The council offers a wide array of services which include developing new green building rating programmes, certification services and green building training programmes. The council also organizes Green Building Congress, its annual flagship event on green buildings.
#Collateral_Margin
The facility is not restricted to shares and can be availed against mutual fund units, bonds, gold ETFs and fixed deposits too.
Earlier brokers had pledged client securities without their knowledge, to meet collateral requirements of other clients.
Clients gave their brokers a power of attorney (POA) to deal with their demat on their behalf.
But the misuse of this facility has led SEBI to introduce more steps in the pledging process.
Before September 2020, the process of using the shares lying in your demat account as collateral margin was automatic.
According SEBI’s new rules for availing collateral margin, control over the securities held in demat account is completely with client and broker.
Client cannot transfer them if they have given a POA, this also prevents the potential misuse of securities by brokers through pooling of collateral.
#Asia_Pacific_Broadcasting_Union
The Union was established in 1964 as a non-profit, non-governmental, non- political,professional association with mandate to assist the development of broadcasting in the region
Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ABU promotes the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters as well as key industry players and facilitate regional and international media co-operation
India is represented by Doordarshan & All India Radio
#Pre_Revision
#Asia_Pacific_Broadcasting_Union
The Union was established in 1964 as a non-profit, non-governmental, non- political,professional association with mandate to assist the development of broadcasting in the region
Secretariat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ABU promotes the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters as well as key industry players and facilitate regional and international media co-operation
India is represented by Doordarshan & All India Radio
#Pre_Revision
#Crew_Health_and_Performance_Exploration_Analog (CHAPEA)
It is NASA’s habitat in which the four crew members will stay will be as Mars-realistic as possible.
The results will provide scientific data that will help in validating the systems that will be used for actual missions to Mars.
The habitat will simulate what it feels like to carry out missions on Mars including resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays and any other environmental stressors.
The crew will be expected to perform simulated spacewalks, scientific research and use virtual reality and robotic controls and exchange communications.
#Single_Spotted_Lanternfly
It has black spots on its wings, scarlet underwings, yellow markings on its abdomen, and tan semi-transparent forewings.
It is an invasive insect that can cause damage to native trees and agricultural crops.
It is native to Asia and feeds on agricultural crops such as grapes, apples and hops as well as maple, walnut and willow trees.
It is most commonly associated with "Tree of Heaven" (Ailanthus altissima) plants which it uses has its primary host.
#Pensilungpa_Glacier
The Pensilungpa Glacier is located in Zanskar, Ladakh.
It is retreating due to an increase in the temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters.
The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union territory of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh.
Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya.
Marbal Pass and many other passes which connect Ladakh with Kashmir are in this area.
13000 feet high Zojila Pass is in the extreme northwest of Zanskar range
#Island_of_Evia
Also called Euboea, it is the second-largest Greek island in area.
It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait.
#Pre_Revision
It is NASA’s habitat in which the four crew members will stay will be as Mars-realistic as possible.
The results will provide scientific data that will help in validating the systems that will be used for actual missions to Mars.
The habitat will simulate what it feels like to carry out missions on Mars including resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays and any other environmental stressors.
The crew will be expected to perform simulated spacewalks, scientific research and use virtual reality and robotic controls and exchange communications.
#Single_Spotted_Lanternfly
It has black spots on its wings, scarlet underwings, yellow markings on its abdomen, and tan semi-transparent forewings.
It is an invasive insect that can cause damage to native trees and agricultural crops.
It is native to Asia and feeds on agricultural crops such as grapes, apples and hops as well as maple, walnut and willow trees.
It is most commonly associated with "Tree of Heaven" (Ailanthus altissima) plants which it uses has its primary host.
#Pensilungpa_Glacier
The Pensilungpa Glacier is located in Zanskar, Ladakh.
It is retreating due to an increase in the temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters.
The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union territory of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh.
Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya.
Marbal Pass and many other passes which connect Ladakh with Kashmir are in this area.
13000 feet high Zojila Pass is in the extreme northwest of Zanskar range
#Island_of_Evia
Also called Euboea, it is the second-largest Greek island in area.
It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait.
#Pre_Revision
#Mycoremediation
It is a form of bioremediation in which fungi are used to decontaminate the area.
#Rhizofiltration is a water remediation technique that involves the uptake of contaminants by plant roots.
Rhizofiltration is used to reduce contamination in natural wetlands and estuary areas.
#Phytoextraction/ #phytoaccumulation
It is the process by which plants accumulate contaminants into the roots and above ground shoots or leaves.
#Phytotransformation or #phytodegradation
It refers to the uptake of organic contaminants from soil, sediments, or water and their transformation to more stable, less toxic, less mobile form.
#Phytostabilization
It is a technique in which plants reduce the mobility and migration of contaminated soil. Leachable constituents are adsorbed and bound into the plant structure so that they form unstable mass of plant from which the contaminants will not re-enter the environment.
Types of Droughts
#Meteorological_Drought
It is a situation when there is a prolonged period of inadequate rainfall marked with mal-distribution of the same over time and space.
#Agricultural_Drought
It is also known as soil moisture drought, characterized by low soil moisture that is necessary to support the crops, thereby resulting in crop failures. Moreover, if an area has more than 30 per cent of its gross cropped area under irrigation, the area is excluded from the drought-prone category.
#Hydrological_Drought
It results when the availability of water in different storages and reservoirs like aquifers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. falls below what the precipitation can replenish.
#Ecological_Drought
When the productivity of a natural ecosystem fails due to shortage of water and as a consequence of ecological distress, damages are induced in the ecosystem.
#Multilateral_Fund
The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was established in 1991 under Article 10 of the treaty.
The Fund's objective is to provide financial and technical assistance to developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ODS is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol.
The Multilateral Fund’s activities are implemented by four international agencies
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) ,
UN Development Programme (UNDP),
UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and
the World Bank -
as well as bilateral agencies of non-Article 5 countries.
#Pre_Revision
It is a form of bioremediation in which fungi are used to decontaminate the area.
#Rhizofiltration is a water remediation technique that involves the uptake of contaminants by plant roots.
Rhizofiltration is used to reduce contamination in natural wetlands and estuary areas.
#Phytoextraction/ #phytoaccumulation
It is the process by which plants accumulate contaminants into the roots and above ground shoots or leaves.
#Phytotransformation or #phytodegradation
It refers to the uptake of organic contaminants from soil, sediments, or water and their transformation to more stable, less toxic, less mobile form.
#Phytostabilization
It is a technique in which plants reduce the mobility and migration of contaminated soil. Leachable constituents are adsorbed and bound into the plant structure so that they form unstable mass of plant from which the contaminants will not re-enter the environment.
Types of Droughts
#Meteorological_Drought
It is a situation when there is a prolonged period of inadequate rainfall marked with mal-distribution of the same over time and space.
#Agricultural_Drought
It is also known as soil moisture drought, characterized by low soil moisture that is necessary to support the crops, thereby resulting in crop failures. Moreover, if an area has more than 30 per cent of its gross cropped area under irrigation, the area is excluded from the drought-prone category.
#Hydrological_Drought
It results when the availability of water in different storages and reservoirs like aquifers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. falls below what the precipitation can replenish.
#Ecological_Drought
When the productivity of a natural ecosystem fails due to shortage of water and as a consequence of ecological distress, damages are induced in the ecosystem.
#Multilateral_Fund
The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was established in 1991 under Article 10 of the treaty.
The Fund's objective is to provide financial and technical assistance to developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ODS is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol.
The Multilateral Fund’s activities are implemented by four international agencies
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) ,
UN Development Programme (UNDP),
UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and
the World Bank -
as well as bilateral agencies of non-Article 5 countries.
#Pre_Revision
#Elderly_in_India_2021_Report
It is published by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The report published cited findings from the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036 for its predictions.
India’s elderly population (aged 60 and above) is projected to touch 194 million in 2031 from 138 million in 2021, a 41 per cent increase over a decade.
According to the report, Kerala currently has the highest elderly population (16.5 per cent), followed by Tamil Nadu (13.6 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (13.1 per cent), Punjab (12.6 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (12.4 per cent) in 2021.
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam have the least proportion with 7.7 per cent, 8.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively.
#Mineral_surveys_in_India
GSI carries out mapping and systematic exploration for various mineral commodities based on the mineral potential following the guidelines
United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Mineral Evidence and Mineral Content Rules (MEMC-2015) with an aim to augmenting mineral resource.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) an attached office of Ministry of Mines collects the exploration data from various agencies.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) publishes the National Mineral Inventory (NMI) of mineral resources once in five years.
Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, for major minerals, the mineral concession can be allotted through auctioning.
The power to grant these mineral concessions vests in the State Governments.
The extraction of minerals depends on the grant of the mineral concessions by the State Government and the utilisation of minerals depends on economic viability of the minerals.
#Aflatoxin_M1
Aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain fungi which are generally found in agricultural crops like maize, peanuts, cotton seed and others. They are carcinogenic in nature.
According to a WHO study, consumption of food containing aflatoxin concentrations of one milligram per kilogram or higher has been suspected to cause aflatoxicosis, the outcome of which consists of acute liver failure, jaundice, lethargy and nausea, eventually leading to death
The exposure to AFM1 from milk causes stunting among children
According to FSSAI standards, the permissible limit of aflatoxins in milk is 0.5 µg/kg.
#Minervarya_Pentali
Minervarya Pentali is a new frog species from the genus Minervarya. It is also among the smallest known Minervarya frogs.
The species was discovered from the Western Ghats. The species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats.
The species has been named after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental.
#Minervarya
Minervarya is a genus of frogs in the family Dicroglossidae. The identity and taxonomic status of all known members of this genus are from Peninsular India
#The_Community_of_Portuguese_Language_Countries
CPLP is also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth.
It is an international organization and political association of Lusophone nations across four continents, where Portuguese is an official language.
The CPLP consists of 9 member states and 32 associate observers, located in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, totaling 37 countries and 4 organizations.
It was founded in 1996, in Lisbon.
India has joined the CPLP as Associate Observer in this year
#Pre_Revision
It is published by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The report published cited findings from the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036 for its predictions.
India’s elderly population (aged 60 and above) is projected to touch 194 million in 2031 from 138 million in 2021, a 41 per cent increase over a decade.
According to the report, Kerala currently has the highest elderly population (16.5 per cent), followed by Tamil Nadu (13.6 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (13.1 per cent), Punjab (12.6 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (12.4 per cent) in 2021.
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Assam have the least proportion with 7.7 per cent, 8.1 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively.
#Mineral_surveys_in_India
GSI carries out mapping and systematic exploration for various mineral commodities based on the mineral potential following the guidelines
United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Mineral Evidence and Mineral Content Rules (MEMC-2015) with an aim to augmenting mineral resource.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) an attached office of Ministry of Mines collects the exploration data from various agencies.
Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) publishes the National Mineral Inventory (NMI) of mineral resources once in five years.
Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, for major minerals, the mineral concession can be allotted through auctioning.
The power to grant these mineral concessions vests in the State Governments.
The extraction of minerals depends on the grant of the mineral concessions by the State Government and the utilisation of minerals depends on economic viability of the minerals.
#Aflatoxin_M1
Aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain fungi which are generally found in agricultural crops like maize, peanuts, cotton seed and others. They are carcinogenic in nature.
According to a WHO study, consumption of food containing aflatoxin concentrations of one milligram per kilogram or higher has been suspected to cause aflatoxicosis, the outcome of which consists of acute liver failure, jaundice, lethargy and nausea, eventually leading to death
The exposure to AFM1 from milk causes stunting among children
According to FSSAI standards, the permissible limit of aflatoxins in milk is 0.5 µg/kg.
#Minervarya_Pentali
Minervarya Pentali is a new frog species from the genus Minervarya. It is also among the smallest known Minervarya frogs.
The species was discovered from the Western Ghats. The species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats.
The species has been named after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental.
#Minervarya
Minervarya is a genus of frogs in the family Dicroglossidae. The identity and taxonomic status of all known members of this genus are from Peninsular India
#The_Community_of_Portuguese_Language_Countries
CPLP is also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth.
It is an international organization and political association of Lusophone nations across four continents, where Portuguese is an official language.
The CPLP consists of 9 member states and 32 associate observers, located in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, totaling 37 countries and 4 organizations.
It was founded in 1996, in Lisbon.
India has joined the CPLP as Associate Observer in this year
#Pre_Revision
#Strait_of_Hormuz
It links the Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman & the Arabian Sea (southeast)
The only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean
On the north coast lies Iran & on the south coast the United Arab Emirates & Musandam,an exclave of Oman
Qatar,the world’s biggest LNG exporter,sends almost all of its LNG through it
#Strait_of_Malacca
It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea(Pacific Ocean)
It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West)Malaysia & extreme southern Thailand to the east
Malacca is the shortest sea route between India & China
Singapore port is situated at the strait’s southern end
#Bab_al_Mandab
It is the narrow waterway that separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa
It links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden & the Indian Ocean
At its narrowest point,the strait is only 29 km wide between Yemen on one side and Djibouti & Eritrea on the other
#Palk_Strait
It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay in the southwest
It receives several rivers,including the Vaigai (India) & it contains many islands on the Sri Lankan side
The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project is a shipping canal & envisages the creation of a navigable canal from the Gulf of Mannar to the Bay of Bengal
The Adam’s Bridge is a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation
All islands are made up of a calcareous framework of dead reef & sand
#Sunda_Strait
It links the Java Sea(Pacific Ocean) with the Indian Ocean(south)
The strait’s narrowness, shallowness, and lack of accurate charting make it unsuitable for many modern, large ships,most of which use the Strait of Malacca instead
#Mozambique_Channel
It is located between the island nation of Madagascar on the east and Mozambique on the African mainland(west)
The Mozambique Current passes through the strait
#Gibraltar_Strait
It is a channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain and northwesternmost Africa
#Bosphorus_strait
Aka Strait of Istanbul
connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It also separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey, thus it separates the two continents
#Dardanelles_Strait
A vital transportation bridge between the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, is a narrow channel of water that connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara
It separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey
#Bering_Strait
Join: the Bering Sea & Chukchi Sea
Location: Alaska-Russia
#Formosa_Strait
Join: the South China Sea & East China Sea
Location: China-Taiwan
#Yucatan_Strait
Join: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea
Location: Mexico-Cuba
#Mesina_Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea
Location: Italy-Sicily
#Otranto_Strait
Join:Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea
Location: Italy-Albania
#Cook_Strait
Join:South Pacific Ocean
Location: New Zealand (North & South Islands)
#North_Channel
Join:Irish Sea & Atlantic Ocean
Location:Ireland-England
#Hudson_strait
Join:Gulf of Hudson & Atlantic Ocean
Location:Canada
#Magellan_strait
Join:Pacific and South Atlantic Ocean
Location:Chile
#Makassar_Strait
Join: the Java Sea & Celebes Sea
Location: Indonesia
#Tsugaru_Strait
Join:Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean
Location:Japan (Hokkaido-Honshu Island)
#Tatar_Strait
Join:Japan Sea & Okhotsk Sea
Location:Russia (East Russia-Sakhalin Islands)
#Fovex_Strait
Joini:South Pacific Ocean
Location:New Zealand (South Island- Stewart Island)
#Taurus_Strait
Join:Arafura Sea & Gulf of Papua
Location:Papua New Guinea — Australia
#Bass_Strait
Join:Tasman Sea & South Sea
Location: Australia
#Bonne_Fasio_Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea
Location: Corsica — Sardinia
#Davis_Strait
Join:Baffin Bay & Atlantic Ocean
Location: Greenland-Canada
#Denmark_Strait
Join:North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean
Location: Greenland-Iceland
#Dover_strait
Join:The English Channel & North Sea
Location: England-France
#Florida_Strait
Join:Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean
Location: USA-Cuba
#Pre_Revision
It links the Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman & the Arabian Sea (southeast)
The only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean
On the north coast lies Iran & on the south coast the United Arab Emirates & Musandam,an exclave of Oman
Qatar,the world’s biggest LNG exporter,sends almost all of its LNG through it
#Strait_of_Malacca
It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea(Pacific Ocean)
It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West)Malaysia & extreme southern Thailand to the east
Malacca is the shortest sea route between India & China
Singapore port is situated at the strait’s southern end
#Bab_al_Mandab
It is the narrow waterway that separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa
It links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden & the Indian Ocean
At its narrowest point,the strait is only 29 km wide between Yemen on one side and Djibouti & Eritrea on the other
#Palk_Strait
It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay in the southwest
It receives several rivers,including the Vaigai (India) & it contains many islands on the Sri Lankan side
The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project is a shipping canal & envisages the creation of a navigable canal from the Gulf of Mannar to the Bay of Bengal
The Adam’s Bridge is a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation
All islands are made up of a calcareous framework of dead reef & sand
#Sunda_Strait
It links the Java Sea(Pacific Ocean) with the Indian Ocean(south)
The strait’s narrowness, shallowness, and lack of accurate charting make it unsuitable for many modern, large ships,most of which use the Strait of Malacca instead
#Mozambique_Channel
It is located between the island nation of Madagascar on the east and Mozambique on the African mainland(west)
The Mozambique Current passes through the strait
#Gibraltar_Strait
It is a channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain and northwesternmost Africa
#Bosphorus_strait
Aka Strait of Istanbul
connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It also separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey, thus it separates the two continents
#Dardanelles_Strait
A vital transportation bridge between the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, is a narrow channel of water that connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara
It separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey
#Bering_Strait
Join: the Bering Sea & Chukchi Sea
Location: Alaska-Russia
#Formosa_Strait
Join: the South China Sea & East China Sea
Location: China-Taiwan
#Yucatan_Strait
Join: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea
Location: Mexico-Cuba
#Mesina_Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea
Location: Italy-Sicily
#Otranto_Strait
Join:Adriatic Sea & Ionian Sea
Location: Italy-Albania
#Cook_Strait
Join:South Pacific Ocean
Location: New Zealand (North & South Islands)
#North_Channel
Join:Irish Sea & Atlantic Ocean
Location:Ireland-England
#Hudson_strait
Join:Gulf of Hudson & Atlantic Ocean
Location:Canada
#Magellan_strait
Join:Pacific and South Atlantic Ocean
Location:Chile
#Makassar_Strait
Join: the Java Sea & Celebes Sea
Location: Indonesia
#Tsugaru_Strait
Join:Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean
Location:Japan (Hokkaido-Honshu Island)
#Tatar_Strait
Join:Japan Sea & Okhotsk Sea
Location:Russia (East Russia-Sakhalin Islands)
#Fovex_Strait
Joini:South Pacific Ocean
Location:New Zealand (South Island- Stewart Island)
#Taurus_Strait
Join:Arafura Sea & Gulf of Papua
Location:Papua New Guinea — Australia
#Bass_Strait
Join:Tasman Sea & South Sea
Location: Australia
#Bonne_Fasio_Strait
Join: Mediterranean Sea
Location: Corsica — Sardinia
#Davis_Strait
Join:Baffin Bay & Atlantic Ocean
Location: Greenland-Canada
#Denmark_Strait
Join:North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean
Location: Greenland-Iceland
#Dover_strait
Join:The English Channel & North Sea
Location: England-France
#Florida_Strait
Join:Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean
Location: USA-Cuba
#Pre_Revision
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