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Pmfias CA 2022-01-05 Geography
Pmfias CA 2022-01-05 Geography
Contents
{Geo – EG – Infra – 2022/01} One Nation-One Grid-One Frequency: National Grid .................................................. 12
What is Grid Management? ............................................................................................................................................................ 13
What is One Frequency & its Importance? ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited ........................................................................................................................................ 15
What is a Heatwave?
• A heat wave is a period of excessively hot weather.
• Heat waves are caused due to shifting of Jet Streams (Rossby Waves in the temperate region cause Heat Domes),
hot local winds like loo (affects Gangetic Plains Region), and anthropogenic causes like global warming.
• But on some occasions, heat wave may also develop over any region in situ under the favourable conditions.
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What is the criterion for describing Heat Wave for coastal stations?
• When maximum temperature departure is 4.50C or more from normal, Heat Wave may be described provided actual
maximum temperature is 370C or more.
• IMD has a big network of surface observatories covering entire country to measure various metrological parameters
like Temperature, Relative humidity, pressure, wind speed & direction etc.
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• Based on daily maximum temperature station data, climatology of maximum temperature is prepared for the period
1981-2010 to find out normal maximum temperature of the day for particular station.
• Thereafter, IMD declared heat wave over the region as per its definition.
Rossby Waves
• The meandering jet streams are called Rossby Waves.
• These waves occur naturally in the atmosphere & oceans due to rotation of earth (Coriolis Force).
• In Rossby waves polar air moves toward the equator while tropical air moves poleward.
• A meander is called peak or ridge if it is towards poles & trough if it is towards equator.
• The existence of these waves explains the low-pressure cells (cyclones) & high-pressure cells (anticyclones).
• Tropical cyclones Asani (northern hemisphere — counter-clockwise) & Karim (southern hemisphere — clockwise)
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have formed at nearly the same time on opposite sides of the Equator.
• The name Karim was given by Seychelles, whereas the name Asani was suggested by Sri Lanka. (Know more about
naming tropical cyclones on PMF IAS)
• They are ‘twin’ cyclones not only because they formed at the same time in the same general area but also because
they were formed primarily from the same parent circulation: the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).
• MJO coupled with Rossby waves helped fuel the twin storms by promoting convection.
•
• It is a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep atmospheric convection. It is also
known as the 30-to-60-day oscillation or wave.
• The MJO acts a little like El Niño or La Niña by concentrating tropical convection or thunderstorm activity but is small-
er in scale and doesn’t remain stationary but propagates eastward.
• The effect of the MJO is witnessed mainly in the tropical region, in the band between 30 degrees North and 30 de-
grees South of the equator.
• MJO is associated with surface westerly wind bursts, deep convection, and heavy precipitation. (Read more about
MJO on PMF IAS)
Explanation:
• The first statement defines a Hybrid cyclone, which are generally defined by the fact that they contain characteris-
tics of the main types of cyclones: tropical and extratropical. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.
• Twin Cyclones can originate wherever the conditions are conducive for tropical cyclones. Hence statement 2 is also
incorrect.
• Equatorial Rossby waves, Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) along with westerly wind burst are responsible for the
formation of Twin Cyclones. Hence statement 3 is also incorrect and option (d) is the correct answer.
Answer: (d)
Prelims Practice: Which of the following Geophysical Phenomena is/are responsible for Twin
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Cyclones?
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Explanation:
• Equatorial Rossby waves, Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) along with Westerly Wind Burst are
responsible for the formation of Twin Cyclones. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.
Answer: (d)
Prelims Practise: Consider the following statements about the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO):
1) It is a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep atmospheric convection.
2) The effect of the MJO is witnessed mainly in the tropical region, in the band between 30° North and South of the
equator.
3) MJO in its active phase brings frequent cyclonic activity and can initiate the onset of the monsoon.
Explanation:
• The MJO is an intra-seasonal oscillation and a large-scale coupling between atmospheric circulation and tropical
deep atmospheric convection.
• The MJO acts a little like El Niño or La Niña by concentrating tropical convection or thunderstorm activity but is
smaller in scale and doesn’t remain stationary but propagates eastward.
• The effect of the MJO is witnessed mainly in the tropical region, in the band between 30 degrees North and 30 de-
grees South of the equator. In the tropics, MJO in its active phase brings frequent cyclonic activity and can initiate the
onset of the monsoon. Hence all the statements are correct, and option (d) is the right answer.
Answer: (d)
• C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) under MeitY will serve as the nodal agency for imple-
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Components of Scheme
Chip Design Infrastructure Support
• C-DAC will setup the India Chip Centre to host the state-of-the-art design infrastructure.
• A reimbursement of up to 50% of the eligible expenditure subject to a ceiling of ₹15 Crore per application will be
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provided as fiscal support to the approved applicants who are engaged in semiconductor design.
• An incentive of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover over 5 years subject to a ceiling of ₹30 Crore per application will be
provided to approved applicants.
Additional Reading: PLI Scheme for Semiconductors (Geo – Dec CA)
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Key Features
• National Technical Textiles Mission is for a period of 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24) with an outlay of Rs.1480 crores.
• It aims to position the country as a global leader in technical textiles & increase the use of technical textiles in the
domestic market.
• The distribution of funds is for:
1. For Research Innovation & Development (Rs. 1000 Cr)
2. For Promotion and Market Development (Rs.50 Cr)
3. For Education, Training and Skilling (Rs. 400 Cr)
4. For Export Promotion (Rs.10 Cr)
5. Balance Rs.20 crores for administrative expenses.
particular use.
• They are manufactured using natural as well as man-made fibres that exhibit enhanced functional properties such
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• Context: The centre has given approval for setting up of 6 nuclear power reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.
• The 6 nuclear power reactors will be set up with technical cooperation from France.
• It is a proposed nuclear power plant in India.
• If built, it would be the largest nuclear power generating station in the world by net generation capacity, at 9,900 MW.
Narora – Uttar Pradesh – Only atomic power plant used for agricultural purpose.
Kakrapar – Gujarat – Plant built with Russian collaboration.
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Kundakulam – Tamil Nadu – Largest nuclear power generation facility & fuel is supplied by Russia.
Suggested Reading: 3 Stage Nuclear Programme
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What is One Frequency & its Importance?
• Frequency is the rate at which current changes direction per second.
• It is measured in hertz (Hz), an international unit of measure where 1 hertz is equal to 1 cycle per second.
• The more cycles that occur per second, the higher the frequency.
• Example: If an alternating current is said to have a frequency of 3 Hz (see diagram below), that indicates its waveform
repeats 3 times in 1 second.
• In India grid frequency always remains within the 49.90-50.05 Hz (hertz) band.
Note: Basic rule is to have a fine balance between electricity energy & demand of electricity.
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• If too much electricity is fed into the grid in relation to the quantity consumed, the electrical frequency increases.
• Since power plants are designed to operate within a certain frequency range, there is a risk that they will disconnect
from the grid after a period of time.
High power demand, low electricity energy availability
• If there is less electric energy than the demand the frequency drops.
• If the frequency falls too much, the power plants switch off one after another, until there is a complete collapse of the
grid, i.e., a power blackout.
Bharatmala Pariyojana
• Bharatmala Pariyojana is a new umbrella program for the highways sector.
• It focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight & passenger movement across the country.
• It will bridge critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of Economic Corridors,
Inter Corridors & Feeder Routes, Border & International connectivity roads, Coastal & Port connectivity roads &
Green-field expressways.
• The implementation of a pan-nation scheme to improve the road network.
• All key aspects of the scheme will be managed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).
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the environment.
• Last mile connectivity: Ropeway projects adopting 3S (a kind of cable car system) or equivalent technologies can
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Benefits Of Ropeways
• Ideal for difficult / challenging / sensitive terrain
• Long rope spans: The system crosses obstacles like rivers, buildings, ravines, or roads without a problem.
• Ropes guided over towers: Low space requirements on the ground, and no barrier for humans or animals.
• This mode of transportation will enable mobility to people living in difficult areas and help them become part of the
mainstream. Villagers / farmers living in such areas will be able to sell their produces in other areas, which in turn will
help them grow their income.
• Economy: Ropeway having multiple cars propelled by a single power-plant and drive mechanism. This reduces both
construction and maintenance costs. The use of a single operator for an entire ropeway is a further saving, in labour
cost. On level ground, the cost of ropeways is competitive with narrow-gauge railroads; in the mountains the ropeway
is far superior.
• Flexible: Transport of different materials - A ropeway allows for the simultaneous transport of different types of mate-
rial.
• Ability to handle large slopes: Ropeways and cableways (cable cranes) can handle large slopes and large differences
in elevation. Where a road or railroad needs switchbacks or tunnels, a ropeway travels straight up and down the fall
line. The old cliff railways in England and ski resort ropeways in the mountains take advantage of this feature.
• Low footprint: The fact that only narrow-based vertical supports are needed at intervals, leaving the rest of the
ground free, makes it possible for ropeways to be constructed in built-up areas and in places where there is intense
competition for land use.
Additional Reading: https://www.pmfias.com/sagarmala-project/
Key Features
• PM-DevINE will be implemented through the North-Eastern Council.
• An initial allocation of Rs. 1,500 crores will be made for the new scheme.
• The scheme aims to fund infrastructure and need-based social development, including one-of-a-kind ‘Bamboo Link
Roads’ in Mizoram.
PMGSY - Phase I
• It aims to provide single all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitation for overall socio-
economic development of the areas.
PMGSY - Phase II
• The Phase II of PMGSY was approved during May, 2013.
• Under PMGSY phase II, the roads already built for village connectivity was to be upgraded to enhance rural infra-
structure. .
Background
• Special Economic Zone came in to existence because the economic reforms incorporated in the early 1990s did
not resulted in the overall growth of the Indian economy.
• The Indian manufacturing sector witnessed a sudden dip in the overall growth of the industry, during the second-half
of 1990s.
• Red tape, lengthy administrative procedures, rigid labour laws and poor physical infrastructural facilities were
the main cause of deterioration of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) inflow in to India.
• Further, the Indian markets were not mature enough to facilitate easy entry of Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in to
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•
the foreign investors.
• Thus, the lack of investor friendly environment in India prevented growth of Indian industry, in spite of implementa-
tion of liberal economic policy (LPG Policy).
• Therefore, SEZ Act, 2005 and SEZ Rules came into existence from 2006.
Need for SEZ
• To enhance foreign investment and provide an internationally competitive and hassle-free environment for ex-
ports.
• To promote exports from the country and realizing the need that level playing field must be made available to the
domestic enterprises and manufacturers to be competitive globally.
• SEZ are set up in order to attract foreign investors to invest in India, SEZ are brought with world class facilities, water,
electricity, roads, transport, storage etc. this foreign investment will help in economic development of our country.
• To Increase trade balance, employment, increased investment, job creation and effective administration.
• To encourage businesses to set up in the zone, financial policies are introduced.
Advanatges of SEZ
• 15-year corporate tax holiday on export profit – 100% for initial 5 years, 50% for the next 5 years and up to 50% for
the balance 5 years equivalent to profits ploughed back for investment.
• No license required for import made under SEZ units.
• Exemption from customs duty on import of capital goods, raw materials, consumables, spares, etc.
• Exemption from payment of Central Sales Tax on the sale or purchase of goods, provided that, the goods are meant
for undertaking authorized operations.
• Since SEZ units are considered as ‘public utility services’, no strikes would be allowed in such companies without giv-
ing the employer 6 weeks prior notice in addition to the other conditions mentioned in the Industrial Disputes Act,
1947.
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Suggested Reading: Industrial Corridor (Refer to Dec Geo CA 2021)
• Context: The longest vessel ever to sail on the Brahmaputra anchored at Pandu Port after completing cargo move-
ment from Haldia via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR).
Pandu Port
• The Pandu Port is the most important and the largest river port in Assam.
• This port has been developed on the bank of the Brahmaputra River.
• It falls under Dhubri-Sadiya National Waterway-2.
Kottapuram-Kollam
West Coast canal along with Udyogmandal and Champakara Canals.
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205 km
• National Waterway-4
Kakinada-Puducherry
Rivers Godavari and Krishna
1078 km
• National Waterway-5
East Coast canal integrated with Brahmani and Mahanadi delta rivers.
588 km
Koyna Dam
• It is one of the largest dams in Maharashtra.
• It is a rubble-concrete dam constructed on Koyna River.
• The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectricity with some irrigation in neighbouring areas.
• The catchment area dams the Koyna River & forms the Shivsagar Lake.
Koyna River
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Himyat Sagar
• Himayat Sagar is an artificial lake about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Hyderabad in Telangana.
• It lies parallel to a larger artificial lake Osman Sagar.
Osman Sagar
• The Osman Sagar Lake as affectionately called 'Gandipet'.
• The reservoirs were created by building dams on the Musi (also known as Moosa or Muchkunda) river, a major tribu-
tary of the Krishna, to protect Hyderabad from floods.
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Mullaperiyar Dam
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Cardamon Hills
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• The Cardamom Hills/Yela Mala are mountain range of southern India & part of the southern Western Ghats located
in Idukki district, Kerala.
• The name comes from the cardamom spice grown in much of the hills' cool elevation, which also supports pepper
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and coffee.
• The boundary of Cardamom Hills extends up to
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Additional Reading: Refer to Afghanistan Crisis Topic covered in Geo August 2021 CA.
Euromaidan Movement
• Majority of the Ukrainians were angry with the then pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to join the
Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union instead of the EU. Their protests were known as the Euromaidan movement.
• It saw massive clashes between the protesters and security forces that reached their peak in 2014 and led to the oust-
er of Yanukovych.
• Soon after, amid fears of growing Western influence in Ukraine, Russia decided to act by invading Crimea, which
was a part of Ukraine.
• Thereafter, Russia faced sanctions from the west owing to its action of invading Crimea.
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•
from the West.
• Also, it was seeking assurances from the US that Ukraine will not be inducted into NATO.
• However, the failure of such assurance by the west, & the pro-outlook of Ukraine towards the west & NATO, gave
an excuse to Russia to conduct a special military operation on Ukraine on the pretext of "demilitarization and de-
nazification" of Ukraine.
Causes Behind the Deepening Crisis
Expansions Carried out by NATO
• Even as the Soviet Union was dissolved NATO embarked on a path of expansion. It started to pull former Warsaw
Pact states into its membership.
• Both for Russia & for the West, Ukraine acted as a crucial buffer at times of war or uncertainty. With Ukraine seeking
NATO membership, this safe buffer for Russia was fast disappearing.
Balance of Power
• Ever since Ukraine split from the Soviet Union, both Russia and the West have vied for greater influence in the country
in order to keep the balance of power in the region in their favour.
• Beyond Bosporus, the Aegean Sea, Mediterranean & Gibraltar Straits impede Russia’s movement to the Atlantic
Ocean or its route to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal.
• Its naval facility in the Syrian coastal city of Tartus is strategic but limited. 28
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Russia’s Demands
• Russia has demanded a ban on further expansion of NATO that includes countries like Ukraine and Georgia that
share Russia’s borders.
• Russia asked NATO to pull back its military deployments to the 1990s level and prohibit the deployment of in-
termediate-range missiles in the bordering areas.
• Further, Russia has demanded NATO to curb its military cooperation with former Soviet republics including
Ukraine.
Minsk I
• Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists agreed a 12-point ceasefire deal in the capital of Belarus in 2014.
• Its provisions included:
1. prisoner exchanges,
2. deliveries of humanitarian aid and
3. the withdrawal of heavy weapons
• The agreement quickly broke down, with violations by both sides.
Minsk II
• In 2015, an open conflict was averted after the ‘Minsk II’ peace agreement was signed, under the mediation of France
and Germany.
• Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the lead-
ers of two pro-Russian separatist regions signed a 13-point agreement.
• The five most important of the 13 points were, in brief:
1. An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire
2. Withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides
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5. Constitutional reform in Ukraine including decentralisation, with specific mention of Donetsk and Luhansk
(paving the way for their secession from Ukraine!).
Strategic Regions
Crimea
• In 2014, Russia invaded and subsequently annexed the pro-Russian Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
• Vladivostok, the largest Russian port on the Pacific Ocean, is enclosed by the Sea of Japan, which is dominated by
the Japanese.
• This does not just halt the flow of trade into and out of Russia; it prevents the Russian fleet from operating as a global
power, as it does not have year-round access to the world’s most important sea lanes.
• Moreover, most of the Russian ports, even when open for business, do not allow for easy access to the Mediterranean
Sea.
• This has left Russia with a commercial and military incentive to expand in warmer water. Hence, the port in Crimea.
Sevastopol Port
• Warm-water ports are important to Russian security because they enable Russia to control the sea, project power,
maintain good order, and observe a maritime consensus.
• The Port of Sevastopol is considered a key hold for maritime routes between the Black Sea & Sea of Marmara, and,
therefore, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
• The port is one of the few warm deep-water ports available to Russia in the Black Sea.
• Also, the Russian Black Sea Fleet is situated in Sevastopol & its presence in the area gives Russia a military ad-
vantage and it can carry out tactical manoeuvres (as it did in the Georgian-Russian conflict).
• Its importance has grown since the Syrian conflict because losing the Tartus fleet in Syria would mean having only one
warm-water port in Sevastopol.
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Donbass Region
• Russia officially announced independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics effectively killing the Minsk agree-
ments. Both Donetsk and Luhansk are collectively called as Donbas Region.
Significance of Region
• It is important to Russia’s current vision for Ukraine, as it contains areas controlled by Russian-backed separatist
groups. Also resource wise, Donbass region is rich in coal.
• Nord Stream is a set of offshore natural gas pipelines in Europe, running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Ger-
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many.
• It includes 2 projects:
1. Nord Stream 1: Running from Vyborg in north western Russia near Finland
2. Nord Stream 2: Running from Ust-Luga in north western Russia near Estonia.
• Russia is also a major source of neon, used for etching circuits on silicon wafers.
• Russia exports rare metals like palladium to make semiconductors.
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What is Palladium?
• Palladium is a rare metal that is used as an alternative to gold in making various devices as the metal is highly
malleable & resistant to corrosion.
• Applications: Automobile makers, electronics manufacturers, and biomedical device production.
• Russia and South Africa are the two largest producers of palladium.
Important Geographical Locations / Places / Features in News
Ukraine
Carpathian Mountains
These are the range of mountains forming an arc across Central & Eastern Europe.
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•
• Roughly 1,500 km long, it is the 3rd longest European mountain range after the Urals & Scandinavian Mountains.
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Sea of Azov
• It is a sea in Eastern Europe connected to the Black Sea by the narrow Strait of Kerch.
• It is sometimes regarded as a northern extension of the Black Sea.
• The sea is bounded by:
Russia on the southeast
Ukraine on the northwest
• The main rivers flowing into it are the Don & Kuban.
• The Sea of Azov is an internal sea with passage to the Atlantic Ocean going through the Black, Marmara, Aegean
and Mediterranean seas.
• The narrowness of the Kerch Strait limits the water exchange with the Black Sea. As a result, the salinity of the Sea of
Azov is low.
• Many rivers flowing into the Sea of Azov form bays, lagoons and limans.
• The sand, silt and shells they bring are deposited in the areas of reduced flow, that is the sides of the bays, forming
narrow sandbanks called “spits”.
• Ports located along the Sea of Azov are Berdyansk, Mariupol, Taganrog & Yeysk.
Black Sea
• Black Sea is a marginal Mediterranean Sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia
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• It lies:
East of the Balkan Peninsula (Southeast Europe)
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Montreaux Convention
• According to the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over both the Bosporus & Dardanelles straits
(Turkish Straits).
• In the event of a war, the pact gives Ankara the right to regulate the transit of naval warships and to block the
straits to warships belonging to the countries involved in the conflict.
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Turkish Straits
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• The straits create a series of passages that connect the Aegean and Mediterranean seas to the Black Sea.
Sea of Marmara
• The Sea of Marmara is an inland sea separating Asiatic & European parts of Turkey.
• It serves as a transitional zone between the Black Sea & the Mediterranean Sea.
• It is connected through:
Bosporus Strait on the northeast with Black Sea
Dardanelles on the southwest with the Aegean Sea.
• Bosphorus, the Dardanelles Straits and the Sea of Marmara forms a part of the Turkish Straits System.
• North Anatolian Fault which runs beneath the sea has caused several massive earthquakes in the region.
• It serves as an important navigational waterway for the transportation of petroleum & natural gas to Europe from
the western part of Asia & Russia.
• Some of the important coastal towns & cities that are located along the Sea of Marmara include Istanbul, Izmit,
Balikesir, Yalova, Tekirdag, Bursa, & Çanakkale.
• Marmara Island is Turkey’s second-largest island as well as the largest island in the Marmara Sea. It is also a rich
source of marble.
Caspian Sea
• The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water.
• The Caspian Sea, like the Black Sea, is a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea.
• The Caspian Sea is highly-prized for its vast oil & gas reserves
• Countries Bordering: It is bounded by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran & Turkmenistan.
• Its main freshwater inflow comes from the Europe's longest river, the Volga, and the Ural River.
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Baltic states (Baltics, Baltic nations)
• Baltics is a geopolitical term, typically used to group the 3 countries on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: Estonia,
Latvia & Lithuania.
• The three countries do not form an official union but cooperate in the matters of security & defence.
• All 3 countries are members of NATO (to counter the bullying by Russia), the eurozone, the OECD, and the Europe-
an Union.
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• The Red Forest is the 10 sq.km area surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
• The name "Red Forest" comes from the ginger-brown colour of the pine trees after they died following the ab-
sorption of high levels of radiation from the Chernobyl accident.
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Warsaw Pact
• Warsaw Treaty or Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, commonly known as the Warsaw Pact
(WP) was a collective defence treaty signed in Warsaw, Poland.
• It was signed between the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern Bloc socialist republics of Central and Eastern Eu-
rope.
• In was formed in 1956 in response to NATO.
• It lost its existence after USSR disintegration.
•
free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market;
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Members
• The original members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany.
• Members that have adopted the Euro: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia & Spain.
• Members that have not adopted the Euro: Hungary, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, Romania & Bulgar-
ia.
• On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom became the first member state to leave the EU.
• Earlier, French Algeria (Colonial Algeria), Greenland (Denmark) & Saint Barthélemy (French Overseas Territory in
the Lesser Antilles) — had left the EU.
• The only member state of the EU which is wholly outside of Europe is Cyprus, which is in Asia.
tions.
• It is based in Vienna, Austria.
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QUAD
• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and
United States that is maintained by talks between member countries.
• The dialogue was initiated in 2007 by Japanese PM.
• The dialogue was paralleled by joint military exercises, titled Exercise Malabar.
• The diplomatic and military arrangement is widely viewed as a response to increased Chinese economic and military
power. Therefore, called by some as "Asian NATO".
• During the 2017 ASEAN Summits in Manila, all four former members agreed to revive the quadrilateral alliance in or-
der to counter China militarily and diplomatically in the "Indo-Pacific" region, particularly in South China Sea.
• Quad Plus Members: New Zealand, South Korea & Vietnam (Meeting on COVID-19 Approach).
•
• It is also regarded as the “voice of the Eastern Flank” in the NATO alliance.
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SWIFT
• SWIFT stands for The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
• It is a Belgian cooperative society (not intergovernmental organisation) providing services related to the execu-
tion of financial transactions and payments between banks worldwide.
• The SWIFT is a secure financial message carrier that can avoid fraudulent transactions.
• It provides a network where the data can be transferred from one bank’s branch to another. Hence it is a financial
messaging network. In other words, it transports messages from one bank to another bank.
• It provides a secure transmission channel so that the message from Bank A, reaches Bank B only, unaltered.
• However, the organization does not manage accounts on behalf of individuals or financial institutions, and it does
not hold funds from third parties.
• It also does not perform clearing or settlement functions.
• After payment has been initiated, it must be settled through a payment system.
SWIFT CODE
• SWIFT uses SWIFT codes, which help in identifying the financial institution because SWIFT provides a unified and
independent code to each member institution.
• Encryption is added when the message is sent, which secures the message’s transfer, and it is then decrypted when
the message is reached to the receiver.
• Whenever there is a banking transaction, SWIFT assigned a unified and standardized code to the financial institution
entering into the transaction, which is either an 8-digit code or an 11-digit code.
• It is an alphabetical number containing information identifying the banks and the branches based on a standardized
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format.
• Let’s suppose a person has a bank account in one bank, and he needs to transfer the money to another person having
a bank account in another bank in another country.
• In that case, the first person is required to walk into his bank with the account number of another person & its unique
SWIFT code.
• The bank will send a SWIFT message for a payment transfer via a secured network.
• Once the other bank receives the SWIFT message of incoming payment, it will clear the credit into another person’s
bank account.
Importance
• SWIFT ensures the faster transfer of information from one bank to another bank regardless of whether both the
banks are in the same country or not.
• It provides a secure network & uses encryption & decryption technology.
• It provides the highest level of integrity and confidentiality to the user, which is proved by its world renounce.
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{Geo – LBT – World – 2022/04} Places in News for Prelims
IE | TG | Source1 | TH | TH | DH | DTE
Mariupol
• Context: Mariupol, which is part of the industrial region in eastern Ukraine known as the Donbas, has been a key
Russian objective since the Feb. 24 invasion began.
Significance of Mariupol
• Capturing the city would allow the establishment of a land corridor from Russia's border to Ukraine's Crimean
Peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014.
• If Mariupol becomes a part of Russian controlled territory, that means that over 80% of Ukraine’s black sea coastline
will now be controlled by Russia, meaning that Ukraine’s maritime trade will be affected and they will not be able to
contact with the outside world because this area will be under the Russian control.
• Mariupol is a very important port since it is very deep & biggest port in the Azov Sea region and that is why it is a
home of major iron and steel works.
• It is mainly an export hub for steel iron, coal, and even agricultural products such as corn from Ukraine. If this port
is under the control of Russia, that means that the Ukrainian economy will start to cripple very soon.
Solomon Islands
• Context: The US government has warned Solomon Islands it will “respond accordingly” if its security agreement with
China leads to a Chinese military presence in the Pacific Island nation.
Solomon Islands
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• It is a sovereign country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua
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Bulgaria
• It is a country in Southeast Europe.
• It occupies the whole eastern part of the Balkans.
• It is bordered by:
Romania to the north
Serbia and North Macedonia to the west
Greece and Turkey to the south
Black Sea to the east
• Capital: Sofia
• Other major cities are Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas.
• Topographical features: Danubian Plain, the Balkan Mountains, the Thracian Plain, and the Rila-Rhodope mas-
sif.
Poland
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• It is a country in Central Europe.
• Capital: Warsaw
• Other major cities include Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin.
• Poland's territory extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudeten and Carpathian Mountains in the south.
• The country is bordered by:
Lithuania and Russia to the northeast
Belarus and Ukraine to the east
Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south
Germany to the west
• Poland also shares maritime boundaries with Denmark and Sweden.
Al Aqsa Site
• Context: Recently, once again tensions flared at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Site.
Al Aqsa Site
• It is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam.
• The mosque was built on top of the Temple Mount, known as the Al Aqsa Compound or Haram esh-Sharif in Islam,
several decades after Muhammad's death.
Jerusalem
• It is a city in Western Asia.
• It is situated on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean & Dead Sea.
• The city straddles the Green Line between Israel and the West Bank.
• Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital.
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Suggested Reading: Israel – Palestine Conflict (Covered in Geo May 2021 CA)
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Whakaari/White Island
• It is New Zealand’s most active cone volcanoes.
• About 70% of the volcano lies under the sea while the Island forms the tip of the volcano.
• It is on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty.
Nordic Region
• The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic.
• It includes the sovereign states of:
a) Denmark
b) Finland
c) Iceland
d) Norway
e) Sweden
f) Faroe Islands and Greenland
g) Åland
• The Nordic countries have much in common in their way of life, history, religion and social structure.
• They have a long history of political unions and other close relations but do not form a singular entity today.
• The climate in the Nordic countries is mainly influenced by their northern location, but remedied by the vicinity to the
ocean and the Gulf Stream which brings warm ocean currents from the tip of Florida.
• Context: The Bhashan Char Island has been in news recently for Rohingya refugees moving to the island in the Bay
of Bengal from Bangladesh refugee camps.
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{Geo – Monsoon – 2022/04} Long Period Average - IMD Benchmark
IE | Prelims + Mains | GS1 > Climatology
• Context: The IMD's has predicted of a normal monsoon this season as based on the LPA of the 1971-2020 period.
Why is it important?
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• The LPA uses a 50-year average because annual rainfall can be highly variable.
• A 50-year average is expected to smooth out the day-to-day, month-to-month variations, while also accounting for
freak weather events like the El Nino and La Nina.
• Once in every three or four years, Indian monsoons have witnessed aberrations such as severe drought, flooding and
storms owing to El Nino.
• The actual distribution of those 89 cm of rainfall over India’s key growing regions and over the critical sowing months
(called spatial and temporal distribution), plays a key role too.
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{Geo LBT – World – 2022/01} Places in News for Prelims
IE | TH | IE | TH | IE | TE
Unrest in Kazakhstan
• Context: The 2022 Kazakh unrest was a series of massive protests that began in Kazakhstan after a sudden sharp in-
crease in liquefied gas prices.
• The protests began peacefully in the oil-producing city of nation's largest city Almaty, which saw its demonstrations
turn into violent riots.
Kazakhstan
• It is a country located mainly in Central Asia.
• It borders:
Russia in the north and west
China in the east
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan in the south.
• The capital is Nur-Sultan, formerly known as Astana.
• Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city.
• Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country.
• It is one of only two landlocked countries in the world that has territory in two continents (the other is Azerbai-
jan).
The highest peak in the country is Khan Tengri.
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•
• The coastlines of the Caspian Sea are shared by:
Azerbaijan
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Iran
Kazakhstan
Russia
Turkmenistan
Houthi’s UAE Attacks
• Context: Houthi rebels have in recent weeks launched several drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates
(a member of a Saudi-led coalition) fighting the armed group in Yemen.
• In response, the coalition has stepped up attacks in Saada province, northern Yemen and the Houthi-controlled capi-
tal, Sanaa.
• The Houthis have over the years launched multiple missile and drone attacks on neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
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• UAE is a part of Saudi Led Coalition & were fighting Houthis for control of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
• After that UAE gradually reduced its military presence in Yemen since 2019 until now when it re-started fighting.
• UAE backed Giants Brigades (a pro-government militia largely comprised of southern Yemenis) forced the Houthis
out of Shabwah governorate.
• Analysts say the Giants Brigades & UAE military support has caused the Houthis to strike against the UAE.
• Context: Turkmenistan President has ordered experts to find a way to extinguish a fire in a huge natural gas crater
known as the ‘Gateway to Hell’.
• It is also known as Darvaza gas crater.
• It is in the middle of the Karakum Desert, about 260 kilometres north of Ashgabat (capital of Turkmenistan).
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Indonesia Relocating Capital
• Context: Indonesia will relocate its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara.
• Indonesia will move its capital to mineral-rich East Kalimantan, an Indonesian province on the island of Borneo.
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Volcanic Eruption in Tonga
• Context: Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano has erupted regularly over the past few decades.
• It is an undersea volcanic eruption consisting of 2 small uninhabited islands called Hunga-Ha’apai & Hunga-
Tonga.
• The Tonga Islands occur along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
ration of continents, continental fragments, and formation of ocean basins in the Indian Ocean.
• The ridge largely remains uninvestigated and is of paramount importance to gain knowledge on the structure and
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Additional Reading: https://www.pmfias.com/indian-islands-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-lakshadweep-
islands-new-moore-island/
Razzaza Lake
• Context: Due to the salts and the changing water levels, this largest freshwater lake in Iraq has lost its important stock
of fish species and only a few recreational areas exist around the lake.
Iraq
• It is a country in Western Asia.
• It is bordered by:
Turkey to the north
Iran to the east
Persian Gulf and Kuwait to the southeast
Saudi Arabia to the south
Jordan to the southwest
Syria to the west.
• The capital and largest city is Baghdad.
• During ancient times, lands that now constitute Iraq were known as Mesopotamia (“Land Between the Rivers”).
• It encompasses the:
Mesopotamian Alluvial Plain
Northwestern end of the Zagros Mountain range
Eastern part of the Syrian Desert.
• Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run south through Iraq and into the Shatt al-Arab near the Persian Gulf.
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