Special Edition For June - 2023

SPECIAL PRELIMS ENRICHED EDITION
JUNE 2023
CALL US: +91 89396 96868/ 69

FOR MORE UPDATES JOIN OUR TELEGRAM GROUP BY SCANNING CODE
1. HISTORY AND CULTURE
1. AMBUBACHI MELA 2. HOMO NALEDI
CONTEXT: CONTEXT:
 Three temporary camps with  Paleoanthropologist have
adequate security arrangements recently uncovered evidence
were recently set up for that suggests that Homo naledi
devotees and tourists coming to may have buried their dead and
the Kamakhya temple for the carved meaningful symbols in a
Ambubachi Mela. cave.
AMBUBACHI MELA HOMO NALEDI
 It is an annual Hindu fair held

at the historic Kamakhya  Homo naledi, an extinct human
Temple. species that lived hundreds of
 It is celebrated during the thousands of years ago.
monsoon season that happens  Homo naledi is a previously-
to fall during the Assamese unknown species of extinct
month Ahaar, around the hominin.
middle of June.  Fossil of Homo Naledi were first
 It is the celebration of the yearly discovered in the Dinaledi
menstruation course of Chamber of the Rising Star
goddess Maa Kamakhya. Cave system in South Africa
 This mela is also known as during an expedition led by Lee
Ameti or Tantric fertility Berger beginning October 2013.
festival since it is closely  This excavation remains the
associated with Tantric Shakti largest collection of a single
cult prevalent in eastern parts hominin species that has been
of India. found in Africa.
 Homo naledi appears to have
lived near the same time as
early ancestors of modern
humans.
#C-40, 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar West, Chennai – 600 040 Page 2
+91 8939696868/69 info@aramiasacademy.com www.aramiasacademy.com
 They had human-like hands is the ultimate reality in the
and feet but a brain a third of universe.
the size of humans.
4. RAJA PARBA
3. UPANISHADS RAJA PARBA
CONTEXT:  Raja Parba is Odisha’s three-
 PM Modi presented the US day unique festival
President Joe Biden with a celebrating the onset of
number of gifts, including a first monsoon and the earth’s
edition print of the book The womanhood.
Ten Principal Upanishads from
1937.
UPANISHADS
 Believed to be written around
800-500 BC, these are
considered one of the most
important Hindu religious
texts.
 These are fundamental text in
several traditions of study of  It is believed that during this
Hindu religion. time the Mother Earth or
 An 8th century Hindu scholar Bhudevi undergoes
Adi Shankaracharya menstruation.
contributed to the popularity  As a mark of respect towards
of Upanishads by focussing on the earth during her
Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic menstruation days, all
philosophy, tradition. agricultural works, like
 These are also known as ploughing, sowing are
Vedanta as they are believed suspended for the three days.
to be the end of Veda.  As it is a celebration of
 They seek to establish womanhood, a lot of the focus is
ontological connection on young women, who wear
between humanity and the new clothes, apply ‘Alata’ on
cosmos by discussing concepts their feet and enjoy folk songs
like transmigration. while swinging on decorated
 They believe in the ultimate rope swings.
reality of relation between  Raja Sankranti is the first day
Atman and Brahman and of the Ashara month.
consider everything around as  It is celebrated on the day prior
illusion. to the Sankranti, (Pahili Raja),
 The Atman, or the distinct, is the day of Sankranti, and the
the unchanging self of an day after, known as Bhu Daha or
individual, and The Brahman ‘Basi Raja.
5. DIAMOND LEAGUE 6. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI
CONTEXT: MAHARAJ
 Recently, Indian long jumper CONTEXT:
Murali Sreeshankar secured  Celebrations marking the 350th
third place in Paris Diamond anniversary of the coronation of
League. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
DIAMOND LEAGUE recently began at the Raigad
fort in Maharashtra.
CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI
MAHARAJ
 Shivaji Bhonsale I, also referred
to as Chhatrapati Shivaji, was
an Indian ruler and a member
of the Bhonsle Maratha clan.
 Shivaji carved out an enclave
 The Diamond League is a from the declining Adilshahi
prestigious annual sultanate of Bijapur that
international athletics series formed the genesis of the
consisting of various track and Maratha Empire.
field events held across  In 1674, he was formally
different cities around the world crowned the Chhatrapati of his
started in 2010; organized by realm at Raigad Fort.
the World Athletics body.  He established a competent and
 It features the world’s top progressive civil rulewith well-
athletes competing in structured administrative
disciplines such as sprints, organisations.
jumps, throws, and middle-  He revived ancient Hindu
distance races. political traditions, court
 Neeraj Chopra was the first conventions and promoted the
Indian to win a Diamond usage of the Marathi and
League meet. Sanskrit languages, replacing
Persian in court and
administration.
 The Council of Eight Ministers,
or Ashta Pradhan Mandal, was
an administrative and advisory
council set up by Shivaji.
2. SOCIAL ISSUES
1. GENDER SOCIAL 2. WORLD DRUG REPORT
NORMS INDEX REPORT 2023
2023 CONTEXT:
CONTEXT:  World Drug Report 2023 was
 United Nations Development launched by the UN Office on
Programme (UNDP) released Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The 2023 Gender Social Norms KEY FINDINGS:
Index (GSNI) report.  Globally, over 296 million
GENDER SOCIAL NORMS people used drugs in 2021, an
INDEX REPORT 2023 increase of 23 per cent over
the previous decade.
 GSNI aims to capture beliefs on
 The Drug use disorder cases
gender equality regarding rights
increased to 39.5 million, a 45
and capabilities.
per cent increase over 10 years.
 Report titled as ‘Breaking Down
Access to treatment services
Gender Biases: Shifting social
and effective support are need
norms towards gender equality’.
of the hour.
 Four Dimensions: political,
 Usage of synthetic drugs, such
economic, educational, and
as methamphetamine, and
physical integrity.
fentanyl is increasing.
 It seeks to comprehend the
 Youth populations are the
systematic disadvantages and
most vulnerable, In Africa, 70
discrimination faced by girls
per cent of people in treatment
and women worldwide.
are under the age of 35.
KEY FINDINGS:
 Regulating medical use of
 Nine out of ten men and women
controlled drugs is needed.
worldwide hold biases against Otherwise it could be diverted
women. to illegal drug markets.
 Greater bias in gender social
 UNODC was established in
norms in countries, shows a 1997, is a global leader in the
lower presence of women in
fight against illicit drugs and
parliament. international crime. Member of
 25% of people believe it is the United Nations
justified for a man to beat his Development Group. It relies on
wife. voluntary contributions.
 Around 40% believe men make
better business executives than
women.
3. GLOBAL SLAVERY Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia,
Nigeria, Turkey, Bangladesh,
INDEX 2023 and the US.
CONTEXT:  Driving factors of slavery:
 G20 nations fuelling modern Climate degradation, gender
slavery as per Global Slavery inequality, COVID-19, and
Index 2023. conflict.
GLOBAL SLAVERY INDEX  An estimated 50 million people
2023 were living in modern slavery
 It provides national estimates of on any given day in 2021, an
modern slavery for 160 increase of 10 million people
countries. It is the fifth edition. since 2016
 It is presented by Walk Free, a  50 million (of which 12 million
human rights organisation, and are children), 28 million suffer
is based on data provided by the from forced labour and 22
Global Estimates of Modern million from forced marriages.
Slavery, which, in turn, is
produced by the International 4. GLOBAL TRENDS:
Labour Organisation (ILO),
Walk Free, and the International FORCED
Organisation for Migration DISPLACEMENT IN 2022
(IOM). REPORT
 Modern Slavery refers to
situations of exploitation that a
CONTEXT:
person cannot refuse because of  United Nations High
threats, violence, coercion, Commissioner for Refugees
deception, or abuses of power. (UNHCR).released the Global
Trends Report 2022.
KEY FINDINGS:
 49.6 million people are living in
GLOBAL TRENDS: FORCED
modern slavery, out of which, DISPLACEMENT IN 2022
India is home to 11 million. REPORT
 Top prevalence of modern  2022 saw the sharpest rise in
slavery: North Korea, Eritrea, (Over 108 million) people
Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, forcefully displaced due to
Turkey, Tajikistan, the UAE, violence, climate crises. 30% of
Russia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. them were children.
 Lowest prevalence of modern  It was 21% higher than in 2021,
slavery: Switzerland, Norway, the significant increase ever.
Germany, Netherlands, Sweden,  Low and middle-income
Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, countries hosted around 76 %
Japan, and Finland. of the refugees.
 Maximum number of people  Major conflicts: Russia’s war in
living in modern slavery: Ukraine, refugees fleeing
India, China, North Korea, Afghanistan, and the fighting in
Sudan.
 Turkey hosted nearly 3.6  UNHCR is the UN Refugee
million refugees, the largest Agency, is a global organization
population worldwide, followed dedicated to aid and protect
by Iran with 3.4 million. refugees, forcibly displaced
 52 per cent of all refugees and communities, and stateless
other people in need of people, and to assist in their
international protection came voluntary repatriation, local
from just three countries: Syria, integration or resettlement to a
Ukraine, and Afghanistan. third country.
 114,300 refugees were resettled
in 2022, double the previous
year (57,500).
3. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. NEW PARLIAMENT
HOUSE
Context:
 Recently, the Indian Prime
Minister has inaugurated India’s
new Parliament building, part of
the revamped Central Vista
project.
New Parliament Building
 Located on Rafi Marg, New
Delhi, the new building is
surrounded by the Old
Parliament House, India Gate,  The Rajya Sabha hall is based on
Vijay Chowk, Vice President’s the lotus theme, symbolizing
House, National War Memorial, India’s national flower.
Prime Minister’s Office &  The new building is said to have
residence, Secretariat Building, a lifespan of 150 years and is
Hyderabad House, ministerial designed to be earthquake-
buildings and other resistant.
administrative units of the  At the new Parliament’s
Indian government. inauguration ceremony, Shri
 It houses the Rajya Sabha and Modi installed the Chola Sengol
the Lok Sabha.The Lok Sabha near the chair of the Speaker
Hall is based on the peacock of the Lok Sabha.
theme, representing India’s
national bird.
2. GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL 3. OTT REGULATION IN
ASSESSMENT AND INDEX INDIA
(GRAI) Context:
Context:  Recently, Telecom Disputes
 Recently, the Union Minister of Settlement Appellate Tribunal
Public Grievances, and Pensions, (TDSAT) has ruled that Over the
launched the Grievance Top (OTT) platforms like
Redressal Assessment and Hotstar are not in the
Index (GRAI) 2022. jurisdiction of TRAI.
Grievance Redressal OTT Platform Regulation
Assessment and Index  OTT platforms are audio and
(GRAI) 2022 video hosting and streaming
 It was conceptualised and services which started out as
designed by the Department of content hosting platforms, but
Administrative Reforms and soon branched out into the
Public Grievances (DARPG), production and release of short
Govt. of India. movies, feature films,
 To present an organisation-wise documentaries and web-series
comparative picture and themselves.
provide valuable insights about What Is OTT?
strengths and areas of  OTT (over-the-top) initially referred
improvement regarding the to services that went “over” the heads
of cable providers, specifically
grievance redressal mechanism. streaming services.
 Eighty-nine Central Ministries  The term OTT has since been applied
and Departments were assessed to many other products and services
and ranked based on a that stream content to users using the
internet as a replacement for pre-
comprehensive index in the existing infrastructure.
dimensions of (1) Efficiency, (2)
Feedback, (3) Domain and (4)  Telecom Regulator TRAI and
Organisational Commitment Department of
and corresponding 12 Telecommunications (DoT),
indicators. Ministry of Communications
 To compute the index, data (MoC) got in conflict with the
between January and December MeitY over who should
2022 was used from the regulate Over-The-Top (OTT)
Centralised Public Grievance platforms and there is debate
Redressal and Management over the nature of the
System (CPGRAMS). regulatory framework for
Internet-based communications
services in the country.
 The DoT sought to classify OTT
platforms as
telecommunications services,
and regulate them like telecom without prior permission of that
operators. state government.
 The TRAI, separately, has issued  The CBI can continue to
a consultation paper on how to investigate cases in a state
regulate OTT platforms. registered prior to the
 The IT Ministry believes that withdrawal of general
under the Allocation of Business consent.
Rules, Internet-based  In contrast, if the CBI does not
communications services are have the general consent of a
not part of DoT’s jurisdiction. state government, it is required
to apply for consent on a case-
4. GENERAL CONSENT TO by-case basis and cannot act
before the consent is given.
CBI  If specific consent is not
Context: granted, the CBI officials will not
 The Tamil Nadu government have the power of police
recently has withdrawn the personnel when they enter that
general consent given to the state.
Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) to investigate the cases in 5. JUSTICE CLOCKS
the state without prior
permission from it. Context:
General consent for CBI  Justice Clocks have been
installed in various court
 Consent given by a state
complexes of High Courts.
government to the CBI can come
Justice Clocks are basically
in two forms, either case-
electronic signage systems.
specific, or 'general'.
Justice Clocks
 General consent, as the name
indicates, allows the CBI to
operate seamlessly within
states.
 When a state gives a general
consent to the CBI for probing a
case, the agency is not
required to seek fresh
permission every time it
enters that state in connection  The Justice Clocks initiative
with investigation or for every aims to provide stakeholders
case. with information regarding key
 Withdrawal of general consent court parameters and create
also means that the CBI will not awareness among the public by
be able to register any fresh offering a comprehensive
case involving central overview of court-related data.
government officials or private  In order to utilize the database
persons in a particular state generated by the National
Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) and village, based on their overall
make it accessible to the public, scores.
LED Display Message Sign  Panchayats are categorized into
Board Systems have been four grades: D (scores under
implemented. 40%), C (40-60%), B (60-75%),
 The e-committee has allocated A (75-90%), and A+ (above
a budget of Rs. 13 lakhs for each 90%).
Justice Clock installation. This  The PDI considers nine themes,
financial backing demonstrates including poverty-free and
the commitment to enhancing enhanced livelihood, healthy
access to justice and providing village, child-friendly village,
transparent information to the water-sufficient village, clean
public. and green village, self-sufficient
 Justice Clocks are the project of infrastructure, socially just and
Ministry of Law and Justice. secured villages, good
governance, and women-
6. PANCHAYAT friendly village.
DEVELOPMENT INDEX
7. UNIQUE LAND PARCEL
(PDI)
IDENTIFICATION
Context:
 Recently, the Union Minister of NUMBER (ULPIN)
State for Panchayati Raj Context:
released the Report on  President Murmu emphasized
Panchayat Development Index the importance of implementing
(PDI) at the National Workshop a Unique Land Parcel
on Panchayat Development Identification Number (ULPIN).
Index in New Delhi. Unique Land Parcel
PANCHAYAT Identification Number
DEVELOPMENT INDEX (ULPIN)
(PDI)
 The PDI is a composite index
that measures the performance
of panchayats in achieving the
Localization of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
 It provides a holistic and
evidence-based assessment of
the development status of
panchayats, highlighting their
strengths and weaknesses.
 The PDI provides rankings for
panchayats at different levels,
including district, block, and
 ULPIN or Bhu-Aadhaar is a 14- Building Plans of departments,
digit Alpha–Numeric Unique ID ministries and agencies.
for each land parcel.  Civil Servants from the Central
 This is the next step in the government departments, State
Digital India Land Records governments, and local
ModernisationProgramme governments, as well as experts
(DILRMP) which began in from the private sector, will
2008. take part in the deliberations.
 The identification will be based 9. SUPREME AUDIT
on the longitude and latitude
coordinates of the land parcel, INSTITUTION (SAI)
and is dependent on detailed Context:
surveys and geo-referenced  The Comptroller and Auditor
cadastral maps. General (CAG) of India recently
 ULPIN is generated using the said that Supreme Audit
Electronic Commerce Code Institutions (SAIs) must
Management Association inevitably prepare
(ECCMA) standards during the themselves for auditing AI-
importing of the geo-referenced based governance systems
shape file into BhuNaksha, a and look for opportunities to
cadastral mapping solution of adopt AI into their audit
NIC. techniques.
Supreme Audit Institution
8. NATIONAL TRAINING (SAI)
 They are public oversight
CONCLAVE institutions which audit a
Context: government’s use of public
 Prime Minister of India funds.
inaugurated the first-ever  They are a critical link in a
National Training Conclave at country’s accountability chain.
the International Exhibition and  By scrutinizing public financial
Convention Centre, Pragati management and reporting they
Maidan, New Delhi. provide assurance that
National Training Conclave resources are used as
 The conclave is part of the prescribed.
National Programme for Civil  SAIs undertakes financial audits
Services Capacity Building of organizations’ accounting
(NPCSCB) - ‘Mission procedures and financial
Karmayogi’. statements, and compliance
 The Conclave is being hosted by audits reviewing the legality of
the Capacity Building transactions made by the
Commission. It was constituted audited body.
in 2021 which facilitates  They also conduct performance
preparation of Annual Capacity audits to scrutinize the
efficiency, effectiveness or
economy of government’s 11. NCSC NOTICE TO
undertakings.
 The Comptroller and Auditor ZOMATO
General (CAG) of India is Context:
India’s SAI.  The National Commission for
Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has
10. RIGHT TO CHANGE recently issued a notice to
Zomato, regarding an
NAME advertisement that was deemed
Context: "inhuman" and casteist.
 Recently, two Indian High National Commission for
Courts confirmed this privilege, Scheduled Castes
allowing persons to change  The NCSC is a constitutional
their names on educational body established with a view to
diplomas. provide safeguards against the
Right to Change Name exploitation of Scheduled Castes
 The right to change one's and to promote and protect
name is a fundamental right their social, educational,
that is protected by the economic and cultural interests.
Constitution of India under  The NCSC comprises a
Article 21, which guarantees Chairperson, a Vice-
the right to life and personal Chairperson, and three
liberty. additional Members.
 This right is not only about the  These positions are filled
freedom to choose one's through the President's
identity but also about the appointment, indicated by a
dignity and self-respect of an warrant under his hand and
individual. seal.
 Recently, two High Courts of Their conditions of service and
India have upheld this right and tenure of office are also
allowed people to change their determined by the President.
names on their educational
certificates.
4. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND

CONVENTIONS
1. 75 YEARS OF UNITED International Day of United
Nations (UN) Peacekeepers.
NATIONS PEACEKEEPING
UN Peacekeeping
Context:  UN Peacekeeping is a vital tool
 Recently, the Indian Army employed by the United Nations
commemorated the 75th
to help countries navigate the Development Cooperation
path from conflict to peace. Framework 2023-2027.
 It involves the deployment of INDIA-UN SDG
military, police, and civilian COOPERATION
personnel to regions affected by FRAMEWORK
conflicts or political instability.  It represents the UN
 The primary objective of UN development system’s collective
Peacekeeping is to facilitate offer to the Government of
peace and security, protect India, in line with the national
civilians, and support the vision for development, for the
restoration of stable governance achievement of the Sustainable
structures. Development Goals, promoting
 It brings together the UN gender equality, youth
General Assembly, the UN empowerment and human
Security Council, the Secretariat, rights.
troop and police contributors  It is built on four strategic
and the host governments in a pillars derived from the 2030
combined effort to maintain Agenda – People, Prosperity,
international peace and Planet and Participation.
security.  The four interlinked pillars have
 India has a rich legacy of six outcome areas focusing on
contributing to UN Health and Well Being;
Peacekeeping operations. It is Nutrition and Food Security;
one of the largest troop- Quality Education; Economic
contributing countries, with a Growth and Decent Work;
history of deploying soldiers, Environment, Climate, WASH
medical personnel, and and Resilience; and
engineers to various Empowering People,
peacekeeping missions Communities, and Institutions.
worldwide.  It will have a specific focus on
 India has contributed SDG localisation and South-
approximately 2,75,000 South cooperation, in line with
troops to peacekeeping India’s leadership towards the
missions so far. implementation and
acceleration of the SDGs; and
2. INDIA-UN SDG India’s championing of South-
South cooperation.
COOPERATION
 The implementation and
FRAMEWORK monitoring: It will be co-led by
Context: the Government of India and the
 Recently, NITI Aayog and the United Nations, India through a
United Nations in India signed Joint Steering Committee.
the Government of India -
United Nations Sustainable
3. UNIVERSAL POSTAL Standing Committee on
Integrated Pest Management
UNION (UPU) (IPM) for the biennium 2023-
Context: 24 during the 32nd Session
 The Universal Postal Union will held in Bangkok.
evaluate UPI for integrating the ASIA PACIFIC PLANT
unified payment interface with PROTECTION
cross-border remittances using COMMISSION (APPPC)
the global postal network.  It is an intergovernmental
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION organization that promotes
(UPU) cooperation among countries
 It is a United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region to
specialized agency enhance plant health and plant
established by the Treaty of protection.
Bern of 1874 and the postal  It was established in 1956 as a
sector's primary forum for regional body approved by
international cooperation. the Food and Agriculture
 UPU is the second oldest Organization (FAO) of the
international organization United Nations.
worldwide.  The commission consists of 25
 Its mandate is to ensure member countries, including
universal access to postal India.
services and headquartered in  The Commission consists of
Bern, Switzerland. representatives of all member
 Any member country of the countries and elects amongst
United Nations may become a them a Chairperson who serves
member of the UPU. for a period of two years.
 Any non-member country of the  The Director-General of the
United Nations may become a Food and Agriculture
UPU member, provided that its Organization appoints and
request is approved by at provides the secretariat that
least two-thirds of the coordinates, organizes and
member countries of the UPU. follows up the work of the
 The UPU now has 192 member Commission.
countries.  The Commission, according to
its provisions convenes at least
4. ASIA PACIFIC PLANT once every two years and opens
for participation to all member
PROTECTION countries.
COMMISSION (APPPC)  The commission coordinates
Context: and supports plant protection
 The Asia Pacific Plant Protection activities of its Members in Asia
Commission unanimously and the Pacific, with emphasis
elected India as chair of the on developing regional
standards for phytosanitary 6. KAKHOVKA DAM
measures (RSPMs) etc.
Context:
 Recently, a huge Soviet-era
5. COMBINED MARITIME Kakhovka dam that separates
FORCES (CMF) Russian and Ukrainian forces
Context: was breached and unleashed
 The UAE recently withdrew floodwaters across the war
from the CMF, without giving zone.
any reasons. According to the Kakhovka Dam
official statement, the move is a
part of its ongoing evaluation of
effective security cooperation
with its partners.
Combined Maritime Forces
(CMF)
 The Combined Maritime Forces
(CMF) is a US-led
multinational maritime
partnership.
 Its primary objective is to
uphold the Rules-Based
International Order (RBIO)
and ensure security, stability,
and prosperity in international
waters.
 CMF operates in approximately  The Kakhovka Dam was built
3.2 million square miles of in 1956 as part of the S oviet
international waters, including Union’s ambitious project to
vital shipping lanes. harness the Dnipro River for
 CMF aims to counter illicit irrigation, power generation
non-state actors, promote and navigation.
security, stability, and  The dam was 30 meters tall and
prosperity. 3.2 kilometers long, creating a
 The headquarters of CMF is reservoir that covered 2,155
located in Bahrain, where it is square kilometers and held 18
co-located with the U.S. Naval cubic kilometers of water.
Support Activity Bahrain.  The dam also supplied water to
 CMF consists of 38 member the Crimean Peninsula, which
nations, including the United Russia annexed in 2014, and to
States, United Kingdom, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power
Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Plant, which is under Russian
South Korea, Pakistan, etc. and control.
many others.
 The dam was located on the southern Ukraine, where
front line between Ukrainian fighting has been ongoing since
and Russian forces in 2014.
5. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS

2. NATIONAL
1. URBAN CO-OPERATIVE ELECTRICITY PLAN
BANKS (UCBS) 2022-32
CONTEXT: CONTEXT:
 To strengthen 1,514 urban co-  The Central Electricity
operative banks, the Reserve Authority (CEA) has notified the
Bank India has notified four key National Electricity Plan (NEP)
measures, including giving them for the period of 2022-32.
two years more to meet the
NATIONAL ELECTRICITY
priority sector lending targets.
PLAN (NEP)
URBAN CO-OPERATIVE
 The plan document includes the
BANKS (UCBS)
review of the last five years
 UCBs are primary cooperative (2017-22), a detailed plan for
banks primarily situated in the next five years (2022-27)
urban and semi-urban areas, and the prospective plan for the
catering to the financial needs of next five years (2027-32).
small borrowers and
 The 1st National Electricity
businesses.
Plan was published in 2007,
 They are governed by the the 2nd in 2013, and the third
Banking Regulations Act, (2018) includes the detailed
1949, the Banking Laws Plan for 2017–22 and the
(Cooperative Societies) Act, perspective plan for 2022–27.
1955, and registered under
 The CEA (Ministry of Power,
the Cooperative Societies Act
GoI) must create a NEP in line
of the respective State.
with the National Electricity
 Initially, UCBs were permitted Policy, according to the
to lend exclusively for non- Electricity Act 2003, to –
agricultural purposes; however,  Create short-term (every 5-
they have diversified their year) and perspective
size and operations since plans (15-year)
1996.  Assesses India’s current
 The Urban Cooperative Banks electricity needs, projected
(UCBs) could be considered as growth, power sources, and
differentiated banks as they challenges
operate in localized areas.  Coordinate the efforts of
different planning agencies to
ensure that resources are  The average index score is now
used optimally 76.2 out of 100, up from 73.2 a
 Support the needs of the year ago.
country’s economy.
 While India has committed to 4. FINANCIAL SERVICES
half its installed electricity being
sourced from renewable INSTITUTION BUREAU
sources by 2030, this target may (FSIB)
be achieved by 2026-27. CONTEXT:
 The share of non-fossil-based  FSIB selects new chiefs for GIC
capacity: It is likely to increase Re, NIC.
to 4% by 2026-27, and 68.4% FINANCIAL SERVICES
by 2031-32 from around
INSTITUTION BUREAU
42.5% as of April 2023.
(FSIB)
 It’s a government body set up
3. GLOBAL LIVEABILITY under the Department of
INDEX 2023 Financial Services.
CONTEXT:  It replaced the Bank Board’s
 The Economist Intelligence Unit Bureau (BBB) which was
released its 2023 report on declared an incompetent
global live ability index. authority.
GLOBAL LIVEABILITY  FSIB would be headed by a
INDEX 2023 chairman, a central
government nominee.
 It rates living conditions in
173 cities across five  The board would comprise the
categories: stability, health Secretaries of the DFS, the
care, culture and environment, chairman of IRDAI, and a deputy
education and infrastructure. governor of the RBI.
 This ranking offers insights into  Additionally, it will have three
the cities that excel in part-time members who are
providing an exceptional experts in banking and three
quality of life. more from the insurance sector.
 Top cities to live: Vienna  The Primary role of FSIB to
(Austria), Copenhagen identify manpower
(Denmark), Melbourne and capabilities and ensure
Sydney (Australia) proper selection of talent for
senior positions at financial
 Bottom 3 Liveable cities: Algiers
institutions owned by the
(Algeria), Tripoli (Libya) and
government.
Damascus (Syria)
 It is entrusted with making
 From Asia, Japan’s Osaka was
recommendations for the
ranked number 10 in the
appointment of full-time
rankings.
directors and non-executive
chairman of state-run financial Chennai
services institutions. FIRST INTERNATIONAL
5. GREEDFLATION CRUISE
CONTEXT:  The MV Empress will visit three
 There has been an increasing ports in Sri Lanka before
consensus in Europe and US returning to Chennai:
that Greedflation is driving the Hambantota, Trincomalee, and
rising cost of living rather than Kankesanturei.
just Inflation.
GREEDFLATION
 Greedflation is the exploitation
of inflation by corporate to
create excessive profits.
 It simply means (corporate)
greed fuelled inflation.
 In normal inflation situation,
corporate go for the wage-
price spiral, in Greedflation
corporate choose the profit-
price spiral.
 This is used to maximize their
profit margins that, in turn,
further fuelled inflation.
 Greedflation happens in two
scenarios.  The MV Empress service was
 When the price mark-up is launched from Chennai's
far in excess of the increase International Cruise Terminal
in inputs. which is at a cost of 17.21
 When businesses do not crores.
bring down the market  It is the outcome of an
prices even when the input agreement struck between
prices fall. Chennai Port and M/S
6. INDIA’S FIRST Waterways Leisure Tourism
Pvt Ltd during the first
INTERNATIONAL
Incredible India International
CRUISE Cruise Conference in 2022.
CONTEXT:  The government intends to
 The Union Minister of Ports, build three new international
Shipping & Waterways and cruise ports by 2024, with the
Ayush, flagged off the maiden number of cruise ships expected
International Cruise Vessel - MV to rise from 208 in 2023 to 500
Empress, India’s first in 2030 and 1100 by 2047.
international cruise vessel -  There are also plans to look
from Chennai to Sri Lanka in into additional ferry routes
through India, Sri Lanka, 8. SCORES PLATFORM
Thailand, and Myanmar.
CONTEXT:
7. KARI ISHAD MANGO  A total of 3,079 complaints
CONTEXT: against companies and market
 Kari Ishad mango of Ankola in intermediaries have been
Uttar Karnataka gets GI tag. disposed of through the
KARI ISHAD MANGO Securities and Exchange Board
 The Kari Ishad mango of India's (SEBI) SCORES
prominently grown in Ankola platform recently.
taluk of Uttara Kannada has SCORES PLATFORM
bagged the Geographical  SCORES is a web based
Indication (GI) tag from the centralized grievance redress
Geographical Indications system of SEBI that was
Registry under the Union launched in June 2011.
Government.  SCORES enables investors to
 The GI certificate issued to lodge and follow up their
Matha Totagars Farmer complaints and track the status
Producer Company Limited, of redressal of such complaints
Ankola is valid till March 1, online from the above website
2032 from March 31, 2023. from anywhere.
 The Kari Ishad is accepted as  This enables the market
one of the finest quality intermediaries and listed
mangoes due to its unique companies to receive the
aroma, luscious taste, high complaints online from
amount of pulp, shape, and size. investors, redress such
 In addition to Ankola, the complaints and report redressal
mango is grown in Karwar online.
and to a certain extent in Kumta  All the activities starting from
of Uttara Kannada. lodging of a complaint till its
 According to the Registry, the closure by SEBI would be
fruits are large and oblique to online in an automated
oval shape. Each panicle environment and the
usually bears one fruit. A well complainant can view the status
grown tree produces/bears up of his complaint online.
to 2,000 fruits in a season. The  According to the regulatory
fruit has a short shelf life of authority, complaints can be
about five days. lodged on SCORES for any
 Its trading is limited to Ankola, issues covered under the Sebi
Karwar and Hubballi Act, Securities Contract
markets. Regulation Act, Depositories
Act, and rules and regulations
and provisions of Companies
Act, 2013.
.
9. STOCK LIMITS ON TUR, 10. 100 DAYS 100 PAYS
URAD DAL CAMPAIGN
CONTEXT: CONTEXT:
 The central government  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
imposed stock limits on tur recently announced the launch
(arhar) and urad, a move aimed of the ‘100 Days 100 Pays’
at controlling the rising prices. campaign.
STOCK LIMITS ON TUR, 100 DAYS 100 PAYS’
URAD DAL CAMPAIGN
 The stock limit applicable to  This campaign aims to trace
each of the pulses individually and settle the top 100
will be 200 metric tonnes for unclaimed deposits in every
wholesalers and 5 MT for bank across all districts within a
retailers. span of 100 days.
 An order to this effect has been  The primary objective of the
issued by the Ministry of ‘100 Days 100 Pays’ campaign is
Consumer Affairs, Food and to proactively address the
Public Distribution. issue of unclaimed deposits
 To prevent hoarding and held by banks.
unscrupulous speculation and  The campaign specifically
also to improve affordability to targets the top 100 unclaimed
the consumers in respect of tur deposits in each bank within
dal and urad dal, the every district, aiming for a
government has issued an order comprehensive and widespread
where it has imposed stock settlement.
limits on the pulses applicable  By focusing on these deposits,
to wholesalers, retailers, big the RBI aims to ensure that
chain retailers, millers and the rightful owners or
importers. claimants receive their long-
 Under this order, importers overdue funds.
are not to hold imported
stock beyond 30 days from the
date of Customs clearance.
6. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT

1. MYRISTICA SWAMPS About Myristica Swamps
Context:  Myristica swamps are known to
 Climate change and human exist in the Western Ghats of
intervention threaten the Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa,
Myristica swamps of Kerala. with one swamp recorded in
Maharashtra.
 The construction industry is
responsible for 40% of overall
habitat destruction
2. HELMAND RIVER
Context:
 Iran and Afghanistan are locked
in a long-standing dispute over
the sharing of water from the
Helmand River.
 A distinctive floral About the River
composition and associated
features demarcate these
swamps from nearby forests.
 Mangroves thrive in saline
water, Myristica requires
freshwater.
 The swamp trees are tall, their
trunks displaying a typical
myristicaceous or pagoda
branching: clusters of regularly
spaced whorls of horizontal  The Helmand is Afghanistan’s
branches radiate from the main longest river.
trunk, with each whorl
 It originates near Kabul in the
separated from the next by a
western Hindu Kush Mountain
large gap without any branches.
range
 Another feature of these
 It flows in a southwesterly
swamps is the presence of an
direction through desert areas
intricate network of unusual
for a total of about 1,150
root systems; they also make
kilometers (715 miles) before
the swamps difficult places to
emptying into Lake Hamun,
traverse.
which straddles the
 This species has stilt roots, or Afghanistan-Iran border. Lake
knee roots that pop up above Hamun is the largest
the water level to breathe freshwater lake in Iran.
creating a varied habitat for
 It used to be one of the world’s
many life forms
largest wetlands, straddling
 The ground is covered with 4,000 square kilometers
inverted U-shaped breathing (1,600 square miles) between
or knee roots Iran and Afghanistan, fed by the
(pneumatophores), an Helmand.
adaptation to survive in
 But it has since dried up, a trend
waterlogged conditions.
experts blame on drought and
the impact of dams and water  Tropical storm Guchol:
controls. Typhoon Guchol, known in the
 The Helmand River Treaty: Philippines as Typhoon
Afghanistan and Iran signed an Butchoy, was a powerful
agreement in 1973 to regulate tropical cyclone which became
the allocation of river water. the first typhoon to make
landfall in Japan on June2023.
3. MAWAR, BIPARJOY, 4. SINGHBHUM CRATON
AND GUCHOL Context:
 Researchers from the Wits
CYCLONES University, the University of
Context: Johannesburg (UJ) examined
 Mawar, Biparjoy, And Guchol volcanic and sedimentary rocks
Cyclones are the pre-monsoon from the Daitari greenstone belt
cyclones in 2023. in the Singhbhum Craton in east
Cyclone Biparjoy: India that were formed
 A cyclonic storm, named approximately 3.5 billion years
Biparjoy, has developed in the ago.
Arabian Sea. About Singhbhum Craton
 Cyclones in the Arabian Sea
typically progress with a speed
of about 12-14 km per hour.
 Biparjoy, through most of its
life, moved at a speed of 5-7 km
an hour while covering a
distance of nearly 1200 km to
Gujarat
 Biparjoy was sandwiched
between two anticyclonic
systems. One of them had the
effect of aiding its northwards
movement, while the other was
sort of pulling it back. The
combined effect was that it
moved relatively slowly
 Typhoon Mawar: The storm,  Cratons are pieces of ancient
named Typhoon Mawar, was continents that formed several
one of the strongest in decades billions of years ago.
to lash the U.S. territory of  Singhbhum Craton lies in
Guam. Mawar qualified as a vicinity of two Proterozoic
‘super typhoon’ and is thus far mobile belts.
the strongest typhoon to have  Singhbhum Craton is believed to
taken shape in May. It is also the have evolved as a consequence
strongest cyclone of 2023 so far. of multiple phases of
compressive deformation  The arch is on the top of
related to Singhbhum Chengapahad in Chengapahad
Orogeny. reserve forest on the way to
 Singhbhum Shear Zone Kanika from Hemgir, near
separates the Singhbhum Brahmani village and 2.5 km
Craton from the Chhotanagpur from Kamalgra village.
Gneiss.  It is present within ferruginous
 Sub-marine volcanic eruptions sandstone of Upper Kamthi
were common between 3.5 and Formation, which is supposed to
3.3 billion-years-ago, which are have taken place in lower to
largely preserved as pillowed middle Jurassic age.
lava within the greenstones of  The development of Arch
the Singhbhum, Kaapvaal and morphology probably took
Pilbara cratons. place after 66 million years the
oval-shaped arch is 30 metres
5. BRAHMANI NATURAL long at the base and 12 metres
in height. The alcove is 7 metres
ARCH high and 15 metres wide
Context:  The Brahmani Natural Arch has
 The Geological Survey of India been declared as a national geo
(GSI) recently declared heritage site.
Brahmani Natural Arch in
Hemgir forest range of
6. BLUE OCEAN EVENT
Sundargarh district as a
National Geo Heritage site Context:
believed to be belonging to the  According to a new study in
Jurassic period. Nature Communications, The
About Bhahmani Natural Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in
summer by the 2030s.
Arch
About Blue Ocean Event
 It was discovered by a team led
by senior geologist Saptarshi (BOE)
Mallick of GSI, Bhubaneswar, in
2017.
 A BOE is when the Arctic Ocean  India also emerged relatively
changes from being covered in less affected from the recent
ice year-round and reflecting energy crisis, largely due to the
most of the sunlight that low share of natural gas in
impacts it back into space to power generation and increased
being mostly ice-free blue water use of existing generation
for a period of time during the capacities.
warm season, which will cause
it to absorb most of the sunlight 8. HIMALAYAN BROWN
that impacts it.
 According to many, a Blue BEAR
Ocean Event starts once Arctic  A Himalayan brown bear (Ursus
Sea ice extent falls below 1 arctos isabellinus) was captured
million km². by the Jammu and Kashmir
Wildlife Department recently.
7. ENERGY TRANSITION
INDEX (ETI)
Context:
 The World Economic Forum on
June 28 ranked India at the 67th
place globally on its Energy
Transition Index.
 The Energy Transition Index
benchmarks 120 countries on
their current energy system
performance and on the
readiness of their enabling
environment
 According to the report, India is  The Himalayan brown bear is
the only major economy with the largest mammal found in
energy transition momentum Kashmir, with adult individuals
accelerating across the Energy weighing 250 kilograms or
Transition Index's equitable, more. They inhabit altitudes
secure and sustainable ranging from 2,000 to 2,500
dimensions metres, predominantly above
 Achieving universal access to the tree line.
electricity, replacing solid fuels  Brown bears are distributed
with clean cooking options and worldwide and include the
increasing renewable energy famous Grizzly of North
deployment have been primary America.
contributors to the  The northern mountains of
improvement of India's India and Pakistan are home to
performance. the species’ Himalayan variant,
which is critically endangered.
 Himalayan brown bears are  The discovery of an alligator gar
found in various parts of the fish in Jammu and Kashmir’s Dal
subcontinent, including lake has raised concerns as it
Pakistan, Pakistan-occupied could pose a threat to the native
Kashmir, Uttarakhand, fish species
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu  The alligator gar is an alien fish
and Kashmir. species native to North America.
 The alligator gar is a close
9. AXOLOTLS relative of the bowfin species.
 It is a ray-finned euryhaline fish
and is one of the biggest
freshwater fish in North
America and the largest species
in the ‘gar’ family.
 Alligator gars feed on other fish
and are thrown in Indian water
bodies knowingly or
unknowingly.
 The axolotl is a type of
salamander. 11. DUCK-BILLED
 It has a long tail, flat head, and
four lizard-like limbs, which it DINOSAUR
uses to move around the lake
floor.
 But unlike other salamanders,
axolotls are neotenic, meaning
they keep juvenile
characteristics into adulthood.
 The axolotl remains aquatic, like
larvae, their entire life. While it
develops functional lungs, it
uses its feathery gills to breathe
underwater.
 Remains of a species of
10. ALLIGATOR GAR FISH herbivorous dinosaur
previously unknown in the
southern hemisphere have been
discovered in Chile, challenging
long-held beliefs about the
range of duck-billed dinosaurs
 These were slender-looking
dinosaurs, which could easily
adopt a bipedal and
quadrupedal posture to reach
the vegetation at height and at 13. HASARIUS MUMBAI
ground level
 Researchers have documented
 The discovery demonstrated the presence of a new spider
that Chilean Patagonia served as species in Mumbai, and have
a refuge for very ancient species fittingly christened it
of hadrosaurs, a type of duck- ‘Hasariusmumbai’, after the city.
billed dinosaur common in
 The arachnid was found to
North America, Asia and Europe
inhabit rocks lying in close
during the Cretaceous period,
proximity to natural, seasonal
from 145 to 66 million years
streams at the Bombay Natural
ago.
History Society’s (BNHS)
conservation education centre
12. SPOTTED POND (CEC) in Goregaon East.
TURTLES
 Seven spotted pond turtles are

found in Karna Bawri, Ram
Naik, and Sobhan Bawri.  The word ‘Hasarius’ refers to a
 The black spotted turtles are genus -- a category in taxonomy
freshwater turtles found in that ranks above species -- of
lentic water bodies. ‘jumping spiders’ in the
 They are mainly carnivorous ‘salticidae’ family.
and feed on snails and insect  These are spiders which,
larvae, however, vegetative instead of trapping their prey in
material has also been found in a web, stalk and hunt the prey
some of the digestive tracts. by pouncing on it.
 As the name suggests, black  This genus, first discovered in
spotted turtles are black in color the year 1826, occurs primarily
with yellowish streaks or spots in warm climates.
and wedge-shaped marks.
 Their head is black with yellow
spots and is extremely large,
short-snouted.
14. SAL TREE Fruits are 1-1.5 cm large and
ovoid
 The sal tree is a hardwood
timber tree, up to 30-35 m tall.  The sal tree is native to India,
The crown is spreading and Myanmar and Nepal. It occurs in
spherical. deciduous dry and moist forests
and in evergreen moist forests.
 Leaves are 20 cm long, simple,
It is sensitive to frost and water
shiny and glabrous, delicate
logging. It flourishes best in
green, broadly oval at the base.
deep, sandy, moist soils.
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. DEFIBRILLATOR normal conduction of the
heart’s electrical impulse.
Context:
 The machine used to deliver this
 According to new research
therapeutic shock to the heart is
presented at the British
called a defibrillator.
Cardiovascular Society
 The different types of
Conference in Manchester,
defibrillators used include
defibrillators are used in only
external defibrillators,
one out of every ten cardiac
transvenous defibrillators and
arrests where lifesaving devices
implanted defibrillators.
are available.
About Defibrillator
2. SILENT BARKER
Context:
 The US Space Force is set to
launch a constellation of
satellites “Silent Barker” to
track Chinese or Russian space
vehicles that can potentially
disable or damage orbiting
objects.
About Silent Barker
 Defibrillation is a procedure
used to treat life threatening
conditions that affect the
rhythm of the heart such as
cardiac arrhythmia, ventricular
fibrillation and pulse less
ventricular tachycardia.
 The procedure involves the
delivery of an electric shock to
the heart which causes
depolarisation of the heart
muscles and re-establishes
 “Silent Barker,” the network (SMOPS-2023) was organized
would be the first of its kind to by the Indian Space Research
complement ground-based Organization (ISRO) in
sensors and low-earth orbit collaboration with the Italian
satellites. Space Agency (ASI) and the
 The satellites will be placed International Academy of
about 22,000 miles (35,400 Astronautics (IAA) recently
kilometers) above the Earth and About SMOPS-2023
at the same speed it rotates,  Theme of the Conference:
known as geosynchronous orbit. Emerging Technologies for
 This capability enables Automation in Ground and
indications and warnings of Space Segment in satellite
threats against high-value US mission operations.
systems and will provide  The objective of this unique
capabilities to search, detect, conference is to associate and
and track objects from space for connect with the various space
timely threat detection. agencies, start-ups, industry and
 Silent Barker is a response to academia within and outside
efforts by China and Russia to India.
develop systems capable of  The conference aims to bring in
being launched into orbit and all space leaders together to
taking out other satellites. share their views on existing
 One example is China’s SJ-21 technologies and its challenges,
satellite, which was launched in while previewing the state-of-
2021 and later successfully the-art technologies that are
pulled a defunct Chinese being conceived globally to
satellite several hundred miles make space mission operations
into a higher orbit more secure and robust.
 Silent Barker addresses the  The scope of the conference is
limitations of ground or lower- to cover a wide range of topics
orbit surveillance systems and related to mission operations
allows the US to “really figure management, advanced mission
out what is going on up there in design, automation, large
space. constellations management,
present and future trends in
3. INTERNATIONAL ground station operations etc.
while addressing the futuristic
CONFERENCE ON techniques in both upstream
SPACECRAFT MISSION and downstream segments.
 This conference will also
OPERATIONS (SMOPS-
provide a platform for ISRO to
2023) boost the synergy between
Context: academia, industry and other
 The International Conference on space agencies.
Spacecraft Mission Operations
4. MILLISECOND PULSARS when there is a significant
population of MSPs in a region.
(MSP)  The study of gravitational waves
Context: is one of the keenly watched
 Pune-based astronomers have fields in astronomy currently.
discovered two new MilliSecond  About GMRT: It was
Pulsars (MSP) using an operational since early 2000
indigenously developed novel which is the world’s largest
technique, which was applied radio telescope operating in low
during an ongoing sky survey radio frequency. It is owned by
conducted by the Giant the TIFR-National Centre for
Metrewave Radio Telescope Radio Astrophysics (NCRA),
(GMRT). Pune.
About MSP
5. VIRGIN BIRTH
Context:
 Scientists have documented the
first-known instance of a "virgin
birth" by a crocodile, which had
been living in isolation for 16
years at Costa Rican Zoo.
About Virgin Birth
 Scientists tested the crocodile
fetus' genetic makeup.
 They found DNA sequences
showing Virgin Birth which was
 MSPs are dense, tiny neutron a result of facultative
stars, which are formed when a parthenogenesis (FP), or
massive star (for example, the reproduction without the
Sun) collapses. genetic contribution of males.
 They are named pulsars  The phenomenon of FP has also
because they emit pulses of been documented in other
radiation at regular intervals. species of fish, birds, lizards and
Millisecond pulsars emit snakes. The scientists said this
radiations every few is the first-known example in
milliseconds. a crocodile.
 The properties of these  In FP, a female's egg cell can
radiations can reveal key develop into a baby without
information about the neutron being fertilized by a male's
stars, which are the densest sperm cell.
bodies in the universe excluding  In making an egg cell, a
blackholes precursor cell divides into four
 Chances of detection of cells: one becomes the egg cell
gravitational waves are higher and retains key cellular
structures and the gel-like  The device is of high tensile
cytoplasm, while the others hold strength and performance, as
extra genetic material. well as cost-effective
 Then, one of those cells  The product can be used in
essentially acts as a sperm cell electronics, memory backup
and fuses with the egg to systems, airbags, heavy
become "fertilized." machines, electric vehicles, etc.;
 The American crocodile is hence, it holds a huge business
considered vulnerable and at prospect.
risk of extinction in the wild. Applications:
According to one hypothesis, FP  The marine cellulose-based
may be more common among material used in developing the
species on the verge of flexible and thinnest paper
extinction. supercapacitor can be used in
almost all smart electronic
6. PAPER-BASED SUPER devices.
 It can also be a source of
CAPACITOR revenue for coastal
Context: communities that cultivate
 ‘Scientists from Gujarat institute seaweed, an essential
developed biodegradable paper commodity for manufacturing
supercapacitor from seaweed. the paper supercapacitor
About Paper based About Seaweeds
Supercapacitor  Seaweeds are macroalgae
attached to rock or other
substrata and are found in
coastal areas, said Bhutiya.
 They are classified as
chlorophyta (green),
rhodophyta (red) and
phaeophyta (brown) on the
basis of their pigmentation.
 Among them, chlorophyta holds
 A supercapacitor is an more potential components
electrochemical charge such as carbohydrates, lipids,
storage device with a fast proteins and bioactive
charging/discharging cycle, compounds in the cell wall.
high power density and a longer  Green seaweed has a high
lifecycle. amount of a particular type of
 The supercapacitor which can cellulose in its cell wall.
fully charge a device within 10
seconds, has been developed
from seaweed (marine
macroalgae).
7. LiDAR
Context:
‘The Archaeological Survey of India plans to conduct a Light, Detection and Ranging
(LiDAR) survey in Purana Qila to determine the earliest cultural deposits at the site.
About LiDAR
 LiDAR, or light detection ranging is one remote sensing method that can be
used to map structure including vegetation height, density and other
characteristics across a region.
 LiDAR directly measures the height and density of vegetation on the ground
making it an ideal tool for scientists studying vegetation over large areas.
 LiDAR is an active remote sensing system. An active system means that the
system itself generates energy in this case, light to measure things on the ground.
 In a LiDAR system, light is emitted from a rapidly firing laser.
 A LiDAR system measures the time it takes for emitted light to travel to the
ground and back. That time is used to calculate distance traveled.
8. SOLAR MEAN for a better understanding of
the IMF paves the way for
MAGNETIC FIELD responding to space weather in
(SMMF) a better fashion.
Context:  However, so far, the studies on
 Novel observations of the Solar SMMF have mostly been
Mean Magnetic Field (SMMF) confined to the magnetic field
established a closer connection measurements at the
to the Interplanetary Magnetic photosphere.
Field (IMF). 
About SMMF 9. BETELGEUSE
 The Sun contains the corona Context:
(the outer shell of the Sun's  Astronomers think that
atmosphere), the photosphere Betelgeuse is only 10 million
(the visible surface), and the years old, that's 50 times
chromosphere (near- younger than our sun.
transparent layer, just above the About Betelgeuse
photosphere) with magnetic
field generated by electrical
currents acting as a magnetic
dynamo inside the Sun.
 The name Betelgeuse comes

from the Arabic and is basically
a corruption of the phrase
"Armpit of the Giant".
 Betelgeuse is the brightest
 These electrical currents are star in Orion and marks the
generated by the flow of hot, western shoulder of the
ionized gases in the Sun's constellation.
convection zone.  Betelgeuse is one of the largest
 The Solar Mean Magnetic Field known stars and is probably at
(SMMF) is the mean value of the least the size of the orbits of
line-of-sight (LOS) component Mars or Jupiter around the sun.
of the solar vector magnetic That's a diameter about 700
field averaged over the visible times the size of the Sun or 600
hemisphere of the Sun. million miles.
 The effect of SMMF on IMF is an  For a star it has a rather low
object of interest to scientists, surface temperature (6000 F
compared to the Sun's 10,000 backbone originally designed
F). The low temperature means for the Loon project, which has
that the star will appear orange- been repurposed for use on the
red in color. ground.
 Betelgeuse emits almost 7,500  Taara, a project from Alphabet's
times as much energy as the X moonshot labs, aims to bring
Sun. high-speed Internet access to
 The combination of size and rural and remote areas of
temperature tells astronomers India. It uses a technology
that the star is a kind of star component from X's failed Loon
called a red super giant. project, which tried to deliver
 Red super giants are stars that Internet connectivity via high-
are close to the end of their life. altitude balloons.
Probably within the next ten to  Taara transmits information
hundred thousand years between terminals at speeds of
Betelgeuse might end its life in a up to 20 gigabits per second as a
supernova explosion. very narrow, invisible beam of
light.
10. PROJECT TAARA  Taara executives and Airtel are
moving toward the large-scale
Context:
deployment of the technology in
 Google parent company
India.
Alphabet and Bharti Airtelare
 The project is already under
linking up to provide high-speed
development in 13 countries,
internet to remote villages in
including Australia, Kenya and
India by using beams of light
Fiji.
under Project TAARA.
 Taara's machine is the size of a
About Project TAARA
traffic light that beam the laser
 Named after the Estonian god carrying the data. In simpler
of lightning, Taara was terms, Taara's beam provides
established in 2019 after fiber-optic internet.
Loon's failure, and uses a laser
8. SECURITY
1. TAPAS 201 UAV
Context:
 TAPAS 201 UAV ready for user
trials, says DRDO.
TAPAS 201 UAV
 It is a Medium Altitude Long
Endurance (MALE) unmanned
aerial vehicle to carry out the
intelligence, surveillance and Russia, the United Kingdom,
reconnaissance roles. France, China, India, Pakistan,
 Designed and Developed by the Democratic People’s
the Bengaluru-based Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Aeronautical Development and Israel continue to
Establishment (ADE). Dubbed modernise their nuclear
the Indian version of the U.S.’ arsenals.
Predator drones.  Largest Deployed Nuclear
 Operating Altitude: Up to Warheads: USA > Russia >
28,000 feet. Maximum Speed: France > UK.
225 kmph. Endurance: 18  Established in 1966 at Stockholm,
hours. Maximum Payloads: SIPRI is an independent
350 kgs. international institute dedicated to
 Designed to fulfil the research into conflict, armaments,
Intelligence, Surveillance, arms control and disarmament.
Target Acquisition, Tracking &
Reconnaissance (ISTAR) 3. VARUNASTRA TORPEDO
requirements of the tri-services, Context:
the Tapas UAV can effectively  Varunastra was successfully
operate in both day and night test-fired with a live warhead
conditions. against an undersea target, by
the Indian Navy.
2. SIPRI YEARBOOK 2023 VARUNASTRA TORPEDO
Context:
 Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI)
released its annual assessment
of state of Armaments,
Disarmament and International
Security.
Key Findings:
 Russia and the U.S. possess
almost 90% of all nuclear
weapons. Indigenously designed and
 China's nuclear arsenal developed heavy weight torpedo
increased from 350 warheads in (HWT) Varunastra, is a ship-
January 2022 to 410 in January launched anti-submarine torpedo
2023. having low drift navigational
 The nuclear arsenals of India systems, acoustic homing, advanced
grew from 160 in 2022 to 164 in acoustic counter measure features,
2023 and that of Pakistan from autonomous guidance algorithms,
165 to 170. insensitive munitions warhead and
 The nine nuclear-armed a GPS-based recovery aid for
states - the United States, practice torpedo.
 Maximum Speed: 40 knots and a 5. EXERCISES IN NEWS
maximum operating depth of  Exercise EKATHA - It is an
600 m. annual naval exercise between
 It was designed and developed India and Maldives. It aims to
by Vizag-based Naval Science enhance interoperability in
and Technological Laboratory diving and special operations. It
(NSTL) under the Defence is the sixth edition
Research and Development  Exercise EKUVERIN - It is a
Organisation (DRDO) and is military exercise between
manufactured by Bharat Indian Army and Maldives
Dynamics Ltd (BDL). National Defence Force. It is the
12th edition held at Chaubatia,
4. AGNI PRIME Uttarakhand.
 Exercise Tarang Shakti - It is
Context:
the biggest air exercise in
 DRDO successfully flight-tests
India, has been postponed until
New Generation Ballistic Missile
mid-2024 as a number of
‘Agni Prime’ off Odisha.
participating air forces
AGNI PRIME conveyed to the IAF that they
 Agni-P is a two-stage will not be able to join if it is
canisterised solid propellant held this year. The exercise is
ballistic missile with dual expected to involve 12 air
redundant navigation and forces.
guidance system.  Exercise KHAAN QUEST - It is a
 It is a surface to a surface Multinational Peacekeeping
missile, Payload of around 1,000 Joint Exercise from over 20
Kg (nuclear warhead). It is countries has commenced in
lighter in weight. Mongolia. Indian Army is
 Range: 1000 to 2000 km. represented by a contingent
 Agni series of missiles from the Garhwal Rifles. It is co-
constitute the backbone of sponsored by Mongolian Armed
India’s nuclear weapons Forces (MAF) and the United
delivery which also includes the States Army Pacific Command
Prithvi short range ballistic (USARPAC).
missiles and fighter aircraft.
 India has completed its nuclear
triad and operationalised its
second strike capability, with
nuclear ballistic missile
submarine INS Arihant
undertaking deterrence patrols.

Special Edition For June - 2023

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Special Edition For June - 2023

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SPECIAL PRELIMS ENRICHED EDITION

CALL US: +91 89396 96868/ 69

 It is an annual Hindu fair held

3. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

4. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS AND

5. RECENT ECONOMIC EVENTS

6. GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT

 Seven spotted pond turtles are

7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 The name Betelgeuse comes

You might also like