Prelims Focused Material#25

1. Eurozone

● Is a geographic and economic region that consists of all the European Union countries
that have a functional use of the euro as their national currency.
● The following 19 countries in the EU: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
● In 1992, the Maastricht Treaty created the EU and initiated this common currency
understanding.
● Euro zone inflation jumped as expected last month, which prompted the European
Central Bank’s usual resort to keep interest rates at record highs for some time, even
though markets continued to anticipate on a rapid fall in borrowing costs.

2. River Devika Project

● North India's first River Rejuvenation Project Devika is nearing completion. Built at a cost
of over Rs 190 crore on the lines of ‘Namami Ganga’, the Project was launched by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
● Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh
said that while reviewing Liquid Waste Management Project undertaken separately to
protect the sanctity of holy Devika River in Udhampur, J&K.
● Devika river is considered the sister of the sacred river Ganga, and it has a great
religious significance and it is located in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir.

3. Yamuna water project

● The Haryana state government has proposed a Rs 2,267-crore project which will help
fulfil water needs till 2050.
● According to the plan, a 69km water pipeline will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,517
crore to supply around 1,504 cusecs of water from the Yamuna to the city. Another 50km
feeder line, estimated to cost Rs 700 crore, will be built to supply Yamuna water to Nuh.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
● Similarly, the Delhi government has also prepared a five-point action plan to clear the
main drains of the city and ensure only treated water flows into the Yamuna.

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● According to the plan, in-situ treatment zones will be created at 10 different places in
Najafgarh, Supplementary, and Shahdara drains. In-situ treatment methods will include
floating booms, weirs, aeration devices, and floating wetlands. Apart from this, chemical
dosing will be done at strategic locations to reduce the phosphate content in the
wastewater.

4. Kavaratti, Lakshadweep Island

● Androth, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Ameni and Agathi are believed to be the first few islands to
be inhabited.
● According to local legends, Lakshadweep was first occupied by the people who were on
an expedition in search of Cheraman Perumal, a Chera King, who one day slipped out of
his capital (present day Kodungallur) and left for Mecca.
● Lakshadweep is a scenic beauty for adventure lovers and tourists seeking an unusual
getaway.
● The government is planning to upgrade the helibase at Kavaratti Island, the capital of the
union territory, and build a resort there to upgrade tourist facilities to attract more visitors.
● The PM had visited the Agatti, Kavaratti, and Bangaram islands during his recent two-
day trip to Lakshadweep. He also tried snorkeling at Bangaram.

5. Arabian sea

● Arabian Sea, northwestern part of the Indian Ocean, covering a total area of about
1,491,000 square miles (3,862,000 square km).
● It's physical boundaries include surroundings on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf
of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman.
● It's political boundaries include bounded on the northwest by Iran the north by Pakistan,
on the east by India, and on the southeast by the Laccadive Sea and the Maldives, on
the southwest by Somalia.
● It also becomes a principal trade route as The Gulf of Aden connects the Arabian Sea to
the Red Sea through the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Gulf of Oman is in the
northwest, connecting it to the Persian Gulf making it a conducive location for transport.
● Chief ports are Mumbai (Bombay), India; Karachi, Pakistan and Aden, Yemen.
● A hijacking attempt was made in the North Arabian Sea, Indian Navy MARCOS (Marine
Commandos) secured and safely evacuated all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians,
from the merchant vessel Lila Norfolk.

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e- Gurukulam for IAS 8897826108