Monthly Current Affairs June 2020

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 JUNE 2020 PT-MAINS

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 S.No. Topics Page No. 1 GS-1 01 2 01 3 Current World locations 02 4 Stree Swabhiman 03 5 Nada yog 05 6 06 7 All about Nisarga cyclone 07 8 Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port 07 9 Expansion of Ameri Ice Shelf (AIS) 08 10 08 11 Meghadootam 09 12 Udangudi Power Project 14 13 Asia’s largest drip irrigation project 15 14 15 15 Guru Ravidas 16 16 Tremble after the tremors- EARTHQUAKE Explained 17 17 17 18 Paleolithic sites 18 19 Medaram Jatara 18 20 19 Indus script 20 21 Archaeological Survey of India 22 21 23 Maldives 22 24 Sheen Khalai (Blue Skin) 23 25 23 26 Rabi Crops Sowing 24 27 Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) 25 27 28 Shigmo Festival 29 30 30 Karnataka plans to provide tap connections to all rural 31 31 households under Jal Jeevan Mission by 2022- 32 32 33 33 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana 35 34 Pradhan Mantri VayaVandhanaYojana 36 35 37 Vadnagar Udhyagiri Caves Great Oxidation Event (GO PM Van Dhan Yojana Agroforestry Farmers to Industry HeldMultiple uses of Agroforestry - National Agroforestry Policy Galapagos International Yoga day to be celebrated through digital platform this time Indian Gas Exchange India’s deepest solar eclipse Wakhan Corridor Coral Reefs Maramon Convention

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 36 Senior Citizen’s Welfare Fund 38 37 Land use Change 39 38 Anti-cyclone in North-east Asia 42 39 Tala Maddale, Tulu Yakshagana in Udupi 43 40 Yakshagana 44 41 Kodumanal 45 42 Megaliths 46 43 Victory Day Parade,2020 48 44 Delhi’s minor tremors (Earthquake in the Himalayas) 49 45 Acharya Shri Mahapragyaji 51 46 Skeletal remains of a child found in Tamil Nadu’s Keeladi 52 47 Water worlds 52 48 Mussaurus and Protoceratops-Dinosaurs 53 53 49 Juneteenth 54 55 50 KVIC starts reviving ancient glory of Pokhran potteries 56 57 51 Star Clusters 58 60 52 Extreme Helium Stars (EHe) 61 53 Kithiganahalli lake 62 54 Scientists detect ionospheric irregularities 63 55 Jagannath Rath Yatra 63 56 Blazars 64 57 Bum La Pass 65 58 Ashadhi Bij, the Kutchi New Year 66 59 Assam: Ambubachi Mela - Kamakhya temple 68 60 Cairn Circles 69 61 Central Vista Project 70 62 Anti Drug Action Plan 71 63 Anthropause Period 73 64 Black hole merges with unusual compact object 74 65 Indian Ocean Dipole- New phenomenon to emerge 75 66 The Mapillah uprising 77 67 70 Years of Korean War 68 Kharayelakh river 79 69 Is this the end of the globalisation era? 82 70 Sankalp Parva: Plantation of Trees 84 EDITORIAL PLUS 1 The anatomy of anti-black racism 2 Fighting a double pandemic (COVID19 and Domestic Violence) 3 1921 Malabar Rebellion

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 4 A new era of accessibility 86 GS-2 89 90 1 Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) 91 2 SPIC MACAY 92 3 Section 153 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 94 4 India-Georgia Relations 94 5 VINBAX 95 6 Prevention of Atrocities acts 96 7 China’s new code aims to curb land grabs 97 8 French forces kill al-Qaeda’s Algeria leader 98 9 CBSE to release reduced syllabus in a month 99 10 Res extra commercium 99 11 Global Terrorism Index 100 12 World ocean day 101 13 Mission SAGAR 102 14 Crossing the line: On Delhi’s decision to limit health services 104 15 Pincer provocations? India-China-Pakistan 107 16 River water dispute 108 17 CPGRAMS 109 18 Assistance to Disabled persons scheme (ADIP) 110 19 Operation Cactus 111 20 An inflection point (Killings at the LAC) 113 21 What happened in Nathu La in 1967? 115 22 Transformation of aspirational districts program 116 23 Fit INDIA 117 24 Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat 119 25 National e-Governance Division (NeGD) 120 Finance Commission on Grant for Provision 121 122 26 of Drinking Water & Sanitation Services 123 27 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) 125 28 National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) 126 29 IAEA 127 30 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 128 31 PCPNDT Act 129 32 United Nation Security Council 155 33 Pashupatinath Temple and India – Nepal 34 Enforcement Directorate 35 Galwan Situation 36 Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 Government of India & AIIB sign an Agreement for 133 37 $750 Million for COVID-19 support for India 135 38 PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) 136 39 Eurasian Group (EAG) 137 40 Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 139 41 Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan 140 42 Online Yoga Quiz Competition 141 43 UNICEF Kid Power 142 44 Kumbhar Sashaktikaran Program 143 45 Right to Information Act,2005 147 46 Russia-India-China: RIC 149 47 Arms trade treaty 151 48 International Comparison Program,2017 152 49 Sudan warns against escalation in Nile dam dispute 155 50 Coal sector reforms 157 51 Anti Defection Law 160 52 Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 161 53 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 162 54 Korean Crisis – Analysis 166 55 US Visa Ban Extension 168 56 Civil Servants as Joint Secretaries 170 57 Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan 171 58 Rule of Law Index 172 59 Global Education Monitoring Report 173 60 Rajya Sabha Polls 174 61 South China Sea Dispute 176 62 Extension of Sub-Categorization of OBCs 177 63 World Drug Report,UNODC 179 64 World Economic Outlook 180 65 International Monetary Fund (IMF) 185 66 ASEAN Summit 187 67 World Drug Report 2020: UN 189 68 Supreme Court ruling- disqualification petitions 190 69 UN@75 Declaration 191 70 Amendments in Postal Ballot System 192 71 Digital innovation is the way forward – Over the top platform 194 72 Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 196 73 China Study Group (CSG) 197 74 UN Convention against Torture

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 75 BharatNet Project 199 EDITORIAL PLUS 202 203 1 Land of the unfree: On U.S. unrest 205 2 The dimming of a Chinese strongman’s aura 207 3 India, China and fortifying the Africa outreach 210 4 India’s Parliament is missing in action 211 5 Seven to eleven: On India and G-7 213 6 Has Google been misrepresenting data practices? The HINDU 216 7 In Persian Gulf littoral, cooperative security is key 218 8 Swarms of extremism 220 9 The e-diplomacy experiment 222 10 Fighting sea blindness- Indian ocean 225 11 Resume dialogue with Nepal now 227 12 The critical role of decentralised responses- PRI- Fiscal Federalism 230 13 An unravelling of the Group of Seven 232 14 India-China: the line of actual contest 234 235 15 WHO, on the virus 237 238 16 No longer special: On India-Nepal ties 240 17 The need for an anti-discrimination law 243 18 Building trust: On India-Pakistan ties 245 19 In pandemic crisis, bridging the gulf with West Asia 247 20 Remaining non-aligned is good advice 250 21 Nepal ties and the Benaras to Bengaluru spectrum 251 22 Maternal health matters 254 23 Multilateralism post COVID-19 256 24 Disorder at the border: On India-China face-off 258 259 25 History, the standoff, and policy worth rereading (India-China standoff) 261 263 26 Mediation in the age of COVID-19 (Online Mediation) 265 27 At the high table: On India’s U.N. Security Council win 267 28 Crisis in the peninsula: On the Koreas 270 29 The gross abuse of the Manipur mandate (Anti-Defection in Manipur) 272 30 Rajya Sabha election process 277 31 Who does Galwan Valley belong to? 279 32 China policy lacks perspicacity 33 India and China-1962 war analysis 34 A way out of undelineated borders (India and Nepal border disputes) 35 Transparency during a crisis (RTI amidst COVID19) 36 China, Kashmir and the ghost of August 5 37 Bad to worse: On India-Pakistan ties

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 38 The U.S. trial at The Hague (Bensouda's Report) 280 39 Senseless deaths: On Tamil Nadu custodial deaths 282 40 The pandemic imposes a steep learning curve (Online Education) 283 41 How will the U.S. visa ban impact India? 285 42 Making sense of China’s calculations 287 43 Brief reprieve: On Pakistan and the terror financing watchdog 290 44 Letter and spirit: On new domicile rules in J&K 291 45 In 24 hours, Palestine faces an existential threat 292 46 Cautious, but firm: on India-China stand-off 294 47 The World Bank's STARS project needs an overhaul 295 48 Share public data with the public 297 GS-3 300 302 1 3-D Bio-Printing 303 2 Chardham Pariyojana: Chamba Tunnel 307 3 3-D Printing 307 4 Operation Vijay 308 5 Operation Parakram 308 6 Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) 309 7 ITEWS 310 8 Project Sunrise 312 9 Why Moody’s downgraded India’s rating, what the implications may be ? 313 10 CHAMPIONS portal 314 11 Ultra Swachh 315 12 Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi Scheme 316 13 Avifavir 317 14 Social stock exchange (SSE) 318 Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy 320 15 (PCIM&H) 321 16 Amendment to Essential Commodities Act 322 323 Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) and Project 324 325 17 Development Cells (PDCs) for attracting investment in India 326 18 Initiatives of Coal Ministry to improve efficiency 327 19 SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support) 328 20 IEM (Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum) 21 Limited Liability Partnership 22 Steps taken by Navy to protect ocean ecology 23 Wajre Urban Forest model 24 Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 25 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) – Annual Report

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 26 GAVI 330 27 MARPOL Treaty 331 28 World Environment Day 332 29 The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP) 333 30 Global Virtual vaccine summit – GAVI and India’s Immunisation programme 335 31 Super Blood Blue Moon 339 32 Mihir 340 33 Nilgiri Marten 341 34 Zero budget natural farming project 341 342 What are some of the key terms being used to describe the 345 35 novel coronavirus outbreak? THE HINDU EXPLAINED 346 36 Prevalence of diabetes among women high in southern India 348 37 Serotonin triggers desert locust swarms 349 38 India’s first solar ferry sails into global contest 349 39 Task force on artificial intelligence 350 40 National River Conservation Plan 350 41 CriSidEx 351 42 FSSAI for Nutritional and Safe Food 352 43 World Wetlands Day 353 44 Indian Air Force develops ARPIT 355 45 World University Rankings 2021 357 46 Gross Value Added 359 47 Tiger Census 361 48 A convergence of crises 362 49 National Adaptation fund for climate change 362 50 Digital Gender Atlas 363 51 Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) 365 52 India may have undercounted COVID-19 cases 366 53 COVID-19 taking an emotional toll on children 367 54 Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce mortality, RECOVERY trial finds 368 55 Persistent global transmission of chikungunya from India 374 56 Vector-borne diseases 374 57 Baby Dragons 375 58 Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region 376 59 Wholesale Price in India 378 60 INDIA’S FOREIGN TRADE 380 61 National Agroforestry Policy,2014 384 62 INDIA’S FOREIGN TRADE: May2020 - Foreign trade policy 63 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 64 e-Office 385 65 Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) 386 66 Malathion insecticide 387 67 MLCR 388 68 Railway development Authority 388 69 Minmata Convention on mercury 389 70 Falcon Heavy 389 71 Prime Minister’s Research fellow scheme 390 390 72 Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme- DHRUV 391 73 Goliath grouper 392 74 India State of Forest Report 394 75 ICMR RECOMMENDS THE USE OF RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KIT 395 76 Dexamethasone 396 77 National Productivity Day 396 78 INS Chakra 397 79 India Health Fund 397 80 Human Egg grown to maturity in lab 398 81 Changing the definition of MSME 399 82 Panel on Crypto currency 399 83 Microsoft HoloLens-Augmented Reality 400 84 Standing Deposit Facility Scheme 402 85 Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) 403 86 Benefits of commercial Mining 404 87 Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Napkin @Rs.1 405 88 Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region 406 89 China and Pangolin Protection 408 90 SEBI eases fund-raising norms for firms 409 91 RBI to tighten rules for home finance firms 410 92 New START 411 93 Committee to oversee Ownership of Private Banks 412 94 Guwahati - Urban Jungle 413 95 Mobile Payments Market Report 414 96 Mudumalai Tiger Reserve 415 97 Wetlands International 415 98 Strategic Petroleum Reserves 416 99 Virtual Reality 417 100 Baghjan natural gas Blowout 418 101 India State of Forest Report, 2019 425 102 India to be the manufacturing hub for E-vehicles in next 5 years

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 103 Carbon emissions sharply rebound as countries lift coronavirus restrictions 426 104 SEBI’s Measure to Increase Market Liquidity 427 105 RBI Norms for NBFC’s 428 106 I-Lab 429 107 PBC Complex 431 108 Umifenovir 433 109 NavRakshak 434 110 Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) 435 111 Ban on export of HCQ lifted 436 112 VTM kits 437 113 Sickle cell disease 438 114 Favipiravir drug for COVID-19 439 115 Global Influenza Data Initiative (GISAID) 439 116 National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) 440 117 National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) 441 118 COVID poses trying times for Diabetics 442 119 Ship owners worldwide invited to now flag their ships in India 443 120 Atal Innovation Mission partners with Coal India Ltd 444 121 National Auto Fuel Policy,2015 445 122 Antibodies against coronavirus start to decrease in 2-3 months 446 123 Wild animals in urban clusters-COVID-19 lockdown 448 124 COVID19-Plasma therapy 450 125 Climate change impact on Ungulates 451 126 Automated lung ultrasound (LUS) 452 127 Artic Sea 454 456 SCHEME FOR VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION OF YOGA 457 128 PROFESSIONALS 458 129 World Crocodile Day 459 130 Nature Index 2020: Index of Scientific Research 460 131 Decarbonising Transport in India project 461 132 Decarbonising Transport project by NITI Aayog 463 133 Foldscope could be a better alternative to clinical microscope 464 134 Sharavathi Monkey Park 465 135 Indian Gaur 466 136 Malabar Gliding Frog 467 137 Minks 468 138 Reverse Zoonosis 469 139 National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) 140 Sustainable Developmental Goals Index 2019

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 Information about Country of Origin by the sellers made mandatory 472 141 on GeM to promote Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat 473 142 Compressed Bio-Gas plants to be brought under Priority Sector Lending 474 143 Study of optical properties of super-massive black-hole 476 144 ULV sprayer through drones 477 145 Minimum Support Price for Mature Dehusked Coconut 478 146 YUKTI 2.0 479 480 147 NDRF 481 148 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code-IBC 482 149 Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) 482 150 Krishi Vigyan Kendras 483 151 China’s Tariff Exemption to Bangladesh 484 152 SATYABHAMA Portal 489 153 Star Formation Nebula White dwarf and Neutron Star or Black Hole 490 154 Sickle Cell Disease 491 155 Micius Satellite 492 156 Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Country of Origin Flag 493 157 Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan 494 158 eBloodServices mobile App 495 159 KVIC launches Sandalwood and Bamboo plantation 496 160 PM SVANidhi 497 161 Gee’s Golden Langur 498 162 Horse Shoe Crab 499 163 Product Application & Development Centre (PADC) 500 164 Kumbhar Sashaktikaran Yojana 501 165 Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) - Wild crime 502 166 Minimum Support Price - Food security 503 167 Anti-drug plan in 272 vulnerable districts 504 168 IN-SPACe – NSIL 505 169 Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund 506 170 Co-operative Banks under RBI 508 171 FATF | On the warpath against terror financing 509 Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of 511 513 172 Terrorism (EAG) 173 About FATF 174 Rechargeable Batteries 175 FICCI prepares action plan for industry

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 176 Shelling 514 177 Novel coronavirus infection might trigger type-1 diabetes 515 178 TB during COVID-19 517 179 Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary 519 180 Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) 520 181 Torpedo Decoy System: Maareech 521 182 One Sun One World One Grid 522 183 “Global solar grid could cause sun burns” 524 184 MMR vaccine can help fight sepsis in Covid patients 526 185 Why India is producing less and less oil 527 186 Ozone Pollution 529 187 “Facebook is weakening democracy” – Role of Social Media 530 188 Gyanandromorphism 532 189 Statistics Day 533 190 Kala- azar Disease 534 191 National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research- Coccolithophores 535 192 Naga Peace Talks- Nagaland Issue 536 193 Liquidity Measures Extended 539 194 HAM Radio 541 EDITORIAL PLUS 544 546 1 Universal Basic Income 548 2 SpaceX Crew Dragon: A new era in space exploration 549 3 Open with caution-Unlock 1 plan 550 4 Ominous signals: on slowdown of India's economy 552 5 A right time to shift pharma gears 553 6 Shine a light: On retraction of a research paper 555 7 Addressing the elephant in the room 558 8 Flattening the climate curve 560 9 Needed, a transfusion for public health care 562 10 What must schools do before reopening? 564 11 Can a COVID-19 vaccine be developed soon? 566 12 Making public transport safe during COVID-19 567 13 Behind the curve: On GST compensation to States 569 14 Call for action: On ICMR antibody test study 572 Lessons for Yogi from Gandhi and Lee-Singapore and Gandhian model of 15 development 16 A prescription of equitable and effective care (Solutions for COVID-19

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 management) 574 580 17 Can India decouple itself from Chinese manufacturing? 582 18 Has Google failed to protect its Chrome browser? 583 19 The lone wolf threat: on isolated terror attack in London 585 20 A case to exempt GST in Central Police Canteens 586 21 Downing the shutters: On H1-B visa halt 588 The perils of follow the leader syndrome(Analysis of Disaster Management 589 592 22 Act) 594 23 Signalling intent: On Government e-Marketplace 597 24 The many questions about Favipiravir (Analysis of Favipiravir Drug) 598 25 Drug abuse amidst pandemic 600 26 Getting out of the ‘guns, germs and steel’ crisis 602 27 Science vs nonsense: On Patanjali’s COVID-19 claim 604 28 Why is there a stress on randomised controlled trials? 29 Cyber Security Framework 606 30 Grain aplenty and the crisis of hunger 607 31 Legitimate concern: on law and order in Nagaland 608 GS-4 609 1 \"My Life My Yoga\" video contest 2 Profit, not profiteering International Day of Yoga 2020 with the 3 “Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family” campaign 4 NITI Aayog: Navigating the New Normal

Easy to PICK – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June-2020 GS-I

Easy to PICK1 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Current World locations Current World locations  Salalah (Oman)  Al-Ghaydah (Yemen). Stree Swabhiman Stree Swabhiman is an initiative under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for women’s health and hygiene. It aims to create a sustainable model for providing adolescent girls and women an access to affordable sanitary products by leveraging Common Service Centres (CSCs) established under digital India. The initiative is driven by awareness and personalised outreach by women entrepreneurs who produce and market sanitary napkins themselves.

Easy to PICK2 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Nada yoga Nada yoga  Nada yoga is an ancient Indian metaphysical system. It is equally a philosophical system, a medicine, and a form of yoga.  The system's theoretical and practical aspects are based on the premise that the entire cosmos and all that exists in the cosmos, including human beings, consists of vibrations, called n?da.  This concept holds that it is the energy of vibrations rather than of matter and particles which form the building blocks of the cosmos.  Nada yoga is also a reverential way to approach and respond to vibrations. In this context, silent vibrations of the self (anhata), sound and music (ahata) carry a spiritual weight more meaningful, respectively, than what sensory properties normally provide. Silent vibrations of the self (anhata) and Sound and music (ahata) are considered to play a potential medium/intermediary role to achieve a deeper unity with both the outer and inner cosmos.  Music has been used by most Indian saints as an important and powerful tool in the quest for the achievement of nirvana; notable names to be mentioned here include Kanakadasa, Thyagaraja, Kabir, Meerabai, Namdeo, Purandaradasa and Tukaram.  Naad is considered to be the basis of music and also as the basis of the energy in self.  Naad reaches its crescendo or Brahmnaad when we regulate our inner energy through yoga and music.  This is the reason that both music and yoga have the power of meditation and motivation, both are immense sources of energy, the Prime Minister added.  Prime Minister said, music has not only been a source of happiness, but also a means of service and a form of penance.

Easy to PICK3 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 All about Nisarga cyclone All about Nisarga cyclone  Amphan, on the other hand, was classified  In strength and intensity, this would be much weaker than Cyclone as a super-cyclone, of category 5, though Amphan that struck on May 20.  In fact, it is not even a full-fledged it had weakened to category 4, cyclone right now, just a ‘depression’ that is likely to intensify into ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic a ‘deep depression’ by Tuesday morning, and eventually into a cyclone, after which Storm’, ahead of its landfall, at which time it would be called Nisarga. the wind speeds were in excess of 180 kph. Where is it headed?  It is headed towards the coastline of north  Cyclones formed in the Bay of Maharashtra and south Gujarat.  It is likely to hit the coastline on Bengal side of the north Indian Ocean are Wednesday, between Harihareshwar in Raigad district, just south of Mumbai, and more frequent and stonger than those on Daman, just below Gujarat coast.  By that time, it is likely to evolve into the Arabian Sea side. a Severe Cyclonic Storm, which, roughly stated, is of strength 2 on a 1-to-5 of  Meteorologists suggest the relatively cold strength of cyclones that arise in the Indian Ocean. waters of the Arabian Sea discourage the What does that mean? kind of very strong cyclones that are  The strength of the cyclones are measured by the wind speeds they formed on the Bay of Bengal side; Odisha generate.  At its strongest, Nisarga would be and Andhra Pradesh face the brunt of these associated with wind speeds in the range 95-105 km per hour. cyclones every year.  Last year, however, was slightly unusual as the Arabian Sea saw the most frequent and intense cyclonic activity in more than 100 years, according to India Meteorological Department.  Five cyclones originated in the area in 2019 — Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr, Maha and Pavan – when normally only one or two are formed. So how big is the threat?  If the system does intensify into a cyclonic storm, some coastal districts of Maharashtra will come directly in line of its predicted path. Though the exact location of the landfall is still to be determined, it is likely to be close to Mumbai. Neighbouring Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are also likely to be affected, and heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted in these areas until June 4.  The southwest monsoon has already made an onset over Kerala.  There is an associated depression lying parallel to the west coast which is intensifying and moving northwards along the coast.  Under such circumstances, the east-central

Easy to PICK4 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 and southeast regions of Arabian Sea are already experiencing rough weather conditions, which is likely to get intensified because of this cyclone. So would Maharashtra get early monsoon rainfall?  No. The rainfall over the next three days in Maharashtra would not be due to the southwest monsoon, which is still to begin its northward movement from Kerala. Normally, monsoon arrives over Maharashtra after June 10.

Easy to PICK5 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kamarajar Port Limited in the honour of  Kolkata Port is renamed as Syama Prasad Shri K Kamarajar, eminent freedom Mookerjee Port. fighter and former Chief Minister of Tamil  The Board of Trustees of Kolkata Port Nadu. Trust in its Meeting held on 25th February,  Recently, in 2017 Kandla Port was re- 2020 has also passed a Resolution to re- named as Deendayal Port. name Kolkata Port as Syama Prasad  Besides, many airports have also been Mookerjee Port. named after the great national leaders in India. Background:  The Kolkata Port is the first Major Port as well as the only riverine port of the country.  It came to be governed by a Trust on 17th October, 1870 on appointment of the Commissioners for Improvement of the Port of Calcutta as per Act V of 1870.  It features at Serial Number 1 in The First Schedule, Part I—Major Ports of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 and is governed by the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.  Kolkata Port has traversed 150 years and in this journey it has been India's gateway to trade, commerce and economic development.  It has also been a witness to India's struggle for independence, World Wars l & II and socio-cultural changes taking place in the country, especially in Eastern India.  Generally, the Major Ports in India are named after the city or the town in which they are situated.  Some ports, however, in special cases or in due consideration of contribution made by eminent leaders have been re-named after great national leaders in the past.  Nhava Sheva Port Trust was renamed as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust by the Government in the year 1989.  The Tuticorin Port Trust was renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in the year 2011 and the Ennore Port Limited has been re-named as

Easy to PICK6 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Expansion of Ameri Ice Shelf (AIS) Expansion of Ameri Ice Shelf (AIS)  The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) predicts that there would be a 24% increase in the expansion of Ameri Ice Shelf (AIS) boundaries by 2021 and another 24% expansion by 2026 from its 2016 positions.  The floating sheets of ice called the ice shelves play a multi-faceted role in maintaining the stability of a glacier.  Ice shelves connect a glacier to the landmass.  The ice sheet mass balance, sea stratification, and bottom water formation are important parameters for the balancing of a glacier.  Latent and sensible heat processes do play important roles here. The AIS is one of the largest glacier drainage basins in the world, located on the east coast of Antarctica, at about 70ºS Latitude, 70ºE Longitude. The AIS dynamics and mass balance help in understanding the changes in the global climate scenario.  The NCOPOR scientists observed a spatio-temporal change in the ice shelf as reflected by the extension of the Pridze and Mackenzie and the extension of a 200-km stretch between Mackenzie Bay (68.5ºS Latitude; 70.2ºE Longitude) and the Sandefjord Bay (69.65ºS Latitude; 74.3ºE Longitude), which is a part of the AIS.  It becomes clear from the study that the AIS is losing its stability owing to the impact of a downstream giant glacial drainage system over the past 19 years, thereby advancing the ice shelf boundaries due to higher freezing rates than basal melting.

Easy to PICK7 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Meghadootam Meghadootam (meaning cloud messenger) is a lyric love poem composed by Kalidasa about the 5th century AD. The poem recounts the expression of love by Yaksha to his wife at Alaka,Mt. Kailash through the cloud as a messenger. Most of the poem consists of a description of the landmarks, cities, and sights on the cloud’s journey to Alaka. Chhattisgarh state artistes performing dance based on Meghadootam in Republic day won prize in best tableau category. Kalidasa Kalidasa is a great Sanskrit poet who lived in the court of Chandragupta II around 4th-5th century AD. He wrote plays, poems such as i. 3 plays - Malavikagnimitram, Abhijnanasakuntalam, vikramaorvasiyam ii. 2 epic poems - Raghuvamsa, Kumarasambhava iii. 2 minor poems – Ritusamhara, Meghadootam Udangudi Power Project Coal-based supercritical Udangudi thermal power project is set to come up in Thoothukudi district of southern Tamil Nadu. BHEL and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) had signed a MoU to develop this power project in 2007. The estimated Rs.100-billion project is to be funded by Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).

Easy to PICK8 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Asia’s largest drip irrigation project Ramthal Marola project in Karnataka is the Asia’s largest drip irrigation project implemented with the help of technology from Israel firm. As a part of this drip irrigation scheme, every farmer will receive water through a cylinder installed in their respective farmlands. It also enables them to mix fertilisers and pesticides in the cylinder. The technology used in this project will also purify the wastage that flows in the backwaters of River Krishna. Guru Ravidas Guru Ravidas was a North Indian mystic poet saint of the bhakti movement believed to be born in Varanasi. He taught removal of social divisions of caste and gender, and promoted unity in the pursuit of personal spiritual freedoms. He founded 21st-century Ravidassia religion, by a group who previously were associated with Sikhism. He is devoted as guru in the regions of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Easy to PICK9 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Tremble after the tremors- EARTHQUAKE Explained The NCR shook seven times in the last 20 days, continues over a region over time and fuelling fears of a high-magnitude earthquake. that is normal for it. Seismologists have ruled out an immediate  Such tremors have been occurring in this threat though they insist the region remains at region for the last 40-50 years. That would risk of a ‘great’ Himalayan quake be a cause for concern only if they Since May 15, the National Center for occurred in regions where tectonic plates Seismology has recorded seven small met,” he said. earthquakes, ranging from 1.8 to 4.5 on the  Only larger faults and larger systems Richter scale, with epicentres at Faridabad, trigger bigger earthquakes, explained Rohtak and New Delhi. The spate of tremors — Kusala Rajendran of Centre for Earth the most recent one occurring last (June 3) — has Sciences at Indian Institute of Science in fuelled speculation about the possibility of a Bangalore. bigger earthquake in this region.  “That is why you have great The experts have discredited this theory but earthquakes only along the plate warned that the region — situated close to the boundaries such as the Sumatra plate ‘most active fault line on earth’ — would be at boundary [near Indonesia], Andaman risk in the event of a widely anticipated ‘great’ plate boundary or Himalaya and Himalayan earthquake. California,” she said, while reiterating that Delhi had a history of only small Misinterpreted threat tremors.  The Director of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Kalachand Sain, Not risk-free was recently quoted in a news article  Concerns about the risk of a major saying, “There is consistent seismic earthquake in Delhi, however, may not be activity happening in the NCR and can unfounded. “An earthquake of 5.5 to 6 trigger a major earthquake in Delhi.” magnitude can never be ruled out anywhere,” citing the instance of the 1993  But he told The Hindu that his words earthquake in Latur, Maharashtra. were misinterpreted. In fact, he clarified  At that time, the area fell under zone 1 of he meant quite the opposite and the recent the country’s seismic zonal maps, which earthquakes were a sign that “the region was the category with least risk. was unlikely to have a greater earthquake”.  With a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale, the earthquake left thousands dead.  Earthquakes in this region were due to The same can’t be ruled out here. “release of stress” accumulated from  “Though there are pockets of localised the movement of the Indian tectonic seismicity in Delhi, that is not new… As a plate and its collision with the Eurasian seismologist who has been working on tectonic plate, Dr. Sain explained. earthquakes for a long time, my feeling is that the real fear for Delhi is from the  Consequently, the recent tremors would Himalayas,” adding that it is very close to have diffused the accumulated stress, the most active fault line in the world. reducing the risk of a more serious  Several researchers have hypothesised the earthquake, he added. probability of a great earthquake, something of the magnitude of eight and  Vineet Gahalaut, former director of above, striking the Himalayan region. National Center for Seismology, too dismissed the fears of a devastating earthquake. “There is something called background seismicity level, which

Easy to PICK10 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020  Based on historical, archaeological and  The point where the energy is released is geological data, that such an event has not called the focus or the hypocentre of an taken place in the area for at least a 1,000 earthquake. years.  The point on the surface directly above the  Others peg it at 500 years. This, along with focus is called epicentre (first surface GPS-based modelling of the speed of point to experience the earthquake waves). movement of the Indian plate, suggests that an earthquake is due, she said, and  A line connecting all points on the surface added: “That means it can happen any where the intensity is the same is called time.” an isoseismic line. Impact on Delhi Foreshocks and aftershocks “Even a strong earthquake in the Himalayan belt  Usually, a major or even moderate [as experienced in the recent past] may pose a earthquake of shallow focus is followed by threat to Delhi-NCR,”. He based this on the fact many lesser-size earthquakes known as that this region is only 150-odd km from the aftershocks. active Himalayan seismic belt. Also, the “large  A mild earthquake preceding the sediment thickness (loose soil) in the Ganga violent shaking movement of an Alluvial Plains” to the north of Delhi tends to earthquake is known as a foreshock. amplify the impact of earthquakes. Given the presence of high-rises in the area, large number of Swarms buildings and a dense population, he said, it was  Large numbers of small earthquakes may imperative to strictly impose building codes as a occur in a region for months without a precautionary measure. major earthquake. An earthquake in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli  Such series of earthquakes are called district in March 1999, measuring 6.5 on the earthquake swarms. Richter scale, which caused damage to some  Earthquakes associated with volcanic buildings in Patparganj in Delhi, 280 km from activity often occur in swarms. the epicentre. She also raised concerns over the  Earthquake swarms can serve as markers vulnerability of buildings in Delhi-NCR and for the location of the flowing magma whether the authorities had taken steps to make throughout the volcanoes. them secure. Causes of Earthquakes About EARTHQUAKE  Fault Zones Earthquakes  Plate tectonics  Volcanic activity  An earthquake is shaking or trembling of  Human Induced Earthquakes the earth’s surface, caused by the seismic waves or earthquake waves that are Fault Zones generated due to a sudden movement  The immediate cause of most shallow (sudden release of energy) in the earthquakes is the sudden release of stress earth’s crust (shallow-focus earthquakes) along a fault rupture (crack) in the or upper mantle (some shallow-focus and earth’s crust. all intermediate and deep-focus  Sudden slipping of rock formations along earthquakes). fault rupture in the earth’s crust happens due to the constant change in volume and  A seismograph, or seismometer, is an density of rocks due to intense temperature instrument used to detect and record and pressure in the earth’s interior. earthquakes.  The longer the length and the wider the width of the faulted area, the larger the Focus and epicentre resulting magnitude.  The longest earthquake ruptures along thrust faults (convergent boundary) are

Easy to PICK11 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 approximately 1,000 km. Circum-Pacific Belt and along oceanic ridges.  The longest earthquake ruptures on strike-  Volcanic vents, however, are generally several hundred kilometres from the slip faults (transform fault) are about half epicentres of most major shallow earthquakes, and many earthquake sources to one third as long as the lengths along the occur nowhere near active volcanoes. Human Induced Earthquakes thrust fault.  Human Induced Earthquakes refers to typically minor earthquakes and tremors  The fault ruptures along normal faults that are caused by human activity like mining, large scale petroleum extraction, (divergent boundary) are shorter. artificial lakes (reservoirs), nuclear tests etc. Plate tectonics Reservoir-induced seismicity  The pressure offered by a column of water  Slipping of land along the faultline along in a large and deep artificial lake alter stresses along an existing fault or fracture. convergent, divergent and transform Also, the percolation of water weakens the soil structure and lubricates the faults. boundaries cause earthquakes.  Loading and unloading of water can significantly change the stress. This  Reverse faults significant change in stress can lead to a sudden movement along the fault or (convergent boundary) are fracture, resulting in an earthquake.  The 6.3 magnitude 1967 Koynanagar associated with the most powerful earthquake occurred near the Koyna Dam reservoir in Maharashtra and claimed more earthquakes, megathrust earthquakes, than 150 lives. There have been several earthquakes of smaller magnitude since including almost all of those of then.  Some geologists believe that the magnitude 8 or more. earthquake was due to reservoir- triggered seismic activity.  Megathrust earthquakes occur at  The 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which caused approximately 68,000 deaths, is subduction zones, where one tectonic plate another possible example. It is believed that the construction and filling of the is forced underneath another. E.g. 2004 Zipingpu Dam may have triggered the earthquake. Indian Ocean earthquake. Earthquakes based on the depth of focus  Earthquakes can occur anywhere between  Strike-slip faults, particularly continental the Earth’s surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. transforms, can produce major  For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 – 700 km is divided into earthquakes up to about magnitude 8. three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep.  San Andreas Fault is a transform fault where Pacific plate and North American plate move horizontally relative to each other causing earthquakes along the fault lines.  Earthquakes associated with normal faults (divergent boundary) are generally less than magnitude 7. Volcanic activity  Volcanic activity also can cause an earthquake, but the earthquakes of volcanic origin are generally less severe and more limited in extent than those caused by fracturing of the earth’s crust.  Earthquakes in volcanic regions are caused by the consequent release of elastic strain energy both by tectonic faults and the movement of magma in volcanoes.  Such earthquakes can serve as an early warning of volcanic eruptions, as during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens  There is a clear correspondence between the geographic distribution of volcanoes and major earthquakes, particularly in the

Easy to PICK12 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020  Shallow focus earthquakes are found counterparts. within the earth’s outer crustal layer, while Deep-focus earthquake deep focus earthquakes occur within the deeper subduction zones of the earth.  In general, the term “deep-focus earthquakes” is applied to earthquakes  Shallow earthquakes are 0 – 70 km deeper than 70 km. deep.  The deeper-focus earthquakes commonly  Intermediate earthquakes are 70 – 300 occur in patterns called Benioff zones that km deep. dip into the Earth, indicating the presence of a subducting slab (zone of  Deep earthquakes are 300 – 700 km subduction). deep.  Hence, they are also are known  Of the total energy released in earthquakes, as intraplate earthquakes (triggered by about 12-15 per cent comes from the collision between plates). intermediate earthquakes, about 3-5 per cent from deeper earthquakes and  They happen as huge quakes with larger about 70-85 per cent from the shallow magnitudes (usual range of 6 to 8), as a earthquakes. great deal of energy is released with the forceful collision of the plates.  A quake’s destructive force depends not only on the energy released but also on  But the earthquakes alone may not location, distance from the epicentre and cause much destruction as the foci of the depth. quakes lie at great depths and the energy of the quakes dissipates over  On 24 August 2016, a 6.2 earthquake a wide area. rocked Central Italy killing about 300 people. An even bigger 6.8 hit Myanmar  The strongest deep-focus earthquake in the same day killing just a few people. seismic record was the magnitude 8.3 Okhotsk Sea earthquake that occurred at a  Italy’s quake was very shallow, originating depth of 609 km in 2013. within 10 kilometres underground. By contrast, the quake in Myanmar was  The deepest earthquake ever recorded was deeper ? 84 kilometres. a 4.2 earthquake in Vanuatu at a depth of 735.8 km in 2004. Shallow-focus earthquake  The great majority of earthquakes have Wadati–Benioff zone: Earthquakes along the shallow-focus. Hence, they are also called Convergent boundary as ‘crustal earthquakes.’  Majority of the shallow focus earthquakes  Wadati Benioff zone is a zone of are of smaller magnitudes (usual range of subduction along which earthquakes are 1 to 5). But a few can be of a higher common. The most powerful magnitude and can cause a great deal of earthquakes occur along this zone (most destruction. powerful earthquakes occur along the  They occur quite frequently and at convergent boundary). random. However, as most of them are either of smaller magnitudes or occur  Differential motion along the zone along submarine ridges, they are often not produces numerous earthquakes, the foci felt. of which may be as deep as about 700 kilometres.  Though comparatively of low magnitude, shallow focus earthquakes  Wadati–Benioff zones can be produced can cause relatively greater damage at by slip along the subduction thrust fault the surface (as the whole energy is (Himalayan Region – C-C convergent directed towards a small area) boundary) or slip on faults within the compared to their deep-focus downgoing plate (O-O and C-O convergent boundary).

Easy to PICK13 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Distribution of Earthquakes  Earth’s major earthquakes occur mainly in belts coinciding with the margins of tectonic plates.  The most important earthquake belt is the Circum-Pacific Belt, which affects many populated coastal regions around the Pacific Ocean—for example, those of New Zealand, New Guinea, Japan, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and the western coasts of North and South America.  The seismic activity is by no means uniform throughout the belt, and there are many branches at various points.  Because at many places the Circum- Pacific Belt is associated with volcanic activity, it has been popularly dubbed the “Pacific Ring of Fire.”  The Pacific Ring of Fire accounts for about 68 per cent of all earthquakes.  A second belt, known as the Alpine Belt (Himalayas and Alps). The energy released in earthquakes from this belt is about 15 per cent of the world total.  The mid-world mountain belt (Alpine Belt) extends parallel to the equator from Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea from Alpine-Caucasus ranges to the Caspian, Himalayan mountains and the adjoining lands.  There also are striking connected belts of seismic activity, mainly along oceanic ridges—including those in the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the western Indian Ocean—and along the rift valleys of East Africa.

Easy to PICK14 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Paleolithic sites The study of over 7,200 stone artefacts collected from the archaeological site at Attirampakkam in the Kortallayar river basin (Tamilnadu) throws light over the transition period from lower to middle Paleolithic period The Paleolithic/Old stone age period extends from 2.6 million years ago to 10000 BC. The period is divided into Lower, Middle and Upper phases

Easy to PICK15 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Medaram Jatara Medaram Jatara is a festival of tribal origin in Telangana. It is a festival of honouring the goddesses Sarakka celebrated in the state of Telangana. The festival is held every two years at in Medaram Village in the heart of the thick forests of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. The festival honors tribal folk goddess Sammakka and Saralamma. It has become a major pilgrimage in the recent decade and is believed to attract the largest number of devotees in the country after Kumbha Mela. Indus script Scientists at The Institute of Mathematical Sciences have figured out a way to computationally estimate whether a language is written from left to right or otherwise. As a part of the study, the found that the Indus script was written from right to left. However in some long seals the Boustrophedon method of writing was adopted. Boustrophedon writing is the way of writing in the reverse direction in alternate line.

Easy to PICK16 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Archaeological Survey of India Context inscription or monolith which is of historical, Union Minister for Culture & Tourism (I/C) Shri archaeological or artistic interest and which has Prahlad Singh Patel announced that been in existence for not less than 100 years Culture Ministry has approved opening of 820 centrally protected monuments under the Monument of National Importance Archeological Survey of India which have places A \"Monument of National Importance\" of worship from 8th June, 2020. Shri Patel also is designated by the Archaeological Survey of said that all the protocols issued by the MHA and India and includes the following: the Health ministry will be followed in these monuments. 1. The remains of an ancient monument 2. The site of an ancient monument About ASI 3. The land on which there are fences or  The Archaeological Survey of India is an attached office of the Ministry of protective covering structures for Culture. preserving the monument  Under the provisions of the AMASR Act 4. Land by means of which people can freely of 1958(The Ancient Monuments and access the monument Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (or AMASR Act)), the ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance.  These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches, tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and rock-cut caves.  The Survey also maintains ancient mounds and other similar sites which represent the remains of ancient habitation.  It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.  The rules stipulate that area in the vicinity of the monument, within 100 metres is prohibited area.  The area within 200 meters of the monument is regulated category.  Any repair or modifications of buildings in this area requires prior permission Definition of Ancient Monument under AMASR Act,1958 Ancient Monument means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture,

Easy to PICK17 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Maldives Maldives is facing a constitutional and political crisis with is government is against the judiciary, polity and a section bureaucracy. It is a south Asian island country located in the Arabian sea part of Indian ocean. The Maldives archipelago is located atop the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. Maldives is a founding member of the SAARC. It is also a part of the United Nations and Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Sheen Khalai (Blue Skin) Sheen Khalai (Blue Skin) It is an Afghan community in India who fled with their families from the tribal areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Partition in 1947. The women are part of a community of Pushtun Hindus that lived in the Baloch areas and belong to the Kakari tribes still living in afghan. Pushtunsare an Iranic ethnic group who mainly live in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They speak the Pashto language and adhere to Pashtunwali, which is a traditional set of ethics guiding individual and communal conduct.

Easy to PICK18 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Rabi Crops Sowing The area under the sowing reached 324 lakh hectares. The word ‘rabi’ in Arabic means winter. Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard. Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are important for the production of rabi crops. Western temperate cyclones during winter provides the precipitation in these areas. Fog is good for these crops. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) IWAI signed an project agreement with the world bank for the Jal Marg Vikas on Ganga (NW1). The IWAIcame into existence for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. Functions of IWAI with respect to National Waterways  Survey  Navigation, Infrastructure and Regulations  Fairway Development  Pilotage  Coordination of IWT with other modes Read also: https://www.aspireias.com/daily- news-analysis-current-affairs/Jal-Marg-Vikas- Project-Inland-waterways

Easy to PICK19 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Shigmo Festival Shigmo is the traditional spring festival celebrated by farmers in rural Goa. It is an annual float parade held in major cities of the state. The Goan folk art such as GhodeModni, Goff, and Fugdi are performed. It was traditionally celebrated as the homecoming of the warriors who had left their homes and families at the end of Dusshera to fight invaders.

Easy to PICK20 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Karnataka plans to provide tap connections to all rural households under Jal Jeevan Mission by 2022-23 Karnataka presented their Annual Action Plan for activities leading to strengthening water source implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the State and ensure drinking water security. to the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been working with the States in State plans to involve local village community/ preparing a roadmap to implement the Prime Gram Panchayats or user groups in planning, Minister’s flagship programme Jal Jeevan implementation, management, operation and Mission, which aims to provide 55 litres of maintenance of water supply systems in villages potable water per person per day to every rural to ensure long-term sustainability. household of the country by 2024. In all villages, IEC campaign along with Karnataka is planning 100% household coverage community mobilization is taken up to make JJM by 2022-23. Out of 89 lakh rural households in the truly a people’s movement. State plans to engage State, 24.50 lakh have been provided with tap women self-help groups and voluntary connections (FHTCs). In 2019-20, only 22,127 tap organisations to mobilize the rural community for connections were provided. There is an immense creation of in-village water supply infrastructure scope to provide tap connections to remaining as well as for their operation and maintenance. rural households. Under JJM, provision has been made to test every source once for chemical parameters and Karnataka State has 2 aspirational districts, so twice for bacteriological contamination (pre the State has been advised to give priority to these and post monsoon) in a year as a part of water areas while planning. Similarly focus should be on quality monitoring. State has been asked for universal coverage of quality-affected habitations, mandatory testing of all water sources water scarce areas, SC/ ST dominated villages and accordingly. It has also been advised for opening villages under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. water quality laboratory facilities to general Central Government has approved fund of Rs public. In each village, five women are being 1,189.40 Crore for implementation of Jal trained to test the quality of water supplied at Jeevan Mission in Karnataka in 2020-21, which village level. is a considerable increase from Rs. 546.06 Crore in 2019-20. State can avail additional funds based Read: https://www.aspireias.com/daily-news- on the performance. analysis-current-affairs/Government-to-launch- Atal-Bhujal-Yojana Also, the State would receive Rs 3,217 Crore as 15th Finance Commission Grants to PRIs, 50% of which will mandatorily be spent on water and sanitation. There is need for convergence planning to be done by the State under various programmes like MGNREGS, SBM (G), 15th Finance Commission Grants to PRIs, District Mineral Development Fund, CAMPA, CSR Fund, Local Area Development Fund, etc. at village level and Village Action Plan (VAP) of every village is to be prepared by dovetailing all such funds for carrying out water conservation

Easy to PICK21 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the ‘RashtriyaVayoshri Yojana (RVY)'. Its objective is to provide senior citizens belonging to BPL category, who suffer from age related disabilities, with such physical aids and assisted living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions. The Scheme is entirely funded from the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund (SCWF). Under the Scheme, assisted living devices such as walking sticks, elbow crutches, walkers/ crutches, tripods/ quadpods, hearing aids, wheelchairs, artificial dentures, spectacles are distributed to the beneficiary senior citizen.

Easy to PICK22 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Pradhan Mantri VayaVandhanaYojana This scheme deals with senior citizen insurance amount invested in the scheme. scheme which promises assured annual return of The maximum pension amount is 8% for 10 years. The insurance is sold by Life limited at Rs. 10,000 per month. Insurance of India for the citizens. The Minimum o Pension will be payable as per the age of entry is 60 years of age with no maximum frequency of monthly, quarterly, limit. half-yearly, yearly as chosen by the Recent news pensioner at the time of purchase. The Union Cabinet has extended Pradhan o Aadhar has been made Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) for a mandatory to avail the benefit of period of three years. This social security scheme the scheme. for senior citizens will now be valid till March  Role of the Government: 2023. o The Government’s financial liability is limited to the extent of  Earlier, the scheme was open till the difference between the market 31st March, 2020. return generated by LIC and the assured rate of return (7.4% for  Initially an assured rate of return of 2020-21). 7.40% per annum for the year 2020-21 o The pension is based on the per annum will be provided and thereafter assured rate of return. to be reset every year in line with the o This protects elderly persons aged Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS). 60 years and above against a future fall in their interest income due to  The Finance Minister will approve an uncertain market conditions. annual reset rate of return at the  Other Benefits: beginning of every financial year. o Loan upto 75% of Purchase Price shall be allowed after 3 policy Imp points years.  The Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana o The scheme is exempted Yojana was launched in 2017 by the from Goods & Services Tax Ministry of Finance to offer a guaranteed (GST). payout of pension to senior citizens every month.  The Scheme can be purchased offline as well as online through the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) which has been given the sole privilege to operate this Scheme.  Eligibility: o Minimum Entry Age: 60 years (completed) o Maximum Entry Age: No limit  Components: o One can invest a maximum amount of Rs. 15 lakh under PMVVY scheme. The tenure of policy is set at 10 years. o Senior citizens can draw a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 per month depending on the

Easy to PICK23 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Vadnagar Gujarat and the Centre are jointly developing the historical and ancient town of Vadnagar as a major tourist hub. The projects cover Vadnagar’s famous Kirti Toran, Sharmishtha lake, Hatkeshwar Temple and archaeological sites. The town full is of sites that are related to Hinduism and Buddhism. The famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang has visited the place around AD 640 and referred to it as Anandpur. It is also the birth place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Udhyagiri Caves The Udayagiri caves, in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, contain some of the oldest Hindu temples and iconography, related to Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism. They were built during the Gupta period (350-550 CE). Though it is present north of Tropic of Cancer, it is believed that historically, on the day of summer solstice, the sun was directly overhead in this place, making Udhyagiri (Mount of sunrise) a place of worship. It also houses some important Gupta age inscriptions. Iconic Varaha Scultpure rescuing the earth symbolically represented by Bhudevi clinging to the boar's tusk as described in Hindu mythology is a salient feature of the place.

Easy to PICK24 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Great Oxidation Event (GOE)  The atmosphere of early Earth contained little molecular oxygen. A significant increase in oxygen occurred ca. 2.4–2.0 billion years ago in what is called the Great Oxidation Event (GOE).  A large positive excursion in carbon isotopic composition in sedimentary carbonates is known to have occurred 2.2– 2.0 billion years ago (the Lomagundi- Jatuli event), which provides evidence for an enhanced rate of organic carbon burial, i.e., enhanced net production of oxygen.  The Proterozoic snowball Earth event (global glaciation) occurred 2.3–2.2 billion years ago, roughly coinciding with the GOE.  Thus, a causal relationship between the GOE and the snowball Earth event has been suggested.  The snowball Earth event could have been triggered by an increase in oxygen in the atmosphere because it would have resulted in a significant reduction of atmospheric methane level, thereby reducing the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere and causing global glaciation.  On the other hand, termination of the snowball Earth event may have triggered the production of a large amount of oxygen because the extremely hot climate (~60 °C) immediately after the termination of the snowball Earth event must have significantly increased the supply of phosphate to the oceans, resulting in large- scale blooms of cyanobacteria, which could have produced large amounts of oxygen.  The postglacial transition of atmospheric oxygen levels may have promoted an ecological shift and biological innovations for oxygen-dependent life.

Easy to PICK25 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 PM Van Dhan Yojana Coverage of PM Van Dhan Yojana proposed to  The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras provide be expanded from the current 18,000 SHGS to products such as wild honey, broomsticks, 50,000 Van Dhan SHGS, coverage of tribal donna pattal, Samidha sticks, coffee, bay gathers to be increased three fold to 10 lakh leaf, bel pulp were displayed. Tackling an unprecedented crisis of the nature and combating the challenges thrown by the  The tribal affairs offer a ray of hope for Covid-19 Pandemic require different and home-bound tribal labour and artisans innovative approaches. One segment that has through van dhan start-ups. been severely impacted during the on-going crisis has been the tribal population. In such a  The uniqueness of the whole exercise is scenario, the Van Dhan Start-ups, established that it has managed to create market under the scheme initiated by TRIFED, linkages and to transform tribal gatherers Ministry of Tribal Affairs has emerged as a into entrepreneurs. source of employment generation for tribal gatherers and forest dwellers and also the home- Manipur model bound labour and artisans. Many of these tribal enterprises are connected to 1205 Tribal Enterprises have been established markets and have received many orders already. to provide employment opportunities to 3.6 As an example, the efforts of the start-ups in lakh tribal gatherers and 18000 Self-help Manipur which have turned out to be a model groups in 22 States. enterprise for the rest of the country, in terms of the packaging, innovations, and training. Imp Points In Manipur, 77 Van Dhan Kendras have been  The slogan “Go Vocal for Local”, a established in the State for value addition and Mantra in these troubled times, has been processing of forest produces. The Van Dhan adapted to include ‘Go Vocal for Local Kendras have reported sales of MFP products Go Tribal – Mera Van Mera Dhan worth Rs. 49.1 lakhs since September Mera Udyam’. 2019 What stood out in the case of Manipur is the  The aim of the Start-ups scheme is to treble exemplary food safety and hygiene standards the coverage to 10 lakh tribal adopted by these 77 centres that have been gatherers through the Covid-19 relief plan established, the superb attractive packaging of the of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs processed products such as Amla juice, under article 275(I). tamarind amla candy and plum jams, and the  Started in 2019, the Start-ups spread innovative branding and marketing of these rather quickly to all the 22 states, almost products. A mobile van service has also been became a competition once the states started in one of the districts to ensure the selling realised the value added by this initiative. of these products.  The critical significance of Also Read: https://www.aspireias.com/daily- this programme for tribal livelihoods, news-analysis-current-affairs/SCST-Education- which ensures that the proceeds from the Social-Inclusion sales of these value-added products go to the tribals directly. What is Van Dhan Scheme?  The value-added products benefit largely The scheme aims at the economic development from the packaging and marketing that of tribals involved in the collection of Minor these tribal enterprises provide. Food Produces (MFPs) by helping them in optimum utilization of natural resources and providing them with a sustainable livelihood. Under this scheme, the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras constituted, provide skill up-gradation and

Easy to PICK26 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 capacity building training and setting up of to aggregate their stock in tradable quantity and primary processing and value addition facilities. link them with the facility of primary processing Implementation of the Van Dhan Scheme in Van Dhan Vikas Kendra. The implementation of the Van Dhan Yojana is These Kendras play a significant role in the administrated through the Ministry of Tribal economic progress and development of tribes. Affairs at different levels: They also help the tribals utilize their natural resources in the best possible way providing them with a sustainable livelihood based on Minor Forest Produce from the MFP-rich areas. National Level Nodal Department is the The central and state governments will provide necessary support by creating Ministry of Tribal Affairs infrastructure and providing enabling environment for undertaking value addition on systematic scientific lines. TRIFED Central Level The Nodal Agency is TRIFED The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development India (Tribal Cooperative Federation of India (TRIFED) in 1987. Marketing Development TRIFED has two significant functions: Federation of India)  Retail Marketing of Tribal Products  Development of MFP (Minor Forest Produce) State Nodal Agencies Objectives and encouraging Socio-  Promoting for Minor Forest Produce Economic development of the tribal State Level Schemes (MFP ) and District community by improving and developing the market of the tribal commodities. Collectors  TRIFED acts as a medium and a facilitator that helps the tribes sell their products. An SHG consisting of approx  Some of the tribal products include tribals art, textiles, metal craft, tribal painting Unit Level 30 members to form a Van pottery, etc. Dhan Vikas Samuh .  These products and their sale contribute to a major part of their income.  The local Van Dhan Vikas Kendras are managed by a Managing Committee (a Self-Help Group) that consists of Van X X`Dhan SHG representatives.  At the unit level, the members of Van Dhan Vikas Samuh are then trained and provided with working capital to add value to the products, which they collect from the jungle. The tribals will be trained on sustainable harvesting, collection, primary processing and value addition. They will be formed into clusters

Easy to PICK27 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Agroforestry Farmers to Industry HeldMultiple uses of Agroforestry - National Agroforestry Policy Webinar on Connecting Agroforestry Farmers  Whereas there are number of rising sectors to Industry HeldMultiple uses of Agroforestry which would ensure quick returns to Ranging from Additional Income to Farmers to farmers as well as fulfill industry Carbon Sequestration for Combating Climate requirements, including medicinal and Change Highlighted aromatic plants, silk, lac, paper and pulp, A webinar was organized to discuss ways and tree borne oil seeds for production of bio- means to connect agroforestry farmers to industry fuels, etc. and sensitise implementing States to assist farmers in making the correct choice of species.  Promotion of medicinal plants is a major The webinar dwelt on the various reforms brought component of AtmaNirbhar Bharat and in the agriculture sector to ensure optimum there is tremendous scope for convergence remuneration to farmers to ensure their welfare, for tree based and organic medicinal including Rs 1.63 lakh crore outlay and the produce. Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020 to  Issues relating to constraints in supply establish a truly national market and give farmers of raw material to paper industry, which the option to choose the market where they want is being made up by imports, were to sell their produce by removing inter-state trade discussed. barriers and providing e-trading of agriculture produce.  Quality planting material is the basis for Importance improving productivity and hence He highlighted the multiple uses of returns to farmers. The presentation agroforestry ranging from additional income to flagged the importance of clonal planting farmers, nurseries as a means of livelihoods material of the correct varieties which especially for women SHGs, green fodder, would also comply with industry reduction in requirement of fertilsers by requirement. planting leguminous species, carbon sequestration for combating climate change,  Central Silk Board assured to assist etc. farmers who plant the range of silk host Prime Minister’s call for Vocal for our Local is species, which on an average would start of great relevance to agroforestry giving returns in 3-4 years and hence too. Agroforestry could contribute to stepping were ideal for agroforestry systems. up supply of raw material to industry to reduce import dependency in some crucial  In conclusion States were advised to commodities. encourage contract farming on similar Imp Points lines as crops right from pre planting, planting and harvest. Industry, both  The earlier notion of agroforestry existing and potential, should be taken as meaning only timber species needs to the hub and activities planned around that. have a relook from farmers and This would enable fulfillment of the vision industry point of view. of an ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’.  Timber trees have long maturity period India became the first country in the world to and hence delays returns to the farmers. formulate a National Agroforestry Policy in 2014. As a follow up, the Sub Mission for Agroforestry was launched in 2015 to assist the

Easy to PICK28 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 States in encouraging farmers to adopt tree wood based industries and reduce import planting along with crops. Agro climatic zone of wood and wood products to save foreign wise agroforestry models have been developed exchange. by research institutions, including ICAR and  Supplement the availability of agroforestry ICFRE. The scheme is currently being products (AFPs), such as the fuel-wood, implemented in 21 States of the country. fodder, non-timber forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal National agroforestry policy populations, thereby reducing the pressure Agroforestry is defined as a land use system which on existing forests. integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural  Complement achieving the target of landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability, increasing forest/tree cover to promote diversity and ecosystem sustainability. It is a ecological stability, especially in the dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource vulnerable regions. management system that, through integration  Develop capacity and strengthen research of woody perennials on farms and in the in agroforestry and create a massive agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains people's movement for achieving these production and builds social institutions. objectives and to minimize pressure on Major policy initiatives, including the National existing forests. Forest Policy 1988, the National Agriculture Policy 2000, Planning Commission Task Force Strategy on Greening India 2001, National Bamboo Mission 2002, National Policy on Farmers, 2007 1. Establishment of Institutional Setup at and Green India Mission 2010, emphasize the role of agroforestry for efficient nutrient cycling, National level to promote Agroforestry organic matter addition for sustainable agriculture and for improving vegetation cover. o An institutional mechanism, such However, agroforestry has not gained the desired importance as a resource development tool due to as a Mission or Board is to be various factors. A policy which deals with problems faced by established for implementing the agroforestry sector, including adverse policies, weak markets and a dearth of institutional finance agroforestry policy. It will provide was approved by the Cabinet in February 2014. India became the world's first country to adopt a the platform for the multi- comprehensive agroforestry policy. stakeholders to jointly plan and Basic objectives  Encourage and expand tree plantation in identify the priorities and complementarity and integrated manner with crops and livestock to improve strategies, for inter-ministerial productivity, employment, income and livelihoods of rural households, especially coordination, programmatic the small holder farmers.  Protect and stabilize ecosystems, and convergence, financial resources promote resilient cropping and farming systems to minimize the risk during mobilization and leveraging, extreme climatic events.  Meet the raw material requirements of capacity building facilitation, and technical and management support. o The Ministry of Agriculture has the mandate for agroforestry. Agroforestry Mission / Board will be located in the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) in the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). o The actual implementation may involve convergence and dovetailing with a number of programmes. o Agroforestry research and development (R&D), including

Easy to PICK29 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 capacity development and pilot studies / testing and action research should be the responsibility of the ICAR o In the proposed institutional arrangement the current stakes of the key ministries are to be respected and utilized. 2. Simple regulatory mechanism - There is a need to create simple mechanisms / procedures to regulate the harvesting and transit of agroforestry produce within the State, as well as in various States forming an ecological region. There is also the need to simplify procedures, with permissions extended on automatic route as well as approval mode through a transparent system within a given time schedule. There are regulations imposed by multiple agencies of State governments (viz. Department of Forest, land revenue, other local bodies) on harvesting and transit which have negative implications on the 8 growth of agroforestry. All these restricting regulations need to be identified and aligned with the proposed simplified mechanism. 3. Development of a sound database & information system 4. Investing in research, extension and capacity building and related services 5. Improving famers’ access to quality planting material 6. Providing institutional credit and insurance cover for agroforestry 7. Facilitating increased participation of industries dealing with agroforestry produce 8. Strengthening farmer access to markets for tree products. 9. Incentives to farmers for adopting agroforestry 10. Promoting sustainable agroforestry for renewable biomass based energy

Easy to PICK30 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Galapagos The rising tourist arrival to Galapagos Island puts pressure on the fragile volcanic archipelago. The Galapagos Islands, part of the Republic of Ecuador, distributed on either side of the Equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere. The island inspired Charles Darwin’s Theory of evolution and was his field of study. The Islands and their surrounding waters form the Galapagos Province of Ecuador, the Galapagos National Park, and the Galapagos Marine Reserve. UNESCO recognised the islands as a World Heritage Site and as a biosphere reserve.

Easy to PICK31 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 International Yoga day to be celebrated through digital platform this time In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's International Yoga Day on 21st of June, will be celebrated on digital media platforms and there would be no mass gatherings. This year's theme is 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family'. Ministry of Ayush has also appealed to the people to join the world for the Yoga performance on the occasion of 6th International Day of Yoga on 21st June at 7:00 AM from their homes. It said, people should prepare for the Yoga performance according to Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). Ministry of AYUSH in association with Prasar Bharati is also organizing a daily telecast of the Common Yoga Protocol on DD Bharati. The Protocol sessions are being telecast daily in the morning from 8 AM to 8:30 AM. The half an hour session will cover all the major aspects of the Common Yoga Protocol.

Easy to PICK32 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Indian Gas Exchange Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches Indian assets in Mozamibque, Russia and other Gas Exchange, first nationwide online delivery- countries. based gas trading platform  He also mentioned about various ongoing Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & projects to strengthen the gas Steel launched the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), infrastructure in the country like Urja first nationwide online delivery-based gas Ganga (refer www.aspireias.com , trading platform, in an e-ceremony. IGX will Eastern India grid, Indradhanush be a delivery-based trading platform for project in the North-east, Dhamra- delivery of natural Gas. Dahej pipeline, coal gasification and Imp Points CBM policy. He said that country will have more  Incorporated as a wholly owned than 30,000km of pipeline in next few years. subsidiary of the IEX - India’s energy According to the minister, the new electronic market platform, IGX will enable market trading platform for natural gas is the biggest participants to trade in standardised gas indicator of the centre's progressive policy as it contracts. completes the entire energy value chain from gas production from multiple sources and  The platform is fully automated with imports of LNG from different parts of globe to web-based interface to provide seamless having a transparent price mechanism. Talking trading experience to the customers. about the Prime Minister’s vision to provide energy justice to the people of India, he said  The launch of the new electronic trading that they must have universal access to clean, platform for natural gas has opened a affordable, sustainable and equitable supply of new chapter in the energy history of energy. India and help the nation move towards free market pricing of natural gas.  As there will be a market driven pricing mechanism, India Gas Exchange (IGX) will play a bigger role towards realizing a free market for gas, he added.  Through IGX, India's vision on mega investments on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, gas pipelines, CGD infrastructure and permission for market driven price mechanism will be materialized.  Referring to the various initiatives taken to make India a gas-based economy, the Minister said that Indian gas market has multiple price bands for assets including pre-NELP, NELP, High Temperature and High pressure (HTHP) and Deepwater and Ultra Deep Water blocks.  The country has long-term gas contracts with many countries like Qatar, Australia, Russia and the US, and has made investments abroad in strategic

Easy to PICK33 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 India’s deepest solar eclipse India’s deepest solar eclipse  This area changes during the course of  India will witness its “deepest” annular the eclipse because the Moon and Earth solar eclipse of this century this Sunday are in constant motion: Earth (June 21), with the Sun appearing as a continuously rotates around its axis while necklace of pearls for around 30 seconds it orbits the Sun, and the Moon orbits during the maximum phase along a narrow Earth. corridor running through Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand.  This is why solar eclipses seem to travel  The eclipse will be partial in the rest of from one place to another. the country.  An annular solar eclipse occurs when Types of Solar Eclipses the apparent size of the Moon is slightly less than that of the Sun, which leaves There are 4 different types of solar eclipses. How the outer rim of the latter uncovered, much of the Sun's disk is eclipsed, the eclipse giving the appearance of a “ring of fire”. magnitude, depends on which part of the  During this eclipse, that ring is expected Moon's shadow falls on Earth. to be very thin as the Moon will cover up to 98.8% of the solar disc, making it 1. Partial solar eclipses occur when the the “deepest” annular eclipse of the Moon only partially obscures the Sun's century in India, according to experts. disk and casts only its penumbra on  Instead of a wide fiery ring, the Sun may Earth. appear as a necklace of shiny 2. Annular solar eclipses take place beads (known as Baily’s beads) due to when the Moon's disk is not big enough light filtering through Moon’s hills and to cover the entire disk of the Sun, and the valleys. Sun's outer edges remain visible to form a  There’s a possibility that the Sun’s ring of fire in the sky. An annular corona, an ethereal white halo around eclipse of the Sun takes place when the solar disc, will be visible during this the Moon is near apogee, and the Moon's eclipse. antumbra falls on Earth.  With the next eclipse (visible from the country) 11 years away in 2031, this is a 3. Total solar eclipses happen when the big astronomical event for India. Many Moon completely covers the Sun, and it global eclipse chasers were expected to can only take place when the Moon is near watch it from India but the Covid-19 perigee, the point of the Moon's orbit pandemic dashed those plans. closest to Earth. You can only see a total  Domestic travel curbs have dampened the solar eclipse if you're in the path where the plans of many Indian enthusiasts as well. Moon's casts its darkest shadow, the The Moon Eclipses the Sun  An eclipse of the Sun happens when the New Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking out the Sun's rays and casting a shadow on parts of Earth.  The Moon's shadow is not big enough to engulf the entire planet, so the shadow is always limited to a certain area.

Easy to PICK34 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 umbra. 4. Hybrid Solar Eclipses, also known as annular-total eclipses, are the rarest type. They occur when the same eclipse changes from an annular to a total solar eclipse, and/or vice versa, along the eclipse's path. Solar Eclipses Mainly Look Partial  Solar eclipses are only visible from within the area on Earth where the Moon's shadow falls, and the closer you are to the center of the shadow's path, the bigger the eclipse looks.  Solar eclipses are usually named for their darkest, or maximum, point. The exception is the hybrid eclipse.  The darkest point of solar eclipses is only visible from a small area. In most places and for most of the duration, total, annular, and hybrid eclipses look like a partial solar eclipse. Only around New Moon  For a solar eclipse to take place, the Sun, the Moon, and Earth must be aligned in a perfect or near perfect straight line–an alignment astronomers call syzygy. This happens around New Moon every lunar month.  The New Moon has to be near a lunar node. These nodes are the 2 points where the plane of the Moon's orbital path around Earth meets Earth's orbital plane around the Sun–the ecliptic. The paths meet because the plane of the Moon's path around Earth is inclined at an angle of approximately 5° to the ecliptic.  The Sun must also be close to a lunar node so it can form a perfect or near-perfect line with the Moon and Earth. This alignment occurs a little less than 6 months apart, and it lasts, on average, around 34.5 days. It is only during this time–the eclipse season– that eclipses can take place.  When there is a Full Moon during the eclipse season, we see a lunar eclipse.

Easy to PICK35 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Wakhan Corridor Wakhan corridor is a narrow strip of inhospitable and barely accessible land in Afghanistan bordered by the mountains of Tajikistan and Pakistan, and extending all the way to China.  The corridor is also known by its persian name Bam-e-Dunya, or “roof of the world”  The area is populated by the Wakhins who are the members of a nomadic tribe in the region.  Created in the 19th century as a Great Game buffer zone between tsarist Russia and British India, the corridor has since remained untouched by any kind of government  It can be reached from surrounding countries through the “Pamir Knot”, where three of the highest mountain ranges in the world converge. `

Easy to PICK36 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" June - 2020 Coral Reefs A coral reef is an underwater  Coral reefs are fragile, partly because ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held they are sensitive to water conditions. together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster  They are under threat from excess in groups. nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus),  Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which rising temperatures, oceanic includes sea anemones and jellyfish. acidification, overfishing (e.g., from  Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons that support blast fishing, cyanide fishing, and protect the coral. spearfishing on scuba), sunscreen use,  Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated water. and harmful land-use practices,  Sometimes called rainforests of the sea, including runoff and seeps (e.g., from shallow coral reefs form some of Earth's most diverse ecosystems. injection wells and cesspools)(PT).  They are most commonly found at shallow The distribution of coral reefs in India depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water coral reefs exist on smaller Recovery of Coral reefs scales in other areas. The Gulf of Mannar (GoM), spread around 21 islands, suffers significant damage caused by  Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services for livelihood-linked human threats and climate tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. change. The islands and the reef areas collectively constitute the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP).  Corals in the GoM usually bleach in summer if the water temperature surpasses 30?C, but they recover when it drops in August.  According to recent study Cyclones Amphan and Nisarga that unleashed destruction in eastern and western India have saved the Gulf of Mannar corals from mass bleaching as windstorms along with two low pressures have significantly lowered seawater temperature in summer.  As the water temperature level reached 31.8? C in April, partial coral bleaching [less than 5%] was observed.  The high temperature levels persisted till May [the highest level being 31.9? C], when widespread bleaching was witnessed.  Average bleaching prevalence this summer is 28.20%. Shallow areas [0.5 and 2m deep] have a bleaching prevalence of 21.20%, while deep regions [2 and 6m] have only 7%.  Thoothukudi group islands have the highest bleaching prevalence (30.80%),