★★★★★ 4/5
Prelims: Geography (Projects in News), Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, Mahakali Treaty, Mahakali River
Mains: General Studies-I Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
Why in the News ?
Despite the recent agreement between India and Nepal, discussions over the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) are still deadlocked.
Source: TH
Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project
- Background– In February 1996, India and Nepal entered into the Mahakali Treaty. The focal point of this treaty is the implementation of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
- About– It is a bi-national hydropower project between India and Nepal, planned for development along the Mahakali River, which forms the border between the two countries.
- Aim– Its main goals are to produce energy and improve irrigation in both countries.
- Features:
- It includes building a 315-meter tall dam across the Mahakali River, called Sharda in India.
- The project aims to generate about 6,480 MW of energy, divided equally between both sides.
- It will also provide water for irrigating 130,000 hectares of land in Nepal and 240,000 hectares in Indian territory.
- Concern– Environmentalists have raised concerns about its potential impact on regional ecology and local communities.
Mahakali Treaty
- It is an agreement between the Governments of India and Nepal regarding the integrated development of the Mahakali River.
- The treaty recognizes the Mahakali River as a boundary river between the two countries.
- Signed: The treaty was signed in 1996.
Mahakali river (Sharda River)
- Origin– The Sharda River, also called Kali River and Mahakali River, originates from Kalapani in the Himalayas, situated in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
- Flow- The river flows along Nepal’s western border with India and joins the Ghaghara (Karnali/Manchu) River, which is a tributary of the Ganga.
- Tributaries:
- Left- Chameliya, Ramgun in Nepal
- Right- Kuthi, Dhauli, Gori, Sarju, Ladhiya rivers in Uttarakhand (India)
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Q. Consider the following pairs:
Reservoirs States
1. Ghataprabha Telangana
2. Ghandhi Sagar Madhya Pradesh
3. Indira Sagar Andhra Pradesh
4. Maithon Chhattisgarh
How many pairs given above ate not correctly matched?
A) Only one pair
B) Only two pair
C) Only three pair
D) All four pair
Ans: c. Only three pair
Explaination:
- Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. The Ghataprabha Reservoir is located in the Belgavi district of the state of Karnataka. The reservoir has storage of about 659 million cubic meters, providing irrigation to a total extent of 1,396,000 hectares of land. The Ghataprabha River is a major tributary of the River Krishna.
- Pair 2 is correctly matched. The Gandhi Sagar Dam is one of the four major dams built on India’s Chambal River and is located in the Mandsaur & Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh. It is a masonry gravity dam.
- Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. The Indira Sagar Dam on Narmada river is a multipurpose project, located at Narmada Nagar, Punasa in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.
- Indirasagar Polavaram, an interstate project on river Godavari has been conceived as a part of recommendations of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). The project implements Godavari-Krishna link under Interlinking of rivers project. Indira Sagar (Polavaram) project is located on river Godavari near Ramayyapet village of Polavaram Mandal of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.
- Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Maithon, dam is located on the banks of river Barakar. The Maithon Dam is located about 48 kms from the Coal City of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The dam with an underground power station is one of its kinds in the whole of South East Asia. The lake on which it is built is spread over 65 square kilometers. This was developed by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC Ltd) .
★★★★★ 4/5
Prelims: Culture (Ancient Cities), Dwarka city, Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) Scheme
Mains: General Studies-I, Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Why in the News ?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently participated in underwater prayers at ‘Dwarka Nagari’, a place believed to be the kingdom of Lord Krishna.
Source: IE
📌 FYI on Prelims
Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) Scheme
- Aim: It aims to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country.
- Objectives
- Planning, development and implementation of heritage-sensitive infrastructure
- Service Delivery and infrastructure provisioning in the core areas of the historic city
- Preserve and revitalise heritage wherein tourists can connect directly with city’s unique character
- Develop and document a heritage asset inventory of cities – natural, cultural, living and built heritage as a basis for urban planning, growth, service provision and delivery
- Implementation and enhancement of basic services delivery with focus on sanitation services like public conveniences, toilets, water taps, street lights, with use of latest technologies in improving tourist facilities/amenities.
- Local capacity enhancement for inclusive heritage-based industry
- Funding
- HRIDAY is a central sector scheme, where 100% funding will be provided by Government of India.
Dwarka City
About:
- It is located on the western side of the State of Gujrat.
- The submerged city of Dwarka has been the focus of marine excavations and research endeavors.
- It is one of Hinduism’s seven sacred cities (Sapt Puris). Dwarka is believed to have been reclaimed from the sea by Lord Krishna after he relocated from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh to Dwarka in Gujarat.
- In the Vishnu Purana, mentions indicate that Dwarka was a city adorned with stunning gardens, moats, ponds, and palaces
- Legend holds that Dwarka was submerged under the Arabian Sea as Lord Krishna departed from the world, marking the beginning of the Kali Yuga.
Present day Dwarka
- It is a coastal town situated at the entrance of the Gulf of Kutch, facing the Arabian Sea.
- It serves as a significant point along the Krishna pilgrimage route, connecting Vrindavan, Mathura, Govardhan, Kurukshetra, and Puri.
- Dwarka is renowned for its 13th-century Dwarkadheesh temple, devoted to Lord Krishna.
- It is one of 12 heritage cities chosen nationwide by the Government of India for civic infrastructure development under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) Scheme
★★★★★ 4.5/5
Prelims: Environment (Classification of Species), Mushrooms, Mutualism
Mains: General Studies-III, Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Why in the News ?
Two researchers in Goa have said that they synthesised gold nanoparticles from a wild mushroom species that is widely eaten as a delicacy in the coastal state.
Source: IE
📌 FYI on Prelims
Mutualism
- It is mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms; here both species derive benefit
- The relationship may be compulsory (obligatory) or facultative (optional)
- Examples
- Lichens
- The term means ”living together”
- This is an example where contact is close and permanent as well as obligatory
- The fungus provides moisture as well as minerals and protection to algae; whereas alga manufactures food material
- Neither of the two can grow alone independently
- Crocodile and Bird association
- Here the bird enters the mouth of crocodile and picks up leaches found between the teeth and feed on them
- Thus, birds clean the teeth and crocodile is benefited; while the bird gets is nutritional requirement
- Lichens
Roen olmi
About:
- It is a mushroom of the Termitomyces species.
- It grows on termite hills and is locally known as ‘roen olmi’ in Goa.
- It is an edible wild mushroom popular among Goans and consumed during the monsoons.
- These mushrooms have no independent existence. They grow only in association with termites.
- Habitat: It is endemic to the Western Ghats, where the thick forest cover and high humidity provides an ideal breeding ground.
- Ecological significance: It plays a very important role as a powerful biodegrading fungus in forest and grassland ecosystems converting 50% dead plant material on the ground into rich soil.
- In fact, all Termitomyces species are edible and have unique food value attributed to their texture, flavour, nutrient content, and beneficial mediational properties.
- Additionally, Termito-myces have been recognized for their ethno-medicinal importance in various indigenous communities throughout Asia and Africa.
- Termitomyces species possess various beneficial antioxidant and antimicrobial properties
Mushrooms
- They are also known as toadstools, are fleshy and spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. They are typically found above ground, growing on soil or their food source.
- The word ‘toadstool’ is commonly used to describe fungi considered toxic, whereas “mushroom” is typically used to categorise fungi that are safe to eat.
- They lack chlorophyll and, unlike plants, do not engage in photosynthesis.
- Instead, they derive nutrients through the decomposition of organic matter or by forming symbiotic relationships with plants, particularly through mycorrhizal fungi.
Nutritional Profile:
- Mushrooms offer several nutritional benefits. They are low in calories and fat and a good source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.
- They contain essential nutrients such as B vitamins (riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid) and minerals (selenium, potassium, and copper).
- Mushrooms also contain various beneficial compounds, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
- These compounds may help to protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Certain mushroom species, like shiitake mushrooms, are also known for their potential health benefits.
Medicinal Properties:
- Certain mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for their potential medicinal properties.
- For example, reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are believed to boost the immune system and have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) may enhance brain function and promote nerve regeneration.
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Q. Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?
1. Cnidarians
2. Fungi
3. Protozoa
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Explaination:
- Some organisms live together and share both shelter and nutrients. This relationship is called symbiosis.
- Statement 1 is correct. Cnidaria is an invertebrate phylum which often involves in a symbiotic relation with the unicellular dinoflagellate algae, called zooxanthellae.
- Statement 2 is correct. Certain fungi live inside the roots of plants. The plants provide nutrients to the fungus and, in return, the fungus provides water and certain nutrients. Fungi also lives in a symbiotic relation with algae as a lichen.
- Statement 3 is correct. Protozoa also forms symbiotic relations with other organisms. Symbiosis in protozoa mostly represents:
- A close mutualistic association between a protozoan and unicellular symbiont (like bacteria, cyanobacteria or/and unicellular algae) or
- Protozoans and a multicellular organism (ruminants, lower termites, wood-eating cockroaches, plants)
★★★★★ 5/5
Prelims: Ancient History (Neolithic Age), Neolithic Period, Neolithic Sites
Mains: General Studies-I Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Why in the News ?
Researchers recently unearthed an ancient burial site of a child with a pot beside it likely dating back to the neolithic period, at Chettimedu Pathur near Chennai.
Source: NIE
Key Facts 🗝️
Important Neolithic sites in India: Burzahom in Kashmir, Chiron in Bihar and Uttar in Andhra Pradesh, and Edakkal caves in Kerala.
Burial at Chengalpattu
- Ancient burial site of a child with a pot beside it likely dating back to the neolithic period, at Chettimedu Pathur in Chengalpattu has been unearthed.
- The age of the child could be between 9 and 11. The pot beside the skeleton is typical of neolithic period.
- Many shreds of burnished red ware, burnished grey ware and red ware having elongated neck and wide mouth belonging to the same period were also found.
Neolithic Period
About
- The Neolithic Period, also called the New Stone Age, is the final stage of cultural evolution or technological development among prehistoric humans.
- The term Neolithic is most frequently used in connection with agriculture, which is the time when cereal cultivation and animal domestication were introduced.
- It is characterized by the beginning of a settled human lifestyle.
- The Neolithic stage of development was attained during the Holocene Epoch (the last 11,700 years of Earth’s history).
- The starting point of the Neolithic is generally thought to have occurred sometime around 10,000 BCE.
- The Neolithic followed the Paleolithic Period, or the age of chipped-stone tools, and preceded the Bronze Age, or the early period of metal tools.
- The Neolithic Revolution started in the Fertile Crescent, a region of the Middle East, where humans first took up farming.
Features of the Neolithic Age:
Characteristics:
- Stone tools shaped by polishing or grinding,
- Dependence on domesticated plants or animals,
- Settlement in permanent villages,
- Appearance of such crafts as pottery and weaving.
- The houses were built of mud and reed in rectangular or circular shapes.
- Alcohol was first produced during this period, and architecture, as well as its interior and exterior decoration, first appeared.
- Status objects like elaborate pottery and carved jades were placed in tombs during the Neolithic period.
- This practice suggests two things: Neolithic people’s belief in the afterlife and the emergence of social classes. Only important and wealthy individuals had the privilege of being buried with these precious objects
End of the Neolithic Age:
- Towards the end of the Neolithic era, copper metallurgy is introduced, which marks a transition period to the Bronze Age, sometimes referred to as the Chalcolithic or Eneolithic Era.
- In time, bronze became the primary material for tools and weapons, and a good part of the stone technology became obsolete, signalling the end of the Neolithic and thus of the Stone Age.
★★★★★ 4.5/5
Prelims: Polity (Constitutional Bodies), National Commission for Backward Classes, Article 342-A
Mains: General Studies-II, Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Why in the News ?
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has raised serious objections to the West Bengal government’s recommendation to include 83 castes in the central list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Source: ET
📌 FYI on Prelims
Article 342-A
- The Constitution (One Hundred and Second) Amendment Act 2018 has inserted Article 342-A in the Constitution of India pertaining to the Central List of Socially and Educationally backward Classes (SEBCs – commonly known as other backward classes – OBCs), which had authorized the President to specify the Central list of the SEBCs, in relation to a particular State or Union Territory.
- Further, any modification to the central list of the SEBCs (OBCs) can be done only by the Parliament.
National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
About
- NCBC was initially constituted by the Central Government by the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- It has been accorded constitutional status through “The Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018”, whereby Article 338B has been inserted, forming a Commission for the socially and educationally backward classes to be known as the NCBC.
- The amendment inserted Article 338B, Article 342A, and Clause 26C in Article 366.
- Composition: The Commission consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and three other Members in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India.
- The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and other Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
Functions:
- to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the socially and educationally backward classes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government, and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
- to inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the socially and educationally backward classes;
- to participate and advise on the socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
- to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
- to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare, and socio-economic development of the socially and educationally backward classes;
- to discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare, and development and advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament, by rule specify
- The President shall cause all such reports to be laid before each House of Parliament along with a memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union and the reasons for the non-acceptance, if any, of any of such recommendations.
Powers:
- While inquiring into any complaint, it will have all the powers of a civil court (it will be able to summon any person, ask for a document, and receive evidence on affidavits).
- The Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.
- The Commission shall have the power to regulate its own procedures.
OBC Sub-Categorization: Justice G Rohini’s Committee and its Implications on Reservations
- A committee under Justice G Rohini has been set up to examine sub-categorization of OBC on 2 October, 2017 to examine sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes.
- The sub-categorization of OBCs can ensure increased access to benefits such as reservations in educational institutions and government jobs for less dominant OBCs.
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Mains: PYQ/FAQ
Q. Has the conversion of the National Commission for Backward Castes into a constitutional body solved the problems faced by the backward castes in India? (10 marks)
★★★★★ 5/5
Prelims: Science & Tech. (Important space Missions), Kulasekarapattinam Spacesport, Circular and Elliptical Orbits, Small Satellite Launch vehicle
Mains: General Studies-III, Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
Why in the News ?
The Prime Minister recently laid the foundation stone for a new spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam in southern Tamil Nadu.
Source: IE
📌 FYI on Prelims
Difference between Circular and Elliptical Orbits
- Elliptical Orbits:
- Mostly objects such as satellites and spacecrafts are put in elliptical orbits only temporarily.
- They are then either pushed up to circular orbits at a greater height or the acceleration is increased until the trajectory changes from an ellipse to a hyperbola and the spacecraft escapes the gravity of the Earth in order to move further into space — for example, to the Moon or Mars or further away.
- Circular Orbits:
- Satellites that orbit the Earth are mostly placed in circular orbits.
- One reason is that if the satellite is used for imaging the Earth, it is easier if it has a fixed distance from the Earth.
- If the distance keeps changing as in an elliptical orbit, keeping the cameras focused can become complicated.
About:
Kulasekarapattinam Spaceport
- Location: It is a new spaceport coming up at Kulasekarapattinam, a coastal hamlet near the temple town of Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district in southern Tamil Nadu.
- It will be second after the space agency’s existing Satish Dhawan Space Centre, founded in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota in 1971, with two launch pads.
- It will focus on the launch of Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs) on a commercial basis.
- It will house 35 facilities, including a launch pad, rocket integration facilities, ground range and checkout facilities, and a mobile launch structure (MLS) with checkout computers.
- It would have the capacity to launch 24 satellites per year using a mobile launch structure.
- Spread over 2,350 acres, the Kulasekarapatnam spaceport will help save fuel for small rocket launches as the port can launch rockets directly south over the Indian Ocean without requiring crossing landmasses.
- This is unlike the existing launch site at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, which adds more fuel requirements for launching into a polar orbit as rockets need to follow a curved path to the south to avoid Sri Lanka’s landmass.
- It is estimated to cost Rs. 986 crore.
Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
- It is a three stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
- SSLV is 2m in diameter and 34m in length with a lift-off weight of around 120 tonnes.
- SSLV is capable of launching 500kg satellites in 500km planar orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).
- Key Features:
- Low cost,
- Low turn-around time,
- Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites,
- Launch demand feasibility,
- Minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc
- Significance:
- The Era of small satellites:
- Earlier, the bigger satellite payloads were given importance, but as the sector grew many players emerged like Businesses, government agencies, universities, and laboratories began to send satellites.
- Mostly all of them fall in the category of small satellites.
- The Rise in Demand:
- The demand for the launch of small satellites has increased at a rapid pace in the last eight to ten years, due to the ever-growing need for space-based data, communication, surveillance, and commerce.
- Saves cost:
- Satellite manufacturers and operators do not have the luxury of waiting months for space on a rocket or paying exorbitant trip charges.
- Therefore, Organizations are increasingly developing a constellation of satellites in space.
- Projects like SpaceX’s Starlink and One Web are assembling a constellation of hundreds of satellites.
- The Era of small satellites:
UPSC CSE EXAMS Corner
Prelims: PYQ/FAQ
Q. With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018)
- PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
- Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
- GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3
C) 1 and 2
D) 3 only
Ans: a. 1 only
Explaination:
- PSLV is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages. It is used mainly for delivering various satellites in Low Earth Orbits, particularly the Indian Remote Sensing series of satellites. It can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
- GSLV is designed mainly to deliver Indian National Satellite System, or INSAT, which is a series of multipurpose geo-stationary satellites launched by ISRO to fulfil the needs of telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, and search and rescue operations. It places satellites to the highly elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- The satellites in the geosynchronous orbits appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
- GSLV-Mk III is a fourth generation, three stage launch vehicle with four liquid strap-ons. The indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which is flight proven, forms the third stage of GSLV Mk III. It is capable to lift 4-5 tonne satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The rocket has three-stages with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C-25). Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
