Caves from the ruins of Kaushambi Subject : History Concept: Pabhosha hill The Pabhosha hill is the solitary rocky island which is north of the Yamuna river. It was said to have the Kaushambi remains of an artificial cave created in the second century BCE. It has an epigraph along with a stone […]
Benefits of reducing salt intake Subject : Science and Technology Background: A recent study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology showed a higher incidence of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes with higher frequency of adding salt to one’s food. A 2001 study found salt substitutes reduced the incidence of […]
Great Indian Bustard Subject: Environment Context: Recently the Supreme Court asked the Government, whether a focussed approach, something like Project Tiger, can be taken up for saving the Great Indian Bustard (GIB). Content: Threats to GIB: GIBs are slow breeders and they build their nests on the ground. The species have been subjected to hunting and egg collection in the past. Decline in prevailing habitat loss as dry grasslands have been diverted for other use. Pesticide contamination […]
Tiger Conservation Subject: Environment Context: India is home to the largest population of tigers in the world and increase in the tiger population is a testament to the success of wildlife conservation programmes implemented for nearly 50 years. Content: Tigers were reportedly increasing at a rate of about 6% per annumand the area that they occupied was roughly stable, at about 89,000 square km since 2014. The latest 2018 estimates put the tiger population at 2,967 with more than half of them in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. (Tiger Census conducted once in 4 years) The consistent implementation of Project Tigersince 1973, whereby dedicated tiger reserves […]
Cheetah Subject: Environment Context: This year marked the arrival of Namibian cheetahs to India, the first intercontinental transfer of wild cats into the country since independence. Content: Eight cheetahs were flown into the Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh, from Namibia on September 17 as part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the big cat into the country. They were released into the quarantine zone at the KNP. Cheetahs were once widespread in India as well as in many parts of the world until they were hunted to extinction. Only around 8,000of them survive, and overwhelmingly in Namibia and South Africa. A different species, called the Asiatic cheetah, once abundant in India, is found in Iran. African Cheetah IUCN status – Vulnerable CITES status – Appendix-I of […]
Elephant Conservation Subject: Environment Context: Recently, the matriarch and weight lifting champion – Nandini, the elephant was hit by a train and died near Coimbatore Railway Station, Tamilnadu. Content: India is home tonearly 60% Asian elephants and the last count of the species in 2017 had put the number at 29,964. While the number of elephants in India has increased in the past few years, the species is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red Listof threatened species and Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act. The South Indian Statesof Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu are home to nearly 44% of India’s elephant population. The number of elephant reserves in India is 32with the latest addition being […]
Rhino Conservation Subject: Environment Context: Alien invasive plant species become a bigger threat than poachers across rhino habitats in India and Nepal. Content: One horned rhino was about a dozen when Kaziranga became a protected area in 1905. According to the State of Rhino Report 2022, the poor sighted herbivore’s number in Kaziranga is an estimated 2,613, more than 65% of its total population of 4,014 across 11 habitats in India and Nepal. A decade ago, the rhino’s population in these domains was 2,454. However, the antipoaching mechanism in India and Nepal with more manpower, capacity building of frontline staff and equipping forest guards have helped protect the rhino. Also, the sentiments of local peopleattached to the rhino have been a factor in the sharp drop in the number of rhinos killed, from 54 in 2013 and 2014 to one each in 2021 and 2022. To know more about Rhino & […]
Increasing the shelf life of stored blood Subject: Science and Technology Context: Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (DBT- in- Stem), an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, has developed a novel blood bag technology to enhance the quality and shelf life of stored blood by 25%. Content: Millions of blood units are discarded due to decline in quality during storage. Stored blood has a finite shelf life. Typically, stored cells produce various extracellular components known as damageassociated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which damage the blood cells during storage. The […]
Tanpura Subject: Art and Culture Context: With declining patronage in the domestic market for stringed instrument makers, distressed artisans seek the help of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) which is sponsoring their workshops in the U.S and U.K. Concept: Tanpura also referred to as tambura and tanpuri, is a long-necked plucked string instrument or drone instrument, originating in India, found in various forms in Indian Music. By the […]
Daily Practice Sheet 4 December 2022 Current Affairs Based GS 3: Economy Discuss the challenges for mass adoption of E Vehicle. What do you understand by food security. Discuss the threats to food security. Discuss the role of ICT/e-Technology in Agriculture? GS 3: Environment Assess COP 27 achievements. [Reference: The Hindu] GS 3: […]