UPSC GS 1

Indus Valley Civilisation Script

• News:  Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a $1-million prize for experts or organisations in the event of their success in deciphering the scripts of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC).
• Harappan Script
  • Decipherment Status: The Harappan script remains largely undeciphered. Although there have been attempts to compare it with contemporary scripts from Mesopotamia and Egypt, it is recognized as an indigenous product of the Indus region, without significant links to Western Asian scripts.

• Key Features:
  • Short Inscriptions: Harappan inscriptions are generally brief, with an average of about five characters per inscription. The longest known inscription contains only 26 characters.
  • Boustrophedon Script: The Harappan script is written in a boustrophedon style, where writing alternates direction from right to left on one line and left to right on the following line.
  • Pictographic Nature: The script is primarily pictographic, not alphabetical. It consists of approximately 250 to 400 pictographs, with each symbol representing a sound, idea, or object.
• Specimens and Usage: Over 4,000 examples of Harappan writing are found on stone seals and various other objects. Unlike the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, the Harappans typically did not produce long inscriptions. Most of their inscriptions were short and likely used for marking private property, particularly on seals.

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Kalpeni Island

• News: Recently, a group of divers stumbled upon a shipwreck while exploring marine life near Kalpeni Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
• Location and Area: Kalpeni is a village located in the Lakshadweep archipelago, situated in the Arabian Sea. It spans an area of 2.79 square kilometers. The island is 287 kilometers (155 nautical miles) away from Kochi, Kerala, and lies southeast of Kavaratti Island, between Androth and Minicoy.

• Geographical Composition: Kalpeni forms part of a single atoll, along with two small islets—Tilakkam and Pitti—and the uninhabited Cheriyam Island to the north.

• Natural Beauty: Kalpeni is known for its stunning coral reefs, clear turquoise waters, and pristine white sandy beaches. The island features a large lagoon that extends approximately 2.8 kilometers at its widest point, with the island aligned in a north-south direction.
• Marine Life and Activities: The island is surrounded by an expansive coral reef, rich with diverse marine species, making it an ideal destination for snorkeling and scuba diving.
• Climate: Kalpeni experiences a climate similar to that of Kerala, characterized by tropical conditions.
• Cultural Heritage: The island is home to the indigenous Maliku community, who contribute to the rich cultural heritage of Kalpeni.

Toda Tribe

• News: The Toda tribe, one of the oldest Dravidian ethnic groups residing in the Nilgiris Hills of Tamil Nadu, celebrated their traditional ‘Modhweth’ festival to mark the New Year.
• Location and Ethnicity: The Toda tribe is one of the oldest ethnic groups residing in the Upper Nilgiris plateau of Tamil Nadu.

• Clan Structure: The Toda community is divided into five clans: Paiki, Pekkan, Kuttan, Kenna, and Todi.
• Language: The Todas speak their own language, which does not have a script.
• Community Organization: The Todas live in closed communities or hamlets known as “mund.” Their society follows a patrilineal descent system, with membership determined by paternal lineage. The community is further divided into two endogamous groups: Tharthazoll and Theveioll.
• Social Governance: The Toda tribe maintains social harmony through their traditional government, known as “Noim.” This system has been in place for generations, with the “Monegar,” a tribal headman, at its helm. The Monegar holds full authority over the tribe and is responsible for dispensing justice within the community.
• Occupation: The Toda tribe primarily depends on buffalo herding and embroidery for their livelihood. The tribe is known for its exceptional embroidery skills, especially the red-and-black designs on white fabrics. This craft has earned the Toda tribe a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Festival: The Toda tribe celebrates the “Modhweth” or buffalo festival annually, which takes place on the last Sunday of December or the first Sunday of January.

UPSC GS 2

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

• News: The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Flagship Event: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the prominent event organized by the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
• Held in Different Cities: The event is hosted in various cities across India to highlight the diversity and progress of different regions.
• Biennale Evolution: Since 2015, it has become a biennial event, with theme-based conferences taking place during the years in between.

• History: Held annually on January 9th, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas marks the day in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi, the most prominent Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa to lead the freedom struggle.
• Primary Goals of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas:
  • Recognizing Diaspora Contributions: To honor the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora to India’s development.
  • Promoting Understanding of India Abroad: To foster a better understanding of India’s culture, progress, and values globally.
  • Supporting Indian Communities Globally: To assist in promoting the welfare of Indian communities across the world and further India’s interests.
  • Engagement with Overseas Indians: To provide a platform for the diaspora to connect with both the government and the citizens of their homeland.
• Impact:
  • Strengthening Connections: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has played a vital role in enhancing ties between India and its extensive overseas community, allowing for the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and expertise across various fields.
• Theme for This Year: “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat” (Developed India):
  The theme for this year focuses on acknowledging the role of the diaspora in contributing to the development of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’

e-Shram Portal

• News:  Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, recently launched the multilingual functionality on e-Shram portal.
• Definition: The e-Shram portal is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India to support and empower the unorganized workforce. In line with the vision of making eShram a ‘One-Stop-Solution’, this portal will now be available in all 22 Scheduled Languages. 
• Launch Details: It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on August 26, 2021.
• Purpose: The portal aims to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW).

• Language Enhancement: The portal has been upgraded through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MEITY’s) Bhashini project, expanding its language support to 22 languages. Previously, it was available only in English, Hindi, Kannada, and Marathi.
• Objectives:
  • Centralized Worker Database: To establish a centralized database of unorganized workers, ensuring effective policy implementation.
  • Access to Social Security Benefits: To improve access to social security schemes and benefits for workers in various sectors such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and street vending.
  • Job Matching and Skill Development: To facilitate job matching and provide skill development opportunities for workers.
  • Labor Market Resilience: To enhance labor market resilience by integrating unorganized workers into the formal economy.
  • Financial Inclusion: To promote financial inclusion by enabling direct benefit transfers and digital payments to workers.
• Features:
  • Universal Account Number (UAN): Registered workers receive a UAN linked to their Aadhaar, which provides seamless access to benefits.
  • Streamlined Registration Process: The portal simplifies the registration process, requiring minimal documentation such as Aadhaar and bank account details. It also offers easy self-registration for beneficiaries.
  • Multilingual Accessibility: The portal supports multiple languages, ensuring inclusivity for workers from different regions.
  • Grievance Redressal: A dedicated helpline and support system are in place to address workers’ queries and grievances efficiently.
  • Integration with Employment and Skills Opportunities: Registered workers can access various employment opportunities, skill development programs, apprenticeships, pension schemes, digital skilling, and state-specific schemes through the portal.
  • Family Details for Migrant Workers: The portal captures family details for migrant workers, assisting in providing child education and women-centric schemes for families that have migrated.
  • Data Sharing with BOCW Welfare Boards: The portal shares data of construction workers with the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Boards, ensuring their registration and access to relevant schemes.
  • Data Sharing Portal (DSP): A Data Sharing Portal has been introduced to securely share e-Shram beneficiary data with State and Union Territory governments. This facilitates the targeted implementation of social security and welfare schemes for registered unorganised workers.

UPSC GS 3

Gravitational Lensing

• News:    Physicists studying a distant galaxy using a telescopic technique called “gravitational lensing” found 44 previously unknown astral bodies.
• Definition: Gravitational Lensing refers to the phenomenon where light from a background source is affected by the curvature of spacetime, which is caused by the presence of mass.
• Effect on Light: This effect causes light to bend, distort, and even magnify as it passes near a massive object.

• Gravitational Lensing Theory:
  • Prediction by Einstein (1915): The concept of Gravitational Lensing was first predicted by Albert Einstein in 1915. It involves the bending of light due to the influence of large masses.
  • Spacetime Curvature: According to Einstein’s general theory of relativity, time and space are interconnected into a single entity known as spacetime. Large masses cause spacetime to curve, and gravity itself is understood as the curvature of spacetime.
  • Light Path Curvature: As light travels through spacetime, its path is bent when passing near a massive object, as predicted by the theory.
  • Dramatic Example of Theory: Gravitational Lensing serves as a dramatic and observable demonstration of Einstein’s theory in real-world scenarios.
• Observable Effects:
  • Lensing Objects: The effect is most noticeable when light from a bright background source, such as a star, quasar, or galaxy, passes near a massive object like another galaxy or a galaxy cluster, known as the “lensing object” or simply a gravitational lens.
  • Apparent Shifts and Multiple Images: The bending of light can cause the object’s apparent position in the sky to shift, or it can create multiple images of a single object. This can sometimes produce striking formations such as rings or crosses.
  • Light Amplification: Gravitational Lensing can also amplify light from a background object. This natural magnification allows astronomers to observe distant, faint galaxies and other cosmic objects.

• Significance for Astronomy:
• • Cosmic Magnifying Glass: The phenomenon allows astronomers to use galaxy clusters as natural magnifying glasses, making it possible to observe objects that would otherwise be too faint to detect.
  • Exploring the Early Universe: Gravitational Lensing has become a crucial tool for studying the early universe, enabling the detection of light from the first galaxies, which can be observed with advanced instruments such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Nitrogen Use Efficiency

• News:  Researchers have demonstrated that reducing nitric oxide (NO) levels in plants can significantly improve nitrogen uptake and Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in rice and Arabidopsis. 
• Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE): Nitrogen Use Efficiency refers to how efficiently a plant utilizes applied or fixed nitrogen for biomass production.
• Calculation: NUE is expressed as the ratio of crop yield to the amount of nitrogen absorbed either from the soil through the roots or from the atmosphere via bacterial fixation.
• Importance in Crop Breeding: NUE is a critical trait in crop breeding programs that aim to enhance crop yields while reducing input costs, such as fertilizers, and minimizing nitrogen’s environmental impact.

• Challenges with Traditional Methods:
• • Over-reliance on Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilizers: Traditional methods of improving NUE often involve the application of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. While effective, these practices come with considerable drawbacks.
  • Increased Operational Costs: The use of nitrogen fertilizers raises operational costs for farmers.
  • Environmental Concerns: Fertilizer production contributes to the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and excessive fertilizer use contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, leading to environmental degradation.
• Highlights of the Study:
  • Novel Approach to Improving NUE: A recent study suggests a new method to enhance NUE by focusing on the regulation of Nitrogen Oxide (NO) levels within plants.
  • Impact on Nitrate Transporters: By adjusting NO levels, researchers can influence the activity of high-affinity nitrate transporters (HATs), which are essential for efficient nitrogen uptake, particularly under low nitrogen conditions.
  • Sustainable Solution: This approach offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional practices, potentially increasing crop yields while reducing the need for excessive nitrogen inputs.
  • Food Security Implications: As global food security challenges persist, this research provides a promising route for developing agricultural practices that are more efficient and environmentally friendly.
• Significance of Nitric Oxide (NO):
  • Role in Plant Physiology: Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes within plants.
  • Regulation of Nitrate Transporters: It is instrumental in activating high-affinity nitrate transporters, which are vital for nitrogen absorption, especially when nitrogen availability is low.

Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

• News: Male tiger born in Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal travelled 500 kilometres, and reached Solapur district.
• Location: Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, India. The sanctuary is nourished by a network of rivers, including Purna, Krishna, Bhima, and Tapti, which irrigate the area from various directions. Due to the abundance of water, it is often referred to as a “Green Oasis” in Southern Maharashtra.
• Geological Features: The region is primarily composed of basalt rock formations, the result of volcanic lava eruptions that occurred centuries ago, shaping the landscape of the sanctuary.
• Vegetation:
  • Terrain: The sanctuary’s hilly and undulating terrain leads to a diverse range of vegetation, which varies with changes in altitude.
  • Flora: The flora of Tipeshwar includes a rich variety of plant species, such as herbs, grasses, and bamboo forests, which thrive in the area’s unique environment.
• Fauna:
  • Wildlife: The sanctuary is home to a wide range of animals, including:
  • Hyena
  • Chital (spotted deer)
  • Black buck
  • Sambar
  • Jackal
  • Wild boar
  • Peacock
  • Monkey
  • Blue bull (Nilgai)
  • Wild cat
  • Bear

Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary

• News:  Bombay high court has taken suo motu cognizance of tourists cornering a tigress and her five cubs in Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Location: The sanctuary is located in Maharashtra, spanning the Pauni tehsil in Bhandara district and the Umred, Kuhi, and Bhivapur talukas in Nagpur district.
• Establishment and Size: Established in 2013, the sanctuary covers an area of 189 square kilometers.
• Geographical Boundaries: The sanctuary is bordered to the northeast by the Wainganga River and the Gose Khurd Dam, while its southern boundary is marked by State Highway 9 and Bhiwapur Town.
• Connectivity with Other Reserves: The forest along the Wainganga River creates a vital link between the sanctuary and the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The sanctuary is also situated 80 km from the Pench Tiger Reserve and 50 km southwest of Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Flora:
  • Dominant Tree Species: The sanctuary’s forest is primarily composed of indigenous tree species, including teak, bamboo, tendu, and mahua. Teak dominates the area, making up 60% of the crop composition.
• Fauna:
  • Wildlife Diversity: The sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife, including:
  • Resident breeding tigers
  • Herds of Gaur (Indian bison)
  • Wild dogs
  • Rare species such as flying squirrels, pangolins, and honey badgers.

Global Water Monitor Report 2024

• News:   The 2024 Global Water Monitor Report, led by The Australian National University (ANU), has revealed alarming trends in the global water cycle, driven by unprecedented temperature increases.
• Published By: The report was created by a consortium of researchers from universities and organizations across various countries, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, Austria, the USA, Netherlands, and Denmark.

• Key Global Findings:
  • Climate Change Impact: Climate change has amplified the water cycle, leading to an increase in evaporation rates due to rising air temperatures. This has intensified the strength, duration, and rainfall intensity of monsoons, cyclones, and other storm systems, resulting in severe flooding worldwide.
  • Water-related Disasters in 2024: Water-related disasters have had a devastating impact globally in 2024. These disasters led to:
  • Over 8,700 fatalities
  • Displacement of 40 million people
  • Economic damages exceeding US$550 billion
  • Flash floods, landslides, and tropical cyclones were the deadliest and most economically damaging types of disasters.
  • Extreme Weather Patterns:
  • Both excessive rainfall and drought conditions are becoming more severe. 
  • In 2024: Months with record-low precipitation occurred 38% more often than during the baseline period of 1995-2005. Record-high 24-hour rainfall events were 52% more frequent.
  • Increasing Rainfall Records:
  •  Rainfall records are being broken with increasing frequency: Monthly rainfall records were set 27% more often in 2024 compared to the year 2000. Daily rainfall records were broken 52% more frequently.
  • Global Temperature Trends: 
  • Global temperatures continue to rise at an alarming rate. 
  • In 2024: Average air temperature over land reached an all-time high, being 1.2°C above the 1995-2005 average. Over 111 countries experienced their warmest year on record, with 34 countries setting new maximum temperature records.
  • Water Storage Trends:
  • Last year, many of the world’s dry regions continued to face low terrestrial water storage (TWS) values.
  • However, TWS levels saw an increase in Western, Central, and Eastern Africa.
  • Outlook for 2025: The outlook for 2025 indicates heightened risks:
  • Drought conditions are expected to worsen in northern South America, southern Africa, and parts of Asia.
  • Wetter regions, such as the Sahel and Europe, may experience an increased risk of flooding.