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Plants that have undergone modifications to its DNA using genetic engineering methods are referred to as genetically modified crops. DNA is altered through introduction of specific traits or deletion of undesired traits in such a manner that does not occur naturally. Science behind it Recombinant DNA technology: isolating and cutting …

Context: Moroccan earthquakes Shaking of earth caused by release of energy travelling in all directions. The vibration is called seismic waves and are recorded on an instrument called seismograph. Hypocenter: Location below earth’s surface where earthquake starts Epicenter: Location directly above it on the surface of the earth Ritcher scale: …

Syllabus: Distribution of key natural resources Context In compliance with the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), Karnataka has begun releasing water from its reservoirs to Tamil Nadu. Map Reading Bulletins The outflow from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district into the Cauvery was at the …

Why in news: Punjab has been reeling under floods for well over a month now and the proposed solution to this is zoning of flood plains. Significance of flood plains: A river expands and contracts naturally over seasons and in different years. A flood plain is an area adjacent to the river which normally gets flooded when the …

Syllabus: Indian culture Snapshot Today Onam is a festival only identified with Malayalis and Kerala. However it was once a big festive occassion across Tamil speaking regions as well. There are multiple ancient Tamil literary works that speak of grand celebrations of Onam nearly two millennia ago. Padmanabhan beautifully describes …

Syllabus: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Context The Idol Wing CID, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S., has traced a stone idol of Lord Murugan, which was stolen from a 7th Century Pallava-era temple at …

Syllabus: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Context Harappans knowledge in Construction Harrapan Planning The Harappans have taught us how to make beautiful, well-planned cities which are hygienic and the scientific construction methods introduced by them, and are …

reasing the impact of weather events Syllabus: World geography Western disturbance Are tropical storms that originate in the Mediterranean region and normally bring winter rainfall to north India. However, right from the beginning of this year, the WD have been erratic – too few of them in December and January …

TOPICS COVERED: Salient features of world’s physical geography Context: Following heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, landslides have occurred in the state. About a cloudburst A cloudburst is a localised but intense rainfall activity. While it can also occur in plains, the phenomenon is most common in hilly regions. Not all instances of very heavy rainfall, however, are cloudbursts. …

TOPICS COVERED: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Context: During her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, President of India paid tributes to women freedom fighters. Matangini Hazra: She was born in a village …

Syllabus: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. Whyin NEWS In the hamlet for about 200 years, this last old-fashioned hut of the tribe is owned and maintained by Govinthasamy, a tribesman and former member of the Yelagiri panchayat. …

Syllabus: Salient features of Indian Society Context Rights activists decry delay in bringing them under Fifth Schedule protection What is the Problem Tribals who have been cultivating small portions of land for a sustainable living in some of the non-Scheduled Tribe villages and hamlets predominantly inhabited by PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable …

Context:  Shaligrams, the sacred fossils that have been worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists for over 2,000 years, are becoming rarer because of climate change Key details: For more than 2,000 years, Hinduism, Buddhism and the shamanic Himalayan religion of Bon have venerated Shaligrams. What are Shaligrams? These are ancient fossils of ammonites, a class of extinct sea …

Context:  Artists from Rajasthan perform ‘Kalbelia’ dance during the National Folk and Tribal Art Festival in Bhopal. Key details: Kalbelia dance is a folk dance of Rajasthan. It is well known by other names like ‘Sapera Dance’ or ‘Snake Charmer Dance’. Kalbelia dance is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called ‘Kalbelia’. Rajasthan’s Kalbelia dance and songs are …

Context:  In northern Italy, palm manuscripts from the 18th Century, titled Gnanamuyarchi, have been discovered in an Armenian monastery. About Findings: This significant finding sheds light on the rich history and cultural exchange between different regions during that time. This translation is most likely by Michele Bertoldi, known in Tamil as Gnanaprakasasamy. This is a prose text from …

Context Seven products from across India, including four from Rajasthan, were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. GI tags to The Jalesar Dhatu Shilp (metal craft), Goa Mankurad mango, Goan Bebinca, Udaipur Koftgari metal craft, Bikaner Kashidakari craft, Jodhpur Bandhej craft and Bikaner …

Context:  The water levels of Yamuna hit a 60-year-high and waters advanced towards the Taj Mahal for the first time in half a century. What is a floodplain? About the River and its significance: The Yamuna is the second-largest tributary of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India. It originates in the Yamunotri …

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has expressed dismay at the slow pace of documentation of antiquities noting that this was critical in proving ownership and reclaiming stolen heritage items. The government has been intent on securing the repatriation of stolen Indian artefacts from abroad. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism …

Changes can help make the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 ‘future-proof’ and ensure a better complaints mechanism. India is no Europe, and this seems especially true in the face of a task such as drafting and conceptualising a data protection law for over 1.4 billion Indians. The European Union’s …

Map Reading: English Channel