PRELIMS

Prelims bits Context: The Tamil Nadu government replaced the official Indian Rupee (₹) symbol with the Tamil letter “Ru” in the State Budget 2025-26, sparking a political controversy. About the Indian Rupee Symbol (₹) What is the Rupee Symbol? The ₹ symbol represents India’s economic strength and global financial identity. …

Prelims Bites Context: Preprints gained popularity during COVID-19 for early research access. However, post-pandemic analysis raised concerns about their quality and credibility. What are Preprints? Definition: Scientific papers shared publicly before peer review. Purpose: Allows researchers to disseminate findings quickly without waiting for formal journal publication. Optional Peer Review: Authors …

PRELIMS BITS – RIVER Context: Rising human-wildlife conflicts in Assam’s Majuli River Island have drawn attention to its ecological challenges. About Majuli: Geographical Significance: The world’s largest river island, formed by the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries. Administrative Status: Became India’s first island district in 2016. Demographics: Inhabited by indigenous …

PRELIMS BITS – SCHEMES Context: Two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand have received approval under the Parvatmala Pariyojana initiative. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The project is being executed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a special-purpose vehicle of NHAI. Launch Year: Announced in the Union …

PRELIMS BITS Context: The Rajgond tribe, a dominant group within the Gond community, recently made headlines. About the Gond Tribe Ethno-linguistic Identity: The Gonds are a tribal group belonging to the Dravidian ethno-linguistic category. Geographical Spread: They are primarily found in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, with smaller populations …

PRELIMS BITS Context: A rare Small Indian Civet was spotted near Tadepalli in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, a region where it is not commonly seen. About Civet Cats: Classification: Not true cats; belong to the family Viverridae, closely related to mongooses. Diversity: 15–20 species worldwide. Distribution: Found in Asia, Africa, …

PRELIMS BITS:  PubMed data shows a 376.5% rise in Giloy research over the past decade, reflecting its growing global interest in medicine. About Giloy Botanical features: It is a climbing shrub that belongs to the Menispermaceae family. Habitat: Native to tropical India, Giloy thrives at 25-45°C and up to 500 …

PRELIMS BITS:  Recently Lok Sabha speaker highlighted Banjara community’s role in protecting nature and tradition of the country. About Banjara (Bepari, Mukeai, Laban) Community Origins: Historically multireligious, multilinguistic nomadic trading caste who may have origins in Mewar region (Rajasthan). Role as Trader Nomads: They traded between villages, towns, and even …

PRELIMS BITS:  The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified encephalitis as a major public health issue, citing rising cases and under-reporting in India. Experts urge a national strategy to combat the disease effectively. What is Encephalitis? Brain inflammation caused by viral infections, bacteria, or autoimmune responses. The most common viral …

PRELIMS BITS Context: Recent sightings of the rare oarfish, also known as the “Doomsday Fish”, near Baja California Sur, Mexico, have fueled speculation about natural disasters. About the Doomsday Fish Common Names: Oarfish, Doomsday Fish Distribution & Habitat: Found in deep-sea waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Lives …

PRELIMS BITS Context: Scientists have successfully revived a nematode worm, Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, which was frozen in Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years. The discovery highlights the extreme survival mechanisms of certain organisms. About Panagrolaimus kolymaensis Found in an ancient layer of ice, the worm resumed movement and reproduction after thawing. It …

PRELIMS BITS Context: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) will host the Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award Ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to animal welfare. About AWBI What is AWBI? AWBI is a statutory body dedicated to promoting animal …

PRELIMS BITS:  A recent study warns that conservation in wealthy nations may exacerbate biodiversity loss elsewhere. Definition: Biodiversity leak occurs when policies in one region unintentionally harm biodiversity in another by displacing environmental damage. Effects: Global biodiversity decline, threats to endangered species, and accelerated climate change.

PRELIMS BITS:  NASA will launch the SPHEREx Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Full Name: Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer. Scope: Will gather data from 450 million galaxies and 100 million Milky Way stars. Objective: Map the sky in optical and …

PRELIMS BITS:  The SWAYATT initiative on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) marked six years of impact. GeM is an online procurement platform for government buyers. Full Form: Startups, Women & Youth Advantage Through e-Transactions. Launch: Introduced in 2019 on GeM. Purpose: Boosts participation of women-led businesses and youth in public procurement. …

PRELIMS BITS:  The Arctic “Doomsday” Seed Vault in Svalbard recently received over 14,000 new seed samples. Location: Norwegian Arctic Island. Ownership: Managed by Norway, NordGen, and the Crop Trust. Purpose: Provides secure, free, long-term seed storage as a safeguard against disasters like war or climate change. Operation: Maintains seeds at …

PRELIMS BITS:  The BEE hosted its first international conference on Carbon Markets, PRAKRITI 2025, to explore India’s carbon market and global trends. Origin: Established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. Aim: Reduce the energy intensity of India’s economy. Vision: Enhance energy efficiency for sustainable development. Mission: Develop self-regulating, market-driven policies …

PRELIMS BITS:  The 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day was marked on February 21. Background: Observed annually since 2000, it originated from a Bangladeshi proposal approved by UNESCO in 1999. Goals: Promotes inclusion, multilingual education, and the preservation of minority and indigenous languages. Global Context: Around 40% of people …

PRELIMS BITS – TRIBES Habitat: They are a nomadic tribal community living in the Biligiriranga Hills region of Southern Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu. Forest Rights: In 2011, they became the first tribal community to secure legal rights to the forest while living inside a tiger reserve. Livelihood: Depend …

PRELIMS BITS – SPECIES Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater Context The first recorded breeding site of the Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater in Peninsular India was discovered in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. This finding extends its breeding range further south, changing its status from a seasonal migrant to a year-round resident in Tamil Nadu. Habitat This species …