Learn with NITISH KUMAR

■ 2,300-year-old step-well found near Erode : • For the first time at the Kodumanal excavation site that served as habitation-cum-industrial site, a 2,300 year-old step-well has been found during excavation by a team of the State Department of Archaeology. • The circle-shaped well was unearthed at 2.36 metres depth and is 2.65 metres wide. • A flight of 13 steps, which was constructed using weathered rocks, slopes down from the ground to the well that served the habitation. • Water from the well could have been used both for household needs and also for polishing beads and other industrial activities • Previous excavations since 1981 revealed the presence of an industrial complex where beads and semi-precious stones were manufactured. There was evidence of presence of a number of iron smelting units making forged steel at the site that served as trade centre from the fifth century BCE (Before the Common Era) to first century BCE. • The village lies on the ancient trade route that connected the Chera capital of Karur with the Chera port of Muciri in Pattnam in Kerala. □ About Kodumanal : • Kodumanal is a village located in the Erode district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. • It was once a flourishing ancient trade city known as Kodumanam, as inscribed in Patittrupathu of Sangam Literature. • It is located on the northern banks of Noyyal river, a tributary of the river Cauvery. • Kodumanal was one of the earliest wootz steel centres of the world. • The city played a major role in Indo-Roman trade and relations, as the ancient city is located on the mid-way of a Roman trade route, linking Muziri port on the Malabar Coast with the Kaveripoompattinam (Puhar) Port in the Coromandel Coast.

■ Defence Acquisition Council : •The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is the highest decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) and the Indian Coast Guard. • The objective of the Defence Acquisition Council is to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the Armed Forces in terms of capabilities sought, and time frame prescribed, by optimally utilizing the allocated budgetary resources. • It is constituted for overall guidance of the defence procurement planning process. •The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the Council. • It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on 'Reforming the National Security System', in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).

■ Pingali Venkaiah : • He designed the National Flag of India. 🇮🇳 The National Flag of India was adopted on 22 July 1947.

■ India To Become Aatmanirbhar In Phosphatic Fertilisers : • Department of Fertilisers unveiled an action plan to make India self-reliant in rock phosphate. • Rock phosphate is the key raw material for DAP and NPK fertilisers. • Currently, India imports 90 per cent of rock phosphate. • The action plan included the steps to minimise the import dependency of costly raw material and make it accessible and affordable to farmers. • The minister called the meeting with stakeholders to expedite the exploration and mining of available rock phosphate reserves in India. □ Phosphatic fertilizers : • The most commonly used phosphatic fertilizers are Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP), NPKs, and SSP. • DAP is the world's most widely used phosphorus fertilizer. • It is popular due to its relatively high nutrient content and its excellent physical properties. • DAP is the second most commonly used fertiliser in India after urea. • Farmers normally apply this fertiliser just before or at the beginning of sowing, as it is high in phosphorus (P) that stimulates root development. • DAP (46% P, 18% Nitrogen) is the preferred source of Phosphorus for farmers. • This is similar to urea which is their preferred nitrogenous fertiliser containing 46% N. □ About Phosphorous : • Phosphorus is the eleventh most abundant element in earth. • If soils are deficient in phosphorus, food production becomes restricted, unless the nutrient is added in the form of fertilizers. Hence, to increase food production, an adequate amount of phosphorus is required. • Phosphorus is an essential nutrient required for plant growth. It helps in root development, plant maturation, and seed development. Along with nitrogen and potassium, phosphorus is one of the most important elements for plant life. • Soil gets depleted of phosphorus due to several reasons including being washed away by rain. Therefore, modern farming is reliant on the use of phosphorus based fertilizers. • Commercial phosphate fertilizers are manufactured using phosphate rock.

📰 News : Botanists discover new species in Kerala backyard. • Researchers name it Madhuca balakrishnanii (family Sapotaceae) after late Balakrishna Pillai who preserved it in his compound. • Physical characteristics, including hairy young shoots, fairly long stipules, sparsely hairy pedicels and ovoid fruit, distinguish Madhuca balakrishnanii from the two allied species Madhuca diplostemon and Madhuca insignis. • Under the IUCN Red List criteria, the species can be classified as "Critically endangered". • They discovered another species of the same genus, Madhuca diplostemon in 2020 which was long thought to be extinct.

■ Simla Agreement, 1972. • The Shimla Agreement signed was by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan on 2nd July 1972. • It was signed 8 months after the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, that led to the splitting of Pakistan and the consequent creation of Bangladesh, had ended. • It seeks to reverse the consequences of the 1971 war i.e. to bring about withdrawals of troops and an exchange of PoWs (Prisoner of Wars). • India released 93000 Pakistani prisoners of war (POWs) who were captured after the Bangladesh war. • It established a Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir which, with minor deviations, followed the same course as the ceasefire line established by the Karachi Agreement. • Under the Shimla Agreement, both countries undertook to abjure conflict and confrontation which had marred relations in the past, and to work towards the establishment of durable peace, friendship and cooperation. • Both India and Pakistan agreed that the relations between the two will be governed by the principles of the United Nations charter. • Bilateral negotiations will be used to sort out differences between India and Pakistan. • The Agreement emphasized respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, respect for each others unity, political independence, sovereign equality, and abjuring hostile propaganda.

📰 News : DCGI nod sought for ZyCoV-D. • Zydus Cadila said it has applied to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) seeking Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for ZyCoV-D. • It will be the world’s first plasmid DNA vaccine for COVID-19. • ZyCoV-D had already exhibited a robust immunogenicity, tolerability and safety profile in the adaptive Phase I/II clinical trials carried out earlier. •The Phase I, II and Phase III clinical trials have been monitored by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). • The plug and play technology on which the plasmid DNA platform is based is ideally suited for dealing with COVID-19, as it can easily be adapted to deal with mutations in the virus. • The vaccine will come with PharmaJet, a needle-free applicator that will ensure painless intradermal vaccine delivery. This would cost extra. • The gap between the first and second dose is 28 days.

♻️ 13th BRICS Summit ✅ IIT Bombay hosted the Conference of BRICS Network Universities as part of 13th BRICS Summit. ✅ This conference is part of the engagements that India is hosting under the education stream during its Chairship of the 13th BRICS Summit this year. ✅ BRICS Network University is a union of higher education institutions of the five BRICS member countries, formed with the objective of enhancing educational cooperation in general, and especially in the realm of research and innovation . ✅ IIT Bombay is the lead institution of India for the BRICS Network University.

■ P.V. NARASIMHA RAO : • The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao on his 100th birth anniversary. • Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao was born on 28th June 1921 in erstwhile Nizam's Hyderabad state. He was the Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1971 and served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996. • Rao was selected as the PM. He got elected in a by-election from Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh. This win entered the Guinness Book for the victory margin (of 5 lakh votes). • Former President APJ Abdul Kalam described Rao as a “Patriotic statesman who believed that the nation is bigger than the political system.” • In the 1940s, he co-edited and contributed articles to a Telugu weekly journal called Kakatiya Patrika. • He published ‘SahasraPhan’, a Hindi translation of the famous Telugu Novel ‘Veyi Padagalu’. □ Father of Economic reforms : • He sought to dismantle the License Raj system, reduce red tape and make Indian industries more competitive. He laid the foundation for trade liberalization and re-integration of Indian economy with the global economy, especially East Asian economies. • During his tenure, the country decided to open up the economy and move towards a market economy as opposed to the socialism of the previous decades. • He introduced the SEBI Act and Global Depository Receipts (GDRs – which allowed Indian firms to raise capital on foreign markets). • He is also called as the pioneer of inclusive growth. □ Foreign policy : • Among his bold moves in foreign policy were establishing diplomatic relations with Israel and reversing decades of frosty relations between India and the United States by bringing them together. • Rao started India’s Look East Policy as part of foreign relations with South East Asia. □ Father of Indian nuclear Program : • He energised the national nuclear security and ballistic missiles program, which ultimately resulted in the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests by Vajpayee-led NDA government (the tests were planned in 1996 but they were not carried out as government at centre got changed due to 1996 general election). □ Internal security : • He was also fairly successful in controlling the separatist movements in Punjab and Kashmir. • India’s first anti-terrorism legislation, the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) was passed by Rao’s government. □ Constitutional reform : • The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments Act empowering local bodies were enacted during his tenure.

■ Coral reefs : • Coral reefs are the colonies of tiny living creatures that are found in oceans. • They are the underwater structures that are formed of coral polyps that are held together by calcium carbonate. • Coral Polyps are marine animals of tropical and subtropical seas and oceans (tiny fleshy sea anemones polyps) living in shallow water by maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the microscopic plant (algae)- Zooxanthellae. • Zooxanthellae have photosynthetic capabilities, they provide food to corals and in return, the polyps provide protection to the zooxanthellae. • The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. It is located along the North Eastern coast of Australia. □ Types of Coral Reefs and their distribution : • Fringing Reef : These reefs evolve and develop on the continental shelf and are connected to the coastline. Location : Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutchchh, the coastline of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. • Barrier Reef : Barrier reefs are located offshore on the continental shelf. They are away and parallel to the coastline. A lagoon is located between the coastline and the barrier reef. Location : Great Barrier reef (Australia). • Atoll Reef : Atolls are located on mid-oceanic ridges. These are circular or elliptical reefs surrounded by sea from all sides with a shallow lagoon in the centre. Location : Maldives, Lakshadweep. □ Growth conditions for Coral Reefs : • The temperature of the water should not be below 20°C. The most favourable temperature for the growth of the coral reefs is between 23°C to 25°C. The temperature should not exceed 35°C. • Corals can survive only under saline conditions with an average salinity between 27% to 40%. • Coral reefs grow better in shallow water having a depth less than 50 m. The depth of the water should not exceed 200m. □ Importance of Coral reefs : • These are the source of the primary food chain in the marine ecosystem. Coral Reefs support a wide network of biodiversity. • Prevent sediments from washing up and damaging the shore line. • Thus, they are also known as rainforests of the marine ecosystem. • Coral reefs protect coastlines by absorbing constant wave energy from the ocean, thereby protecting people living near the coast from increased storm damage, erosion and flooding. □ Factors affecting Coral reefs : • Extreme climate conditions. • Coastal development. • Pollution. • Sedimentation. □ What is Snowflake coral? • Carijoa Riisei also known as snowflake coral is an invasive species discovered recently. • The snowflake coral is known to cause a serious threat to the marine ecosystem. Because it consumes large quantities of the zooplanktons which can have a high ecological impact. • They threaten the biodiversity by displacing the native species and by monopolizing food resources.

■ Pinaka rocket : • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test-fired the extended range version of indigenously-developed Pinaka rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL). • The enhanced range version of Pinaka Rocket System can destroy targets at distances up to 45 km. • Pinaka is an indigenously developed rocket system named after Lord Shiva’s mythological bow. • It is used for attacking the adversary targets prior to the close-quarter battles which involve smaller range artillery, armoured elements and the infantry. • The Pinaka MBRL system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. • Pinaka MBRL can launch 12 high explosive rockets in 44 seconds. • The navigation system of the missile is linked with the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. • The rocket system has been developed jointly by Pune-based DRDO labs Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) ,and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), with manufacturing support from Economic Explosives Limited. • The development of the Pinaka was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s, as an alternative to the multi-barrel rocket launching systems of Russian make, called like the ‘Grad’, which are still in use. • After successful tests of Pinaka Mark-1 in late 1990, it was first used in the battlefield during the Kargil War of 1999, quite successfully.

■ Salient features of Indian Constitution: • The Constitution of India is a written document. It is the longest and most comprehensive of all written constitutions in the world. • Indian constitution is partly rigid and partly flexible. • The Constitution declares India to be a sovereign, democratic and republic. • The constitution established the parliamentary form of government in both the Center and the states. • The Constitution of India is the supreme law of the country. • The Constitution has established India as a socialist and secular country. • Constitution provides for single citizenship in India. • The constitution declares certain fundamental rights of a person. • The Constitution introduces the principle of universal adult suffrage. • The constitution provides for an independent and impartial judiciary. The Supreme Court acts as the Protector of the Constitution and is the Supreme Court of Appeal. • The Constitution has given the judiciary the power of judicial review. • The Constitution of India is federal with unitary features. • The Constitution recognizes the President as the constitutional head of the Union. • The Constitution of India has provided the Directive Principles of State Policy by the Government to secure a truly welfare state. • Although the Constitution declares India to be a Union of States, no State can declare itself separate from the Union of India.‌‌

■ Delimitation : • Delimitation is the redrawing of boundaries of an assembly or Lok Sabha constituency to reflect changes to the population of a region. • In this process, the number of seats allocated to different states in Lok Sabha and the total number seats in a Legislative Assembly may also change. • The main objective of delimitation is to provide equal representation to equal segments of a population. • The 84th Amendment to the Constitution in 2002 had put a freeze on the delimitation of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies till the first Census after 2026. • While the current boundaries were drawn on the basis of the 2001 Census, the number of Lok Sabha seats and State Assembly seats remained frozen on the basis of the 1971 Census. • The current strength of the Lok Sabha seats is 543 based on the delimitation carried out on the basis of 1971 Census. • When the boundaries are redrawn again, the Lok Sabha are expected to go up from 543 to 888 seats. Rajya Sabha seats are expected to increase from 245 to 384. □ Delimitation Commission : • The Delimitation Commission is an independent body. The executive and political parties cannot interfere in its functioning. • The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India. • The Commission is headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and includes the Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner and state election commissioners. • It is a high power body that its orders have the force of law and they cannot be challenged before any court. • Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission. • The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51. • The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952. • Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002. • There was no delimitation after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses. □ Important Articles : • Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census. • Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.

📰 News : World's first GM rubber sapling planted in Assam. • World’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant tailored for the climatic conditions in the Northeast. • The plant was developed at the Kerala-based Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII). • The RRII had earlier developed two high-yielding hybrid clones of rubber adapted to the climatic conditions of the Northeast. □ Natural Rubber Vs GM Rubber : ● Natural Rubber - Natural rubber is a native of warm humid Amazon forests and is not naturally suited for the colder conditions in the Northeast. • Growth of young rubber plants remains suspended during the winter months, which are also characterised by progressive drying of the soil. • This is the reason for the long immaturity period of this crop in the region ● GM Rubber - The GM rubber has additional copies of the gene MnSOD, or manganese-containing superoxide dismutase, inserted in the plant, which is expected to tide over the severe cold conditions during winter — a major factor affecting the growth of young rubber plants in the region. • The MnSOD gene has the ability to protect plants from the adverse effects of severe environmental stresses such as cold and drought. • Laboratory studies show the GM rubber plants overexpressed the MnSOD gene as expected, offering protection to the cells. The plant is thus expected to establish well and grow fast in the region. • There is no risk of genes flowing from the GM rubber into any other native species.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) : • SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation. • It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. • It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003. • The SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese. • The Chairmanship of SCO is by rotation for a year by Member States. • Member states (8) : India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. • Observer states (4) : Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia. • Dialogue partners (6) : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey. • It is known as the 'Alliance of the East' and is the largest regional organization in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population. The organization covers nearly half of the human population. • The SCO is seen as a counter-balance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). □ Objectives of SCO : • The organization aims at strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member nations. • It also promotes effective cooperation in politics, trade & economy, research & technology and culture. • The SCO aims at enhancing ties in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and so forth. • It ensures and maintains peace, security and stability in the region. • The organization jointly efforts towards the establishment of a democratic, rational, and fair new international economic and political order. □ Origin of SCO : • Initially, it was called as Shanghai Five Group which was founded on April 26, 1996 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan. • The group emerged from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet Republics held with China. • After the accession of Uzbekistan in 2001 to the Shanghai Five Group, it was named the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). • India and Pakistan, joined the SCO as full members in 2017. □ SCO has two Permanent Bodies : • SCO Secretariat in Beijing. • Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. □ 8 Wonders of the SCO are : 1) India — the Statue of Unity. 2) Kazakhstan — the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly. 3) China — The Daming imperial palace complex. 4) Kyrgyzstan — Lake Issyk-Kul. 5) Pakistan — The Great Mughals’ heritage at Lahore. 6) Russia — The Golden Ring cities. 7) Tajikistan — The Palace of Nowruz. 8) Uzbekistan — the Poi Kalon complex.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) : • The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. • The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first raised in November 1980. After consultations, the foreign secretaries of the seven founding countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. • India is a founding member. • Afghanistan became the 8th member of SAARC. • The Headquarters and Secretariat of the Association are at Kathmandu, Nepal. • The 8 members of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. • There are currently 9 Observers to SAARC, namely : Australia, China, The European Union, Iran, Japan, The Republic of Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar & USA. • The member countries have established a Free Trade Area (FTA) which will increase their internal trade and lessen the trade gap of some states considerably. □ Objectives of SAARC : • To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life. • To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. • To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia. • To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries. □ South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) : • SARSO has its Secretariat at Dhaka, Bangladesh. • It was established to achieve and enhance coordination and cooperation among SAARC member states. □ SAARC Development Fund (SDF) : • Its primary objective is funding of project-based collaboration in social sectors such as poverty alleviation, development, etc.