UPSC Mains Notes

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SWAYATT Initiative (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions) ●Objective: To increase participation of women-led enterprises and youth in government procurement. ●Features -Enables startups, women entrepreneurs, youth, Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and last-mile sellers to participate directly in government procurement. -Implemented through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). -Based on the principle of social inclusion in public procurement. -Addresses three major challenges faced by emerging enterprises:Access to markets, Access to finance,Access to value addition ●Government e-Marketplace (GeM) -Online platform for government procurement, Known as India’s National Procurement Portal -Used by ministries, departments and PSUs to buy goods and services ●Developed by DGS&D (Ministry of Commerce & Industry) with support from National e-Governance Division (MeitY)

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🌏Gulf of Eilat ♟️It is also known as Gulf of Aqaba which is the northeastern extension of the Red Sea. ♟️The northern portion of the Red Sea is divided by the Sinai Peninsula into the Gulf of Aqaba in the east and the Gulf of Suez in the west.  ♟️It is located along the southeastern edge of the Sinai Peninsula and to the west of the Arabian Peninsula.  ♟️It forms an integral part of the East African Rift System and was created by seismic activity along the Afro-Syrian Rift. ♟️The Tiran Strait connects the Gulf of Aqaba with the Red Sea. It also serves as a connecting point between the continents of Asia and Africa. ♟️It supports unique and diverse aquatic ecosystems and serves as a vital habitat for some of the world’s richest coral reefs. ♟️It is bordered by the countries of Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. ♟️Some of the major cities that are situated on the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba include Taba (Egypt), Eilat (Israel), and Aqaba (Jordan). 

*🛡️Stages of Artificial Intelligence* *💎Three Stages of AI* ♟️ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence) ⚜️“Weak AI” ⚜️Performs single, narrow tasks ⚜️No ability to generalise ⚜️Example: Siri, Alexa *♟️AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)* ⚜️“Strong AI” ⚜️Human-like intelligence → can learn/understand any intellectual task ⚜️Can generalise knowledge ⚜️Does not yet exist *♟️ASI (Artificial Superintelligence)* ⚜️Theoretical level ⚜️Surpasses human intelligence ⚜️Can solve problems beyond human capability.

📌Prominent Ashokan Pillars (Mauryan Art & Administration) ⭐️Delhi–Topra Ashokan Pillar 🪄Originally erected at Topra (Haryana) during Ashoka’s reign 🪄Shifted to Delhi by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (14th century) 🪄Inscriptions promote Dhamma 🪄Unique references to: 🪄Taxation policies 🪄Administrative measures 🪄Welfare activities (tree planting, public good) 🪄Mentions Jains, showing religious tolerance ⭐️Prayagraj (Allahabad) Ashokan Pillar 🪄Located at Ganga–Yamuna confluence 🪄Contains edicts on governance and Dhamma 🪄Mentions Ashoka’s queen Karuvaki 🪄 Highlights her charitable and Dhamma-related contributions

*🛡️Nehru Report: Key Highlights (1928)* ♟️Dominion Status within the British Empire with a parliamentary system ♟️Bicameral legislature: A Senate and a House of Representatives ♟️Governor-General to act solely on the advice of the Executive Council ♟️Federal structure, with residuary powers resting with the Centre ♟️No separate electorates for minorities to curb communal divisions ♟️No communal weightage system to be applied in any province ♟️No reserved seats for Muslims in Punjab and Bengal; only in select provinces if necessary ♟️Judiciary to remain independent of Executive interference ♟️Muslim representation at the Centre to be fixed at 25% ♟️Sindh to be separated from Bombay Presidency, if financially viable ♟️Political reforms to extend to the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP)

🛡️ *Saraswati River* ♟️The river is mentioned over 80 times in the Rigveda and is believed to have dried up more than 5,000 years ago due to climatic and tectonic shifts. ♟️It originated in the Himalayas and flowed through Haryana, Rajasthan, North Gujarat, and Pakistan before reaching the Gulf at the Western Sea, spanning approximately 4,000 km. ♟️The river had two branches—western and eastern—that joined at Shatrana, 25 km south of Patiala. ♟️The western branch, represented by the ancient Satluj, flowed through the channels of the present-day Ghaggar-Patialiwali rivulets. ♟️The eastern branch, supported by the Markanda and Sarsuti rivers, is now known as the Tons-Yamuna rivers.

⭐️GI TAGGED HANDLOOM PRODUCTS (State-wise) 📍 Andhra Pradesh ✅ Uppada Jamdani Sarees ✅ Venkatagiri Sarees ✅ Mangalagiri Sarees & Fabrics ✅ Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarees & Paavadas 📍 Gujarat ✅ Tangaliya Shawl ✅ Kachchh Shawls ✅ Patan Patola ✅ Rajkot Patola 📍 Himachal Pradesh ✅ Kullu Shawl ✅ Kinnauri Shawl 📍 Jammu & Kashmir ✅ Kashmir Pashmina ✅ Kani Shawl 📍 Karnataka ✅ Navalgund Durries ✅ Ilkal Sarees ✅ Molakalmuru Sarees ✅ Udupi Sarees ✅ Mysore Silk ✅ Guledgudd Khana 📍 Kerala ✅ Cannanore Home Furnishings ✅ Balaramapuram Sarees ✅ Kasaragod Sarees ✅ Kuthampully Sarees ✅ Chendamangalam Dhoties & Set ✅ Mundu–Kuthampully Dhoties & Set Mundu 📍 Madhya Pradesh ✅ Chanderi Sarees ✅ Maheshwar Sarees 📍 Maharashtra ✅ Solapur Chaddar ✅ Paithani Sarees ✅ Solapur Terry Towel ✅ Karvath Kati Tussar Sarees 📍 Manipur ✅ Shaphee Lanphee ✅ Wangkhei Phee ✅ Moirang Phee 📍 Odisha ✅ Kotpad Handloom ✅ Orissa Ikat ✅ Khandua Saree ✅ Gopalpur Tussar ✅ Dhalapathar Parda ✅ Sambalpuri Bandha Saree ✅ Bomkai Saree ✅ Habaspuri Saree ✅ Berhampur Patta (Phoda Kumbha) Saree 📍 Tamil Nadu ✅ Kancheepuram Silk ✅ Bhavani Jamakkalam ✅ Madurai Sungudi ✅ Arani Silk ✅ Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees ✅ Salem Silk (Salem Venpattu) 📍 Telangana ✅ Pochampally Ikat ✅ Gadwal Sarees ✅ Siddipet Gollabama ✅ Narayanpet Handloom Sarees 📍 Uttar Pradesh ✅ Banaras Brocades & Saree ✅ Mirzapur Handmade Dari 📍 West Bengal ✅ Santipore Saree ✅ Baluchari Saree ✅ Dhaniakhali Saree 🔸 Other GI Tags ✅ Muga Silk – Assam ✅ Bhagalpur Silk – Bihar ✅ Champa Silk Saree – Chhattisgarh ✅ Kota Doria – Rajasthan ✅ Chakheshang Shawls – Nagaland

*🛡️Smog-Eating Technology* ♟️A photocatalytic technology based primarily on Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂). ♟️Works through coatings applied on roads, pavements, buildings, etc. to neutralize air pollutants. *💎How it Works?* ♟️TiO₂ acts as a photocatalyst when exposed to sunlight/UV light. ♟️Converts harmful gases like Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) & VOCs → into nitrates, CO₂ & water. ♟️Creates a “self-cleaning” effect, breaking down pollutants on contact. *💎Benefits* ♟️Reduces harmful pollutants (NO₂, hydrocarbons). ♟️Improves public health by lowering toxic air exposure. ♟️Low-maintenance, works passively under sunlight. ♟️Can be integrated with existing urban infrastructure without major disruption. *💎Challenges* ♟️Needs scientific validation under Indian/local conditions. ♟️Cost-effectiveness of large-scale application still debated. ♟️Concerns about long-term durability of coatings & safe disposal of residues.

*🛡️FIRST ANGLO-MYSORE WAR* ♟️The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769) was the first of four military conflicts fought between the Kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company, along with its allies. It marked the beginning of a series of struggles for control in South India. *💎Background* ♟️The war took place in South India. ♟️Hyder Ali, the de facto ruler of Mysore, had risen to power and posed a serious threat to British interests in the region. ♟️The British East India Company sought to check Hyder Ali’s growing influence. ♟️Mysore had strategic alliances with the French, while the British were allied with the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad—at least initially. *💎Causes of the War* ♟️Expansionist ambitions of both the British and Hyder Ali. ♟️Breakdown of trust between the East India Company and Indian rulers. ♟️Strategic interests in the Carnatic region and control over South India. ♟️Mysore’s alliance with the French, which threatened British influence. *💎Key Events* ♟️Hyder Ali surprised the British with his swift military tactics and alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad (though the Nizam later switched sides). ♟️Hyder Ali launched an invasion of the Carnatic, reaching as close as Madras (now Chennai). ♟️The British forces were unprepared and suffered several defeats. ♟️Eventually, both sides agreed to negotiate due to military exhaustion and lack of support. *💎Outcome* ♟️The war ended with the Treaty of Madras in 1769. ♟️The treaty promised mutual restitution of conquered territories and mutual defense. It did not resolve underlying tensions, leading to future conflicts. *💎Significance* ♟️The war exposed weaknesses in the British military position in South India. ♟️It elevated Hyder Ali’s reputation as a skilled military leader. ♟️The British failure to honor the Treaty of Madras later contributed to the Second Anglo-Mysore War.