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□ Permafrost : • Areas with ground temperatures that remain below 0°C for more than two years are referred to as Permafrost. • It is composed of rock, sediments, sand, dead plant and animal matter, soil, and varying degrees of ice and is believed to have formed during glacial periods dating several millennia. • Approximately one quarter of the Northern Hemisphere and 17% of the Earth's exposed land surface is permafrost. • Permafrost is found in mountainous areas as well as in high-latitude tundra and taiga regions. • The tundra is generally the coldest biome on Earth, characterized by the presence of permafrost. The taiga is a very cold biome characterized by coniferous forests. • It is mainly found near the polar zones and regions with high mountains covering parts of Greenland, Alaska, Russia, Northern Canada, Siberia and Scandinavia. • Its thickness reduces progressively towards the south and is affected by a number of other factors, including the Earth’s interior heat, snow and vegetation cover, presence of water bodies, and topography. □ Impact of Climate change on Permafrost : • Permafrost is the most threatened by climate change, Arctic regions are warming twice as fast compared to the rest of the planet, its current rate of temperature change being the highest in 2,000 years. • A study has shown that every 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature can degrade up to 39 lakh square kilometre due to Permafrost thawing( the ice inside the permafrost melts, leaving behind water and soil). • When permafrost is frozen, the organic carbon contained in it can’t decompose, or rot away and as permafrost thaws the microbes in the soil decompose the dead organic matter (plants and animals) to produce methane (CH4) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). • As temperatures rise, the binding ice in permafrost melts, making the ground unstable and leading to massive potholes, landslides, and floods. • About 13% such an Area on Daisetsu mountains in Japan, estimated to be approximately 150 square kilometres in 2010, is likely to disappear by 2100.

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■ Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) : • It provides a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers. • PMFBY was launched on 13th January 2016. • The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers welfare. • Annual Commercial / Annual Horticultural crops, oilseeds, and food crops (Cereals, Millets, and Pulses) are covered under the scheme. • The prescribed premium is 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all rabi crops. In the case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium is 5%. • The scheme was compulsory for loanee farmers availing Crop Loan/Kisan Credit Card (KCC) account for notified crops and voluntary for others. • Aadhar seeding (linking Aadhaar through Internet banking portals) has helped in speedy claim settlement directly into the farmer accounts. □ Objectives of PMFBY : • Financial support will be provided to farmers in distress due to loss and damage to crops caused by unexpected calamities. • Making sure the income of farmers is stabilized for them to continue their farming activities. • Promoting farmers to adopt and use modern equipment and agricultural practices for efficient and high yield farming. • It enables faster claims settlements through quick and accurate yield estimation. □ Use of Technology under PMFBY : • Crop Insurance App : Provides for easy enrollment of farmers, Facilitate easier reporting of crop loss within 72 hours of occurrence of any event. • Latest Technological Tools : To assess crop losses, satellite imagery, remote-sensing technology, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning are used. • PMFBY Portal : For integration of land records. □ PMFBY 2.0 : • In order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, the central government had revamped PMFBY in the 2020 Kharif season. • Completely Voluntary : Enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif. • Limit to Central Subsidy : The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre’s premium subsidy under the scheme for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops. • For north-eastern states, the centre’s share in premium subsidy to be increased to 90% from 50% earlier. • More Flexibility to States : The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features. • Investing in ICE Activities : Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on information, education and communication (IEC) activities. • Those districts that will have an area under irrigation for more than 50% will be considered as an irrigated district.

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Highly Probable & Evergreen Topics for ESSAY WRITING- UPSC CAPF: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcS4eOE46bBzapB4M4xTxWsQGj_Vt4ZhD

Consider the following statement about UNESCO’s World Heritage "Dholavira", the Harappan City. 1) Dholavira is 40th World Heritage site of india. 2) Dholavira is an example of a proto-historic Iron Age urban settlement. 3. It is the 1st Indus Valley Civilisation site to get the tag.

■ Ramappa Temple : • Recently, Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Mulugu district, Telangana has been added as India's 39th UNESCO's World Heritage site. • After a few days of this announcement, Dholavira was added in this list and became 40th UNESCO Heritage site in India. • Ramappa Temple was proposed by the government as its only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage site tag for the year 2019. □ About Rudreswara (Ramappa) Temple : • The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire by Recherla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. • The presiding deity here is Ramalingeswara Swamy. • It is also known as the Ramappa temple, after the sculptor who executed the work in the temple for 40 years. • The temple stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiya sculptors. • The foundation is built with the “sandbox technique”, the flooring is granite and the pillars are basalt. • The sandbox in the foundation acts as a cushion in case of earthquakes. • The lower part of the temple is red sandstone while the white gopuram is built with light bricks that reportedly float on water. • Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya Empire, allegedly called the temple “the brightest star in the galaxy of temples”.

📰 Dholavira in Gujarat on UNESCO World Heritage list : • The Harappan city of Dholavira, in present-day Gujarat, was on Tuesday named the 40th Indian site on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. • Few day ago, Ramappa Temple in Telangana was admitted to the list as 39th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India. • The ancient city of Dholavira is one of the most remarkable and well preserved urban settlements in South Asia dating from the 3rd to mid-2nd millennium BCE (Before Common Era). • Discovered in 1968, the site is set apart by its unique characteristics, such as its water management system, multi-layered defensive mechanisms, extensive use of stone in construction and special burial structures,” UNESCO said. • A range of artefacts of copper, shell, stone, jewellery, terracotta and ivory had been found at the site. □ About Dholavira : • Dholavira is located in the Kutch district of Gujarat and it is the larger of the two most remarkable excavations of the Indus Valley Civilisation dating back to about 4,500 years ago. • It is one of the five largest Harappan sites and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization). • The important cities in the Indus valley civilization are Mohanjodaro, Harappa, Surkotada, Kalibangan, Lothal, Chanhudaru, Dholavira, Banawali. • Surkotada, Lothal, and Dholavira are the important port towns in the Indus valley. Harappa, Mohanjodaro, Banawali and Dholavira are considered as the four main Harappan Sites.