UPSC Aspirant 2025-26

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Hello, If you are writing the Mains in 2022, and have a specific issue while filing your UPSC DAF-1, you are welcome to send an email at contact@atishmathur.com with the subject line : Urgent : UPSC Mains 2022 DAF-1 Issue and I will resolve your issue within the day. Thank you. #upsc #mains #daf2022

Large Hadron Collider reignited with greater collision energy It’s been nearly 10 years since the first particles smashed into each other at the world’s biggest scientific experiment – the Large Hadron Collider. Now, after a three-year break for upgrades, the facility is back in action since April 2022 for its third run. The particle accelerator is about to start smashing particles together at an unprecedented energy level. CERN – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research announced that the LHC will work to push the facility to record energy levels of 13.6 trillion electronvolts. This experiment will open gates for the elusive dark matter, and multiple dimensions and explore the concept of multiverses. Recently, scientists at LHC have discovered three subatomic particles that were never seen before! They have observed a new kind of “pentaquark” and the first-ever pair of “tetraquark”. This finding will lead scientists in understanding how quarks bind together into composite particles. Let us travel back in time to understand the genesis of LHC. What is a Large Hadron Collider? A 27-Kilometer circular tunnel was built to study minuscule sub-atomic particles which are the smallest units of matter and could be understood as the backbone of all things. CERN took 10 years to build the powerful machine – between 1998 and 2008 with the collaboration with over 10,000 scientists from hundreds of universities and laboratories. Now, how does it work? Two proton beams are accelerated in opposite directions before they collide. When this collision happens, it allows physicists to study and understand the extreme limits of the physical world and understand phenomena that may never have been discovered before. “God Particle” which made headlines, was one of the rare events that happened due to the collision of the particle and it helped to take physicists a little closer to the unknown world. But, along with it, many questions were also raised! What is happening right now? Run 3 is aimed at producing a new trove of data with the luminosity of the collider being revved up, increasing the chances of rarer events being witnessed by physicists. High energy beams and trillions of protons will race around the LHC accelerator ring more than 11,245 times a second since they travel at 99,999 per cent the speed of light. At the initial stage, the machine could engineer 600 million collisions every second. But this time, the proton beams will be narrowed to less than 10 microns, to increase the rate of collisions. With the thinner beam, scientists are aiming at delivering 1.6 billion collisions per second. Do you know the collision that occurred between the beams generates temperatures more than 1,00,000 times hotter than the hottest area of the sun! But it is worth mentioning that even with this humongous amount of heat generated, the machine’s accelerator ring will be kept at cool of minus 271.3 degrees celsius using superfluid helium. How this experiment will be used? One must think about why such an experiment is happening? Well, the simple answer is – to know above and beyond! It is pertinent to mention that the LHC experiment per year generates more than 30 petabytes of data. Putting this number in context – this is enough data to fill 1.2 million Blu-ray discs or 250 years of HD videos. The CERN’s DATA Centre has over 100 petabytes of this data permanently archived on tape. It is just the Beginning! LHC is undoubtedly the biggest and most complex machine in the world and it has given some of the most important scientific discoveries, including the Higgs Boson. But, apart from paving the path for discoveries in this field, CERN also has plans for a future machine that will dwarf the LHC and will be known as the Future Circular Collider. The proposal for a 100-kilometre circumference Future Circular Collider was released in 2018 by CERN. Compared to the 13.6 trillion electronvolts energy level of LHC, the Future Circular Collider will work at energy levels of up to 100 #science #prelims2023

#culture #prelims2023 India joins UNESCO panel on Intangible Cultural Heritage India achieved yet another milestone. India has been elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 cycle. https://twitter.com/kishanreddybjp/status/1544998691727036416?s=20&t=h7cr6IWCXe_8lszil_RuTg On July 7, Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said that it is yet another opportunity for India to reinstate the values of 'Vasudeva Kutumbakam'. Meanwhile, the Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi on the occasion said, "It is an excellent opportunity for us to build peace and solidarity globally among nations through culture." India ranks high in the listing of intangible cultural heritage with 14 inscriptions on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Further, most recently, the festival of India, Durga Puja was inscribed on the List. India has now submitted the nomination for Garba of Gujarat to be discussed in 2023. India gets elected During the 9th General Assembly of the 2003 Convention held at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, from July 5 to 7, 2022, the elections for the Intergovernmental Committee took place. India has previously served as a member of the ICH Committee twice from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018. Against the four seats falling vacant within the Asia-Pacific group, six countries, namely, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand had presented their candidature. India received 110 votes from the 155 State Parties that were present and voting. The Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention consists of 24 members and is elected in the General Assembly of the Convention according to the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation. Further, the States Members to the Committee are elected for a term of four years. Functions of Intergovernmental Committee Intergovernmental Committee plays a major role in promoting the objectives of the Convention. Its function includes guiding best practices and recommending measures for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Further, the Committee also examines requests submitted by States Parties for the inscription of intangible heritage on the Lists as well as proposals for programmes and projects. What would India do? For its 2022-2026 term, India will protect and promote the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. India's focus areas include fostering community participation, strengthening international cooperation through intangible heritage, promoting academic research on intangible cultural heritage, and aligning the work of the Convention with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. India has always been committed to safeguarding cultural heritages, be its own or of others. For instance, India ratified the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in September 2005. As one of the earliest State Parties to ratify the Convention, India has shown great commitment towards matters related to intangible heritage and has actively encouraged other State Parties to ratify it. As a member of the intergovernmental committee, India will have the opportunity to closely monitor the implementation of the 2003 Convention. To strengthen the scope and impact of the Convention, India seeks to mobilize the capacity of different actors worldwide to effectively safeguard intangible heritage. Also noting the imbalance in the inscriptions on the three lists of the Convention, i.e., Urgent Safeguarding List, Representative List, and Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, India hopes to encourage international dialogue within the State Parties to the Convention to better showcase the diversity and importance of living heritage.

Detailed Application form-I link 👇👇 https://upsconline.nic.in/daf/daf1_csm_2022/ Timing:- From 06-07-2022 to 15-07-2022 Till 6:00 PM* #upsc #mains #daf2022

🧨Remember #Gucchi

This 'ant chutney' attempts to make it to the Geographical Indications list Chaprah, an indigenous food delicacy found in the tribal regions of the country is looking to make it to the GI list of food items. Chaprah or a chutney made from red weaver ant is popular among the tribal population who consume it for its nutritious value. Also known as ‘The Kai’ in Odisha, the food delicacy is trying for GI tag which will further help preserve the cultural value associated with it and also promote the food. In Odisha, scientists through their research are trying for the geographical indications (GI) registry of Kai Chutney. Applied under the food category, the GI tag would help develop a structured hygiene protocol in the preparation of Kai Chutney for standard wider use. The Kai Chutney Kai Chutney, a savoury food item, is rich in valuable proteins, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, fiber, and 18 amino acids, known to boost the immune system and keep diseases at bay. Found abundantly in Mayurbhanj throughout the year, weaver ants construct nests with the leaves of host trees. The larval and adult stages of the ants are preferred and are either eaten raw or turned into “chutney” by mixing them with spicy ingredients. The chutney is prepared by mixing and grinding salt, ginger, garlic, and chilly. The tribals also make a living by selling these in the rural markets. Benefits of Chaprah/ Kai Weaver ants are consumed as a cure for many illnesses, boosting the immune system and keeping diseases away. The dishes made from weaver ants including Kai chutney and soup help get rid of flu, common cold, and whooping cough. It is also useful in increasing the appetite, enhancing vision and eyesight naturally without corrective eyewear, and treating joint pain, and stomach diseases. Weaver ants are also good for the development of a healthy brain and the nervous system. The tribal healers also prepare medicinal oil by dipping the collected Kais in pure mustard oil. This oil when ready after 30 days, is used as baby oil and used to cure rheumatism, gout, ringworm, and other skin diseases. So it is the only panacea for the tribes,” the application says. Kais are also used as insecticides. These bio-control agents prey on most arthropods entering their territory. Due to their predatory habit, Kais are recognized as biological control agents in tropical crops as they can protect a variety of crops against many different insect pests. The GI tag will not only enhance the reputation and value of local products but also support local businesses. Chaprah is consumed as a delicacy in Indian states like Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand.

#prelims2023 #GI_tag

Our ocean, our future, our responsibility! The UN Ocean Conference 2022 concluded on Friday, July 1 with the unanimous adoption of the Lisbon Declaration “Our ocean, our future, our responsibility.” The Conference helped in translating ideas into action and as a result, firm and bold commitments were taken to save the oceans. More than 150 countries collectively agreed to scale up science-based and innovative actions to address the ocean emergency. The five-day UN Ocean Conference saw participation from more than 6,000 participants, including 24 Heads of State and Government and over 2,000 representatives of civil society. Highlights of the Conference The Lisbon Declaration, a suite of science-based and innovative actions, takes into account the capacity challenges being faced by the developing countries, mainly the Small Island Developing States and Least Developing Countries. The participating countries agreed to take actions to strengthen data collection and recognize the role of indigenous people in sharing innovation and practices, and science and technology-based innovations. It also encouraged the participation of women and girls in the ocean-based economy. Furthermore, close to 700 commitments were registered, adding to the substantial commitments made at the 2017 UN Ocean Conference. Voluntary commitments were also made, such as: – The European Investment Bank will extend an additional EUR 150 million across the Caribbean Region as part of the Clean Oceans Initiative to improve climate resilience, water management and solid waste management. – The Global Environment Facility approved a $25 million grant towards Colombia’s marine protected areas. – The Development Bank of Latin America announced a voluntary commitment of USD 1.2 billion to support projects to benefit the ocean in the region. Our Country, India has committed to a Coastal Clean Seas Campaign and will work toward a ban on single use plastics, beginning with plastic bags. The Government is already active in its commitment as from July 1, 2022, single-use plastics have been banned in the country. India would also be providing science and innovation-based solutions for the implementation of Goal 14 through partnerships and environmentally friendly solutions. Moreover, our country has established collaboration and partnerships with UN Agencies and Research Institutions for bridging the methodology and data gaps on SDG indicators and working towards UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021–2030, for clean, healthy, productive, predictive, safe and accessible ocean. #prelims2023 #environment

#prelims2023 #environment

Good News! World’s largest Zoo in Gujarat’s Jamnagar soon Conservation of wildlife is our collective responsibility and duty. This comes true as soon India will have the world’s largest zoo. The work for it is in-progress at Lalpur taluka of Jamnagar, Gujarat, and will house exotic to endangered animals. Gujarat is already home to Asiatic lions, the pride of India. According to reports, over 250-acre land in Gujarat is being dedicated to build the largest animal home on the planet. The zoo will be called ‘Greens Zoological Rescue and the Rehabilitation Kingdom’ and will not only be important from a wildlife and environment perspective but also facilitate and boost tourism in the State. About the Zoo The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) in 2019 subject to certain conditions approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) along with the Master (Layout) Plan for the establishment of the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom at Jamnagar by Reliance Industries Limited. As per the layout plan, the zoo will have dedicated sections for different types of organisms, namely Forest of India, Frog House, Insect Life, Aquatic Kingdom, Dragons Land, Marshes of West Coast, Land of Rodent, Indian Desert, Wild Trail of Gujarat, and Exotic Island. For example, the Dragons Land will have animals like yellow anaconda, green anaconda, water monitor lizard, komodo dragon, and Bengal monitor lizard. Similarly, Marshes of West Coast will house ghariyal and mugger. Animals such as bats, giant squirrel, sambar, chowsingha deer, pangolin, wild boar, Asian elephants, fishing cat, and more have been proposed for the zoo. A total of 79 bird and animal species will be housed at the zoo. This includes 1,689 animals, including 27 species that will be exotic consisting of 257 animals. The zoo will also have conservation and breeding areas, water bodies, an interpretation centre, rescue and rehabilitation centre, green buffer zone apart from the enclosure areas. The project is likely to be completed in two years. India and her efforts India is renowned for the conservation of animals and birds. Wildlife is an integral part of our life. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion, coordination and overseeing the implementation of India’s environmental and forestry policies and programmes. Not only the animals and birds, forests are also worshipped in the form of ‘Sacred Groves’. Several communities like the Bishnois of Rajasthan, and the Maldhari communities of Gir in Gujarat have contributed immensely to the conservation and protection of wildlife. Recently, the Zoological Survey of India launched a portal to keep track and all information related to birds at one place. Similarly, the Botanical Survey of India launched the largest online herbarium database to keep information related to India’s plant diversity.