Learn with NITISH KUMAR

Arunachal puts India on vanadium map • A promising concentrations of vanadium in the palaeo-proterozoic carbonaceous phyllite rocks is found in the Depo and Tamang areas of Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district. • This was the first report of a primary deposit of vanadium in India with an average grade of 0.76% V2O5 (vanadium pentoxide). • Vanadium mineralisation in Arunachal Pradesh is geologically similar to the “stone coal” vanadium deposits of China hosted in carbonaceous shale. • This high vanadium content is associated with graphite with fixed carbon content of up to 16%. About Vanadium • Vanadium in its pure form is a soft, grey and ductile element primarily derived from mined iron ore, carbonaceous shale or phyllites and steel slag. • According to the Indian Bureau of Mines (2018 database), the total estimated reserves or resources of vanadium ore is 24.63 million tonnes, with an estimated V2O5 content of 64,594 tonnes. • Vanadium alloys are durable in extreme temperature and environments, and are corrosion-resistant. • Its addition improves the tensile strength of steel and of reinforcing bars used for buildings, tunnels and bridges. • Apart from increasing fuel-efficiency in automotive and aviation industries due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, the metal forms the integral part of vanadium redox batteries that have the least ecological impact in energy storage.

KEN-BETWA LINK PROJECT • Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reviewed the Ken-Betwa project. • The project aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to Betwa in Uttar Pradesh, to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spread across the districts of two states. • The Ken-Betwa River linking project will benefit the dry Bundelkhand area in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. • There are 31 river interlinking projects planned in the country, of which Ken-Betwa is the first that has reached an advanced level of planning. • Besides irrigating thousands of hectares, the scheme will provide drinking water to 62 lakh people.

My SSB Experience https://youtu.be/Y9PhSJwN27w

4 AFSB VARANASI (01-05 Oct 2020) GD Topics : 1. INSURGENCY in many parts of India reason? A. Development B. Ideology C. Vested Interest 2. Trend of women working job has increased in India, reasons? A. Policy B. Attitude C. Opportunity Join HERE>> @dailynewscom

4 AFSB VARANASI LECTURETTE TOPICS : 1. Bureaucracy 2. Health is wealth 3. Indo US Relationship 4. Ambition of my life 5. India's influence in the world 6. Higher education in india 7. Aviation Industry 8. My best friend 9. How to prepare SSB 10. Nationalism Join HERE>> @dailynewscom

4 AFSB VARANASI LECTURETTE TOPICS For more updates join HERE>> @dailynewscom

4 AFSB VARANASI (01-05 Oct 2020) Psych Test ( TAT & WAT ) Join HERE>> @dailynewscom

My SSB Experience https://youtu.be/Y9PhSJwN27w

#Important_notes_ssb_Lecturette India Sri Lanka Relations ✔️Geopolitical Significance of SriLanka: ●Sri Lanka’s location in the Indian Ocean region has been of strategic geopolitical relevance to several major powers. ●China’s string of pearl’s strategy is aimed at encircling India to establish dominance in the Indian Ocean. ●China is building state of the art gigantic modern ports all along the Indian Ocean and to the south of it, in Gwadar (Pakistan), Chittagong (Bangladesh, Kyauk Phru (Myanmar) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka). Thus Sri Lanka is vital for China’s String of Pearls strategy. ●Sri Lanka has a list of highly strategic ports located among busiest sea lanes of communication. ✔️Political Relations: ◆The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed an agreement for extending a USD 400 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka to boost the foreign reserves and ensure financial stability of the country, which is badly hit by Covid-19 pandemic. ◆Political relations between India and Sri Lanka have been marked by high-level exchanges of visits at regular intervals. ◆Sri Lanka is a member of regional groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC in which India plays a leading role. ◆India and Sri Lanka conduct joint Military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval (SLINEX) exercises. ✔️Commercial Relations: ◆Sri Lanka is one of India’s largest trading partners among the SAARC countries. India in turn is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally. ◆India’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to 5.3 billion USD in 2015-17 whereas its imports from the country were at 743 million USD. ◆Trade between the two countries grew particularly rapidly after the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement which came into force in March 2000. ✔️Cultural and Educational Relations: ◆The Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo actively promotes awareness of Indian culture by offering classes in Indian music, dance, Hindi and Yoga. Every year, cultural troupes from both countries exchange visits. ◆The India-Sri Lanka Foundation, set up in December 1998 as an intergovernmental initiative, also aims towards enhancement of scientific, technical, educational and cultural cooperation through civil society exchanges and enhancing contact between the younger generations of the two countries. ◆The People of Indian Origin (PIOs) comprise Sindhis, Borahs, Gujaratis, Memons, Parsis, Malayalis and Telugu speaking persons who have settled down in Sri Lanka (most of them after partition) and are engaged in various business ventures. ◆In April 2019, India and Sri Lanka also concluded agreement on countering Drug and Human trafficking. ✔️Issues and Conflicts China Factor: ◆Sri Lanka also handed over the strategic port of Hambantota, which is expected to play a key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, to China on a 99-year lease. ◆China has also supplied arms as well as provided huge loans to Sri Lanka for its development. ◆The two countries have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement which is Sri Lanka’s first nuclear partnership with any country. Fishermen issue: ●Given the proximity of the territorial waters of both countries, especially in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar, incidents of straying of fishermen are common. ●Fishermen often risk their lives and cross in to Srilankan rather than return empty-handed, but the Sri Lankan Navy is on alert, and have either arrested or destroyed fishing nets and vessels of those who have crossed the line. ●The 4th meeting under Joint Working Group (JWG) on fisheries was held recently between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka as the mechanism to help find a permanent solution to the fishermen issue. For more @dailynewscom

OBOR: https://youtu.be/ghJ_dndxipo CPEC: https://youtu.be/aBh849q0otY ASEAN: https://youtu.be/G5QfaJe6ntI SAARC: https://youtu.be/8VzkS4l8igw SCO: https://youtu.be/Kc4dYbHQRe4 SAFTA: https://youtu.be/IkZ1DsCpIkQ APTTA: https://youtu.be/Ef4EoDRNF08 BIMSTEC: https://youtu.be/UVU_5SpAFQY RCEP: https://youtu.be/J9-_4Strfhk Join4pfd- @dailynewscom

Place in news: Ramateertham temple Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Culture In news The 16th century Ramateertham temple was recently seen in news due to the vandalism of the idol of Lord Rama at the Kodandarama Swamy temple. Important value additions The idol of Lord Rama atop the historic Ramateertham temple, located 12 km from Vizianagaram, was vandalised on December 29. It is located in Andhra Pradesh. Ramateertham is one of the places made sacred by a traditional connection with Lord Sree Rama. The famous ancient temple of Ramachandra Swamy can be found here. The idols of Lord Ramachandra Swamy, Sita and Lakshmana in Silver kavachas can be seen at this temple. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

IMD’S STATE OF THE CLIMATE REPORT Context: 2020 was the eighth warmest since India started keeping records in 1901 according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s State of the Climate Report. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Climatology), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Climate Change) Dimensions of the Article: Highlights of the State of the Climate Report About the ‘India Meteorological Department’ (IMD) Highlights of the State of the Climate Report During the year 2020, the annual average temperature in the country was 0.29 degree Celsius (°C) above normal (Average from 1981-2010). (2016 was the warmest year ever. 2020 was warmer despite the cooling effect of La Nina which typically has a cooling effect on global temperatures. (However, the cooling effect of La Nina is now offset by global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions.) India’s nearly 0.3-degree rise was less than the average global temperature rise of 1.2 degree as per World Meteorological Organisation’s ‘State of the Global Climate report’. The eight warmest years on record in order were: 2016 > 2009 > 2017 > 2010 > 2015 > 2018 > 2019 > 2020. The past decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record. The annual rainfall over the country in 2020 was 109% of the Long Period Average (LPA) calculated for the period of 1961-2010. Extreme Weather Events: Extremely heavy rain, floods, cold waves and thunderstorms led to significant loss of lives and properties in the recent years. The Indian Ocean region – the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, together reported five cyclones – Nisarga & Gati formed over Arabian Sea; Amphan, Nivar and Burevi formed over the Bay of Bengal. According to the report “Preparing India for Extreme Climate Events” released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), over 75% of districts in India are hotspots of extreme climate events. More than 40 per cent of Indian districts are Transforming from Flood-prone to Drought-prone areas and Vice-Versa. Click Here to read more on the Study by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) regarding Extreme Weather events. About the ‘India Meteorological Department’ (IMD) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national meteorological service of the country and it is the chief government agency dealing in everything related to meteorology, seismology and associated subjects. IMD was formed in 1875 and is headquartered in New Delhi. IMD is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. Worldwide there are six regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and five regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming of tropical cyclones. The India Meteorological Department is one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under WMO/ESCAP PTC Panel (World Meteorological Organization / The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific – Panel on Tropical Cyclones PTC). IMD’s Tasks IMD undertakes observations, communications, forecasting and weather services. In collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation, the IMD also uses the IRS series and the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) for weather monitoring of the Indian subcontinent. IMD was first weather bureau of a developing country to develop and maintain its own satellite system. -Source: The Hindu 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

ZyCoV-D: India’s first indigenously developed DNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health & GS-III – Sci & Tech In news India’s first indigenously developed DNA vaccine candidate against COVID-19, ZyCoV-D has been approved by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), for conduct of the Phase III clinical trials. Key takeaways The candidate has been supported by the National Biopharma Mission (NBM) under the aegis of BIRAC and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. Zydus Cadila completed Phase-I/II clinical trials of this DNA Vaccine candidate, in India, in more than 1,000 participants. Interim data has indicated that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic when three doses were administered intradermally (in the skin). The DCGI has accorded permission for conducting Phase-III clinical trial in 26,000 Indian participants. Important value additions National Biopharma Mission (NBM) It is an industry-academia collaborative mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical development in the country. Launched in: 2017 at a total cost of Rs 1500 crore. It is 50% co-funded by World Bank loan. Implemented by: Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). Under this Mission, the Government has launched Innovate in India (i3) programme to create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the biopharma sector. It has a focus on following four verticals: (1) Development of product leads for Vaccines , Biosimilars and Medical Devices that are relevant to the public health; (2) Upgradation of shared infrastructure facilities; (3) Developing human capital by providing specific training; (4) Developing technology transfer offices to help enhance industry academia inter-linkages. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

School Bag Policy, 2020 The Directorate of Education has issued a circular asking school to follow the new 'School Bag Policy, 2020' released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Q.What are the features of the School Bag Policy, 2020? Discuss how heavy school bags are a serious threat to the health and learning capability of students. School Bag Policy, 2020 According to the circular, schoolteachers should inform the students in advance about the books and notebooks to be brought to school on a particular day. They frequently need to check their bags to ensure that they are not carrying unnecessary material. It adds that the teachers should take the responsibility of checking the weight of school bags of the students every three months on a day selected for the whole class. It also holds that any information about heavy bags should be communicated to the parents. The circular also says that it is the duty and the responsibility of the school management to provide quality potable water in sufficient quantity. It adds that files and thin/light exercise books should be preferred to thick/heavy ones. Prescribed weights The weight of the school bags, as per the policy, should be 6 to 2.2 kg for students of Classes I and II 7 to 2.5 kg for Classes III, IV and V 2 to 3 kg for Classes VI and VII 5 to 4 kg for Class VIII 5 to 4.5 kg for Classes IX and X 5 to 5 kg for Classes XI and XII Why heavy school bags are a curse? Heavy school bags are a serious threat to the health and well-being of students. A heavy backpack can pull on the neck muscles contributing to headache, shoulder pain, lower back pain and neck and arm pain. Not just this, carrying backpacks over one shoulder is a wrong practice as it makes muscles strain. The spine leans to the opposite side, stressing the middle back, ribs, and lower back more on one side than the other and this muscle imbalance can cause muscle strain, muscle spasm, and back pain. Heavy school bags are also one of the major reasons for cervical and lumbar pains. The posture of the body also gets affected to a great extent which in the long term develops imbalances in the body and affects the health of the nervous system. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Bird Flu Outbreak An outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Kerala, Rajasthan and Himachal. Try this question from our AWE initiative: There is been an increase in occurance of zoonotic human infectious diseases are zoonotic . Give reasons for this. Also suggest ways to contain and decrease the frequency of such events.(250 Words) What is Bird Flu? Bird flu is an infection caused by avian influenza viruses, which are of different types A, B and C. Type A avian influenza viruses are the most frequently associated with avian influenza epidemics and pandemics. There are 16 hemagglutinin (H1 to H16) and 9 neuraminidase types (N1 to N9) identified till date. There are various modes of transmission of human influenza including inhalation, direct or indirect contact etc. can have manifestations ranging from mild to severe or fatal disease. Avian influenza A (H5N1) results in a high death rate amongst infants and young children. The first outbreak of human infection by avian influenza viruses (H5N1) was observed in 1997 in Hong Kong. Since then a large number of outbreaks have been reported in different parts of the world. The H5N8 strain The presence of the H5N8 subtype of the Influenza A virus was reported in ducks in parts of Kerala. While it can prove lethal for birds, the H5N8 strain of avian influenza has a lower likelihood of spreading to humans compared to H5N1. While the source of infection is yet to be pinpointed, the role of migratory birds in passing on the virus is suspected. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- International Affairs In news Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it intends to produce uranium enriched to up to 20 percent purity, well beyond the threshold set by the 2015 Vienna accord (also known as JCPOA). About JCPOA Commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany) together with the European Union. Under JCPOA, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about two-thirds the number of its gas centrifuges for 13 years. For the next 15 years Iran will only enrich uranium up to 3.67%. Iran also agreed not to build any new heavy-water facilities for the same period of time. Uranium-enrichment activities will be limited to a single facility using first-generation centrifuges for 10 years. Other facilities will be converted to avoid proliferation risks. To monitor and verify Iran’s compliance with the agreement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will have regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities. The agreement provides that in return for verifiably abiding by its commitments, Iran will receive relief from U.S., European Union, and UNSC nuclear-related sanctions. On 5 January 2020, in the aftermath of the Baghdad Airport Airstrike that targeted and killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Iran declared that it would no longer abide by the limitations of the deal but would continue to coordinate with the IAEA, leaving open the possibility of resuming compliance. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom

UK to abolish the ‘tampon tax’ Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I- Society; GS-III- Economy In news The UK began 2021 by abolishing a 5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on women’s sanitary products, often referred to as the “tampon tax” and which many activists had described as sexist. It now joins the list of countries which have already eliminated this tax, which includes India, Australia and Canada. Key Highlights Until December 31, the UK was a part of the EU, where period products such as sanitary napkins and tampons are classified as non-essential, and member states are required to levy a 5 per cent tax on them. Now that the UK is out of the 27-member bloc, it is not bound by its directives, under which sanitary products had been subjected to five different VAT rates since 1973– with the lowest 5 per cent slab being applicable since 2001. The removal of the tax has thus been praised by women’s right activists and Brexit proponents at the same time. EU itself has been in the process of removing the tax on period products. In 2018, the bloc published proposals to change the tax rules, but these are yet to be accepted by all members The British government has estimated that the move to abolish the tampon tax would save the average woman about 40 pounds during her lifetime – as a pack of 20 pounds will be cheaper by around 7 pence and 12 sanitary pads by 5 pence. 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁 Join >> @dailynewscom