SAMADHAAN

2024

(Part - 2)

(February'24 to April'24)
 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

INDEX
1) ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................................................2
2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS .........................................................................................26
3) SCHEMES ................................................................................................................................32
4) S & T .........................................................................................................................................45
5) HEALTH ..................................................................................................................................55
6) POLITY & GOVERNANCE ..................................................................................................64
7) ECONOMICS .........................................................................................................................77
8) INDICES & REPORTS..........................................................................................................83
7) DEFENCE ................................................................................................................................85
10) ART & CULTURE .................................................................................................................88
11) MISCELLANEOUS ...............................................................................................................95

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

1) ENVIRONMENT
➢ Spotted Deer = The spotted deer, or chital/ cheetal is a deer species native to the Indian
subcontinent + It is the most common deer species in Indian forests + It is widely distributed in
Asia, especially in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and a small group in Pakistan +
Habitat: Subtropical grasslands and forests + IUCN Red List: Least Concern + They mainly feed
on grasses throughout the year + Only males have antlers, and their bodies are larger than
females.
➢ Kashmir Stag = also called Hangul + subspecies of Central Asian red deer + Endemic to
Kashmir and surrounding areas + found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and
mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northern Himachal Pradesh + In Kashmir, it is found
primarily in the Dachigam National Park and in Tral Wildlife Sanctuary where it receives
protection. A small population has also been witnessed in Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in south
Kashmir + IUCN: Critically Endangered + CITES : Appendix I.
➢ Vechur Cow = breed of indigenous cattle + One of the rare dwarf cattle breeds of India + it is
considered to the smallest cattle breed in the world + It is known by the name of a place Vechur -
a small place by the side of Vembanad lake near Vaikam in Kottayam district of South Kerala +
It is docile, short, disease-resistant and easy to maintain with low food requirement as compared
to other crossbred species + It is resistant to Mastitis (blockage of teats in the udder), foot and
mouth diseases and respiratory infections and require almost no veterinary care + The medicinal
property of its milk has been accepted by Ayurveda too. Since the Vechur cow milk has got
higher proportion of smaller fat globules and saturated fatty acids, it would be therapeutically
useful in malabsorption syndrome.
➢ White Rhinos = White Rhinos are also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros due to their
square upper lip + White rhinos are the second largest land mammal after the elephant + There
are two subspecies of white rhino: Northern white rhinos and Southern white rhinos + They are
the only grazer among the five rhino species, feeding almost exclusively on short grasses + They
have two horns on the end of their nose + Although the Southern white rhino is one of the more
prevalent species (IUCN: Near Threatened), the Northern white rhino is Critically Endangered
with only two individuals left + The Southern white rhino can be found mostly in South Africa,
with smaller translocated populations found in Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe + Habitat: Long
and short grass Savannahs + Recently, Scientists in Berlin announced the first successful embryo
transfer in a white rhinoceros.
➢ Golden Langur = According to recent survey, there are an estimated 7,396 golden langurs in
India + It is limited to Assam, India and neighboring Bhutan where they live year-round. The
area they inhabit is restricted to the region surrounded by four geographical landmarks: the
foothills of Bhutan (north), Manas river (east), Sankosh river (west), and Brahmaputra river
(south) + They occupy moist evergreen and tropical deciduous forests as well as some riverine
areas and savannas in Assam and Bhutan + IUCN: Endangered + CITES: Appendix I + Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972 : Schedule I.
➢ Cantor's Giant Softshell Turtle = It is also known as the Asian giant softshell turtle and the
frog-faced softshell turtle + It is a species known for its rarity and secretive nature + It spends
most of its life buried and motionless, with only its eyes and mouth protruding from the sand +
These turtles are primarily carnivores + It is found in eastern and southern India, Bangladesh,
Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, eastern and southern China + IUCN:
Critically endangered + CITES: Appendix II + Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
➢ Olive Ridley Turtles = also known as Pacific Ridley Sea Turtle = The species is the second-
smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world + It is found in warm and
tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm waters of the
Atlantic Ocean + Olive Ridley Turtle and the related Kemp's Ridley Turtle are best known for
their unique synchronised mass nestings called arribadas, where thousands of females come
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

together on the same beach to lay eggs + The olive ridley is predominantly carnivorous + IUCN
Red List: VU + The Gahirmatha Beach in Kendrapara district of Odisha (India), which is now a
part of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, is the largest breeding ground for these turtles.
➢ Hawksbill Turtle = One of the smaller sea turtle species + it is the only extant species in the
genus Eretmochelys (In biology, an extant group is one which has survived to the present day,
and so it is a living group. This distinguishes it from an extinct group) + They are most tropical
of all sea turtles. Found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian
Oceans + Typically found around coastal reefs, rocky areas, estuaries, and lagoons + IUCN:
Critically Endangered + WPA: Schedule I + CITES: Appendix I.
➢ Aldabra Giant Tortoise = It is the second-largest species of land tortoise in the world, after the
Galapagos giant tortoise + It can live for 100 years + These are endemic to the Aldabra Atoll of
the Seychelles, an archipelago nation in the western Indian Ocean + IUCN: Vulnerable + These
are terrestrial and occur in a wide variety of habitats, including scrub forests, mangrove swamps,
and coastal dunes and beaches, each with their respective vegetation. The largest populations of
tortoises are found on grasslands called "platins."
➢ Indian Gharial = Gharials reside exclusively in river habitats + Gharial range spanned to Indus,
Ganga, Brahmaputra and Mahanadi-Brahmani-Baitrani River systems of India, Bhutan,
Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan + Currently, their major population occurs in three tributaries of
the Ganga River: the Chambal and the Girwa Rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in
Nepal + IUCN: Critically Endangered + Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I + CITES:
Appendix I + Gharials exhibit sexual dimorphism — or differences in characteristics between
males and females of the same species — in both size and appearance + Unlike other crocodiles,
the gharials feed on warm-blooded species and even the largest gharial adults feed exclusively on
fish + Gharials are not man-eaters. Its jaws make it physically incapable of devouring any large
mammal, including a human being + Recently, After 75 years, officials of the Forest Department
confirmed the presence of Indian Gharial in Greater Kaziranga.
➢ Black-necked Crane = The high-altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau are the main breeding
ground of the species + This species is found in India, China and Bhutan and breeds in high-
altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau + IUCN: Near Threatened + The Wild Life (Protection)
Act, 1972: Schedule I + CITES: Appendix I + Changthang Sanctuary, Ladakh and Tso Kar
Wetlands Complex, Ladakh are important sites for Black necked Crane
➢ Himalayan Griffon = It is found along the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan region and is
also found in the Central Asian mountains + IUCN: Near Threatened + It is one of the two
largest Old-World vultures and true raptors + These are diurnal and mostly solitary species +
Recently, In the first-ever Tri-State synchronised vulture survey 320 individual vultures were
counted in the seven-protected areas spread over Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and
Himalayan griffon is only reported from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
➢ Forest Owlet = It is endemic to the forests of central India + It was observed in Odisha,
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, and at a few locations in the Melghat
Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra + The natural ecosystems and habitats of these species include
tropical and subtropical moist lowland woods, dense deciduous woodlands, open dry deciduous
teak woods, and tropical and subtropical dry forests + IUCN Red List: Endangered + CITES:
Appendix I + It is a typical owlet with a rather unspotted crown, presence of full throat collar,
thickly feathered legs, heavily banded wings, and a tail + These birds are diurnal.
➢ Great Indian Bustard (GIB) = Native to India and Pakistan + State Bird of Rajasthan + It is
among the heaviest of the flying birds + IUCN: Critically Endangered + CITES: Appendix I +
Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972 + It inhabits dry grasslands and
scrublands + Important sanctuaries are: Desert National Park, Rajasthan; Kutch Bustard
Sanctuary, Gujarat; Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary or Jawaharlal Nehru Bustard Sanctuary,
Maharashtra + GIB is largest among the four bustard species in India, other 3 being MacQueen’s
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

bustard, lesser florican and the Bengal florican + Lifespan is about 12-15 years + GIB is kept
under the species recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats
(IDWH) of the MoEFCC + Last Year, Central government informed that there were no Great
Indian Bustards (GIB) in Kutch Bustard Sanctuary (KBS) in Gujarat + Supreme Court said, in
M.K. Ranjitsinh & Others vs Union of India & Others, that in all cases where the overhead lines
in power projects exist, the governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat shall take steps forthwith to
install bird diverters in order to protect Great Indian Bustards.
• Captive breeding of GIBs: The captive breeding of GIBs was taken up in the Desert
National Park through a project executed by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India in
2019. As many as 24 GIB chicks are being reared in DNP by a team supported by the
International Fund for Houbara Conservation of United Arab Emirates.
• Project Great Indian Bustard: It has been launched by the Rajasthan government with an
aim of constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing infrastructure to
reduce human pressure on its habitats.
• Firefly Bird Diverters: These are flaps installed on power lines, a reason for many death
among GIB. They work as reflectors for bird species like the GIB. Birds can spot them from
a distance of about 50 meters and change their path of flight to avoid collision with power
lines + Supreme Court recently said, in M.K. Ranjitsinh & Others vs Union of India &
Others, that in all cases where the overhead lines in power projects exist, the governments of
Rajasthan and Gujarat shall take steps forthwith to install bird diverters in order to protect
Great Indian Bustard.
➢ Aldabra Rail = The flightless Aldabra rail went extinct over 130,000 years ago, but the species
then reappeared via iterative evolution + Iterative evolution can be defined as "the repeated
evolution of a specific trait or body plan from the same ancestral lineage at different points in
time." + It lives on a coral atoll off the southeast coast of Africa + It is a subspecies of the white-
throated rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri) and is the only living flightless bird in the Indian Ocean.
➢ Indian Skimmer = Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.
It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes, estuaries
and coasts + It breeds colonially on large, exposed sand-bars and islands + It feeds on surface-
dwelling fish, small crustaceans and insect larvae + IUCN Red List: Endangered + These
skimmer species were distributed in north Indian rivers, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar,
China, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam + Now, much of the population is confined to north Indian
River systems and Pakistan. About 20% of the total population nest along river Chambal.
➢ Dusted Apollo = a rare high-altitude butterfly + It has been sighted and photographed for the
first time in Himachal Pradesh + extremely rare butterfly + It is found from Ladakh to West
Nepal and it flies between 3,500 to 4,800 metres in the inner Himalayas + Threats: Apollos are
considered commercially important butterflies and they fetch high prices in the poaching
industry. Most of the Apollo butterflies are now endangered and need immediate attention for
their conservation and protection.
➢ Golden-backed Frog = It is endemic to the Western Ghats of Karnataka and Kerala, specifically
above the Palghat Gap + It is about the size of a human thumb + Recently, scientists made a
surprising discovery where a Bonnet mushroom was growing out of the side of the Golden-
backed Frog + (Bonnet mushroom = It is commonly found as a saprotroph (an organism that
feeds on non-living organic matter) on rotting wood + It belongs to the Mycena genus +
Mycenas are hard to identify to species and some are distinguishable only by microscopic
features such as the shape of the cystidia. Some species are edible, while others contain toxins.)
➢ Purple Frog = Recently, the government of Tamil Nadu established the Tamil Nadu Endangered
Species Conservation Fund (TNESCF) to protect the purple frog and other lesser-known
endangered species + Purple Frog is also known as the Maveli frog or Pignose Frog + It is often
called a ‘living fossil’ which belongs to the Nasikabatrachidae family + It is the soil-dwelling
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

frog endemic to selected habitats in the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu + Anamalai
hill is one of its prime habitats in Tamil Nadu + Tamil Nadu is home to two types of Purple
frogs: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis and Nasikabatrachus Bhupathi + It remains underground
most of the year except for 2-3 weeks during the monsoon when it comes out to mate + IUCN:
Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis (Near Threatened) and Nasikabatrachus bhupathi (Critically
Endangered) + Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022: Schedule I.
➢ Common Angelshark = Angelshark is a cartilaginous fish similar to a ray or skate + They are
found in coastal and outer continental shelf sediment habitats in the Mediterranean Sea and
eastern Atlantic. They may also be found in estuaries and brackish water + IUCN: Critically
Endangered + CITES: Appendix I.
➢ Bull Shark = They’re known to be aggressive towards humans and are thought to be one of the
most dangerous shark species in the world + These are frequently spotted in tropical coastal
areas worldwide, including shallower waters along coastlines + Bull sharks have a unique ability
to tolerate freshwater and saltwater habitats, meaning they can sometimes be found venturing
into rivers and travelling great distances upstream + IUCN: Vulnerable.
➢ North Atlantic Right Whales = These are generally restricted to the coastal waters of the East
Coast of the United States and Canada + These whales are migratory animals, spending the
winter in warmer waters and migrating to the poles for cooler waters in late summer. These
whales inhabit the temperate and subpolar waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans
+ IUCN: Critically Endangered + Recently scientists have discovered that North Atlantic right
whales are getting smaller, which is impacting their ability to breed.
➢ Right Whales = Right whales are large baleen whales that belong to the genus Eubalaena, along
with Southern Right Whales (Least Concern), North Atlantic Right Whales (Critically
Endangered), and North Pacific Right Whales (Endangered) + Right whale, (family Balaenidae)
is any of four species of stout-bodied whales having an enormous head measuring one-quarter to
one-third their total body length + While they differ genetically, and in conservation status, they
do not differ significantly in their external appearance + These whales were hunted for their oil
and their strong, elastic baleen. Because of the considerable economic value of these products,
this cetacean gained its name because it was the “right whale” to take + When feeding, these
whales swim slowly and use baleen to eat schools of small, shrimp-like crustaceans, called
zooplankton + They have been hunted to near extinction, but hunting was banned in 1935, and
the whaling industry is no longer a threat to the species.
➢ Gangetic Dolphin = Popularly known as ‘Susu’ of rivers + Only live in freshwater and are
essentially blind + They are reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem + It is
also National Aquatic Animal of India + It can be found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna
and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh + In India, it covers seven
states namely, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West
Bengal + It prefer deep waters, in and around the confluence + Major threats to dolphins in India
include overfishing in the habitat, pollution, infrastructure etc. + Gangetic dolphins are one
among the 21 species identified under the centrally sponsored scheme, “Development of Wildlife
Habitat” + India’s national aquatic animal (declared in 2009) + IUCN: Endangered + Schedule I
of WPA,1972 & Appendix 1 of CITES + The species is a reliable indicator of the health of the
entire river ecosystem + The Gangetic Dolphin is endemic to the Indian sub-continent and has a
fairly extensive distribution range. It is found in the Ganga -Brahmaputra - Meghna and
Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of India and Bangladesh, while a few individuals survive in the
Karnali, and the Sapta Kosi Rivers in Nepal + It is blind and finds its way and prey in river
waters through echolocation + Being a mammal, the Ganges River dolphin cannot breathe in
water and must surface every 30-120 seconds + It is one of four freshwater dolphin species in the
world. The other three are: 'Baiji' in Yangtze River in China (Functionally extinct since 2006);
'Boto' in Amazon River and; 'Bhulan' in Indus River in Pakistan
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Striped Marlin = Category of Fish + Striped marlin are some of the fastest animals on the planet
and one of the ocean’s top predators + According to a study, these predatory fish use rapid
colour changes to coordinate attacks.
➢ Sea Cucumber = This species is a part of a larger animal group called echinoderms and is
invertebrates that lives on the seafloor + Found in both tropical and temperate oceans +
Distribution: Lakshadweep islands and Andaman Nicobar islands, the Gulf of Mannar at the
confluence of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu is also home to sea cucumbers
+ It has no limbs or eyes, or blood + Status: Schedule 1 of WPA- > Trade is banned + CITES:
Appendix II + MoEFCC imposed a total ban on harvesting and transporting sea cucumbers in
2001 + Lakshadweep has created the world’s first conservation area for sea cucumbers +
Beneficial to the benthic animals as they release inorganic nitrogen and phosporus, also plays an
important role in preserving coral reefs + Contain high levels of a chemical called fucosylated
glycosaminoglycan in their skin + They exhibit both sexual and asexual reproduction.
➢ Roen Olmi = Mushroom + It is a mushroom of the Termitomyces species + It grows on termite
hills and is locally known as ‘roen olmi’ in Goa + It is an edible wild mushroom popular among
Goans and consumed during the monsoons + These mushrooms have no independent existence.
They grow only in association with termites + It is endemic to the Western Ghats + It plays a
very important role as a powerful biodegrading fungus in forest and grassland ecosystems
converting 50% of dead plant material on the ground into rich soil + (Termitomyces Species:
All Termitomyces species are edible and have unique food value attributed to their texture,
flavour, nutrient content, and beneficial mediational properties + Additionally, Termito-myces
have been recognized for their ethno-medicinal importance in various indigenous communities
throughout Asia and Africa + Termitomyces species possess various beneficial antioxidant and
antimicrobial properties)
➢ Coconut = Coconut palm is considered as a native of Malesia (a bio-geographical region that
includes Southeast Asia (notably India), Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, and several Pacific
Island groups) + Mainly grown in southern States—Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana
and Andhra Pradesh. These states produce over 90% of coconuts + Grown in warm, sandy, well-
drained and nutrient-rich soil, humid climate and abundant rainfall + No part of the coconut tree
goes waste. It is useful as food, feed, wood, copra and drink + Coconut is a nutritious and
versatile fruit that contains protein, minerals, and healthy fats. It may also have antibacterial,
blood sugar control and antioxidant effects.
➢ Cardamom Cultivation = It is popularly known as Queen of Spices and belongs to the
Zingiberaceae family + It is native to the evergreen, rainy forests of Western Ghats in South
India + It is cultivated mainly in the Southern states, viz., Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu +
It is used as a flavouring agent and drug in traditional medicine + It is grown in forest loamy
soils, which are usually acidic in nature with a pH range of 5.0–6.5.The growth of cardamom is
enhanced when planted in humus rich soils with low to medium available phosphorous and
medium to high available potassium + This crop can be grown at an elevation from 600 to
1500m + Rainfall: 1500 to 4000mm + Temperature: 10 to 35 degree C.
➢ Indian Laurel Tree = Recently, forest department authorities in Andhra Pradesh cut the bark of
an Indian laurel tree, with water gushing out + Other names: Asna; saj or saaj; Indian laurel;
marutham (Tamil); matti (Kannada); ain (Marathi); taukkyan (Burma); asana (Sri Lanka); and
casually crocodile bark because of the characteristic bark pattern + It is mainly found in both dry
and moist deciduous forests in southern India up to 1000 m + It is principally native to southern
and Southeast Asia in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and
Vietnam.
➢ Neem Tree = Scientific name: Azadirachta Indica + Native to Indian sub-continent + It grow in
arid, semi-arid, wet tropical and sub-tropical climates and is tolerant to high temperature up to 49

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

°C + Type: Evergreen tree (deciduous in drier areas) + Recently, The Neem Summit has been
organized by collaboration with lCAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute.
➢ Cannabis = It is the most widely used illicit drug in the world, and 19.5% of those who have
used cannabis develop a Cannabis use disorder (CUD) + CUD is characterised by persistent
impairment, such as failing to attend to work or personal obligations, continuing to use cannabis
despite problems, and an inability to cut down its use. Despite this public health concern, there
are currently no treatments for CUD + Previous research has shown that activation of the
cannabinoid receptor by Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) the main psychoactive component of
cannabis is responsible for the behavioural effects of cannabis.
➢ Cocoa = Crop of humid tropics and is native to Amazon basin of South America + It is mainly
grown in an area of land around the equator between 20 degrees latitude north and south + It can
be grown up to 300 m above mean sea level + It requires an annual rainfall of 1500-2000 mm +
The temperature range of 15°-39°C with optimum of 25°C is considered ideal + It requires deep
and well drained soils. Majority of area under Cocoa cultivation is on clay loam and sandy loam
soil + Shade requirement: Cocoa was evolved as an under-storey crop in the Amazonian forests.
Thus commercial cultivation of cocoa can be taken up in plantations where 50 per cent of light is
ideally available + Major producing regions in the world: About 70 percent of the world’s cocoa
beans come from four West African countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon + In
India, it is mainly cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu mainly as intercrop with
Arecanut and Coconut.
➢ Lianas = also known as vines, climbing plants or climbers + plants with long, flexible, climbing
stems + plants with long, flexible, climbing stems + They particularly thrive in disturbed forest
areas — such as those affected by logging, natural treefalls, landslides + In terms of climate,
lianas are more resilient to variations in moisture and temperature, which gives them a
competitive advantage over trees.
➢ Panneer Thiratchai = Grape variety + mainly cultivated in Cumbum valley of Tamil Nadu + It
has received Geographical Indication Tag in 2023 + These grapes are rich in vitamins, tartaric
acid and antioxidants and reduce the risk of some chronic diseases. They are also known for a
superior taste apart from the purplish-brown colour + This variety is also known as Muscat
Hamburg & constitutes almost 85% of the grape-growing areas in Tamil Nadu.
➢ Orans = Orans are traditional sacred groves found in Rajasthan + There are often local deities
associated with Oran + Orans also form the natural habitat for India’s most critically endangered
bird, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act,
which is also the State bird of Rajasthan.
• Sacred Groves = They are relic forest patches traditionally protected by communities in
reverence of a deity + They form important repositories of forest biodiversity and provide
refuge to many plant and animal species of conservation significance. Sacred groves are
found all over India, especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
+ These are known as Kavu/Sarpa Kavu in Kerala, Devarakadu/Devkad in Karnataka,
Deorai/Devrai in Maharashtra, Jahera/Thakuramma in Odisha, etc.
➢ Cycas Circinalis = Cycas circinalis is on the verge of extinction in the northern part of the
Kerala after being hit by an unknown and fast spreading plant disease + It is popularly known as
Eenthu Pana in Kerala + It belongs to cycads (family Cycadaceae), which are one of the world’s
most threatened plant groups + It is an evergreen palm-like tree that grows up to 25 ft + It is
known to be an Indian endemic, restricted to the Western Ghats, in the states of Kerala,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the south of Maharashtra + It is a nutraceutical plant for several
indigenous communities in the Western Ghats.
➢ Cnemaspis Vangoghi = New species of lizard + discovered from the Southern Western Ghats in
Tamil Nadu + It is described as a small-sized gecko and has a distinctive yellow head and
forebody + It prefers living among rocks and can occasionally be found on buildings and trees.
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Taeniogonalos Deepaki = New species of wasp + It was discovered in the Belgaum region of
Karnataka (Western Ghats) + The Taeniogonalos genus is distributed in Afrotropical, oriental,
eastern palaearctic, nearctic, Australian and neotropical regions; 6 of the species have been
reported earlier from India and 20 from China + Most of the Taeniogonalos species have been
reported from south India.
➢ Sphaerotheca Varshaabhu = new frog species + found in urban landscape of Bengaluru.
➢ Brucethoa isro = new species of deep-sea isopod + discovered off the Kerala coast + The tiny
fish-parasitic crustacean, belonging to the genus Brucethoa, was recovered from the base of the
gill cavity of the Spinyjaw greeneye, a marine fish + It is the second species within this genus to
be documented in India.
• Isopods = Isopods are an order of invertebrates (animals without backbones) that belong to
the greater crustacean group of animals, which includes crabs and shrimp + They also live in
many different types of habitats, from mountains and deserts to the deep sea + They are one
of the most morphologically diverse of all the crustacean groups, coming in many different
shapes and sizes + About half of the known species of isopods live in the ocean. Others live
in coastal and shelf waters, moving around on the seafloor or living in plants + Most of them
are free-living, but a number of marine species are parasitic on other animals.
➢ Begonia Narahari = Researchers recently discovered a new flowering plant species in
Arunachal Pradesh, named Begonia Narahari + Begonia Narahari stands out for its vivid blue
iridescence under direct light, a distinctive feature that aids in its identification alongside
comparisons with related species + As of now, Begonia naraharii is known only from the
Demwe locality in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh.
➢ Sea Slug = Recently, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has named a new marine species of
head-shield sea slug after President of India Droupadi Murmu as Melanochlamys Droupadi (M.
Droupadi) + Belongs to Melanochlamys genus + Discovered from Digha of West Bengal coast
and Udaipur of Odisha coast + Found nowhere else in the world + They continuously secrete
transparent mucus to form a sheath that prevents sand grains from entering parapodial space + It
crawls beneath smooth sand to form a moving capsule where the body is rarely visible.
➢ Cliffside Bambootail = New species of Dragonfly + Found in Kerala + It belongs to a group
called bambootails, so named because of their long abdomen that resembles bamboo stalks + The
discovery is significant because, for over 160 years, the genus Phylloneura was considered
monotypic, with a single described species, the Myristica Bambootail + Myristica Bambootail is
endemic to western ghats and is near-threatened as per the IUCN Red List.
➢ Butterfly Cicada = It is a newly discovered species of cicada belonging to the genus
Becquartina + It was discovered in Meghalaya + It marks the first-ever record of this genus in
the country + Cicada, (family Cicadidae) is any of a group of sound-producing insects. They
have two pairs of membranous wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes (ocelli).
ost of them are tropical and occur in deserts, grasslands, and forests.
➢ Neptis Philyra = A rare butterfly species + recently discovered for the first time in India in Tale
Valley Wildlife Sanctuary + commonly known as the long-streak sailor + The butterfly has
serrated wings with rich brownish-black on the upper side and yellow-brown on the underside +
The species, which is part of the Nymphalidae family, is known to prefer habitats such as
evergreen forests, riverine vegetation, and rocky streams.
➢ Trichoglossum = Researchers recently discovered a new fungus species in Kerala named
Trichoglossum syamviswanathii + Trichoglossum is a genus of fungus classified within the
family Geoglossaceae (Ascomycota), commonly known as “hairy earth tongues” fungus due to
their numerous filaments resembling mushrooms + They exhibit saprotrophic behavior but can
also be found as endophytes in plant roots + They are globally distributed in tropical and
temperate forests at least five out of seven continents of the world.

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Steinernema Adamsi = new species of nematode that could protect crops without pesticides +
This new species is a member of a family of nematodes called Steinernema that have long been
used in agriculture to control insect parasites without pesticides + Nematodes are among the
most abundant animals on Earth. They occur as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living
forms in soil, fresh water, marine environments, and even such unusual places as vinegar, beer
malts, and water-filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust.
➢ Cuscuta Dodder = Invasive weed + It is native to North America + It is a parasitic vine without
roots + As per reports, it is slowly choking the Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird
Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu (India’s oldest bird sanctuary) + It is the holoparasitic plant that builds a
canopy on the host plant and casts thousands of tendrils to form a dense spectacle before it
strangles and eventually kills it.
➢ Thrips Parvispinus = It is an invasive pest species + It can also grow and multiply on alternate
hosts like drumstick, pigeon pea, chickpea, papaya, mango and weed species like Parthenium,
Cleome viscosa, Prosopis sp., Lantana camara, Calotropis sp., Tecoma sp. and wild solanum
plants + It has been reported from Thailand, Australia and Europe + In India, this species was
first reported on Papaya from Bengaluru in 2015 + As per recent reports, Thrips Parvispinus, an
invasive pest species, might have dominated or even replaced the native chilli thrips known as
scirtothrips dorsalis in the regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
➢ Magnetofossils = Recently, In the depths of the Bay of Bengal, scientists have discovered a
50,000-year-old sediment — a giant magnetofossil and one of the youngest to be found yet +
These are the fossilised remains of magnetic particles created by magnetotactic bacteria, also
known as magnetobacteria, and found preserved within the geological records + Magnetotactic
bacteria are mostly prokaryotic organisms that arrange themselves along the earth’s magnetic
field. These organisms were believed to follow the magnetic field to reach places that had
optimal oxygen concentration + These magnetotactic bacteria create tiny crystals made of the
iron-rich minerals magnetite or greigite. The crystals help them navigate the changing oxygen
levels in the water body they reside in.
➢ Gupteswar Forest = Odisha + Recently, the Odisha government declared the Gupteswar forest
in Koraput district as its fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) + part of Eastern Ghats + The
limestone caves within the forest are home to eight species of bats, two of which are under the
near-threatened category (Hipposideros galeritus and Rhinolophus rouxii are under the near-
threatened category of the IUCN) + Under the Biological Diversity Act, the State Governments
are empowered to notify in the official gazette, in consultation with ‘local bodies’, areas of
biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
➢ Hope Island = located off the coast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, in the Bay of Bengal + This
island is young, as it was formed in the late 18th century, by the waters of the Koringa River,
which is a distributary of the River Godavari + Recently, Andhra Pradesh government imposed a
month-long ban on fishing in the 5-km radius of Hope Island to prevent the death of Olive
Ridley turtles off the Kakinada coast
➢ Beyt Dwarka Island = small island off the coast of Dwarka, Gujarat + Located at the mouth of
the Gulf of Kutch + It is believed to be the home of Lord Krishna when he was the king of
Dwarka + Shri Keshavraj Ji Temple is a Lord Krishna temple located on the island. It is an
important site for Hindu pilgrimage. The temple is 500 years old and was built by
Vallabhacharya.
➢ Moyar Valley = It is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu at the tri-junction of three
states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu + The 85-km stretch is a wildlife haven in the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve + It has a common boundary with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
(Kerala) on the West, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) on the North, the Nilgiris North
Division on the South and East, and Gudalur Forest Division on the South West + Moyar valley
is the biggest nesting colony of critically endangered Gyps vultures in the wild.
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Cumbum Valley = It is located at the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu is known as the ‘Grapes
city of South India’ and cultivates the Panneer Thratchai.
➢ Hooghly River = also known as the Bhagirathi-Hoogly and Kati-Ganga Rivers, is one of the
significant rivers in West Bengal + It is a distributary or arm of the Ganges River + It is formed
in Murshidabad, where the Ganga splits into two parts, while the part flowing through
Bangladesh is called the Padma + The Hooghly’s majority of water comes from the Farakka
Feeder Canal instead of natural water + Haldi, Ajay, Damodar and Rupnarayan are the rivers that
feed the lower reaches of the Hooghly.
➢ Netravati River = It rises between Kudremukh and Ballalaryan Durga in the Dakshina Kannada
district of Karnataka + fall into the Arabian Sea near Mangalore + The Kumaradhara, a major
left-bank tributary joins near the village Uppinangadi + The climate of the basin is characterized
by heavy rainfall, high humidity and oppressive weather in the hot season.
➢ Shipra River = The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra, is a river in Madhya Pradesh state +
perennial river + considered as sacred as the Ganga River by the Hindus + It originates in the
Vindhya Range from a hill called Kakri-Tekdi, which is in the north of Dhar and situated at a
distance of 11km from Ujjain + It flows across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River.
➢ Ken River = It is a tributary of the Yamuna River. The river is the last tributary of the Yamuna
before the Yamuna joins the Ganga + It flows through two states, namely Madhya Pradesh and
Uttar Pradesh + It is one of the major rivers of the Bundelkhand region of central India + It is
known for its rare Sajhar or Dendritic Agate stone + The major tributaries of the Ken River are
Bawas, Dewar, Kaith, Baink, Kopra, and Bearma.
➢ Vaitarna River = West flowing rivers + It originates in the Trimbakeshwar Hills of Nasik
district of Maharashtra + The main tributaries are Pinjal, Ganjai, Surya, Daharji and Tansa + The
catchment area of Vaitarna basin completely lies in Thane and Nasik districts of Maharashtra.
➢ Bhimtal Lake = It is a geographical feature located in the Bhimtal town, Nainital district of
Kumaon, Uttarakhand + Type of Lake: Tectonic.
➢ Sudarshan Setu Bridge = It is India’s longest cable-stayed bridge, at 2.32 km, on the Arabian
Sea, connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district +
It boasts a unique design, featuring a footpath adorned with verses from the Bhagavad Gita and
images of Lord Krishna on both sides.
➢ Shahpur Kandi Dam Project = Located on the Ravi River + Punjab + It is downstream from
the existing Ranjit Sagar Dam. The water released by Ranjit Sagar Dam is utilized for generating
power from this project + The main purpose behind the construction of this dam is power
generation and irrigation in Punjab and J&K States.
➢ Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary = Tamil Nadu + Tamil Nadu government has declared
areas of reserve forests in Bargur Hills in Erode district, as the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary + It connects the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve with the Cauvery South Wildlife
Sanctuary + The sanctuary is part of the tiger corridor connecting Sathyamangalam Tiger
Reserve, Male Mahadeshwara Hills Tiger Reserve, and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
➢ Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary = Kerala + integral part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve + It is
contiguous to the tiger reserves of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Mudumalai of
Tamil Nadu + Kabini River which is a tributary of the Kaveri River flows through the sanctuary.
➢ Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary = Andhra Pradesh + It lies between the Nallamala and
Yerramalla hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats + Recently, The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has not
been spotted at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh and its
surrounding areas for the last couple of years, which is an indication that the bird is at risk of
local extinction + It is the only GIB Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Papikonda National Park = Andhra Pradesh + The area plays a key role in high precipitation
and the consequent origin of various small streams and rivulets which drain and enrich the
perennial River Godavari + A unique dwarf breed of goat known locally as the “kanchu mekha”
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

originates in this region + The national park has been recognized as an Important Bird and
Biodiversity Area by BirdLife International.
➢ Bor Tiger Reserve = Maharashtra + smallest tiger reserve in India + It is centrally located
among several other Bengal Tiger habitats. Towards the northeast lies the Pench Tiger Reserve,
towards the east is Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve, and to the southeast is Karhandla Wildlife
Sanctuary. The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located to the southeast, Melghat Tiger Reserve
stands to the west; Satpura Tiger Reserve lies to the north-west.
➢ Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary = It is located near the border of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh
and Telangana + River Vagu separates the wildlife sanctuary into two parts + River Godavari
also passes through it + The sanctuary is also famous for the Sammakkka Sarakka Jathra, one of
the Asia’s largest tribal jahtra, taking place here every two years + The region falls in the tropical
dry deciduous type of vegetation.
➢ Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary = Odisha + It adjoins the Sitanadi and Udanti sanctuaries of
Chhattisgarh.
➢ Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary = Located in Tripura + It is a woodland with an artificial lake
and natural botanical and zoological gardens + It also has two natural lakes, namely Abasarika
and Amrit Sagar + Vegetation: Moist deciduous forest + Clouded Leopard National Park,
established in 2007, is a part of this sanctuary + It gives shelter to about 150 species of birds and
the unique bespectacled monkey, Phayre’s langur.
➢ Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary = Arunachal Pradesh + Rivers like Pange, Sipu, Karing, and
Subansiri flow through this sanctuary + It has a stunning spectrum of subtropical and alpine
forests like silver fir trees, ferns, orchids, bamboo, and rhododendrons + Pleioblastus simone is a
bamboo variety only found in Talley Valley.
➢ National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) = Recently inaugurated in Patna, Bihar + Aimed
at conserving the endangered Gangetic River dolphin + It facilitates in-depth studies conducted
by scientists and researchers regarding the dolphin species. Additionally, the centre offers
training to fishermen on effective dolphin conservation methods.
➢ Biodiversity-Heritage Site (BHS) = BHS are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically
fragile ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity +
Under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002, State Government in consultation with local
bodies may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS + Also, State Government in
consultation with Central Government may frame rules for management and conservation of
BHS + National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) advices the State Government in the selection
and management of heritage sites under section 37 + As per National Biodiversity Authority
(NBA), India has a total of 45 BHS as of February 2024 + [What is Criteria for identification of
BHS -> Refer STATIC Section]
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) = NBA is an Autonomous and Statutory Body of
MoEFCC + NBA (Headquartered in Chennai) was established in 2003 by Central
Government to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) = Under Section 41(1) of the Biological
Diversity Act, 2002, every local body in the State shall constitute a Biodiversity Management
Committee within its area of jurisdiction + BMC is a 7-member committee which is elected
in the general body meeting of that local body + It must include least at least 1/3rd women
and at least 18% Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes + It prepares a Peoples’ Biodiversity
Register (PBR) in consultation with local people + It facilitate access and benefit sharing in
line with the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol + BMCs are empowered to levy charges, by
way of collection fees from any person, for accessing/ collecting any biological resource for
commercial purposes for areas falling within its territorial jurisdiction.

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Geo-Heritage Sites = Geo-heritage

refers to the geological features which
are inherently or culturally significant
offering insight to earth’s evolution or
history to earth science or that can be
utilized for education + Geological
Survey of India (GSI) is the parent
body which is making efforts towards
identification and protection of geo-
heritage sites/national geological
monuments in the country + Globally
too, UNESCO declares Global
geoparks + Currently, there are no
Global geo parks in India + Some of
Geo heritage sites are: Marine
Gondwana fossil park in Chhattisgarh;
Siwalik vertebrate fossil park in
Himachal Pradesh; Stromatolite park in
Rajasthan; Pillow lava in Karnataka,
Eparchaean unconformity and Tirumala
hills in Andhra Pradesh, Lonar Lake in
Maharashtra, etc.
• Pandavula Gutta = Recently, Pandavula Gutta has been officially recognised as the sole
Geo-heritage site in Telangana + It is a geological marvel older than the Himalayan hills + It
is rich in terms of number of paintings, rock shelters and its habitation, right from the
mesolithic to medieval times.
• Ramgarh Crater (Ramgarh Astrobleme) = Recently recognised as Geo Heritage site +
Located in Rajasthan + situated on the old course of river Parbati + “Astrobleme” is used to
describe a geological feature formed by the impact of a meteorite + First discovered by the
Geological Survey of India in 1869 and was recognised as a 'Crater' by the Geological
Society of London + It is one of the three important meteorite impact craters in India, other
two being, Lonar in Maharashtra and Dhala in Madhya Pradesh.
➢ New Ramsar Sites = 5 more sites added to the list, making total sites to 80.
• Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve = Karnataka + man-made Village Irrigation
Tank + It supports more than 1% of the biogeographic population of Painted Stork and
Black-headed Ibis.
• Aghanashini Estuary = Karnataka + It is formed at the confluence of the Aghanashini River
with the Arabian Sea + brackish water + The wetland helps in traditional fish farming in the
estuarine rice fields (locally known as Gazni rice fields).
• Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve = Karnataka + man-made wetland + The wetland
harbours two vulnerable species, namely the Common pochard and River tern and four near-
threatened species, namely the Oriental Darter Black-headed Ibis Woolly-necked Stork and
Painted Stork + It is also one of the largest wintering grounds for the Bar-headed goose.
• Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary = Tamil Nadu
• Longwood Shola Reserve Forest = Tamil Nadu + It derives its name from the Tamil word,
"Solai", which means a ‘tropical rainforest + These forested wetlands serve as habitats for the
globally endangered Black-chinned Nilgiri Laughing thrush, Nilgiri Blue Robin and
vulnerable Nilgiri Wood-pigeon.

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam = gravity dam located below the confluence of the river
Kaveri with its tributaries, Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the district of Mandya in
Karnataka + type of gravity dam + The dam was constructed during the rule of the Maharaja of
Mysore, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, and it was named in his honour. The construction of the KRS
Dam began in 1911 and was completed in 1931. The dam was designed by Sir M. Visvesvaraya,
a famous Indian engineer (often referred to as the ‘architect of modern Mysore’ or ‘father of
planning in India’) + The water from the dam is used for irrigation in Mysore and Mandya and is
the main source of drinking water for Mysore, Mandya, and Bengaluru city + It also ensures
power supply to the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric power station + The water released from this
dam flows into the state of Tamil Nadu and is stored in the Mettur dam in the Salem district.
➢ Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project = Telangana + Godavari river + The Pranhita-Godavari
River confluence is the location of KLIP + It was previously known as the Pranahita-Chevella
Lift Irrigation Project + It is claimed to be the world’s largest multi-stage and multi-purpose lift
irrigation project.
➢ Sela Tunnel = It is the World’s longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world + It is located in the
West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh + It will connect Tezpur, in Assam, with Tawang, in
Arunachal Pradesh + It is built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Vartak,
and the tunnel's construction commenced on April 1, 2019.
➢ Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road = Ladakh + Recently, The Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
has achieved a significant milestone by connecting the strategic Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in
Ladakh + This road serves as a crucial link between Manali and Leh, passing through Darcha
and Nimmu along the Kargil–Leh highway + It now stands as the third axis connecting Ladakh
to the hinterland, alongside the existing Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes.
➢ Shinkun La Pass = Shingo La is a mountain pass in India, on the state boundary between
Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh + Shinku La Pass connects Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh
with Zanskar Valley in Kargil, Ladakh + Recently, Border Road Organisation has connected
strategically important road from Manali (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) through Darcha
and Nimmu on Kargil– Leh Highway. This will result in road having all weather connectivity to
Ladakh region.
➢ Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road = It allows surface movement from Leh to Lahaul-Spiti + It will
pass through the world’s highest tunnel at Shinku La Pass at 16,580 feet + The road will be the
first all-weather road connecting Ladakh to the rest of the country + It is the third axis (the third
road) and the shortest route to Manali (Himachal Pradesh) + This is strategically important as
China has already developed all-weather road networks close to the Line of Actual Control
(LAC).
➢ Shompen Tribe = Shompen are one of the most isolated tribes on Earth + They reside in the
dense tropical rainforest of the Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands +
They are one of the least studied Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India +
Though according to the Census (2011), the estimated population of Shompen is 229, the exact
population of Shompen is unknown till today + They are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers +
Shompen speak their own language, which has many dialects.
➢ Chenchu Tribes = The Chenchus are a Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha. Many Chenchus live in the dense Nallamala forest of Andhra
Pradesh + They are an aboriginal tribe whose traditional way of life has been based on hunting
and gathering + The Chenchus speak the Chenchu language, a member of the Dravidian
language family + Chenchu's relationship with non-tribal people has been largely symbiotic.
➢ Jenu Kuruba Community (Kattunayakkars) = Jenu in Kannada means honey and Kuruba is the
caste, they are a traditional honey-gathering tribe + Also known as Kattunayakkars (King of the
forest) + Found in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu + The majority of the Jenu Kurubas are
from Karnataka and post-1970s, they are relocated around Nagarhole and Bandipur forests to
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

enable tiger conservation projects + Bidru Kotta, a bamboo percussive instrument is played by
the tribe + They practice agriculture as a subsidiary occupation, instead of ploughing the field,
they scratch the surface with a sort of bamboo spear.
➢ Muria Tribe = They are an indigenous Adivasi, scheduled tribe Dravidian community. They are
part of the Gond people + Location: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The
Muria mostly live in reserved forests of Andhra Pradesh and in the north-central part of Bastar
district + Language: Gondi, Halbi, Bhattri and Koya (Dravidian language) + They practice Hindu
and Nature worship. They are traditionally animists + The Muria tribe custom mandates that a
man weaves a bamboo cradle for his newborn as a lifetime memory for both the father and the
child. Cradle is called vookada in Gond language.
➢ Changpa Tribe = The Changpa, or Champa, are semi-nomadic people found mainly in the
Changtang plateau of southeastern Ladakh + They share linguistic and cultural affinities with
Tibetans + They profess Tibetan Buddhism as their religion + They can be identified by their
conical yak-skin tents called reboo + The Changpa who live nomadic lives are known as Phalpa,
while those who have settled down in fixed locations are called Fangpa + They rear Changra
goats (Capra Hircus) that yield the rare Pashmina (Cashmere) fibre. It is the finest fibre of all
goat hair + In 1989, the Changpa were granted official status in India as a scheduled tribe
➢ Nihang Sikhs = Nihangs, originally known as Akalis or Akali Nihangs, are a distinct warrior
order within the Sikh community, known for their martial traditions, unique attire, and adherence
to a specific code of conduct + They are highly skilled in Gatka martial arts and have historically
served as a dedicated and elite force to protect Sikh shrines and communities + They are
characterised by blue robes, antiquated arms such as swords and spears, and decorated turbans
surmounted by steel quoits + Nihangs had a major role in defending the Sikh panth after the fall
of the first Sikh rule (1710-15) when Mughal governors were killing Sikhs, and during the
onslaught of Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Durrani (1748-65).
➢ Konda Reddi Tribe = Konda Reddis is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group inhabiting the
banks of the river Godavari and also in the hilly forest tracts of Godavari and Khammam districts
of Andhra Pradesh + Their mother tongue is Telugu, with a unique accent + The family is
patriarchal + Monogamy is a rule, but polygamous families are also found + They have their own
institution of social control called ‘Kula Panchayat’ + The primary religion practiced by the
Konda Reddi is Folk Hinduism + They are primarily shifting cultivators.
➢ Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 = It amends the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 + Application: Currently, the Water Amendment
Act 2024 will apply to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan (both passed resolution to amend the Act)
and the Union territories + Water is a state subject . However, Article 252 of Constitution
empowers Parliament to legislate on any matters with respect to which it lacks legislative power
+ It specifies that the central government, in consultation with the CPCB, may exempt certain
categories of industrial plants from obtaining such consent + The central government will
prescribe the manner of nomination and the terms and conditions of service of the chairman of
SPCB (State PCB) + Act decriminalises several violations, and instead imposes penalties
between ₹10,000 and ₹15 lakh.
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 = The Act provides for the
prevention and control of water pollution, and for the maintaining or restoring of
wholesomeness of water in the country + The original Act is applicable in 25 States + This
was amended twice in 1988 and 2003 + Regulatory bodies: Creation of the Central Pollution
Control Boards (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) + Approval: Mandatory
for industrial units to get permission from their respective State boards before setting up
factories.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) = CPCB is a statutory organisation which was
constituted in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 + It was
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981 + It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry
of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 +
Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 + It aims to
promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention,
control and abatement of water pollution. It aims to improve the quality of air and to prevent,
control or abate air pollution in the country.
➢ Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024 = Notified by Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change + Rules were notified under Wild Life (Protection) Act
(WPA), 1972 + Section 49 M provides for registration of possession, transfer, and birth and
reporting of death of living scheduled animal species which are listed in Appendices of CITES or
Schedule IV of WPA, 1972. Section 49M was added through Wild Life (Protection) Amendment
Act, 2022.
➢ Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 = Ministry of Environment, Forest,
and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport)
Rules, 2024, which liberalises the conditions for transferring elephants within or between states
+ Approval or rejection of the transfer is at the discretion of the Chief Wildlife Warden based on
two assessments (Before a transfer within a state, the elephant's health must be confirmed by a
veterinarian and The suitability of both the current and prospective habitats must be verified by
the Deputy Conservator of Forests) + Additionally, the elephant's genetic profile must be
registered with the MoEF&CC before the transfer + The elephant must be accompanied by a
mahout and an elephant assistant. A health certificate from a veterinary practitioner confirming
fitness for transport is mandatory + Until August 2022, the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
explicitly prohibited the trade in wildlife including both wild and captive elephants.
➢ Genetic Profiling of Captive Elephants = Being conducted in Kerala + Wildlife Institute of
India (WII) is conducting genetic profiling of around 400 captive (Captive elephants are those
that have been captured from the wild and used by humans) elephants in Kerala to add their
details to a national database + Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), which was
given the task of DNA fingerprinting the captive elephants, handed over the DNA database,
prototypes of Unique Identification Cards to the Kerala's Forest Department + The move could
help solve wildlife crime cases involving poaching and illegal trade. The DNA profiling will act
as the ‘Adhaar card’ of captive elephants.
• Asian Elephants = India has the largest and the most stable population of Asian elephants,
where more than 60% of wild Asian elephants are in India + Nilgiri landscape has the largest
single population of the Asian elephant anywhere in the world + India is home to 20% of the
global captive Asian elephant population + IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (African
Elephant Status: Vulnerable) + Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule + CITES:
Appendix I + Highest number of elephants (Elephant Census, 2017): Karnataka (6,049) >
Assam (5,719) Kerala (3,054).
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) = WII carries out wildlife research in areas of study like
Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife
Forensics, Spatial Modelling, Eco-development, Habitat Ecology and Climate Change + It
was established in 1982 + It is an autonomous institution under the MoEF&CC + The
institute is based in Dehradun.
➢ Zero Carbon Buildings Action Plan (ZCBAP) = Zero carbon buildings are buildings that
improve their lifecycle environmental performance through measures that reduce embodied,
operational & end-of-life GHG emissions without compromising visual & thermal comforts.
• Nagpur’s ZCBAP = India's First City-Specific Zero Carbon Buildings Action Plan
(ZCBAP) launched in Nagpur + Nagpur’s ZCBAP aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

in all buildings by 2050, contributing to India's 'net zero by 2070' target + ZCBAP in Nagpur
has been developed jointly with implementing partners of Zero Carbon Building Accelerator
(ZCBA) project.
• Zero Carbon Building Accelerator (ZCBA) Project = ZCBA project was launched by
World Resources Institute (WRI) in 2021 along with its global partners + Nagpur is one of
six global cities (other in Kenya, Costa Rica, Turkey, and Colombia) where ZCBA project is
being implemented.
➢ ICGS Samudra Paheredar = It is a specialised Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) of the Indian
Coast Guard. It is the second PCV of India(the first being ICGS Samudra Prahari) + It was
indigenously built by ABG Shipyard, Surat + It is stationed on the East Coast of India in
Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
➢ Greenwashing = Greenwashing refers to the practice of making false or exaggerated claims
about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company in order to present a
misleading image of sustainability or eco-friendliness.
• Draft Guidelines to Prevent Greenwashing = Advertising Standards Council of India
(ASCI) proposed Draft Guidelines for Environmental/Green Claims in Advertising to make
advertising free of Greenwashing + ASCI was formed in 1985 as a self-regulatory
organization by professionals from the advertising and media industry to keep Indian ads
decent, fair, and honest + Greenwashing (also called green sheen) is a deceptive practice of
making misleading environmental claims.
• Greenwashing TechSprint = Greenwashing TechSprint is organized by the Global
Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a consortium of over 80 international organizations
committed to supporting financial innovation for the benefit of consumers + The GFIN is
currently chaired by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a leading regulatory body in the
United Kingdom + TechSprint aims to develop a tool or solution that can effectively help
regulators and the market tackle the risks of greenwashing in financial services + Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) will be among 13 international regulators taking part in the Global
Financial Innovation Network's (GFIN) first-ever Greenwashing TechSprint.
➢ GROW Portal = by NITI Aayog + The "Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with
Agroforestry (GROW)-Suitability Mapping" portal allows universal access to state and district-
level data + GROW initiative aligns with national commitments, aiming to restore 26 million
hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes
of carbon dioxide equivalent + The initiative, led by NITI Aayog, involved a collaborative effort
from multiple institutions and employed advanced technologies such as remote sensing and GIS
to assess agroforestry suitability across all districts in India.
➢ Decision Support System (DSS) = System for air quality + It is a numerical model-based
framework to forecast Delhi’s air quality and sources of local and regional pollution which can
impact the air + It is developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune + The
system, which works only in winter and is stopped from March to August + The two models —
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (Safar) and DSS — had
temporarily stopped sharing data on air pollution for the country as there were differences
between their forecasts and source contribution
➢ Green Credit Program (GCP) = It is an innovative market-based mechanism to incentivise
environment positive actions by different stakeholders such as Industries/institutions, State
governments, philanthropies + Established under: “The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986”
with MoEFCC as Nodal Agency + This programme is voluntary in nature and a followup action
of the ‘LiFE’(Lifestyle for Environment) campaign + Cover eight types of activities — tree
plantation, water management, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution
reduction, and mangrove conservation and restoration + The initiative aims to encourage
industries, companies, and other entities meet their obligations under any law that is in force +
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

The notification clarified that the Green Credit programme is independent of the carbon credit
provided under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023 under the Energy Conservation Act,
2001.
➢ Sub-national Climate Fund (SCF) = Recently, Goa became the 1st state to get the World Bank
backed Sub National Climate Resilient Green Fund + The model is designed to attract public and
private investment and to deliver certified climate and Sustainable Development impacts and
Nature-based Solutions + This fund is managed by Pegasus Capital + The International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is responsible for the Technical Assistance component of
SCF + Anchor investor of this fund is Green Climate Fund (GCF).
➢ NICES Programme = Recently, the National Information System for Climate and Environment
Studies (NICES) programme invited Indian researchers to join in combating climate change + It
was conceptualised in 2012 to meet the ongoing challenge of monitoring climate variability and
climate change from space + It is a programme operated by the ISRO and the Department of
Space, along with other ministries and institutions under the framework of the National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) + It functions under the guidance of the NICES – Programme
Management Council (PMC) + Objectives: To generate and disseminate long-term Essential
Climate Variables (ECVs), derived from Indian and other Earth Observation (EO) satellites,
which are crucial for characterising Earth’s climate + Key focus area: Space-based ECVs and
Climate Indicators, Climate Change Challenges, Weather Extremes, Climate Services, etc.
➢ Geological Survey of India (GSI) = The GSI is a government organization in India, attached to
the Ministry of Mines for conducting geological surveys and studies + It is one of the premier
organizations of earth science survey and research in the world + The Geological Survey of India
(GSI) was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways + Its headquarters is in
Kolkata + Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information
and mineral resource assessment + These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-
borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary
geoscientific, geo-technical etc.
➢ Status of Leopards in India, 2022 Report = Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the ‘Status of Leopards in India, 2022’ Report + Fifth cycle
leopard population estimation (2022) was carried out by National Tiger Conservation Authority
(NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) + Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population of
leopards followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu + Tiger Reserves with highest
leopard population: Nagarajunasagar Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) followed by
Panna and Satpura (Madhya Pradesh) tiger reserves.
• Leopard = The leopard is the smallest of the Big Cat family (of genus Panthera namely the
Tiger, Lion (Panthera leo), Jaguar, Leopard, and Snow Leopard) + nocturnal animal + It
occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on
the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia + IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
➢ Status of Snow leopards in India = Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate
Change (MoEFCC) released the report on Status of Snow leopards in India + Report is result of
Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) programme which was carried out
between 2019 and 2023 + It is the first-ever scientific exercise estimating snow leopard
population + Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is the National Coordinator for this exercise.
• Snow Leopard = IUCN: Vulnerable + CITES: Appendix I + Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972:- Schedule I + It inhabits the Himalayas at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 m
across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and
Arunachal Pradesh + Habitat: Cold High Mountains + In Uttarakhand, snow leopards are
found in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Gangotri National Park, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
and other places of altitude between 3000-4500 meters + Snow leopards are found in 12
countries—including China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

Mongolia + Snow Leopard capital of the world: Hemis, Ladakh + Hemis National Park is the
biggest national park in India and also has a good presence of Snow Leopard + It is declared
State animal of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh + Snow Leopard Breeding Project at Padmaja
Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling is one of the most successful and breeding
programme of species in South East Asia.
• Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme: The GSLEP is a
high-level inter-governmental alliance of all the 12 snow leopard range countries + The snow
leopard countries namely, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan + It majorly focuses on the
need for awareness and understanding of the value of Snow Leopard for the ecosystem.
• Living Himalaya Network Initiative: Living Himalayas Initiative (LHI) is established as
one of WWF’s global initiatives to bring about transformational conservation impact across
the three Eastern Himalayan countries of Bhutan, India (North-East) and Nepal + Objectives
of LHI include adapting to climate change, connecting to habitat and saving iconic species.
• Project Snow Leopard: Project Snow was launched in 2009 to safeguard and conserve
India’s unique natural heritage of high-altitude wildlife populations and their habitats by
promoting conservation through participatory policies and actions.
• International Snow Leopard Day: Established in 2014, it is celebrated on October 23 every
year to raise awareness for its conservation and protection.
➢ Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) = annual event + It was launched in 1998 by the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society + It was established to help researchers
learn more about how birds are doing and how to protect them and the environment + It engages
bird enthusiasts of all ages around the world in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of
where the birds are + Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginner
bird watchers to experts. One can participate from his/her backyard, or anywhere in the world +
Indian birders have participated in the GBBC since 2013. In India, GBBC is coordinated by the
Bird Count India (BCI) collective, a coming-together of a number of groups and organisations
that are interested in birds, nature, and conservation.
➢ Global Resource Outlook 2024 = It is the flagship report of the International Resource Panel of
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) + This year’s report sheds light on how
resources are essential to the effective implementation of the Agenda 2030 and multilateral
environmental agreements to tackle the triple planetary crisis.
➢ Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 = Published by: United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) +
Report Title: Turning rubbish into a resource: Global Waste Management Outlook.
➢ Global Methane Tracker 2024 = by International Energy Agency(IEA) + It indicates that
methane emissions from fuel usage in 2023 were nearly at their highest level on record,
representing a slight increase compared to 2022.
➢ State of the Global Climate Report, 2023 = It is an annual report published by the World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO) + 2023 was the hottest year on record, with the global
average near-surface temperature at 1.45 °Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline. It was the
warmest ten-year period on record + Global average sea-surface temperatures (SST) were at a
record high in 2023, with several months breaking previous records by significant margins.
➢ World Water Development Report = Annual flagship report by United Nations + It is
published by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) on behalf of the UN-
Water + UN-Water is a ‘coordination mechanism’, which comprises of United Nations members
and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues + The latest report
highlights how developing and maintaining water security and equitable access to water services
is essential to ensuring peace and prosperity for all.

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

➢ Young Champions of the Earth Award = Introduced in 2017, It is a flagship youth

engagement initiative of the UNEP + Young people (Aged between 18-30 years) are selected
from every region of the globe and be named UNEP Young Champions of the Earth.
➢ Oceanic Niño Index = It is the primary indicator for monitoring the ocean part of the seasonal
climate pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or “ENSO” + It tracks the running 3-
month average sea surface temperatures in the east-central tropical Pacific between 120°-170°W,
near the International Dateline, and whether they are warmer or cooler than average + Index
values of +0.5 or higher indicate El Niño and values of -0.5 or lower indicate La Niña.
➢ Tyler Prize = It is annual award for environmental science, environmental health, and energy +
The Tyler Prize is administered by the University of Southern California + The 2024 Tyler Prize
for Environmental Achievement will be awarded to Johan Rockstrom for his work on the
Planetary Boundaries framework + Planetary Boundaries framework: First published in 2009,
the Planetary Boundaries integrate nine systems that determine the functioning and the state of
the planet. They provide life-support to humans and humanity is well outside of safe operating
space on first six planetary boundaries.
➢ Earth Hour = It takes place towards the end of March every year + “Earth Hour” encourages
people to switch off all lights for an hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time + It is organized
by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) + World Wildlife Fund (WWF): It is an international non-
governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1961 in Morges, Switzerland, to protect
endangered species of wildlife and preserve natural habitats.
➢ World Forest Day = World Forest Day, also known as International Day of Forests, is
celebrated on March 21 each year + The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Forum on Forests are the coordinators of the International
Day of Forests + The theme for this year is - Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better
World.
➢ Nagoya Protocol = Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable
Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation (the Protocol) is a legally binding global
agreement that implements the access and benefit-sharing obligations of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) + It was adopted by the CBD in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010 and entered
into force in 2014 + It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of
one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of
the utilisation of genetic resources.
➢ Digne Resolution = The geological heritage of our planet was first recognised in 1991 at First
International Symposium on the Conservation of our Geological Heritage (Digne resolution) +
UNESCO facilitated efforts to create a formal programme to promote a global network of
geoheritage sites complementing the World Heritage Convention and the UNESCO’s MAB +
Global Geoparks Network was founded in 2004 as an international partnership developed under
the umbrella of UNESCO + Today, there are 169 Global Geoparks across 44 countries + India is
a signatory to the establishment of UNESCO Global Geoparks. But, it does not have any
legislation and policy for conservation of geoheritages. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has
identified 32 sites as National Geological Monuments. Yet no geopark in India is recognised by
the UNESCO.
• Global Geoparks Network = It is a non-profit International Association officially
established in 2014 subject to French legislation. It is the official partner of UNESCO for the
operation of the UNESCO Global Geoparks.
➢ Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) = Representative Concentration Pathways
(RCPs) were rolled out as part of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCC in 2014 +
These are basically emission scenarios that depict pathways of greenhouse gas and aerosol
emissions resulting from human activities over time, crucial for climate modelling and
forecasting + These pathways were introduced to provide a consistent set of GHGs concentration
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

trajectories for climate modelling and research purposes + The RCPs were officially selected and
defined based on their total radiative forcing levels in the year 2100.
➢ Project GAIA = Central banks unveiled Project Gaia to evaluate climate financial risks + It is a
collaboration between the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub Eurosystem
Centre, Bank of Spain, etc + It leverages generative artificial intelligence (AI) particularly Large
Language Models(LLMs) to facilitate the analysis of climate-related risks in the financial
system.
➢ FARM Programme = led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) with financial support
from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) + Financing Agrochemical Reduction and
Management (FARM) Programme + It intends to shift financial incentives towards farmers to
adopt low- and non-chemical alternatives, promoting sustainable practices + Seven countries –
Ecuador, India, Kenya, Laos, Philippines, Uruguay, and Vietnam – have initiated a program
called the Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management Programme (FARM) to address
pollution from pesticides and plastics in agriculture + By phasing out hazardous pesticides and
Agri-plastics and encouraging better management standards, the program aims to prevent the
release of over 51,000 tons of hazardous pesticides and 20,000 tons of plastic waste, while also
reducing carbon dioxide emissions and protecting over 3 million hectares of land.
➢ Coral Reef Watch Programme = It is a free online tool that provides a global analysis of sea
surface temperature (SST) and outlooks to identify coral reefs that are at risk of bleaching + It is
developed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States
of America.
➢ MethaneSAT = The entity behind MethaneSAT is the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) — a
US-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group + It will track and measure methane
emissions at a global scale. It will provide more details and have a much wider field of view than
any of its predecessors + It is developed in collaboration with Harvard University, the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and the New Zealand Space Agency.
➢ UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) = The Sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly
(UNEA-6) got concluded recently at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in
Nairobi, Kenya + Theme: “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle
climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution” + UNEA-6 re-affirmed commitment to tackle
triple planetary crisis through the adopted Ministerial Declaration.
• Triple Planetary Crisis [Term in News] = The triple planetary crisis refers to the three main
interlinked issues that humanity currently faces + Term related to Environment degradation +
It refers to three terms: Climate Change; Pollution and Biodiversity Loss.
• United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) = Established in 2012, at the United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development + Roles and Functions: The United Nations
Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the UNEP is the world’s highest-level decision-making
body on the environment. It set the global environmental agenda; provide overarching policy
guidance and define policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges in the
world + It consists of a President and 8 Vice Presidents (forming the UNEA Bureau) +
Membership: Consists of all 193 Members of UNO.
• UNEA-7 is scheduled to be held in December 2025 at Nairobi.
➢ UN World Restoration Flagships = World Restoration Flagship are part of the UN Decade on
Ecosystem Restoration – led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and
Agriculture Organization + It aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on
every continent and in every ocean + The award conferred by the UNEP and FAO of the UN
makes the initiatives eligible for technical and financial support from the organisation +
Recently, Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) recognized as the United Nation World Restoration
Flagship.

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

• Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) = Extend over 900 km from the Bagmati River (Nepal) in the
east to the Yamuna River (India) in the west + Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is a
transboundary biodiversity hotspot launched in 2001. It aims to conserve critical habitats for
tigers, rhinos, elephants, etc., covering ecosystems of the Terai and Churia hills.
➢ International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) = Launched by India in 2023 + It aims at conservation
of 7 big cats namely Lion, Tiger, Snow Leopard, Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma + It
comprises of 96 big cat range countries, conservation partners, scientific organizations, and
business groups + 16 countries, including Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, have
officially joined the IBCA led by India + Additionally, nine international organizations,
including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife
Fund (WWF) International, have given consent to join the IBCA.
• Tiger: Endangered + Appendix I in Cites + Schedule 1 in WPA,1972
• Lion: Vulnerable + Appendix I in Cites (only Indian population, rest in Appendix II) +
Schedule 1 in WPA,1972
• Snow Leopard: Vulnerable + Appendix I in Cites + Schedule 1 in WPA,1972
• Leopard: Vulnerable + Appendix I in Cites + Schedule 1 in WPA,1972
• Cheetah: Vulnerable + Appendix I in Cites + Schedule 1 in WPA,1972
• Jaguar: Near Threatened + Appendix I in Cites + Not listed in WPA
• Puma: Least Concern + Appendix I in Cites + Not listed in WPA
➢ International Single Species Action Plan = It is the key instrument developed under the
Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) + Objective
is to implement coordinated measures to restore migratory waterbird species to a favourable
conservation status + The 14th Conference of the Parties(CoP) on the CMS which recently held
at Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has recently adopted the Single Species Action Plan for conservation
of the Hawksbill Turtle.
• Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) =
It is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and
their habitats + It is developed under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS) and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) + The
Agreement area stretches from the northern reaches of Canada and the Russian Federation to
the southernmost tip of Africa. It covers 119 Range States from Africa, Europe, the Middle
East and parts of Asia and Canada + It covers 255 species of migratory waterbirds.
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species = It also known as the Bonn
Convention, is an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations Environment
Programme + It provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of
migratory animals and their habitats + It is the only global and UN-based intergovernmental
organisation established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial,
aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range + Activities by CMS Parties may
range from legally binding treaties(called Agreements) to less formal instruments, such as
Memoranda of Understanding + It has 2 appendix + Appendix I lists endangered migratory
species and includes prohibitions regarding the take of these species + Appendix II lists
species that have an ‘unfavourable conservation status’ (as per the conditions set out in the
Convention) and encourages range states to draft range-wide agreements for the conservation
and management of these species.
➢ International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic
(INTERACT) = INTERACT is an infrastructure project aimed at studying environmental
changes in the Arctic and surrounding regions, established under the auspices of SCANNET, an
existing Arctic network + The network encompasses research stations across northern Europe,
the US, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Scotland, and northern alpine areas + Its

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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

primary goal is to build capacity for research and monitoring in the Arctic, providing access to
stations, resources, and expertise for scientists worldwide.
• Arctic Ocean = It is located at the North Pole and is almost completely surrounded by the
landmasses of North America, Eurasia, and Greenland + The Arctic Ocean is the smallest
and shallowest of the world's five oceans, covering about 1.3% of the planet's water surface.
• India & Arctic = Himadri is India's first permanent Arctic research station. It's located at the
International Arctic Research base Svalbard (located world’s largest secure seed bank),
Norway, and is 1,200 kilometers from the North Pole. The station was inaugurated on July 1,
2008 + Dakshin Gangotri in Antarctica was set up much earlier in 1983. Dakshin Gangotri is
now submerged under ice, but India's two other stations, Maitri and Bharti, are in use.
➢ Arctic Council = Arctic Council was created with Ottawa Declaration in 1996 in Canada + India
got the observer status at the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting in 2013 + Objective: It is a leading
intergovernmental forum that promotes cooperation and coordination among all the Arctic states.
Its main objective is sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic = Eight
Members Countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and United
States + Major focus areas: Environment and climate change, Biodiversity, Oceans and
indigenous Arctic people.
➢ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) = Established in 1950, WMO became the
specialized agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and
related geophysical sciences + It originated from the International Meteorological Organization
(IMO), which was founded in 1873 + Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland + Currently, it has a
membership of 191 countries. India is a member of the WMO since 1950 + World
Meteorological Congress is the supreme body which consists of representatives of all members.
It meets at least every four years to set general policy and adopt regulations + Important Reports
published by WMO: Greenhouse Gas Bulletin and Status of the World Climate.
➢ STAR Metric = Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) Metric + STAR metric,
developed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with other
organizations and experts + It was first unveiled in 2021 for use in terrestrial areas and recently it
has been expanded for use in marine areas + The STAR metric utilizes existing data from IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species to quantify extinction risks and threats faced by species. o STAR
assesses the potential of specific actions at specific locations to contribute to international
conservation targets + STAR estimates the contribution of two kinds of action – threat abatement
and habitat restoration.
➢ Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) = CCAC, founded in 2012, is the only international
body working to reduce short-lived climate pollutants – methane, black carbon,
hydrofluorocarbons– that drive both climate change and air pollution + India is a CCAC Partner
since 2019 + It is a voluntary global partnership of governments, intergovernmental
organizations, businesses, scientific institutions, and civil society organizations working to
reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) that have a significant impact on climate change
and public health.
• Short Lived Climate Pollutants = Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are a group of
greenhouse gases and air pollutants that have a near-term warming impact on climate and can
affect air quality + SLCPs include black carbon, methane, ground-level ozone, and
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) + They are also known as Super Pollutants + Short lived climate
pollutants are responsible for up to 45% of current global warming.
• Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 = Annual meeting + held on sidelines of 6th
session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) + took place in Nairobi,
Kenya.
➢ Blue Leaders Alliance = Blue Leaders are an ambitious group of countries calling for urgent
action to save the global ocean in the face of the climate crisis + The group of Blue Leaders has
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

24 countries as its members + India is not a member of this group + The first Blue Leaders event
took place in New York on the margins of the 2019 United Nations General Assembly and the
second in Madrid, Spain during the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference, ‘The Blue COP.
➢ Brumation = Researchers have observed instances of brumation in various reptilian species
across habitats + It is the name to describe a period of dormancy or slowed activity in reptiles,
much like hibernation in mammals + It typically occurs during colder months, when
temperatures drop and food becomes scarce + During brumation, reptiles may retreat to
underground burrows, rock crevices or other sheltered areas where temperatures are relatively
more stable. Their metabolism slows significantly, allowing them to go weeks or even months
without eating. This period of reduced activity allows reptiles to conserve energy and minimise
their resource requirements.
➢ Black Carbon(BC) = BC is a short-lived pollutant that is the second-largest contributor to
warming the planet behind carbon dioxide (CO2) + Unlike other greenhouse gas emissions, BC
is quickly washed out and can be eliminated from the atmosphere if emissions stop + Unlike
historical carbon emissions it is also a localised source with greater local impact + + Some of the
policy measures to cut BC emissions are enhancing fuel efficiency standards for vehicles,
phasing out diesel vehicles and promoting electric vehicles, accelerating the use of liquefied
petroleum gas for cooking and through clean cookstove programmes, as well as upgrading brick
kiln technologies + According to a study, the residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total
black carbon emissions.
➢ Volatile Organic Compounds = VOCs are carbon-containing chemicals released by petrol and
diesel vehicles + They impact air quality and human health + VOCs can have a natural origin,
too. Plants emit these chemicals to attract pollinators, defend themselves from pests and
predators and adapt to environmental stress + Effect of VOCs on Health: VOCs can irritate the
eyes, nose and throat, damage body organs and cause cancer + VOCs can drive the formation of
other dangerous pollutants. For instance, they react with sunlight and nitrogen dioxide to form
ground-level ozone.
➢ Star Dunes = Star dunes - or pyramid dunes - are named after their distinctive shapes and reach
hundreds of metres in height + They are found in Africa, Asia and North America and also have
been spotted on Mars and on Saturn's large moon Titan + Star dunes make up just under 10% of
the dunes in Earth's deserts + Earth's largest star dunes are found in the Badain Jaran desert in
western China.
➢ Seamounts = A seamount is an underwater mountain with steep sides rising from the seafloor +
Most seamounts are remnants of extinct volcanoes and are typically cone shaped + Seamounts
with large flat summits are called guyots + Seamounts are found in every world ocean basin +
Seamounts function as oases of life or biological hotspots with higher species diversity and
biomass on and around it + World’s highest seamount is Hawaii's dormant volcano Mauna Kea.
➢ Ecocide = It is derived from Greek and Latin, translates to “killing one’s home” or
“environment” + No accepted legal definition of ecocide. However, A group of lawyers
proposed that it constitutes the “unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is
a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long term damage to the environment
being caused by those acts.” + It includes port expansion projects that destroy fragile marine life
and local livelihoods; deforestation; illegal sand mining; and polluting rivers with untreated
sewage + According to Stop Ecocide International, deforestation of the Amazon, deepsea
trawling and the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster could have been avoided with ecocide laws in place +
Stop Ecocide International is a body advocating for legislation against ecocides + Recently,
Belgium has become the first country in Europe to recognize ‘ecocide’ as a national as well as an
international crime + India is yet to make it an offense.
➢ Heatwave = A heatwave is a prolonged period of abnormally high temperatures, usually
occurring during the summer months, and is often accompanied by high humidity + IMD Criteria
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

for Declaring Heat Wave in India: Heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a
station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions +
Causes of Heatwave: Usually a combination of atmospheric conditions, such as high-pressure
systems, lack of cloud cover, and the warming effect of human activities like urbanization +
Hottest Heatwave: Occurred in July 1913 in Death Valley, California, USA, where a temperature
of 56.7°C was recorded + Hottest City: Ahvaz, Iran, holds the record for the highest temperature
ever recorded in a populated area, with temperature of 53.9°C in 2017.
Based on Departure from Normal Based on Actual Maximum Temperature
• Heat Wave: Departure from normal is • Heat Wave: When actual maximum
4.5°C to 6.4°C. temperature ≥ 45°C.
• Severe Heat Wave: Departure • Severe Heat Wave: When
from normal is >6.4°C. actual maximum temperature ≥47°C.
• Heat Index = Launched on an experimental basis by the IMD, it is a parameter that
considers both temperature and humidity to calculate the apparent temperature or "feel like"
temperature for human beings + Categorizes the apparent temperature into different levels
using color codes: Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.
• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) = Established in 1875, it is the National
Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters
relating to meteorology and allied subjects + It works as an agency of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES) of the Government of India + Headquartered in New Delhi + IMD is also
one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological
Organization (Specialised agency of UN) + The IMD recently got a new logo ahead of the
commencement of its 150th year (1875-2025).
➢ Gape Limitation = in ecology, stands for the idea that a predator can only eat things that fit in
its mouth.
➢ Swell Waves = A swell is the formation of long wavelength waves on the surface of the seas.
These are composed of a series of surface gravity waves + They don’t occur due to the local
winds, but rather due to distant storms like hurricanes or even long periods of fierce gale winds +
During such storms, huge energy transfer takes place from the air into the water, leading to the
formation of very high waves + Swells have a narrower range of frequencies and directions +
Wavelengths rarely exceed more than 150 m + These waves can propagate in directions that
differ from the direction of the wind, in contrast to a wind sea + It occurs without precursors or
any kind of local wind activity + In India, the Swell Surge Forecast System launched by the
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in 2020 — gives forewarning
seven days in advance.
➢ Concurrent Heatwave and Extreme Sea Level (CHWESL) = A CHWESL event occurs when
a heatwave and an extreme short-term sea level rise happen simultaneously at the same coastal
location. This simultaneous occurrence can amplify the impacts of each individual event, posing
increased risks to coastal infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities + Research indicates that
occurrences of CHWESL events have increased between 1998 and 2017 compared to the
preceding twenty years. This rise has been especially noted in tropical regions, where such
events are becoming more frequent and intense + Studies project that under high emissions
scenarios, such as the IPCC’s SSP5-8.5 scenario, CHWESL events may become five times more
likely between 2025 and 2049. This suggests that global coastal areas could face significant
challenges, including increased days of CHWESL conditions annually, impacting both human
populations and the environment.
➢ Atmospheric Rivers = Recently, California (the USA) has been hit by two back-to-back
Atmospheric River storms + Atmospheric Rivers indicate narrow, elongated corridors of
concentrated moisture transport associated with extra-tropical cyclones + Typically located
within low-level jet, an area of strong winds in lower levels of atmosphere, ahead of cold front in
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

an extra-tropical cyclone + These are largest transport mechanisms of freshwater on Earth +

Strong landfall by interacting with topography, can deposit significant amounts of precipitation
in short periods of time leading to flooding and mudslides.
➢ El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) = ENSO is a naturally occurring large-scale climatic
phenomenon involving fluctuating ocean temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific (referred as El Niño and La Niña), coupled with changes in the overlying atmosphere
(referred to as Southern Oscillation) + ENSO has 3 phases + El Niño: A warming of ocean
surface or above-average sea surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical
Pacific Ocean. It leads to drought and deficient rainfall in Asia. Due to it, recently global
monthly mean ocean temperatures has raised at an all-time high relative to temperatures since
records started to be kept + La Niña: A cooling of the ocean surface or below-average sea
surface temperatures (SST), in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean + Neutral: Neither
El Niño or La Niña. Often tropical Pacific SSTs are generally close to average.
• Triple dip La Niña = A triple-dip La Niña is a rare event that occurs when the La Niña
effect lasts three years in a row + La Niña is a phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) + The recent triple-dip La Niña conditions (2020–2023) had widespread impacts on
the ocean and climate across the globe.
➢ Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) = AMOC is a large-scale oceanic
circulation system that transports warm surface waters from the tropics to the northern latitudes
and returns cold, deep waters from the North Atlantic back towards the equator + AMOC
transports warm, salty surface waters from the tropics to the northern regions. These warm
waters carry heat energy, contributing to the warming of regions like Europe + Without a proper
AMOC and Gulf Stream, Europe will be very cold + It is driven by differences in temperature
and salt content + It plays a critical role in redistributing heat and regulating weather patterns
around the world + Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is at risk of imminent
collapse, with recent studies indicating that anthropogenic emissions could expedite this between
2025 and 2095 + Implications of AMOC collapse: Rise in Atlantic Sea levels; Flipping of wet
and dry seasons in the Amazon; More erratic fluctuations in temperatures; warmer southern
hemisphere.
➢ Rip Currents = These are a strong flow of water running from a beach back to the Open Ocean,
sea, or lake + They can be more than 45 meters (150 feet) wide, but most are less than 9 meters
(30 feet). They can move at 8 kilometers (5 miles) per hour + Rip currents are one of the most
dangerous natural hazards in the world + They are formed by a beach topography. They can
occur in areas with hard-bottom (rocky) or soft-bottom (sand or silt) beach topography. They can
form in a gap between sandbars, piers, or parts of a reef + Recently, Indian National Centre for
Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have
embarked on a project to continuously monitor and issue operational forecast alerts of rip
currents.
• Undertows and Rip currents = Rip currents are sometimes confused with undertows +
Undertows are also currents, but they run along the ocean floor and can pull beachgoers
beneath the waters surface + Rip currents run along the surface of the water, and do not pose
the same hazard.
➢ Anthropocene Epoch (Human Epoch) = The term was first coined by Nobel Prize-winning
chemist Paul Crutzen and biology professor Eugene Stoermer in 2000 + not yet formally
established as a new geological epoch, but several geologists and Earth system scientists propose
its beginning to the mid-20th century + It is a proposed epoch that denotes the present geological
time interval in which Earth’s ecosystem has undergone radical changes due to human impact,
especially since the onset of the Industrial Revolution + Numerous phenomena are associated
with this epoch, such as global warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mass-scale soil
erosion, deadly heat waves etc + Earth’s geological time scale is divided into five broad
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 SAMADHAAN 2024 (Part-2) | February'24 to April'24

categories: eons, epochs, eras, periods, epochs and ages + Officially we’re in the Phanerozoic
eon, Cenozoic era, Quaternary period, Holocene epoch and Meghalayan age + Meghalayan age
(4200 years ago) began with an abrupt mega-drought that caused the collapse of several
civilisations. Geologists found proof of this event in Meghalaya’s Mawmluh Cave system.
• 6th Mass Extinction = Recent study states that earth is going through its 6th mass extinction
+ This event is usually defined as about 75% of world's species being lost in a 'short' amount
of geological time - less than 2.8 million years + There have been 5 mass extinctions so far.
However, all of those were caused by natural phenomena + This time, it is being caused
entirely by humans and hence referred to as Anthropocene extinction + Earlier mass
extinctions are: Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic and K-T.

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