General Studies Paper-2 Context: Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather that can cause adverse impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy. India, being a tropical country, is particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years. Criteria for Declaring Heat Wave in India: Plains and Hilly Regions: 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. Based on Departure from Normal Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 50°C to 6.40°C. Severe Heat....Read More

General Studies Paper-1 Context: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has released the snow update Hindu Kush Himalaya between 2003 to 2024. Snow Persistence Snow persistence is the fraction of time snow is on the ground. When this snow melts, it provides water to people and ecosystems. In the river basins of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), snowmelt is the biggest source of water in the streams. Overall, it contributes 23% of the runoff to the region’s 12 major river basins every year. Hindu Kush Himalaya The HKH mountains extend around 3,500 km over eight countries — Afghanistan,....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions would emerge in June and during July – September, ENSO would transition into La Nina. Key Points South peninsular and central India is expected to receive ‘above’ normal rainfall, northwest India would receive normal rainfall whereas east and northeast India is expected to receive below average rainfall during the June – September period. About El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) It is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. In periods ranging....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: Heavy rain caused by the cyclone Remal triggered landslides in several places in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam, and Nagaland. What is Landslide? Landslides are a geological phenomenon that involves the sudden and rapid movement of a mass of rock, soil, or debris down a slope under the influence of gravity. Landslides, usually, occur in areas having characteristics like Steep terrain such as hilly or mountainous areas, Presence of joints and fissures or areas where surface runoff is directed or land is heavily saturated with water. Landslide vulnerability in India According to the Geological Survey of India....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: Recent devastating fires in Delhi and Rajkot have brought to light the critical lack of fire safety measures in Indian cities. About Despite established fire preparedness disciplines worldwide and repeated fire outbreaks over the past three decades, public spaces, housing, hospitals, and commercial buildings in India remain vulnerable. In 2022, over 7,500 fire accidents resulted in the deaths of 7,435 people in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Maharashtra and Gujarat, two of the most urbanized states, account for approximately 30% of fire-related deaths in the country. Past incidents like the Uphaar....Read More

General Studies Paper -1  Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted above-normal rain in the upcoming monsoon season in India, with “favourable” La Nina conditions expected to set in by August-September. About El Niño and La Nina are climate phenomena that are a result of ocean-atmosphere interactions, which impact the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño events are far more frequent than La Nina ones. Once every two to seven years, neutral ENSO conditions get interrupted by either El Niño or La Nina. Coriolis Effect: The Earth’s east-west rotation causes all winds....Read More

Generals Studies Paper -1  Context: The Prime Minister addressed the 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. About CDRI is a global partnership of National Governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, academic and knowledge institutions. CDRI was launched by the Prime Minister during the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019, at New York. Members: 31 Countries, 6 International Organizations and 2 private sector organizations. Secretariat: New Delhi Theme for 6th ICDRI: Investing today for a more resilient tomorrow. What is Disaster Resilient Infrastructure? Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) refers....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: The Uttarakhand government has constituted two teams of experts to evaluate the risk posed by five potentially hazardous glacial lakes in the region. These lakes are prone to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). What are GLOFs? GLOFs are disaster events caused by the abrupt discharge of water from glacial lakes — large bodies of water that sit in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier. As a glacier withdraws, it leaves behind a depression that gets filled with meltwater, thereby forming a lake. The more the glacier recedes, the bigger and more....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: Recently the Odisha government announced measures for the welfare of tribal Population. The Odisha government announced the launch of LABHA (Laghu Bana Jatya Drabya Kraya) Yojana, for minor forest produce (MFP). It has also approved the establishment of aCommission for the Preservation and Promotion of the Tribal Languages of the Scheduled Tribes of Odisha. LABHA (Laghu Bana Jatya Drabya Kraya) Yojana It is a 100% State-funded minimum support price (MSP)scheme for minor forest produce (MFP). The MSP will be determined every year by the State government. Under the scheme, a primary collector (a tribal person) will be able....Read More

General Studies Paper -1 Context: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to implement the Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-ERCP (Modified PKC-ERCP) Link Project. The project envisages integration of the long-pending PKC river link project with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, under the national perspective plan of interlinking of rivers (ILR) programme. PKC: The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC)link project is one of the 30 links included in the National Perspectives Plan. ECRP:The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) is aimed at intra-basin transfer of water within the Chambal basin, by utilising surplus monsoon water. Linking of Both Project:Rajasthan came up with the proposal of the ERCP in 2019, and to....Read More