About Sahara Desert:

• The Sahara, located in Northern Africa, is the world's largest hot desert and the third most extensive desert after the polar deserts of Antarctica and the northern Arctic.
• It spans over 9,200,000 sq. km (8% of the earth’s land area).
• The Sahara Desert encompasses a major portion of North Africa, occupying about 31% of the entire African continent.
• The countries within the Sahara Desert are Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Chad, the Niger Republic, some parts of Sudan, a small portion of Nigeria, and a small part of Burkina Faso.
• The desert is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains on the northern side; the Red Sea on the eastern side; the Atlantic Ocean on the western side and the semiarid Sahel region on the southern side.
• The majority of the Sahara is made up of barren, rocky plateaus, as well as salt flats, sand dunes, mountains, and dry valleys.
• The large Nile and Niger rivers, along with the seasonal lakes and aquifers, provide the main source of water for the major desert oases.
• The highest peak in the Sahara is Emi Koussi (3,415m), a volcano located in the Tibesti Mountains, Chad.
• The Sahel region serves as a transition zone between the hot desert in the north and the humid savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa in the south.

Q1: What are dunes?

A dune is a mound of sand formed by the wind, usually along the beach or in a desert. Dunes form when wind blows sand into a sheltered area behind an obstacle. Dunes grow as grains of sand accumulate.

Source: NASA shares stunning images of unusual greenery in the Sahara Desert following rainfall

About Honey Badger:

• It is also known as the Ratel, and is related to skunks, otters, ferrets, and other badgers.
• Honey badgers are omnivorous and nocturnal mammals that belong to the weasel family.
• These creatures are known for their powerful, curved claws, which they use to dig burrows for shelter. Their diet is diverse, consisting of small animals, fruit and honey.
• They are known for their solitary nature and their ability to twist and turn to escape predators.
• Distribution: They are found in parts of Africa and Asia.
  • Also they have been recorded in a few other locations in India, such as Bannerghatta National Park in Karnataka, Chilika Lagoon in Odisha and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. 
• Ecological Significance:
  • They play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by preying on smaller animals and pests, helping to control populations and protect crops.
  • They contribute to nutrient cycling by enriching the soil through their diet and waste.
  • They are important indicators of ecosystem health, ensuring a diverse and thriving environment for other species.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least Concern
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I

Q1:What Is a Terai region?

It is a strip of undulating former marshland, it stretches from the Yamuna River in the west to the Brahmaputra River in the east. It is the northern extension of the Gangetic Plain in India, commencing at about 300 meters above sea level and rising to about 1,000 meters at the foot of the Siwalik Range.

Source: Uttarakhand’s Terai forest yields first-ever honey badger recording on camera

About Lake Prespa:

• It is one of the oldest tectonic lakes in Europe, and also the highest tectonic lake on the Balkan Peninsula.
• It lies at the junction of three major geological masses: a granite massif on the East, a karstic massif belonging to Galicica on the West, and the Suva Gora on the South.
• The region is famous for having rocks from the oldest Paleozoic form to sediments belonging to the young Neogene era.
• It is made up of the Great Prespa Lake (Albania, Greece and the Republic of Macedonia) and Small Prespa Lake.
• The majority of Little Prespa Lake, also known as Small Lake Prespa, sits in Greek territory, with just its southern tip crossing into Albania. 
• Rising temperatures and increasingly mild winters with little snowfall and a scarcity of precipitation have battered the lake.

Q1:What is a Tectonic lake?

It is a large body of water formed by the movement of tectonic plates. They appear deep and narrow and have unique aquatic life. Examples include: Lake Baikal (Russia) - formed by rift valley.

Source: Little Prespa Lake on Albanian-Greek border slowly dying

About Solar eclipse:

• It takes place when the Moon moves in the middle of the Earth and the Sun.
• The Moon blocks the light of the Sun, either fully or partially, which casts a huge shadow on some parts of the world.
• A solar eclipse is witnessed only during the new moon — when the Moon and Sun are aligned on the same side of Earth. 
• A new moon occurs about 29.5 days because that is how long it takes the Moon to orbit Earth. It takes place only between two to five times annually.
• It is because the Moon does not orbit Earth in the same plane as the Earth orbits the Sun. In fact, the Moon is tilted by about five degrees with respect to Earth.
• As a result, most of the time when the Moon is in between the Sun and Earth, its shadow is either too high or too low to fall on the Earth.
• There are four different types of solar eclipses,
  • Total Solar eclipse: It occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun entirely, the areas in the centre of the Moon’s shadow at the time witness a total solar eclipse.
  • The sky darkens and people who are in the path of a total solar eclipse can get a glimpse of the Sun’s corona — the outer atmosphere — which is usually not visible due to the bright face of the Sun.
  • Annular solar eclipse: It occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun but is at or near the farthest point from Earth, an annular solar eclipse occurs.
  • In this scenario, the Moon covers the Sun in such a way that only the periphery of the Sun remains visible — looking like a ring of fire.
  • Partial solar eclipse: It takes place when the Moon blocks just a part of the Sun, giving it a crescent shape. During both partial and annular eclipses, the regions outside the area covered by the Moon’s umbra — the middle and the darkest part of the lunar shadow — will see a partial solar eclipse. Partial solar eclipse is the most common type of solar eclipse.
  • Hybrid solar eclipse: It is the rarest type of solar eclipse and it is witnessed when an eclipse shifts between annular and total as the shadow of the Moon moves across the globe.
  • In this case, some parts of the world see a total solar eclipse, while others observe an annular solar eclipse.

Q1: What is A lunar eclipse?

It occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra. When the Moon is within the umbra, it will turn a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon.

Source: Annular solar eclipse on October 2: What is it?

About is Monetary Policy Committee (MPC):

• The MPC was setup after a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the RBI about the conduct of the new inflation-targeting monetary policy framework.
• The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (RBI Act) has been amended by the Finance Act, 2016 to provide for a statutory and institutionalized framework for an MPC.
• Under Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered to constitute a six-member MPC.
• Function: The MPC is entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy rate (repo rate) required to contain inflation within the specified target level. 
• The MPC replaced the previous arrangement of Technical Advisory Committee.
• Composition:
  • MPC will have six members: the RBI Governor (Chairperson), the RBI Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, one official nominated by the RBI Board, and the remaining three members would represent the Government of India.
  • The external members hold office for a period of four years.
• The quorum for a meeting shall be four Members, at least one of whom shall be the Governor and, in his absence, the Deputy Governor, who is the Member of the MPC.
• The MPC takes decisions based on a majority vote.In case of a tie, the RBI governor will have the second or casting vote.
• The decisionof the MPC would be binding on the RBI.
• RBI’s Monetary Policy Department (MPD) assists the MPC in formulating the monetary policy.

Q1: What is Repo rate?

Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (Reserve Bank of India in case of India) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. Repo rate is used by monetary authorities to control inflation. In the event of inflation, central banks increase repo rate as this acts as a disincentive for banks to borrow from the central bank. This ultimately reduces the money supply in the economy and thus helps in arresting inflation.

Source: Government picks three new members to join RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee

About Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:

• It aims to foster holistic development in tribal villages, bringing transformative changes to the socio-economic landscape of the region. 
• The Abhiyan will cover around 63,843 villages, benefiting more than 5 crore tribal people in 549 districts, and 2,911 blocks spread across all tribal majority villages and aspirational blocks in 30 States/UTs. 
• It envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihood through 25 interventions implemented by 17-line ministries of Govt of India by convergence and outreach; and ensures holistic and sustainable development of tribal areas and communities. 
• The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.79,156 crores (Central Share: Rs.56,333 crore and State Share: Rs. 22,823 crore).
• It has been planned based on the learning and success of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), which was launched in November, 2023.
  • With a budget outlay of Rs. 24,104 crores, the PM-JANMAN focuses on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) population.

Q1: What are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?

Initially known as Primitive Tribal Groups, the PVTGs are defined by the government as tribal communities that show either a declining or stagnant population, use of pre-agrarian technology, economic backwardness, low literacy etc. They are found to be living in some of the remotest and most inaccessible areas in the country. There are 75 such communities which are spread over 18 States and Union Territories, according to government figures. 

Source: PM Modi launches Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in Jharkhand: 5 lakh crore people to benefit

About National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans Tracker:

• It is a new tool developed by World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), monitoring the progress of countries in developing their NBSAPs that align with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
• Aim: It aims to make biodiversity policies accessible to all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability as countries prepare for COP16.
• NBSAPs are crucial blueprints for countries to outline their strategies to tackle biodiversity loss and meet international targets. These plans are aimed at ensuring that nations can mobilise action and funding to help restore ecosystems and safeguard wildlife. 

Key facts about Kunming-MontrealGlobal Biodiversity Framework

• It was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, or COP15, to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
• It aims to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans.
• It sets a bold path towards global harmony with nature by 2050.
• In adopting the GBF, all parties' committees set national targets to implement it.
• Goals and targets
  • The GBF consists of 23 targets (set for 2030) and four global goals (set for 2050) to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations.
  • The targets address reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting people's needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, and tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.

Q1:What is the 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.

Source: Only 10% of nations fulfil their biodiversity commitments ahead of COP16, reveals NBSAP tracker

About SARTHIE 1.0: 

• It is an initiative intended to empower disadvantaged communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Senior Citizens, Transgender Persons, Victims of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, persons engaged in the act of Begging, Denotified and Nomadic Tribes, and more.
• It aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the goals focused on eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and promoting social protection policies that ensure greater equality for all.
• The collaboration aims to bridge the awareness gap and provide legal assistance to ensure the effective implementation of social welfare programmes.
• It offers synergy between the executive and the judiciary and ensures that social justice is further strengthened.

Key facts about NALSA

• It was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987.
• Mandate: It has a mandate to provide legal aid to disadvantaged groups and spread legal literacy. 
• The Chief Justice of India is the patron-in-chief of NALSA, while the second senior most judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman. 
• It is housed at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
• In every State, a State Legal Services Authority and in every High Court, a High Court Legal Services Committee has been constituted.

Q1: What Is Social Justice?

Social justice refers to a fair and equitable division of resources, opportunities, and privileges in society. 

Source: MoU signed between Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for Awareness Generation on Social Welfare Schemes

About Manatees:

• Manatees are aquatic mammals that belong to a group of animals called Sirenia. This group also contains dugongs.
• Dugongs and manatees are very similar in appearance and behavior, but there is one key difference: their tails.
  • Manatees have paddle-shaped tails, and dugongs have fluked tails, giving them a whale-like appearance.
• Habitat: Manatees inhabit shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers.
• There are three species, or types, of manatee.
  • The Amazonian manatee lives in the Amazon River and in fresh water in South America. This species is only found in freshwater.
  • The African manatee lives in tropical West Africa.
  • The Caribbean manatee is found in Florida and the West Indies.
• Features:
  • Adult manatees may reach a length of 15 feet (4.6 meters) and a weight of 1,660 kilograms. 
  • Dull gray, blackish, or brown in colour, all three manatee species have stout tapered bodies ending in a flat rounded tail used for forward propulsion. 
  • The forelimbs are modified into flippers; there are no hind limbs.
  • In order to breathe, they must swim to the water’s surface for air. 
  • Lifespan: 50 to 60 years
  • They are herbivores. They graze along the seabed and eat seagrasses, giving them the nickname “sea cow”.
  • They spend up to eight hours a day grazing and can consume 4 to 9 percent of their body weight in aquatic vegetation daily.
  • Apart from mothers and their young, or males following a receptive female, manatees are generally solitary animals.
• Conservation Status: All three manatee species are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Q1: What are Dugongs?

Dugong marine mammal that inhabits the warm coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, feeds on seagrasses, and is similar to the manatee. Australia harbors the largest populations, but dugongs also occur along the western coast of Madagascar, along the eastern coast of Africa, in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, around the Indian subcontinent, and through the western Pacific from Okinawa to northern Australia. 

Source: Florida manatees rescued after being stranded on land by Hurricane Helene