About Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: It is a significant wetland sanctuary located in the West Godavari and Krishna districts of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
• It was established in November 1999, under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• The sanctuary protects part of the Kolleru Lake wetland, which gained Ramsar Convention for International importance in 2002.
• It is a crucial wetland ecosystem and serves as a stopover point for migratory birds.
• Flora: The sanctuary's flora includes various aquatic plants, submerged macrophytes, and wetland vegetation that provide essential food and shelter for the diverse bird species.
• Fauna:   Commonly found birds in the sanctuary are: little egret, cattle egret, pied kingfisher, small blue kingfisher, blackcapped kingfisher, pond heron, reef heron, grey heron, night heron, etc.

Key Facts about Kolleru Lake:

• It is the largest freshwater lake in India.
• It is located in Andhra Pradesh between the Krishna and Godavari deltas and covers an area of 308 km².
• The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers.
• The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams, and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari systems by over 68 inflowing drains and channels.
• It serves as a habitat for migratory birds.
• The lake was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India's Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention.

Q1) What is an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ)?

An eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) is an area that is identified and demarcated around protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves, to minimize the impact of developmental activities on the ecosystem.

Source: Govt. to prepare inventory of land use adjacent to Kolleru wildlife sanctuary

About Chungthang Dam

• Chungthang Dam, also known as the Chungthang Hydroelectric Project, is a dam and hydroelectric power station located in Chungthang, a town in Sikkim.
• It is an integral part of the 1200 MW mega Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project, a major source of electricity for Sikkim and West Bengal.
• It is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project, which was commissioned in 2017.
• The dam had a gross height of 817 metres and a net head of 778 metres, which was used for power generation.

About Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project:

• It is a 1,200 MW hydro power project.
• It is located on the Teesta river/basin in Sikkim.
• It is a run-of-river project.
• The project’s construction commenced in 2008 and subsequently entered into commercial operation in 2017.

Key Facts about Teesta River:

• It is a trans-Himalayan river flowing through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal and, Rangpur in Bangladesh.
• It is a tributary of Brahmaputra River.
• Origin: It originates in the Himalayas and flows through the Indian States of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it flows into the Brahmaputra. 
• It has a total length of about 309 kilometers.
• Main Tributary: Rangeet River

Q1) Which are the major tributaries of Brahmaputra River?

The tributaries namely Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jiabharali, Dhansiri (North) Puthimari, Manas, Beki, Aie, Sonkosh are the main tributaries on the North while the Noadehing, Buridehing, Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri (South), Kopilli, Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran are the main tributaries on the south bank of the river Brahmaputra. 

Source: Chungthang dam washed away in Sikkim: What caused the disaster and how the government plans to minimise such risks in future

About Burevestnik Missile:

• The Burevestnik, whose name translates as "storm petrel", is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile that is not only capable of carrying a nuclear warhead but is also nuclear-powered.
• The Burevestnik is one of six strategic weapons that the Russian President introduced in a 2018 speech.
• It is code-named ‘SSC-X-9 Skyfall’ by NATO.
• In theory, the nuclear energy could let it fly around the world several times before hitting its target.
• Features:
  • It is powered by a small nuclear reactor, which heats up air to propel the missile forward.
  • Its nuclear propulsion gives the missile much longer range than traditional turbojet or turbofan engines that are limited by how much fuel they can carry.
  • It has a range of up to 14,000 miles (22000 km).
  • The missile is also designed to fly at low altitudes, much lower than a conventionally powered cruise missile, which would make it harder for air-defence radar to detect.

Q1) What are Cruise Missiles?

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect. 

Source: Putin Claims Russia Successfully Tested a Nuclear-Powered Missile.

About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:

• He was the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. 
• He was born on February 19, 1630, to Shahaji Bhosle and Jijabai in the fort of Shivneri, near the city of Junnar in the Pune district, Maharashtra. 
• With his valor and great administrative skills, Shivaji carved out an enclave from the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur. It eventually became the genesis of the Maratha Empire.
• After establishing his rule, Shivaji implemented a competent and progressive administration with the help of a disciplined military and a well-established administrative set-up.
• He was known as the Father of the Indian Navy. Shivaji was the first to realise the importance of having a naval force, and therefore he strategically established a navy and forts at the coastline to defend the Konkan side of Maharashtra.
• He was called the 'Mountain Rat' and was widely known for his guerrilla warfare tactics. He was called so because of his awareness of geography of his land and guerrilla tactics like raiding, ambushing, and surprise attacks on his enemies.
• He was a secular ruler who was very accommodating of all religions. He had numerous Muslim soldiers in his army.
• Shivaji was a dependable supporter of women and their honour. Anyone under his rule caught violating woman's rights was severely punished.
• He had a council of ministers (Asht Pradhan) to advise him on the matters of the state, but he was not bound by it.

Q1) What is the Battle of Pratapgarh?

The Battle of Pratapgad was a land battle fought on November 10, 1659 at the fort of Pratapgad near the town of Satara, Maharashtra, India between the forces of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Adilshahi general Afzal Khan. The Marathas defeated the Adilshahi forces despite being outnumbered. It was their first significant military victory against a major regional power, and led to the eventual establishment of the Maratha Empire.

Source: How Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj killed Afzal Khan with his ‘Wagh Nakh’