Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Supreme Court asked the Centre to create a comprehensive policy for the governance and management of sacred groves across the country while underlining their ecological importance.

Background: –

• The Supreme Court judgment came on applications dealing with the protection of sacred groves of Rajasthan.

Key takeaways

• Sacred groves are patches of forest that are preserved by local communities due to their religious, cultural, or spiritual significance.
• Distribution in India: Found across India, particularly in states with tribal or indigenous populations.
  • Rajasthan: Orans, associated with folk deities.
  • Maharashtra and Karnataka: Devarakadu (God’s forests).
  • Northeast India: Sacred forests of Meghalaya (e.g., Mawphlang).
  • Kerala: Sarpa Kavu (Snake groves).
• SC directed that as part of the policy on sacred groves, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change must develop a plan for a nationwide survey of sacred groves, by whatever name they are identified in each State. 
• The survey should identify their area, location, and extent, and clearly mark their boundaries. These boundaries should remain flexible to accommodate the natural growth and expansion of these forests while ensuring strict protection against any reduction in size.
• Highlighting the ecological and cultural importance of the sacred groves, the top court recommended their protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, particularly through Section 36-C, which allows for declaration of “community reserves”.

Piplantri model lauded in the judgement

• SC lauded the Piplantri village in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district, which under the leadership of its Sarpanch Shyam Sundar Paliwal, started the initiative to plant 111 trees for every girl child born. 
• The tragic passing of a girl child of the sarpanch Shyam Sundar Paliwal prompted the movement in the village which had until then witnessed environmental damages due to excessive marble mining. The mining activity led to acute water shortages, deforestation and economic decline.
• The Piplantri model has had many positive effects. 
• Environmentally, over 40 lakh trees have been planted, which has helped raise the water table by 800-900 feet and cooled the climate by 3-4°C. These efforts have improved local biodiversity and protected the land from soil erosion and desertification. 
• Economically, the planting of indigenous species of trees like gooseberry, aloe vera, and bamboo has created sustainable jobs. Aloe vera processing, furniture making, and other businesses have increased local incomes, providing work, especially for women, through self-help groups.
• The Supreme Court bench also pointed out that the model has helped eliminate harmful practices like female foeticide.
• Piplantri model demonstrates how community-driven initiatives can effectively address social, economic, and environmental challenges in a cohesive manner.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Once a lifeline for communities settled along its banks, the Hindon River in Western Uttar Pradesh, often called India’s Sugar Bowl, has been reduced to a drain carrying domestic and industrial waste.

Background: –

• Since the 1970s, experts have warned about industries and untreated domestic waste polluting the river. In Saharanpur district alone, over 45 industries discharge waste into the Hindon, with 12 drains carrying effluents directly into the river. This pollution seeps into groundwater, affecting health & agriculture.

Key takeaways

• The Hindon River is a significant tributary of the Yamuna River in northern India.
• Origin: The Hindon River originates from the Shakumbhari Devi Range (Upper Sivaliks) in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
• Course: It flows through several districts, including Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar, before joining the Yamuna River in Noida.
• Length: The river spans approximately 400 kilometers (about 250 miles).
• Catchment Area: The Hindon River has a catchment area of around 7,083 square kilometers.

Key Features:

• Tributaries: The Kali River is a major tributary of the Hindon River. The Kali River merges with the Hindon near Sardhana.
• Rainfed River: The Hindon River is entirely rainfed, relying on monsoon rains for its water supply.
• Pollution: The river faces significant pollution challenges due to urban, agricultural, and industrial waste. In 2015, it was declared a ‘dead river’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Historical Significance:

• Indus Valley Civilization: An Indus Valley civilization site, Alamgirpur, is located along the Hindon River, about 28 kilometers from Delhi.
• 1857 Revolt: The Hindon River was a site of several skirmishes during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, including the Battle of Badli-ki-Serai.

Source: Down To Earth

Syllabus:

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology have come up with a novel strategy to control and regulate Infrared (IR) radiation.

Background:

• The strategy uses 2-dimensional nanosheets of a chemical called hexagonal boron nitride and has potential for deployment as radiative heat barrier, thermal camouflage and in thermal management applications.

Key takeaways:

• Infrared (IR) radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves.
• Infrared radiation has wavelengths ranging from 700 nanometers (nm) to 1 millimeter (mm). This range is further divided into three main categories:
  • Near Infrared (NIR): 700 nm to 1,400 nm
  • Mid Infrared (MIR): 1,400 nm to 3,000 nm
  • Far Infrared (FIR): 3,000 nm to 1 mm
• Natural Sources: The primary natural source of infrared radiation is the Sun, which emits IR as part of its overall spectrum. Thermal radiation from warm objects, such as humans and animals, also contributes to natural IR.
• Artificial Sources: Infrared radiation is also generated by electrical appliances, heaters, lasers, and LEDs.
• Properties of Infrared Radiation:
  • Invisible to the human eye but can be felt as heat.
  • Travels in straight lines at the speed of light in a vacuum.
  • Easily absorbed and emitted by matter, especially water and carbon-based materials.

Applications of Infrared Radiation:

• Communication: Used in remote controls, IR sensors, and optical fiber communication.
• Astronomy: Infrared telescopes help study celestial objects obscured by cosmic dust.
• Medical: 
  • Infrared imaging in diagnostics (e.g., thermography for detecting inflammation).
  • Used in physiotherapy to relieve muscle pain.
• Military and Security:
  • Night-vision devices and thermal imaging for surveillance.
  • Targeting systems in defense technologies.
• Environmental Monitoring:
  • Monitoring heat emissions and greenhouse gas effects.
  • Detecting forest fires and volcanic activities.
• Industrial:
  • Used in heat sensing and controlling industrial processes.
  • Application in drying and heating systems.

Source: PIB

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The National Institute of Siddha (NIS) has set a Guinness World Record for providing Varmam therapy to 567 individuals simultaneously. 

Background: –

• The Guinness World Record event is a part of the NIS’s ongoing efforts to bring global attention to the benefits of Siddha medicine and Varmam therapy.

Key takeaways

• Varmam Therapy, also known as Varma Kalai, is an ancient Indian practice rooted in the Siddha system of medicine. It focuses on the manipulation of specific vital points, or “varmam,” located throughout the human body to promote healing and alleviate various ailments.

Key Aspects of Varmam Therapy:

• Vital Points (Varmam): The human body is believed to contain 108 vital points where life energy resides and flows. These points are situated at intersections of nerves, muscles, bones, and joints. Proper stimulation of these points can restore energy balance and treat health issues. 
• Techniques: Practitioners employ various methods to stimulate varmam points, including:

• Thadaval Murai: Massage techniques applied to specific points.
• Adangal Murai: Applying pressure in a particular pattern.
• Thiravukol Murai: Techniques used for instant relief by opening blocked energy channels.

• Varmam Therapy is utilized to address a range of conditions, such as:
  • Neurological Disorders: Including nerve weakness and paralysis.
  • Musculoskeletal Issues: Such as arthritis, back pain, and cervical spondylosis.
• The origins of Varmam Therapy are attributed to the sage Agastya, who is said to have documented the knowledge of vital points and disseminated it among his disciples. This practice has been traditionally passed down through generations and remains prevalent in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Varmam Therapy as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment option for various health issues. Efforts are underway to standardize treatment guidelines and integrate this traditional practice into modern healthcare systems.

Source: PIB

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: In a major boost to bilateral relations, India and China on Wednesday agreed to strengthen cross-border exchanges and take concerete steps towards resumption of the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.

Background: –

• The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra has been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Chinese side’s non-renewal of arrangements.

Key takeaways

• The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is a revered pilgrimage undertaken by devotees from across the world to visit Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.
• Mount Kailash: It lies in the Kailash Range of the Transhimalaya, in the western part of the Tibetan Plateau. The peak of Mount Kailash is located at an elevation of 6,638 m (21,778 ft), near the western trijunction between China, India and Nepal.
• Lake Manasarovar: Is a fresh water lake situated about 20 kilometers from Mount Kailash, at an altitude of 4,590 meters (15,015 feet). 
• Manasarovar overflows into the salt-water endorheic lake of Rakshastal via the natural Ganga Chhu channel
• The Kailash Mansarovar is sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon religion.
• Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage Routes:
  • Lipulekh Pass Route: Through Uttarakhand.
  • Nathu La Pass Route: Through Sikkim.

Source: Times Of India

Q1.) With reference to Infrared (IR) radiation, consider the following statements:

1. Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than microwaves.
2. It can be naturally emitted by warm-blooded animals.
3. IR radiation is widely used in communication and defense technologies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) With reference to Varmam Therapy, consider the following statements:

1. It is a practice rooted in the Siddha system of medicine.
2. The therapy exclusively focuses on the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
3. The human body is believed to contain 108 vital points that are manipulated in this therapy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) With reference to the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, consider the following statements:

1. Mount Kailash is located in India near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China.
2. Lake Manasarovar is a saltwater lake situated at a higher altitude than Mount Kailash.
3. The Yatra can be undertaken via the Lipulekh Pass and the Nathu La Pass routes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) None of the above

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

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Q.1) – a

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