National Investigation Agency 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Polity

 Why in News? 

NIA has filed chargesheet against nine accused linked to the BKI and Khalistan Tiger Force.

National Investigation Agency:

· It was constituted in the year 2009 under the provisions of National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. 

 · It was established in the backdrop of the 26/11 incident in Mumbai. 

 · It is a central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency in our country.

 · Headquarters-New Delhi.

 · Other branch offices are located at Hyderabad, Guwahati, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kochi, Kolkata, J & K, Raipur. 

 · NIA has a separate cell known as TFFC cell. 

 · TFFC deals with the subjects of fake currency notes and terror funding.

 · Ministry-Ministry of Home Affairs. 

 Composition:

· NIA is headed by the Director-General. 

 · It is appointed by the Central government. 

 Jurisdiction:

· A state government can request the central government to hand over a certain case to the NIA. 

 · Central Government orders NIA to take over the investigation of any offense anywhere in India.

 Babbar Khalsa International:

· It is a Sikh militant organization.

 · It aims to create an independent Sikh nation Khalistan in the state of Punjab. 

 · It was formed in the year 1978. 

 · It is active in the regions of Canada, Germany, Pakistan, U.K. 

 Khalistan Movement:

· It is also a separatist movement for the creation of homeland for Sikhs. 

 · It was crushed in India through the Operation Blue Star and Operation Black Thunder in the years of 1984 and 1988.

· But it continues by gaining sympathy and support from Sikh population. 

 · Khalistan movement is active in the regions of Canada, U.K and Australia.

Tele MANAS 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Important Policies

 Why in News? 

Tele MANAS has fielded two lakh distress calls. 

 Tele MANAS:

· It was launched in the year 2022 on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day.

· Ministry-Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

 · Nodal Agency-National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

 · Technical Support-National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), IIT Bengaluru, IIITB 

 · Its aim is to provide free tele-mental health services in the country. 

 · It mainly focusses on those people who are in remote or under-served areas. · It is organized in the two tier system. 

 · Tier-1 system comprises of state Tele MANAS which consists of trained counsellors and also the mental health specialists.

 · Tier 2 system comprises of specialists at District Mental Health Programme for physical consultation.

 · e-Sanjeevani will be provided for audio visual consultation.

 · Tele MANAS is linked with other services like National tele-consultation service, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, e-Sanjeevani etc.

 · Currently, there are 42 operational Tele MANAS cells.

 · Those cells are spread across the 31 states and Union Territories.

 · Toll-free numbers-14416 or 1-800-891-4416

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-2-Important Policies

 Why in News? 

Indian Government has set a target to open ten thousand Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) under the PMBJP by 2024.

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana:

 · It was launched in the year 2008.

· It is a campaign which is launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the name Jan Aushadhi Campaign.

 · Ministry-Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers

 · It was revamped as PMBJP in 2015-16.

· Implementing Agency-Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India. 

 Objectives: 

 · To provide the quality medicines at an affordable prices to the people.

 Funding:

 · The funding is done by the government to the eligible NGOs, Trusts, individuals to establish the Jan Aushadhi stores. 

 · Financial assistance of up to 2.50 lakh is provided. 

 Features: 

 · It ensures the access to the quality medicines. 

 · It creates awareness among the people about generic medicines.

 · It promotes demand for generic medicines. 

 Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras:

 · These are the centres from where quality generic medicines are available.

 · Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India was established to coordinate the procurement, supply and also marketing of the generic drugs through PMBJPK.

Ludwigia Peruviana 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology 

Why in News?

· An aquatic weed which is native to Peru has been threatening the elephants in Valparai, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. 

 · Valaparai comes under the Annamalai Tiger reserve.

 Ludwigia Peruviana: 

 · It is also known as Promise willow.

 · It is a non-native species of India. 

 · It is native to Central and South America. 

 · It grows fast along the water bodies.

 · It is locally known as vayals.

 Challenges:

· It competes with the native vegetation 

 · It reduces the water flow and affects the sedimentation. 

 · It displaces the native plants and plant diversity. 

 · It leads to reduced biodiversity among the aquatic plants. 

 Control Measures:

· Herbicides should be used before flowering. 

 · Hand-pulling the weeds 

 · Early identification of those species. 

 Annamalai Tiger Reserve:

· It is one of the four Tiger Reserves in the state of Tamil Nadu.

 · It is part of the Annamalai Parambikulam Elephant Reserve.

 · It is surrounded by Nenmara, Vazhachal, Malayattur and Marayur reserved forests of the Kerala state.

 · About 4600 Adivasi people from six tribes of indigenous people living in the 34 settlements have been living here. 

 · Fauna includes: Asiatic elephants, Spotted deer, Nilgiri tahr, Tiger etc.

INS Kirpan

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Defence

Why in News? 

 · INS Kirpan has decommissioned form the Indian Navy.

 · It is handed over to the Vietnam as a present 

 · It has worked for 32 years in the Indian Navy 

 INS Kirpan:

· It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the year 1991.

· It is a Khukri class missile corvette. 

 · Constructed by-Garden Reach shipbuilders and Engineers.

· It can displace 1350 tonnes.

 · Its speed is capable in excess of 25 knots. 

 · It is fitted with : 

a) a medium range gun 

b) 30mm close range guns 

c) Chaff launchers

d) Surface to surface missiles 

 Functions: 

· It performs: 

 a. Coastal and offshore patrol

 b. Coastal security 

 c. Surface warfare

 d. Anti-Piracy 

 e. Humanitarian assistance and Disaster Relief Operations.

Lokmanya Tilak

Syllabus: Prelims-Important Personalities 

Why in News?

Prime Minister of India paid tribute to the Lokmanya Tilak on his Jayanthi.

 Bal Gangadhar Tilak: 

 · He was born on 23^rd July , 1856 in the state of Maharashtra.

 · He was a freedom fighter and also a lawyer.

 · He founded the Deccan Education Society in the year 1884.

 · He was also one of the founders of Fergusson College in 1885. 

 Ideology:

 · He is a devout Hindu who had used Hindu scriptures to people to fight against oppression.

 · Slogan-Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it. 

 · Valentine Chirol, who was an English Journalist, had mentioned Tilak as the Father of Indian Unrest. 

 · Valentine Chirol had even mentioned about Tilak in his book Indian Unrest. 

 · He had popularised the Ganesh Chathurthi festival in Maharashtra. 

 · He had even initiated the celebration of Shiv Jayanthi on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji. 

 · He had propagated swadeshi movements. 

 · He encouraged the people to boycott the foreign goods.

 · He had founded the All India Home Rule Movement in the year 1916 at Belgaum. 

 · It was worked in Maharashtra except Bombay, the Central Provinces, Karnataka and Berar. 

 · News Paper-Kesari (Marathi) and Maharatta (English). 

 · Books: 

1. Gita Rahsya 

2. Arctic Home of the Vedas

· He had died on 1^st August, 1920.

Soliga Tribe 

 Syllabus: Prelims-Important Tribes 

 Why in News?

· Silver cockscomb is not a troublesome weed for Karnataka’s Soliga tribe.

· Soliga Tribes consider Silver cockscomb as a nutritious leafy green vegetable. 

 · According to their traditional knowledge it grows well even on the fallow land and drought like condition. 

 Soliga Tribe:

 · They are an indigenous tribe of Karnataka.

 · They are also known with the names of Sholaga, Solega etc.

· They use the Sholga language which is a Dravidian language. 

 · They inhabit in the peripheral forest areas near Bilgiri Rangana Hills in Karnataka.

· They mainly dependent on hunting and also shifting agriculture. 

 · They are known for being the first tribal community to live inside the core area of a tiger reserve in India.

 · They get their forest rights officially recognised by the court of law.

 · They usually live in Bilgirirangana Hills in Karnataka. 

 Silver Cockscomb: 

 · It is a herbaceous plant of the tropical origin. 

 · Its scientific name is Celosia argentea. 

 · It is called as troublesome weed in India and China. 

 · It can spread quickly and will suppress the growth of other crops. 

 · It attracts the insects, worms and moths which harm crops.

 · Most of the farmers use this plant as fodder

Heat Index

Syllabus: Prelims-Geography

Why in News?

IMD has introduced the Heat Index on an experimental basis. 

 Heat Index: 

 · It will calculate the temperature along with the humidity levels. 

 · It provides a more accurate measure of what the temperature actually feels like. 

 · It is designed to offer general guidance for the regions in India. 

 · It is calculated by using an equation same as the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in U.S.A.

· It takes into the account the impact of humidity which provides an accurate representation of how the weather feels to humans. 

 Colour Code: 

 · Green-If the experimental Heat Index is below 35 degrees Celsius.

 · Yellow- If the experimental Heat Index is in the range of 36-45 degrees Celsius. 

 · Orange- If the experimental Heat Index is in the range of 46-55 degrees Celsius. 

 · Red- If the experimental Heat Index is above 55 degrees Celsius.

 India Meteorological Department: 

 · It was established in the year 1875.

· It works under the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. 

 · It is responsible for the meteorological observations such as weather forecasting and seismology. 

 · Headquarters-New Delhi

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding NIA: 

 Statement-I: It was established in the backdrop of the 26/11 incident in Mumbai

 Statement-II: Its headquarters are located in Mumbai. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

2.Consider the following statements regarding Tele MANAS: 

 1. It was launched in the year 2022 on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day. 

 2. It works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

 3. It is organized in three tier system 

 How many of the above statements are correct?

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two

 c) Only three 

 d) None

3.Consider the following statements regarding PMBJP:

 1. It was launched in the year 2008. 

 2. It was launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 

 3. Financial assistance of up to 2.50 lakh is provided. 

 How many of the above statements are incorrect?

 a) Only One 

 b) Only two

 c) Only three

 d) None

4.Consider the following statements regarding Ludwigia Peruviana: 

 1. It is an aquatic weed which poses threat to the elephants 

 2. It is native to North America.
 Which of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only 1

 b) Only 2

 c) Both 1&2

 d) Neither 1 nor 2

5.Consider the following statements regarding INS Kirpan:

 Statement-I: It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the year 1991 

 Statement-II: It was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

6.Consider the following statements regarding Bal Gangadhar Tilak: 

 1. He founded the Deccan Education Society in the year 1878.

 2. Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it was his slogan. 

 3. Indian Unrest was written by him. 

 How many of the above statements are correct?

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

7.Consider the following statements regarding Soliga Tribes.

 Statement-I: They are an indigenous tribe of Tamil Nadu

 Statement-II: They are known for being the first tribal community to live inside the core area of a tiger reserve in India. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

8.Consider the following statements regarding Heat Index of IMD: 

 Statement-I: It will calculate the temperature along with the humidity levels.

 Statement-II: It is calculated by using an equation same as the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in U.S.A. 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct