Prelims Mantra (Day-22)

Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh is declared as India’s 58th tiger reserve:

• • 9^th Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
  • It is part of Ranthambhore-Kuno-Madhav (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) Tiger Corridor.
  • Located in Shivpuri district in the Chambal region of M.P.
  • Sakhya Sagar (Ramsar site) & Madhav Sagar (damming Manihar River) are two lakes in southern part of the park.
  • Park area forms a catchment of the Sind River which flows along the eastern boundary of the park.
  • Saharia tribe, a PVTG, facing displacement and rehabilitation issues.
  • George Castle (Bankhade Kothi) is located within Park.

 

Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha:

• • Located where Mahanadi River passes through a 22 km long gorge in Eastern Ghats mountains.
  • Meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India – Deccan Peninsula and Eastern Ghats.
  • Forms part of the Mahanadi elephant reserve.
  • It is the natural habitat of two endangered species, viz., the freshwater crocodile and the gharial.

 

Types of River Dolphin:

• • There are two kinds of river dolphin-
  • Facultative river dolphins occur in both marine and fresh waters (Euryhaline species). e.g. In India, Irrawaddy dolphins are seen around the Chilika Lake and off the Sundarbans. The smaller tucuxi is found in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, and the Yangtze finless porpoise.
  • Obligate river dolphins are found only in freshwater bodies. e.g. pink Amazon River dolphin, Yangtze River dolphin, Ganges River dolphin, Indus River dolphin.
  • Dolphins and toothed whales have a prominent, fatty mass on their fore heads called melon. It acts as a lens that focuses sound and is very important in echolocation.
  • An unusual feature of the Ganges and Indus River dolphins is their poor eyesight. Navigation and feeding is done by echolocation using ultrasound waves.
  • These dolphins also show a tendency to swim on their sides, using fins on the sides of their bodies to feel along bottom of riverbeds in their search for food.

 

Hantavirus:

• • A family of rodent-borne viruses that can cause serious illness and death in humans.
  • Infected rodents spread the viruses through their urine, faeces, and saliva.
  • However, these viruses do not spread between people.
  • Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is another group of illnesses caused by hantaviruses found primarily in Europe and Asia.
  • There is no known cure or treatment. Early detection and treatment are crucial.

 

Daylight Savings Time (DST):

• • It is the practice of setting clocks forward one hour from standard time during summer and back again in autumn.
  • It is done to make better use of natural daylight as it extends daylight into the evening.
  • Benefits: Lower energy consumption, people to spend more time outside, increasing sales for retailers and restaurants, fewer accidents & crimes committed in dark.
  • Problems: Disrupt sleep pattern, can lead to confusion and inconsistencies across different time zones, problems for businesses, travel, and communication.

 

Rubber Board:

• • Statutory organization constituted under Section (4) of Rubber Act, 1947.
  • Functions under administrative control of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • Headed by chairman appointed by Central Government & 28 members representing interests of rubber industry.
  • Headquarters: Kottayam, Kerala.
  • It is responsible for development of rubber industry.
  • Issues “Rubber Board license/registration,” to rubber producers, manufacturers, and exporters/traders.

 

Flightless birds:

• • Examples- Penguins, steamer ducks, Weka, ostrich, kiwi, Kakapo, Takahe, Cassowary.
  • There are two common reasons why birds evolve flightlessness –
  • When birds land on an island with no predators that would hunt them or steal their eggs, they gradually adapt to living on ground. They gradually lose some features of their skeletons & feathers that help them fly.
  • Some birds’ bodies change when they evolve semi-aquatic lifestyles. Penguins, for instance, cannot fly, but they swim in a way that is akin to ‘flying underwater’. Their feathers and skeletons have changed accordingly.

 

Fuselage:

• • In a first, rear fuselage for light combat aircraft Tejas Mk1A, manufactured by Alpha Tocol Engineering Services Private Ltd., was handed over to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL)
  • A fuselage is part of main body of aircraft, which holds pilot, passengers and cargo, while the rear fuselage supports the tail section and its associated components.

 

Exercise KHANJAR-XII:

• • 12^thedition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR-XII is set to take place in Kyrgyzstan from 10 March to 23 March 2025.
  • Since its inception in 2011, Ex KHANJAR has evolved into an annual training event.
  • Held in alternate venues between India and Kyrgyzstan.

 

Places in the News:

• • More than 1000 killed in communal violence in Syria: Clashes between forces linked to new Islamist rulers and fighters from dethroned President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite community.
  • Queensland, Australia: Storm Alfred (tropical cyclone).

 

Koch-Rajbongshis:

• • They are one of six ethnic groups seeking ST status for decades. The others are Adivasis, Ahoms, Chutias, Mataks, and Morans.

 

Terms in the News:

• • “Coalition of the willing”: It refers to a pragmatic ad hoc grouping of countries allied for a common cause, typically a joint military effort.

 

Women’s contribution in framing of Constitution:

• • Smt. Ammu Swaminathan was a vocal advocate for gender equality in constitutional provisions, ensuring that women’s rights were duly recognized.
  • Smt. Annie Mascarene played a key role in discussions on federalism and state integration, reinforcing India’s unity in diversity.
  • Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, only Muslim woman in Assembly, stood as a staunch advocate for secularism, arguing for an inclusive national identity.
  • Smt. Dakshayani Velayudhan, first Dalit woman in Assembly, fearlessly opposed untouchability and fought for rights of marginalized communities.
  • Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh was instrumental in shaping social welfare policies and promoting women’s education, contributing to India’s early framework for social justice.
  • Smt. Hansa Jivraj Mehta played a crucial role in drafting India’s fundamental rights, ensuring that gender justice remained at the core of constitutional debates.
  • Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, a pioneering stateswoman, was the architect of India’s public health policies and laid the foundation for modern healthcare in the country.
  • Smt. Sarojini Naidu, called as the “Nightingale of India”, was an eloquent advocate for civil liberties, leaving a lasting impact on India’s democratic ethos.
  • Smt. Sucheta Kripalani, who later became India’s first female Chief Minister, was a prominent voice in Assembly and championed labour rights and governance reforms.
  • Smt. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, a distinguished diplomat, strongly supported international cooperation and India’s role in global governance.

PRACTICE MCQs

Q1. Exercise KHANJAR is Joint Special Forces Exercise between India and

a) Kazakhstan

b) Kyrgyzstan

c) Tajikistan

d) Russia

Answer: B

 

Q2. Consider the following statements about Gangetic dolphins:

1. They are euryhaline species.

2. They have poor eyesight and thus require clear, transparent waters.

3. They tend to swim on their sides.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 3 only

Answer: D

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about Rubber Board of India:

1. It is a statutory body set up under the Rubber Act 1947.

2. It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

3. Its headquarters is located in Kochi, Kerala.

How many statements given above are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three

d) None

Answer: B

 

Q4. Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh is declared as India’s 58th tiger reserve. Consider the following statements regarding it:

1. It is the eighth tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh.

2. Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar are lakes located within the National Park.

3. Sind River flows along the eastern boundary of the National Park.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C

 

Q5. Which of the following is common reason behind development of flightlessness among the birds?

a) Their body weight increases which does not allow them to fly.

b) They find abundant food on the ground which reduces the need to fly from one place to another.

c) They develop protection against their predators on the ground which reduces the need to fly.

d) When there are no predators that would hunt birds or steal their eggs, they adapt to live on the ground.

Answer: D

 

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