UPSC PRELIMS 2026
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๐ŸŒดThe agarwood tree (Aquilaria malaccensis), renowned for its resinous heartwood (oud), is primarily native to the tropical forests of Northeast India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and parts of Southeast Asia
๐Ÿ’India currently has around 150 million agarwood trees, nearly 90% of which are located in the Northeastern states. Through this scheme, Tripuraโ€™s production capacity is expected to increase by up to 50%.
๐Ÿ˜„therapeutic properties in ancient Ayurvedic texts, including the Charaka Samhita. It is also mentioned in the 5th century CE poetry of Kalidasa
๐Ÿ€Agarwood figured in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œBy submitting a Non-Detriment Finding, India demonstrated that agarwood trade is sustainable, thereby avoiding scrutiny under CITESโ€™ Review of Significant Trade and enabling regulated export quotas.โ€
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The Only Ape in India: The Hoolock gibbon is the only ape found in India, specifically in the northeastern states.Species Breakdown: There are two main types of Hoolock gibbons:Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock): Found west of the Dibang River.Eastern Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys): Found in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam.
๐Ÿ€he Hollong Forest (often referred to as Hollong Tourist Lodge area) is located deep inside the Jaldapara National Park in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. It is renowned for its dense forest, the Hollong River, and as a prime spot for viewing one-horned rhinoceroses and elephants in their natural habitat
Ansupa Lake is a freshwater oxbow lake located on the left bank of the Mahanadi River near the town of Banki in Cuttack district, in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the largest freshwater lake in Odisha and one of the Ramsar wetlands of international importance in India.
๐Ÿ˜ŽThe Brahmani and Baitarani rivers, along with the Mahanadi, form a large, combined deltaic plain on the coast of Odisha before flowing into the Bay of Bengal at the Dhamra estuary. Together, they form a significant river basin in eastern India, contributing to the biodiversity of the๐Ÿ’ Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem
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Beach sand minerals (BSMs) are a suite of seven heavy, industrially valuable minerals found in coastal sediments: ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene, zircon, garnet, sillimanite, and monazite. These minerals are concentrated by wave action and are crucial sources of titanium, zirconium, and rare earth elements, used in paints, ceramics, and aerospace, often along the Indian coast
๐ŸƒGuatemala is the world's largest producer and exporter of cardamom, supplying over 50% of the global market.
๐Ÿ˜Cardamom originates from the lush, evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in Southern India. Known as the "Spice Coast," this region, particularly Kerala, is the native home of green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). Today, while India remains a top producer, the largest exporter is Guatemala, with significant production also in Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
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๐Ÿฆ…Mahabaleshwar
Famous hill station in Western Ghats
Origin of Krishna River
High rainfall zone
๐Ÿ‘‰ Trimbakeshwar

๐Ÿ“Œ Key Points:
One of the 12 Jyotirlingas
Located near Brahmagiri Hills
Origin of Godavari River
๐Ÿ‘‰ Kalsubai Peak

๐Ÿ“Œ Key Points:
Highest peak in Maharashtra (โ‰ˆ 1646 m)
Located in Sahyadri (Western Ghats)
Famous trekking peak
๐Ÿ˜„Kudremukh

Means โ€œhorse faceโ€ mountain
Located in Western Ghats
Known for:
Iron ore deposits
Kudremukh National Park
๐Ÿ‘‰ Doddabetta
Highest peak in Nilgiri Hills
Height โ‰ˆ 2637 m
Near Ooty
๐Ÿ‘‰ Baba Budan Giri
Hill range in Chikkamagaluru
Famous for introduction of coffee to India
Named after Sufi saint Baba Budan
๐Ÿ”กMullayanagiri is the highest peak in Karnataka, India, located in the Chandra Dhrona Hill Ranges of the Western Ghats (Chikkamagaluru district) at an altitude of 1,930 meters (6,330 ft).
๐Ÿ’๐ŸŸข Final Order (North โ†’ South)

๐Ÿ‘‰ Kalsubai โ†’ Mahabaleshwar โ†’ Kudremukh โ†’ Baba Budan Giri โ†’ Doddabetta
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๐Ÿ€The Shencottah Gap (or Sengottai Gap) is a crucial, narrow mountain pass in the southern Western Ghats, located near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border between Tenkasi and Kollam districts
๐Ÿ€ Situated near Sengottai (Tamil Nadu) and Aryankavu/Punalur (Kerala). It lies in the Periyar-Agastyamalai landscape, acting as a link between the Western Ghats and the Cardamom Hills.
Forwarded from GEO-P
why soils in equatorial regions are often not rich, summarized in short points:

High Rainfall and Leaching: Heavy rainfall washes away soluble nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and calcium.

Rapid Decomposition: Warm, humid conditions break down organic matter quickly, leaving less nutrient accumulation in the soil.
๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œDespite heavy leaching, equatorial regions support high biomass due to rapid nutrient recycling, where nutrients are quickly taken up by vegetation and remain locked in biomass rather than soil.โ€

Soil Erosion: Heavy rains erode topsoil, removing the most fertile layer.

Nutrient Uptake by Vegetation: Dense, fast-growing plants absorb nutrients rapidly, leaving soil nutrient-poor.

Soil Acidity: Many tropical soils are acidic, limiting nutrient availability.

Geological Factors: Soils form from ancient, highly weathered rocks, which are low in essential minerals.

Lack of Volcanic Activity: Fewer inputs of fresh, nutrient-rich minerals from volcanic activity.
๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œIn coniferous forests, acidic organic compounds act as chelating agents, mobilizing iron and aluminium and leading to their downward leaching, a key process in podzolization.โ€
๐Ÿ‘‰ Indiaโ€™s Adani Power Ltd. built a large coal power plant at Mundra (Gujarat) using advanced โ€œsupercriticalโ€ technology.
๐Ÿ‘‰ This project was registered under the UNโ€™s climate mechanism (CDM) and could earn carbon credits because it emits less COโ‚‚ than older plants.

๐Ÿ”ต 1) What is the CDM?

๐Ÿ‘‰ Clean Development Mechanism under UNFCCC

Allows developing countries to run projects that reduce emissions
In return, they get carbon credits (CERs)
These credits can be sold to developed countries
๐Ÿ‘ป3) Why Mundra project got CDM status?

๐Ÿ‘‰ The Mundra Thermal Power Station used supercritical tech instead of older tech.

So compared to a โ€œbaselineโ€ (subcritical plant), it:

Burns less coal
Emits less COโ‚‚

๐Ÿ‘‰ That difference = emission reduction โ†’ eligible for carbon credits

๐ŸŸข 4) What are carbon credits?

๐Ÿ‘‰ 1 credit โ‰ˆ 1 tonne of COโ‚‚ reduced

If plant emits less than baseline
It earns credits
Can sell credits in carbon market
ain sources of sulfur emissions (SOโ‚‚) in India
Coal-based thermal power plants (largest share)
Oil refineries & diesel/petrol use
Industries (cement, smelters, brick kilns)

๐Ÿ‘‰ Key point: When fuel contains sulfur, burning it releases SOโ‚‚ (sulfur dioxide).
Step 1: What is terrestrial radiation?

๐Ÿ‘‰ Earth absorbs sunlight and re-emits energy as infrared (longwave) radiation.

๐Ÿ‘‰ This heat naturally wants to go out to space.
๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘‰ Cirrus clouds:

Contain many tiny ice crystals
These:
Absorb outgoing infrared
Re-emit it back downward

๐Ÿ‘‰ Result:
๐Ÿ‘‰ Heat gets trapped (warming effect)

๐Ÿ”ต Step 3: What CCT changes

๐Ÿ‘‰ CCT introduces particles โ†’ forms fewer but larger ice crystals

Effect:
Large crystals:
Fall quickly (gravity)
Cloud becomes thinner & shorter-lived
๐Ÿ”ด Step 4: How heat escapes

๐Ÿ‘‰ With thinner / disappearing cirrus:

โœ”๏ธ Less absorption of infrared
โœ”๏ธ Less back-radiation to Earth

๐Ÿ‘‰ So:
โžก๏ธ More terrestrial radiation escapes directly to space
๐ŸŽฏ๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œCirrus Cloud Thinning enhances the escape of terrestrial radiation by reducing the density and lifetime of cirrus clouds, thereby decreasing their ability to absorb and re-emit infrared radiation back to Earth.โ€
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๐Ÿฅ‡coffee grown in Yemen is historically significant and highly prized in the world of specialty coffee.
Why....?
๐ŸŒฟUnique Growing Conditions
๐ŸชกYemen's coffee is grown in high-altitude regions (1,000 to 2,500 meters above sea level) with terraced farms on steep mountain slopes.
๐ŸชกTerraced Farming: Coffee is cultivated on steep, terraced slopes, which help prevent soil erosion and maximize the use of limited arable land.
Geography..
๐ŸงถMost Yemeni coffee is grown in mountainous regions such as Haraz, Ibb, Raymah, and Bani Matar.
๐ŸชดSemi-Arid Climate with Seasonal Rains
โœ๏ธYemen has a dry, semi-arid climate, but its coffee-growing regions receive seasonal monsoon rains, mostly during March to May and July to September.
๐Ÿฅ‚These seasonal rains provide just enough moisture for coffee trees to grow without excessive water, leading to concentrated sugars and stronger flavors in the beans.
๐Ÿ‚The lack of excessive rainfall prevents diseases like coffee leaf rust, which commonly affects coffee plants in wetter climates.
๐ŸงฃKey Takeaway:
๐ŸฅธYemen is considered the birthplace of commercial coffee cultivation. The port city of Mocha (Al-Makha) was historically the center of the global coffee trade
๐ŸคขTemperature inversion plays a subtle but important role in helping Yemeni coffee grow
๐Ÿ†˜In Yemenโ€™s high-altitude coffee-growing regions, temperature inversion can trap cooler air in the valleys at night. ๐ŸงฃThis prevents the coffee plants from experiencing extreme cold, which could damage them.
๐Ÿฅถ Indiaโ€™s coffee is primarily grown in the ecologically rich Western and Eastern Ghats, areas famous for their biodiversity. Karnataka leads in production, contributing 248,020 MT in 2022-23, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu
๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ‘‰ Coffee in India is not grown in open sun. It is grown under trees (shade-grown).
Two layers of shade:
๐ŸคขUpper layer (tall evergreen trees)
e.g., Silver oak
Give broad shade, reduce heat
Lower layer (leguminous trees)
e.g., dadap, erythrina
Fix nitrogen in soil
๐Ÿ˜ญAraku Valley is a scenic hill station in Andhra Pradeshโ€™s Alluri Sitarama Raju district, located ~120 km from Visakhapatnam. Known for its lush coffee plantations, misty mountains, and tribal culture, popular attractions include the 50-million-year-old Borra Caves
๐ŸƒThe Western Ghats, which form one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world and Eastern Ghats, provide ideal conditions, with๐Ÿ‘ป Arabica thriving in the cooler highlands and Robusta in the warmer, humid regions.๐Ÿ˜Ž Indiaโ€™s Robusta commands top premiums globally, while its Arabica is prized for its superior quality and distinct flavour. India is now one of the worldโ€™s leading coffee producers, ranking as the seventh-largest producer of coffee and contributing about 3.5 percent to global coffee production, according to the Coffee Board of India
๐Ÿ‘ปIndia has emerged as a significant player in the global coffee trade, ranking as the fifth-largest exporter of coffee among coffee-producing nations
๐Ÿ˜„Establishment of the Coffee Board

In the 1940s, Indiaโ€™s coffee industry faced a severe crisis, caused by World War II, declining prices, and widespread infestations of pests and diseases. To safeguard and revive the sector, the Government of India enacted the โ€œCoffee Act VII of 1942โ€, leading to the establishment of the Coffee Board of India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Board comprises 33 members, including the Chairman, and the Secretary, & the Chief Executive Officer along with representatives of coffee growers, traders, curing units, labor, consumers, state governments of major coffee-producing regions, and Members of Parliament.
โ™ป๏ธ#GENERAL๐Ÿ•ถ
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๐Ÿฆโ€๐Ÿ”ฅDynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report for the entire country for the year 2024 on 31.12.2024. The assessment was carried out jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs, which can be used for taking suitable interventions by various stake-holders. As per the assessment, the total annual groundwater recharge in the country has been assessed as 446.90 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM). Keeping an allocation for natural discharge, the annual extractable ground water resource has been assessed as 406.19 BCM. The annual groundwater extraction for all uses is 245.64 BCM. The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country stands at 60.47 %.

Out of the total 6746 assessment units (Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 4951 (73.4 %) assessment units are categorized as โ€˜Safe. 711 (10.5 %) assessment units are categorized โ€œSemi-criticalโ€™โ€™, 206 (3.05 %) assessment units, have been categorized as โ€˜Criticalโ€™ and 751 (11.1%) assessment units have been categorized as โ€˜Over-exploitedโ€™. Apart from these, there are 127 (1.8%) assessment units, which have been categorized as โ€˜Salineโ€™ as major part of the ground water in phreatic aquifers in these units is brackish or saline.
๐Ÿ˜ŽKey Highlights:

Total Annual GW Recharge has increased (15 BCM) substantially and Extraction has declined (3 BCM) in 2024 from 2017 assessment. There is slight reduction in recharge and increase in extraction in the present assessment year compared to the preceding year.
Recharge from Tanks, Ponds and WCS has shown a consistent increase in the last five assessments. In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM w.r.t. 2023.
With respect to the year 2017, there is an increase of 11.36 BCM in recharge from Tanks, Ponds & WCS (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).
The percentage of Assessment Units under Safe Category have increased from 62.6% in 2017 to 73.4 % in 2024 (The percentage of Safe assessment units was 73.14 % in 2023).
The percentage of Over Exploited Assessment units have declined from 17.24 % in 2017 to 11.13 % in 2024 (The percentage of OE Assessment units was 11.23% in 2023).
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Bhangar = Old compost pit ๐ŸŸค โ†’ time to decompose โ†’ more humus
Khadar = Fresh soil added every year ๐ŸŒŠ โ†’ less time โ†’ less humus
๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œClay soils exhibit high porosity due to abundant micropores, but low permeability because these pores are not well connected, restricting water movement.โ€
๐ŸŒด๐Ÿ‘‰ โ€œMaterials such as sand, gravel, and fractured rocks like sandstone and limestone are permeable due to their large and well-connected pore spaces.โ€