UPSC PRELIMS 2026
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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€
Forwarded from PRELIMS 2025 (SP)
๐ŸŒดArecanut, also known as betel nut, is believed to have originated in the Philippines or Malaysia.
๐ŸƒAreca nut is considered a minor forest produce (MFP) in India. It is a non-timber forest product that is collected from the wild or cultivated in areas where the forest land is also utilized for other purposes. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in India recognizes areca nut as a minor forest produce, and the government has even fixed a Minimum Support Price
๐ŸฅธKarnataka is the largest producer of arecanut in India, contributing over 60โ€“69% of the countryโ€™s total production. As the world's leading arecanut-producing nation, India relies heavily on Karnataka, particularly districts like Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga, which offer ideal climate conditions for cultivation. Kerala and Assam are the second and third largest producers, respectively
Red laterite soil is the most suitable for growing cashew nuts. These well-drained soils, often red in color due to iron oxides, are found in regions with high temperatures and heavy rainfall. Red laterite soil is ideal because it holds little humus and provides the necessary acidic pH of 5.0โ€“6.5.
๐Ÿ˜Laterite soil is a reddish-brown, iron-and-aluminum-rich tropical soil formed by intense weathering and leaching under hot, humid conditions with alternating wet and dry seasons. It is characterized by high iron oxide content, poor nutrient availability (nitrogen, potash), and a brick-like, hardened texture when dry.
๐ŸŒฟThe topo-lithosequence of Kerala along with variation in rainfall, temperature and alternate wet and dry conditions particularly from the western coast to high ranges in the east and swift flowing rivers lead to the development of different types of natural vegetation and soil. The soils of Kerala can be broadly grouped into coastal alluvium, mixed alluvium, acid saline,๐Ÿคฃ kari๐Ÿ˜‚, laterite, red, hill, black cotton and forest soils.@kottayam
๐ŸŒดKari soils are seen in Alappuzha & Kottayam districts in marshy areas lying below Mean Sea Level. Kari soils have poor drainage, high acidity, salinity and decomposed organic matter at lower layers. The high amount of decomposed organic matter and wood debris in the subsoil and intrusion of sea water into the area are the main source of extreme acid conditions. The soil texture ranges from sandy clay to clay with intermediate textures of silty clay loam and clay loam. Sand pockets are frequented in the solum
The Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat is often cited as India's first Marine National Park (established 1982), but the Gulf of Mannar is specifically noted as the first Marine Biosphere Reserve
๐Ÿ˜ปTamil Nadu races to save sinking Kariyachalli island with 8,500 artificial reefs
๐Ÿ€UNDERSTANDING SOIL HEALTH CARD

A Soil Health Card is a printed report given to farmers for each of their land holdings. It shows the condition of the soil by testing 12 key parameters, namely Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur (Macro-nutrients); Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Boron (Micro - nutrients); and pH (Acidity or Basicity), EC (Electrical Conductivity) and OC (Organic Carbon). The scheme helps farmers understand what their soil needs through regular testing and provides guidance every 2 years. Each card gives farmers a clear picture of the nutrient status of their land. It also suggests the right amount of fertilisers, bio-fertilisers, organic inputs, and soil treatments to help them take better care of their soil over time.
Merged with RKVYY
๐Ÿ”กThe Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme has been merged into the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the "RKVY-Cafeteria" approach starting from 2022-23.
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Golden Rice
Yes, Golden Rice is a genetically modified organism (GMO). It is engineered by introducing genes from corn and bacteria into the rice genome, allowing it to produce beta-carotene in the edible grain, which the body converts into Vitamin A to combat deficiency.
๐Ÿ’ฐ๐ŸŸก How is Golden Rice made? (Core Concept)

Think of it like adding a missing step in a factory ๐Ÿญ

๐Ÿ‘‰ Rice plant already has machinery to make beta-carotene in leaves
๐Ÿ‘‰ But NOT in the grain (edible part)

So scientists inserted 2 genes:

From corn (maize) ๐ŸŒฝ
From a bacterium ๐Ÿฆ  (Erwinia)

๐Ÿ‘‰ These genes activate beta-carotene production inside the rice grain

๐Ÿ”ด What exactly happens inside?

Step-by-step logic:

Genes are inserted into rice DNA
These genes produce enzymes
Enzymes convert natural compounds โ†’ beta-carotene
Grain becomes yellow (golden)
Humans eat it โ†’ body converts beta-carotene โ†’ Vitamin A
๐ŸŸ  Why โ€œGoldenโ€?
Due to beta-carotene pigment
Same compound that gives:
Carrot ๐Ÿฅ• its orange color
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Poshan Abhiyanโ€™s
Nutrition Support

๐Ÿ˜ญSupplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act, 2013. These norms have been revised in January 2023. The old norms were largely calorie-specific; however, the revised norms are more comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and quality of supplementary nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for quality protein, healthy fats and micronutrients (Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Dietary Folate, Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin B-12). Extra Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children as per National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
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