🐦🔥Dynamic 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 ‘Safe. 711 (10.5 %) assessment units are categorized “Semi-critical’’, 206 (3.05 %) assessment units, have been categorized as ‘Critical’ and 751 (11.1%) assessment units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’. Apart from these, there are 127 (1.8%) assessment units, which have been categorized as ‘Saline’ as major part of the ground water in phreatic aquifers in these units is brackish or saline.
😎 Key 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).
Out of the total 6746 assessment units (Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 4951 (73.4 %) assessment units are categorized as ‘Safe. 711 (10.5 %) assessment units are categorized “Semi-critical’’, 206 (3.05 %) assessment units, have been categorized as ‘Critical’ and 751 (11.1%) assessment units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’. Apart from these, there are 127 (1.8%) assessment units, which have been categorized as ‘Saline’ as major part of the ground water in phreatic aquifers in these units is brackish or saline.
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).
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Bhangar = Old compost pit 🟤 → time to decompose → more humus
Khadar = Fresh soil added every year 🌊 → less time → less humus
💐👉 “Clay soils exhibit high porosity due to abundant micropores, but low permeability because these pores are not well connected, restricting water movement.”
🌴👉 “Materials such as sand, gravel, and fractured rocks like sandstone and limestone are permeable due to their large and well-connected pore spaces.”
Khadar = Fresh soil added every year 🌊 → less time → less humus
💐👉 “Clay soils exhibit high porosity due to abundant micropores, but low permeability because these pores are not well connected, restricting water movement.”
🌴👉 “Materials such as sand, gravel, and fractured rocks like sandstone and limestone are permeable due to their large and well-connected pore spaces.”
UPSC PRELIMS 2026
Bhangar = Old compost pit 🟤 → time to decompose → more humus Khadar = Fresh soil added every year 🌊 → less time → less humus 💐👉 “Clay soils exhibit high porosity due to abundant micropores, but low permeability because these pores are not well connected, restricting…
SOIL.pdf
3.2 MB
Forwarded from PRELIMS 2025 (SP)
🌴Arecanut, also known as betel nut, is believed to have originated in the Philippines or Malaysia.
🍃Areca 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
🥸Karnataka is the largest producer of arecanut in India, contributing over 60–69% of the country’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
🍃Areca 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
🥸Karnataka is the largest producer of arecanut in India, contributing over 60–69% of the country’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 5.0–6.5.
😍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.
😍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.
🌿The 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,🤣 kari😂, laterite, red, hill, black cotton and forest soils.@kottayam
🌴Kari 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
🌴Kari 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
🍀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
🔡 The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme has been merged into the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the "RKVY-Cafeteria" approach starting from 2022-23.
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
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
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.
💰 🟡 How is Golden Rice made? (Core Concept)
Think of it like adding a missing step in a factory 🏭
👉 Rice plant already has machinery to make beta-carotene in leaves
👉 But NOT in the grain (edible part)
So scientists inserted 2 genes:
From corn (maize) 🌽
From a bacterium 🦠 (Erwinia)
👉 These genes activate beta-carotene production inside the rice grain
🔴 What exactly happens inside?
Step-by-step logic:
Genes are inserted into rice DNA
These genes produce enzymes
Enzymes convert natural compounds → beta-carotene
Grain becomes yellow (golden)
Humans eat it → body converts beta-carotene → Vitamin A
🟠 Why “Golden”?
Due to beta-carotene pigment
Same compound that gives:
Carrot 🥕 its orange color
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.
Think of it like adding a missing step in a factory 🏭
👉 Rice plant already has machinery to make beta-carotene in leaves
👉 But NOT in the grain (edible part)
So scientists inserted 2 genes:
From corn (maize) 🌽
From a bacterium 🦠 (Erwinia)
👉 These genes activate beta-carotene production inside the rice grain
🔴 What exactly happens inside?
Step-by-step logic:
Genes are inserted into rice DNA
These genes produce enzymes
Enzymes convert natural compounds → beta-carotene
Grain becomes yellow (golden)
Humans eat it → body converts beta-carotene → Vitamin A
🟠 Why “Golden”?
Due to beta-carotene pigment
Same compound that gives:
Carrot 🥕 its orange color
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Poshan Abhiyan’s
Nutrition Support
😭 Supplementary 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).
Nutrition Support
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
😀The Dulhasti Power Station is a 390 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, operated by NHPC Limited.
😜The Lidder River is a 73-km (45 mi) long, crystal-clear river in Jammu and Kashmir, India, originating from the Kolahoi Glacier at 4,653 meters. Flowing through the scenic Pahalgam Valley, it is a key tourist attraction known for trout fishing, rafting, and camping, eventually merging with the Jhelum River
😊The Bara Shigri Glacier, located in the Chandra Valley of Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, is the state's largest glacier and the second longest in the Himalayas at over 27 km. Meaning "boulder-covered ice," it feeds the Chandra River
😜The Lidder River is a 73-km (45 mi) long, crystal-clear river in Jammu and Kashmir, India, originating from the Kolahoi Glacier at 4,653 meters. Flowing through the scenic Pahalgam Valley, it is a key tourist attraction known for trout fishing, rafting, and camping, eventually merging with the Jhelum River
😊The Bara Shigri Glacier, located in the Chandra Valley of Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, is the state's largest glacier and the second longest in the Himalayas at over 27 km. Meaning "boulder-covered ice," it feeds the Chandra River
Barehipani Waterfall, located in Odisha's Simlipal National Park (Mayurbhanj district), is India's second-highest waterfall, plunging 399 meters (1,309 ft) in two tiers. Fed by the Budhabalanga River, it is surrounded by dense forest, providing a scenic, misty, and tranquil experience. It is best visited after the monsoon for optimal views
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming philosophy focused on restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, improving water cycles, and sequestering carbon to combat climate change. By using methods like no-till farming, cover cropping, and planned grazing, it reverses soil degradation while improving farm profitability and strengthening ecosystem resilience
😍India’s first lithium mine is being established in the Katghora area of Chhattisgarh's Korba district, with drilling underway to explore significant deposits.
😍Geological Survey of India (GSI) discovered 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, announced in February 2023. This is India's first major lithium deposit, essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and, if developed, could position India among the top nations with significant reserves
😍A massive lithium reserve, estimated at 14 million tonnes, has been discovered in the Degana region of Nagaur district, Rajasthan
😍Geological Survey of India (GSI) discovered 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, announced in February 2023. This is India's first major lithium deposit, essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and, if developed, could position India among the top nations with significant reserves
😍A massive lithium reserve, estimated at 14 million tonnes, has been discovered in the Degana region of Nagaur district, Rajasthan
Urea Gold is a specialized, yellow-colored, sulfur-coated urea fertilizer (37% Nitrogen, 17% Sulfur) developed by Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (RCF) to enhance nitrogen efficiency and combat soil sulfur deficiency
🐦🔥Urea Gold🐦🔥
🟢 Why is it “Gold”?
1. Sulfur Coating (Key Innovation)
Urea particles are coated with sulfur layer
This coating acts like a slow-release cover
👉 Analogy:
Normal urea = open tap (nutrients flow quickly, waste happens)
Urea Gold = drip irrigation (controlled release, no waste)
🔵 How it Works (Core Concept)
Step-by-step:
After application, sulfur coating slows down nitrogen release
Nitrogen is released gradually, matching plant demand
Sulfur also gets absorbed by plants
🟢 Advantages (UPSC-ready points)
🌱 1. Higher Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)
Less nitrogen loss due to:
Leaching
Volatilization(Volatilization is the physical or chemical process where a solid or liquid substance converts into a vapor or gas, escaping into the atmosphere. Often driven by heat, wind, or high pH, this process is common in agriculture (nitrogen loss as ammonia) and environmental chemistry (evaporation of pesticides))
👉 More nitrogen actually reaches plants
🌾 2. Corrects Sulfur Deficiency
Indian soils are increasingly sulfur deficient
Sulfur helps:
Protein synthesis
Oilseed crop quality
🐦🔥Urea Gold🐦🔥
🟢 Why is it “Gold”?
1. Sulfur Coating (Key Innovation)
Urea particles are coated with sulfur layer
This coating acts like a slow-release cover
👉 Analogy:
Normal urea = open tap (nutrients flow quickly, waste happens)
Urea Gold = drip irrigation (controlled release, no waste)
🔵 How it Works (Core Concept)
Step-by-step:
After application, sulfur coating slows down nitrogen release
Nitrogen is released gradually, matching plant demand
Sulfur also gets absorbed by plants
🟢 Advantages (UPSC-ready points)
🌱 1. Higher Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)
Less nitrogen loss due to:
Leaching
Volatilization(Volatilization is the physical or chemical process where a solid or liquid substance converts into a vapor or gas, escaping into the atmosphere. Often driven by heat, wind, or high pH, this process is common in agriculture (nitrogen loss as ammonia) and environmental chemistry (evaporation of pesticides))
👉 More nitrogen actually reaches plants
🌾 2. Corrects Sulfur Deficiency
Indian soils are increasingly sulfur deficient
Sulfur helps:
Protein synthesis
Oilseed crop quality
Nano urea (liquid) is a sustainable nitrogen fertilizer designed for foliar application, entering plant leaves through stomata and surface openings to improve nitrogen use efficiency up to 85-90%. It boosts crop growth, yield, and quality by decreasing nutritional stress and providing targeted nutrition, effectively replacing conventional urea bags while reducing soil pollution
The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requires Indian exporters of carbon-intensive goods (steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers) to purchase certificates for embedded emissions starting January 1, 2026, creating a significant tax burden. This mechanism ensures EU importers pay for carbon emissions equal to those produced within the EU, preventing "carbon leakage"
Karnataka accounts for more than 50% of India’s total silk production. It is the leading
producer of mulberry silk, which constitutes about 90–92% of India’s total raw silk output. Major silk producing regions in Karnataka include Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Kolar.
India is not the largest producer of silk in the world; that position is held by China.
India is the second-largest producer of silk globally.
o However, India is the largest consumer of silk, due to high domestic demand driven by cultural and
textile traditions (e.g., sarees, handicrafts).
producer of mulberry silk, which constitutes about 90–92% of India’s total raw silk output. Major silk producing regions in Karnataka include Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Kolar.
India is not the largest producer of silk in the world; that position is held by China.
India is the second-largest producer of silk globally.
o However, India is the largest consumer of silk, due to high domestic demand driven by cultural and
textile traditions (e.g., sarees, handicrafts).