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Learning Aid Name : Prelims Current Affairs Learning Card Learning Aid Type : Digital Document Volume : Back Series – 1 (Covering Current Affairs from January to May, 2018). Length : 100 Cards | 30 Minute Revision Read Prepared by : Team CAP, NEO IAS What is Prelims Current Affairs Learning Cards? It is a Learning Aid brought out by NEO IAS as part of its Premium Learning Aid Series to help every aspirant to revise current affairs easily. What is Premium Learning Aid Series? It is a series of high quality, well-reviewed and innovative documents by NEO IAS. These materials attempt to redefine civil service exam learning aids through it’s learning friendly presentation and by its compact and relevant content. How can I use the learning cards effectively? Learning cards will help you to cover the most important Prelims Current Affairs quickly. The content presented in it are crisp and sharp, helping your comprehension. The pictures will help you in your recollection process. You could use these cards after reading our current affairs digests for more effectiveness. What is back series learning cards? Back series learning cards comprises 100 learning cards, covering the most important current affairs for the months of January to May, 2018. One more edition of ‘back series’ learning card will be published soon.

RS: 20/- Sacred groves are known by different names across

Sacred groves State

Meghalaya (East Mawphlang Khasi Hills) Hariyali devi Forests (Munda tribe) Kans (eg. Environment Kathalekan) ( Back Series 1| LC #001 Orans community)

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a Statutory Body.

The NBA was established by the Central Government in 2003 to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act, 2002. National Biodiversity Authority Environment The NBA has its headquarters in Chennai, . Back Series 1| LC #002

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Conversation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS) is an accreditation scheme that encourages tiger conservation areas to meet a set of standards and criteria, created by an international group of experts and protected area managers, that assures effective and long term tiger conservation. CA|TS Environment CA|TS is a partnership between governments, NGOs and tiger Back Series 1| LC #003 conservation areas.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The President of India planted a Baobab sapling in the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Baobabs are deciduous trees found mainly in Africa, Australia, and India. The baobab is the national tree Baobab Tree of Madagascar. Environment

Baobabs store large volumes of Back Series 1| LC #004 water in their trunks.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The International Green Week (IGW) is the world’s largest exhibition of achievements in the food industry, agriculture and horticulture.

It was established in 1926.

It is known as the Davos of International Green Week Agribusiness. Environment

The 83rd International Green Back Series | LC #005 Week took place in January 2018 in Berlin.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Chiru goat also known as the Tibetan antelope is a ‘near threatened’ species whose underfur is used for making the famous Shahtoosh shawls.

It is a migratory species of the cold desert. Chiru Goat

Environment 3-5 Chiru goats are to be killed to collect the fur for a single Back Series 1| LC #006 shawl.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Ganges Shark is a shark species which inhabits the River Hooghly in , as well as the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra & Mahanadi.

The Ganges shark is only found in rivers and possibly estuaries, with no confirmed records from oceans or seas. Ganges Shark It is listed as a Critically Endangered Environment species in the IUCN Red list. Back Series | LC #007 It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Dugong is a medium-sized marine mammal.

The dugong is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal.

They are commonly known as "sea cows". Dugong

Environment They are listed vulnerable according to IUCN red list. Back Series 1| LC #008

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The green sea turtle is a large sea turtle. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world.

Habitat: Mainly stay near the coastline and around islands and live in bays and protected shores, especially in areas with seagrass Green sea turtle beds. Environment

According to IUCN Red list they are Back Series | LC #009 listed as threatened.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Amur falcon is a small raptor of the falcon family.

It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern Africa. Amur falcon

Doyang Lake in Nagaland’s Environment Wokha district is the better known stopover for the Amur Back Series 1| LC #010 falcons.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in .

It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India by area.

Several other species like chinkara, desert fox, jackals, Wild Ass Sanctuary nilgais, Indian wolves, Environment blackbucks, and striped hyenas are also found here. Back Series | LC #011

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Talanoa Dialogue is a process established to serve as an initial stocktaking exercise among Paris agreement parties.

Talanoa is a traditional word used in Fiji and the Pacific to reflect a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent Talanoa Dialogue dialogue. Environment It was launched at COP23 in Back Series 1| LC #012 Bonn 2017.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Bird Life International is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds and global biodiversity.

It is the official Red List authority for birds, for IUCN Bird Life International

The Important Bird and Environment Biodiversity Area programme aims to conserve birds and Back Series 1 | LC #013 associated biodiversity

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The snow leopard is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia- including , and Russia’s remote Altai mountains.

In India, it is found in states of Jammu & Kashmir, , Uttarakhand, , and Snow Leopard . Environment Recently, a rare-sighting of a snow leopard was reported from in Lippa- Back Series 1 | LC #014 Asra wildlife sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It refers to rise in temperature in urban areas compared to non-urban areas.

Factors aiding urban heat are:

 Rapid and unplanned urbanisation of cities  Reduction in vegetation leading Urban Heat Island to less shade, moisture and water evaporation Environment  Properties of urban materials, in particular solar reflectance, Back Series 1 | LC #015 thermal emissivity, and heat capacity

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the MoEFCC providing central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.

The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy. Project Tiger The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, Environment whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and Back Series 1 | LC #016 nonforest land, managed as a multiple use area.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It was launched by the Environment Ministry to sensitise the people and students, in particular, about climate change and global warming. Green Good Deed Campaign The campaign aims to broad its base with involvement of Environment teachers, students and other Back Series 1 | LC #017 voluntary organisations.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code World Tourism Organisation of Ethics for Tourism. World Affairs UN has declared the year 2017 as: International Year of Sustainable Back Series 1 | LC #018 Tourism for Development.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world.

It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at 98th percentile or higher on standardized, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. Mensa IQ test

It was established in 1946 and is World Affairs headquartered in Lincolnshire, Back Series 1 | LC #019 England.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation or SASEC program was established in 2001 to promote activities to accelerate economic growth and prosperity among specific south Asian countries.

Initially SASEC had four members— SASEC Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. World Affairs

They were later joined by the Back Series 1 | LC #020 Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2014, and by Myanmar in 2017.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Raisina Dialogue is an annual multilateral conference on challenging issues facing the global community.

The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Government of India, Ministry of External Raisina Dialogue Affairs. World Affairs The forum is designed on the lines of Shangrila Dialogue in Singapore Back Series 1 | LC #021 and China-hosted Xiangshan Forum.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Chabahar port is located in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan in Iran.

It aims to connect with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. It can be Chabahar Port easily accessed from India's World Affairs western coast, bypassing Back Series 1 | LC #022 Pakistan.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The World Customs Organization (WCO) is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.

It was established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council World Customs Organisation (CCC). World Affairs Its headquarter is in Brussels, Belgium. Back Series 1 | LC #023

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA SACEP is an intergovernmental environmental organization for the South Asia region which aims to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the South Asian region.

The Governments of Afghanistan, SACEP Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri World Affairs Lanka established the SACEP in 1982 with its secretariat in Sri Back Series 1 | LC #024 Lanka.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Dubbed the “Noah’s Ark” of food crops, the Global Seed Vault is located deep inside a mountain on Svalbard, a remote Arctic island in a Norwegian archipelago.

The Svalbard vault was opened Global Seeds Vault on in 2008 with the aim of World Affairs providing a “fail-safe seed storage facility, built to stand the Back Series 1 | LC #025 test of time and the challenge of natural or man-made disasters.”

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is an international financial institution founded in 1991.

As a multilateral developmental investment bank, the EBRD uses investment as a tool to build market economies. EBRD

It is headquartered in London. World Affairs

The largest shareholder in EBRD is Back Series 1 | LC #026 U.S.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Airports Council International (ACI) is the only global trade representative of the world’s airports.

ACI is based in Montreal, Canada.

ACI is a non-profit organization Airport Council International whose prime purpose is to World Affairs advance the interests of airports and to promote professional Back Series 1 | LC #027 excellence in airport management and operations.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Pritzker Prize often referred to as “architecture’s Nobel” and “the profession’s highest honor”.

Indian Architect and educator, Pritzker Architecture Prize Balkrishna V. Doshi became World Affairs the first Indian to win the Pritzker Prize. Back Series 1 | LC #028

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Grey list is a classification used by Financial Action Task Force for its ineffectiveness to deal with terrorist and its facilitators.

These countries will be subjected to direct monitoring FATF Grey List and intense s the International World Affairs Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) crutiny by on terror Back Series 1 | LC #029 financing.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean.

It was founded in 1971. Pacific Island Forum The Forum currently recognises 18 dialogue partners including India. World Affairs Back Series 1 | LC #030 It is an official observer at the United Nations.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization founded to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world.

The Organisation was founded in 1969. Organisation consists of 57 member states. OIC World Affairs The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Back Series 1 | LC #031 Nations and the European Union.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an international organization based in The Hague, the Netherlands.

It is not a court and does not have permanent judges. The Permanent Court of Arbitration PCA seeks to facilitate (PCA) arbitration and other forms of World Affairs dispute resolution involving various combinations of states, Back Series 1 | LC #032 state entities, and international organisations.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in 1997.

OPCW has 192 Member States, who are working together to OPCW achieve a world free of chemical World Affairs weapons. Back Series 1 | LC #033 It has its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.

It functions as a Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation. SCO

Qingdao Declaration is World Affairs associated with SCO’s most recent Summit. Back Series 1 | LC #034

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Turkey’s operation seeking to oust the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG )from the Afrin region of northern Syria is called as “Olive Branch” operation.

Syrian Kurdish People’s Olive Branch operation Protection Units (YPG) is considered as a terrorist group World Affairs by Turkey for its links to the Back Series 1 | LC #035 outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA QUAD is a regional coalition (Quadrilateral Formation) of four major democracies ie. USA, India, Japan and Australia.

The quadrilateral is seen to QUAD counter China's aggressive World Affairs maritime expansion under Back Series 1 | LC #036 its Belt and Road initiative.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries based on the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.

NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an NATO attack by any external party. World Affairs

NATO Headquarters are located in Back Series 1 | LC #037 Haren, Brussels, Belgium.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Originally known as Rajavihara (Monastery of the King), Ta Prohm was initially constructed as a Buddhist monastery.

It was built during the period between mid-twelfth century and early thirteen century by Khmer Ta Prohm Temple King Jayavarman VII. Culture It is located along with the world famous temples of Angkor Wat Back Series 1 | LC #038 inside the Angkor Heritage Park in Cambodia.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Sanganeri is a hand-block printing technique originating from Sanganer, a village in the southern part of Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Sanganeri Hand block Sanganeri Printing printing received the Culture geographical indication (GI) Back Series 1 | LC #039 tag in 2010.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It’s a biennial festival ( once in two years) lead by forest dwelling Koya tribe of to honour their twin Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka .

It is conducted in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana State. Medaram Jatara

It is considered to be the biggest Culture Tribal festival in Asia which is attended by one crore people on an Back Series 1 | LC #040 average.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The iconic Teen Chowk in central New Delhi was renamed as Teen Murti-Haifa after Israeli City Haifa.

It’s to pay homage to the memory of the brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives a century ago in the Battle Teen Murti Haifa Chowk of Haifa in Israel. Culture

2018 marks the centenary year Back Series 1 | LC #041 of Battle for Haifa.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The National Archives of India is the custodian of the records of enduring value of the Government of India.

It is established in 1891 at Calcutta as the Imperial National Archives of India Record Department. Culture It is the biggest archival Back Series 1 | LC #042 repository in South Asia.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Mahamasthakabhisheka is the head anointing ceremony of the Lord Gommateshwara Bahubali.

It is observed once every 12 years in Jain Dharmic cycle. Mahamasthabhisheka It is one of biggest festivals Culture for Jain community and it Back Series 1 | LC #043 honors Lord Bahubali, a revered Jain icon.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is a group of Hindu and Jain Temples in Madhya Pradesh build by Chandela Dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD.

They are recognized as UNESCO World heritage Site. Khajuraho Temple The temples are famous for Culture their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic Back Series 1 | LC #044 sculptures.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Basavanna was a saint devoted to and was the chief founder of the reformist Virashaiva or Lingayat Community.

He was a social reformer who opposed temple and the caste system. He lived during the reign of the Kalachuri-dynasty king Bijjala I in Basavanna Karnataka. Culture

Basavanna’s poems, also known as Back Series 1 | LC #045 the Vachana Sahitya in Kannada Language, expresses the ideals of Bhakti.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Saora painting is a traditional folk paintings of the Saura tribe of .

These paintings are done to please the and the ancestors.

Traditionally painted on walls, Saora Painting these painting are today painted Culture on ply wood, canvas, cotton cloth, and paper and tusser Back Series 1 | LC #046 fabric.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Attukal Pongala festival in is considered to be the largest congregation of women for a festival in the world.

Pongala, which means 'to boil over’, is a ritual in which women prepare a pudding made from Attukal Pongala rice, jaggery, and Culture plantains cooked together, and offer it to the . Back Series 1 | LC #047

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Nabakalebara festival is an ancient ritual in which the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by new idols.

It is observed in the Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri, Nabakalebara Festival Odisha at predefined time Culture according to Hindu Calender. Back Series 1 | LC #048

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Madhavapur Mela is held at the coastal village of Porbandar District in Gujarat.

Every year, for five days from day of Ram Navmi, a cultural fair is organized here based on the religious that Krishna married to Rukmini here. Madhavapur Mela

There is a 15th-century temple of Culture Madhavraiji who is a form of Krishna there. Back Series 1 | LC #049

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Madhya Pradesh has won the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath.

It is a black-feathered chicken known for its flavourful meat and found mainly in the tribal districts of eastern Madhya Pradesh. Kadaknath Chicken Culture Kadaknath is in demand not only because of its taste but also Back Series 1 | LC #050 due to its low cholesterol and high protein content.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Moidams refers to the unique system of vaulted mounds – Burial System practised by the Ahom Dynasty in .

Believing that their Kings were Gods on earth, the Tai Ahoms Moidams chose to bury the deceased Culture Royals in Choraideo for over 600 years. Back Series 1 | LC #051

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is an organization founded with the vision to spearhead heritage awareness and conservation in India.

It is registered under the Societies' Registration Act, 1860. INTACH has taken up restoration INTACH and protection of hundreds of Culture monuments that fall outside the coverage of Archaeological Survey Back Series 1 | LC #052 of India and other government agencies.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Khusrau Bagh is a large walled garden and burial complex located in muhalla Khuldabad in Allahabad, India.

It is listed as an Indian Site of National Importance. Khusrau Bagh

The three sandstone Culture mausoleums within this walled garden, represent an exquisite Back Series 1 | LC #053 example of Mughal architecture.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Tholu Bommalata is the shadow puppet theatre tradition of the state of in India.

Puppets are made of translucent, coloured leather. Tholu Bommalata

These are projected on a small Culture screen, like colour photographic transparencies. Back Series 1 | LC #054

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA  Vengurla Cashew –  Gir Kesar (Mangoes) – Gujarat  Tezpur Litchi – Assam  Nanjanagud Banana – Karnataka  Kachai Lemon –  Jalna Sweet Orange – Maharashtra Fruits with GI Tag  Vazhakulam Pineapple – Kerala Culture  Alphonso – Maharashtra Back Series 1 | LC #055  Nagpur Orange – Maharashtra

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA India’s International Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrated in .

In countries like Japan, cherry blossom tree “Prunus yedoensis” blossoms in spring.

Meghalaya is the first in the Cherry Blossom Festival world to celebrate autumn Culture Cherry Blossom Festival based on local cherry trees which Back Series 1 | LC #056 bloom uniquely in the state. .

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It’s a handloom shawl made from Pochampally ikat, a type of silk that finds its origin in a small town of Bhoodan Pochampally in Telangana.

Ikkat is a dyeing technique where the threads are dyed before they are woven into Pochampally Shawl textiles. Culture

It has Geographical Indication Back Series 1 | LC #057 (GI) status.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA CHAMAN (Coordinated programme on Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo informatics) use geo-spatial applications for the assessment and management of horticultural crops It will help in accurate forecasting of area and production of seven Project CHAMAN major crops in about 185 districts across India. Science and Technology

These crops are banana, mango, Back Series 1 | LC #058 citrus, potato, onion, tomato and chilli.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Surya Jyoti is a low cost and energy efficient Photo-Voltaic (PV) Integrated Micro Solar Dome (MSD).

It is developed by NB Institute of Rural Technology with the Department of Science and Technology Funding for indigenous solar technology innovations. Surya Jyothi

It captures day light and concentrate Science and Technology the same inside a dark room, Back Series 1 | LC #059 particularly in urban slum or rural areas which lack electricity supply.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Trachoma is a potentially blinding infectious eye disease spread by direct or indirect contact with infected individuals.

It is often associated with poverty and lack of proper hygiene. Trachoma

This infectious disease is caused Science and Technology by bacterium. Back Series 1 | LC #060 It is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA China’s space industry is preparing to launch the world’s first artificial moon to help with urban illumination at night.

The artificial or man-made moon is a satellite carrying a huge space mirror which can reflect the sun light to the earth. Man-made moon

China is not the first country to try Science and Technology beaming sunlight back to earth. In Back Series 1 | LC #061 1990s, Russians used giant mirrors to reflect sunlight from space.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Dark Web is a collection of websites that cannot be found by using traditional search engines or visited by using traditional browsers.

On the other hand, Deep web can be visited if you Dark Web & Deep Web know its address. However, Science and Technology

Deep web also is not Back Series 1 | LC #062 indexed by the major search engines.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA A bacteriophage is a type of virus that infects bacteria.

The word "bacteriophage" literally means "bacteria eater," because Bacteriophage bacteriophages destroy their host cells. Science and Technology Back Series 1 | LC #063 It replicates within bacteria and archae.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Force Strength Range and nature

Gravitational Weakest Infinite | Force force Always attractive

Weak Next Short | Nuclear Force Weakest Radioactive decay

Long | Electromagne Stronger Fundamental Forces of Nature attractive or tic Force force repulsive Science and Technology

Short | attractive, Strong Strongest Back Series 1 | LC #064 but repulsive in Nuclear Force force some circumstances.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA GravityRAT is a malware designed by Pakistani hackers.

The RAT was first detected by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, CERT-In, on various computers in 2017.

It is designed to infiltrate GravityRAT computers and steal the data of Science and Technology users, and relay the stolen data to Command and Control centres Back Series 1 | LC #065 in other countries.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Akademik Lomonosov is the world's first "floating" nuclear power plant (FNPP) operated by Russia.

It is basically a mobile, low- capacity reactor unit operable in remote areas isolated from the main power distribution system. Akademik Lomonosov Science and Technology They are designed to maintain both uninterruptible power and Back Series 1 | LC #066 plentiful desalinated water supply.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Northeast Frontier Railways has come up with an initiative called “Plan Bee” to prevent speeding trains from hitting elephants crossing tracks.

It involves setting up of devices near tracks, which emit the ‘buzzing’ sound of swarming bees, Plan BEE considered as a natural nemesis of elephants. Science and Technology

The sound is audible to elephants Back Series 1 | LC #067 600 meters away and thus keeping them away from the tracks.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Antrix is the commercial arm of ISRO.

Antrix promotes and commercially markets the products and services emanating from the Indian Space Programme.

It was incorporated on 1992 under Antrix the Companies Act, 1956. Science and Technology

It is a wholly Government of India Back Series 1 | LC #068 owned Company under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS).

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Germany rolled out the world’s first hydrogen-powered train.

Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen.

This process leaves steam and Hydrogen Train water as the only emissions. Science and Technology

Excess energy is stored in ion Back Series 1 | LC #069 lithium batteries on board the train.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA A geostationary orbit is a particular type of geosynchronous orbit.

An object in the geosynchronous orbit returns to the same point in the sky at the same time each day. Different Orbits Science and Technology An object in the geostationary orbit never leaves that Back Series 1 | LC #070 position.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Quantum computers are incredibly powerful machines that take a new approach to processing information.

They are built on the principles of Quantum Mechanics such as superposition and entanglement. Quantum computers

It stores information in ‘qubits’ Science and Technology instead of the typical ‘bits’ of 1 and 0 Back Series 1 | LC #071

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is a clock device that uses an electron transition frequency in the microwave, optical, or ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum of atoms.

Atomic clocks are the most Atomic Clock accurate time and frequency standards known. Science and Technology Back Series 1 | LC #072 Uses - Television broadcasts, in global navigation satellite systems, Radioastronomy, etc.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA ‘Roadkills’ mobile application was launched by the Wildlife Conservation Trust.

It a mobile-based application that will help citizens to report wildlife deaths from road or railway line accidents by uploading geo- tagged photographs to a public Roadkills Mobile App. forum. Governance

This can be used to identify crucial Back Series 1 | LC #073 road or rail stretches that urgently require mitigation measures.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Island Development Agency was set up for the holistic development of islands.

The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.

Members of IDA include cabinet Island Development Agency secretary, home secretary, Governance secretary (environment, forests and climate change), secretary Back Series 1 | LC #074 (tourism) and secretary (tribal welfare).

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited has launched Ask Disha.

Ask Disha is a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, to troubleshoot customers’ travel related queries. Ask Disha

An internet bot is a software Governance application that runs automated tasks (scripts) over the Internet. Back Series 1 | LC #075

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is a market based innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.

It aims at providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country through revival of existing air-strips and UDAN Scheme airports. Governance Interested operators can bid for seat subsidies which will be Back Series 1 | LC #076 funded through Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA SAMEEP is an outreach mission that aims to take Indian foreign policy and its global engagements to students across country and also to look at diplomacy as a career option. SAMEEP The objective of outreach program is to familiarise school Governance and college students in India about functioning of the Ministry Back Series 1 | LC #077 of External Affairs.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It provides a state wise ranking by analysing four issues faced by the girl child -- child safety/protection, health, education and poverty.

The Index is computed by Plan India, a NGO. GENDER VULNERABILITY INDEX Governance The index which was published for the first time in November Back Series 1 | LC #078 2017 is topped by and ranked lowest.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is a safe delivery mobile application for health workers who manage normal and complicated deliveries in the peripheral areas.

The objective is to improve quality of care provided to pregnant mother in Labour Room LAQSHYA INITIATIVE and Maternity Operation Governance Theatres (OTs), thereby preventing undesirable adverse Back Series 1 | LC #079 outcomes associated with childbirth.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA NWIC was established to maintain a comprehensive water resources data.

It will be a single window source of updated data on water resources in India. National Water Informatics Centre It would work as a Subordinate Office under the Ministry of Governance Water Resources, River Back Series 1 | LC #080 Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It was a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India, where the Court discussed at length provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India and related issues.

The judgement attempted to curb S R BOMMAI CASE misuse of Article 356 of the Governance Constitution of India, which allowed President's rule to be Back Series 1 | LC #081 imposed over state governments.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Bharatnet is an updated and upgraded version of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) which was an initiative to create middle mile infrastructure to provide broadband connectivity to gram panchayats.

The entire project is being funded Bharatnet by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was set up for Governance improving telecom services in rural and remote areas of the country. Back Series 1 | LC #082

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help Small Industries.

(SAATHI) is an initiative under Ministries of Power & Textiles. Under this initiative, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a SAATHI public sector entity under the administrative control of Ministry of Governance Power, would procure energy efficient machines and provide Back Series 1 | LC #083 them to the small and medium Power loom units.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

It is launched by the NITI Aayog. Atal Innovation Mission

The Atal Innovation Mission has Governance two core functions: Entrepreneurship promotion and Back Series 1 | LC #084 Innovation promotion

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA NPPA is an independent body under Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

NPPA is an organization which National Pharmaceutical was established to fix/ revise the Pricing Authority prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce Governance prices and availability of the Back Series 1 | LC #085 medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) aims at creating enabling environment for need based and outcome oriented holistic development of the tribal people.

It envisages to ensure that all the intended benefits of goods and services under various central Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana and state government schemes Governance actually reach the target groups by convergence of resources Back Series 1 | LC #086 through appropriate institutional mechanism.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The U.S. dollar index (USDX) is a measure of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the value of a basket of currencies of the majority of the U.S.'s most significant trading partners.

Index is calculated by factoring in the exchange rates of six U.S. dollar index (USDX) major world currencies the euro, Economy Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, British pound, Swedish krona Back Series 1 | LC #087 and Swiss franc.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA To ensure that banks don't go bust, RBI has put in place some trigger points to assess, monitor, control and take corrective actions on banks which are weak and troubled.

The process or mechanism under Prompt Corrective Action which such actions are taken is Economy known as Prompt Corrective Action, or PCA. Back Series 1 | LC #088

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Invest India is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India

It acts as the first point of reference for investors in India. Invest India It is a non-profit joint venture company set up in 2010 Economy between DIPP, FICCI and state Back Series 1 | LC #089 governments of India.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA The Banking Ombudsman Scheme is a complaint redressal mechanism on certain types of banking services provided by banks and to facilitate the settlement of those complaints.

It was introduced under the Banking Regulation Act of 1949. Banking Ombudsman Scheme Economy The Banking Ombudsman actually is a senior official Back Series 1 | LC #090 appointed by the RBI.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Strategy 2030 is a strategy which would be unleashed by Asian Development Bank for achieving a prosperous, inclusive and resilient and sustainable Asia.

It outlines a vision and key Strategy 2030 directions for ADB’s engagement Economy with developing member countries until 2030. Back Series 1 | LC #091

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is India’s first sentiment index for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) developed jointly by CRISIL & SIDBI.

CriSidEx is a composite index based on a diffusion index of 8 parameters and measures MSE business sentiment on a CriSidEx scale of 0 (extremely Economy negative) to 200 (extremely positive). Back Series 1 | LC #092

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA India aims to achieve ‘Net Zero Imports’ by 2020 in electronic products.

With this objective,an Electronic Development Fund (EDF) is set up as a "Fund of Funds" to participate in professionally managed "Daughter Funds" Electronic Development Fund which in turn will provide risk Economy capital to companies developing new technologies in the area of Back Series 1 | LC #093 electronics, nano-electronics and Information Technology (IT).

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is an air-to-air Missile.

Developed by DRDO, IAF, HAL in co-operation with many private partners.

This would be the IAF's first indigenous air-to-air BVR Astra Missile (Beyond Visual Range) Security missile. Back Series 1 | LC #094 Range – 80 to 100 km.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA SAREX-18 (Search and Rescue exercise) is a joint search and rescue exercise between India and Japan to help increase mutual understanding in Anti-Piracy SAREX 18 operations. Security

In 2018, SAREX is held in Back Series 1 | LC #095 Chennai

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA DRDO has successfully completed the test flight of its Rustom 2 drone.

RUSTOM–II is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). RUSTOM-II Security It was developed on the lines Back Series 1 | LC #096 of predator drones of the United States.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Majuli in Assam is the largest riverine island in the world.

It is formed by the Brahmaputra, Kherkutia Xuti and Subansiri rivers.

Majuli is the adobe of the Assamese neo-Vaishnavite Majuli Island culture. Geography

It is inhabited by Mishing Tribe. Back Series 1 | LC #097

It is reported that Majuli is shrinking through the years.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Tropical cyclones are formed due to intense low pressure created in the ocean. For intense low pressure, high temperature is required. But the Arabian Sea is relatively colder than Bay of Bengal. It inhibits the formation of the cyclones. Why more cyclones in Bay of Bengal Remnants of typhoons over compared to Arabian Sea? Northwest Pacific which move across South China Sea to Bay of Geography Bengal. Since the frequency of typhoons over Northwest Pacific is Back Series 1 | LC #098 quite high the Bay of Bengal also gets its increased quota.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA Kra Canal is a Chinese proposed project in Thailand which will cut Thailand in two, creating an alternate route to South Asian ports, bypassing congested Malacca strait. Kra Canal

Due to geopolitics of the Kra Geography Canal, Thailand remains divided on moving forward Back Series 1 | LC #099 on China’s proposal.

Powered by Current Affairs Plus Prelims Exclusive Classes – Taking you beyond CA It is a North-Western province of Syria. It is the last rebel stronghold in the country.

Syria is all set to launch an attack here about which the USA has opined that the Idlib province offensive could trigger a Geography ‘human tragedy’. Back Series 1 | LC #100

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