Daily Prelims Notes June, 2020 Santosh Sir All 6 Prelims qualified If I can do it, you can too [email protected], https://t.me/asksantoshsir WWW.OPTIMIZEIAS.COM 1 | P a g e Table of Contents History........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Geography .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Indian Polity ................................................................................................................................................ 30 Economics ................................................................................................................................................... 59 General Science ........................................................................................................................................ 133 Environment ............................................................................................................................................. 199 Current Affairs .......................................................................................................................................... 239 Government Scheme ................................................................................................................................ 243 International Relations ............................................................................................................................ 266 2 | P a g e History 1. Kutch Context: Ministry of Tourism has organized Dekho Apna Desh webinar titled 'The Tenacity of Survival -Inspirational story of Kutch' Concept: Kutch is a land of salt desert, grasslands and mangroves. Interestingly, the mangroves here are known for an amazing phenomenon of being world’s only Inland Mangrove. The Rann of Kutch alone produces three-fourth of total salt supply of India. The place is also the home to the Kharai breed of camel which has the special ability to survive on both dry land as well as in the saline water. They can even swim in sea water and feed on saline water and plants. They are well-adapted to the extreme climate of the desert and high salinity of water. The key highlights of the presentation were virtual visit to the community of Ajrakh traditional block printers. Ajrakh is one of the oldest types of block printing on textiles still practiced in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. The other salient attractions of Kutch showcased in the webinar included: o Dholavira- UNESCO World Heritage Site and second largest Harappan site located in India. It is indeed a marvellous example of town-planning and architecture. o Fossil Park o Rann of Kutch-Salt Desert of Arabian Sea o Surhando- Unique peacock-shaped instrument plays a melodious music o Thaali Dance- A balancing dance performed to commensurate the celebrations of marriage and child birth o Tooofaan- Famous wild dance of the ocean also known as “Samundar ki Masti”. 3 | P a g e 2. Raja Parba Context: Prime minister greeted people of Odisha for Raja Parba celebration. Concept: This is a three-day-long festival dedicated to Mother Earth (Bhuma Devi) and womanhood at large. There's a story associated with this festival is goddess Earth (Bhuma Devi), the consort of Lord Vishnu, undergoes her menstrual cycle during this period. The word 'Raja' in Odia means menstruation, and it is derived from Rajaswala, meaning a menstruating woman. Menstruation is considered as a sign of fertility, and therefore, it celebrates femininity and her ability to give birth to another life. This festival is also associated with the end of the summer season and the arrival of the monsoon. And therefore, it is also associated with agriculture and cultivation related communities and activities. 4 | P a g e 3. Sukapha Context: Assam state government has ordered the arrest of political commentator who had described Chaolung Sukapha as a “Chinese invader” Concept: Sukapha was a 13th-century ruler who founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries. Contemporary scholars trace his roots to Burma. The founders of the Ahom kingdom had their own language and followed their own religion. Over the centuries, the Ahoms accepted the Hindu religion and the Assamese language. Sukapha’s significance lies in his successful efforts towards assimilation of different communities and tribes. He is widely referred to as the architect of “Bor Asom” or “greater Assam”. To commemorate Sukapha and his rule, Assam celebrates “Asom Divas” on December 2 every year. Ahom Kingdom The Ahom kingdom was established in 1228 when Sukaphaa entered the Brahmaputra valley. Sukaphaa did not battle any established kingdom and seem to have occupied a depopulated region on the south bank with the Burhidihing river in the north, the Dikhau river in the south and the Patkai mountains in the east. The Ahoms brought with them the technology of wet rice cultivation that they shared with other groups. The kingdom came under attack from Turkic and Afghan rulers of Bengal, but it withstood them. On one occasion, the Ahoms under Tankham Borgohain pursued the invaders and reached the Karatoya river, and the Ahoms began to see themselves as the rightful heir of the erstwhile Kamarupa Kingdom. The kingdom came under repeated Mughal attacks in the 17th century, and on one occasion in 1662, the Mughals under Mir Jumla occupied the capital, Garhgaon. 5 | P a g e The Mughals were unable to keep it, and in at the end of the Battle of Saraighat, the Ahoms not only fended off a major Mughal invasion, but extended their boundaries west, up to the Manas river. The later phase of the rule was also marked by increasing social conflicts, leading to the Moamoria rebellion. The rebels were able to capture and maintain power at the capital Rangpur for some years, but were finally removed with the help of the British under Captain Welsh. A much weakened kingdom fell to repeated Burmese attacks and finally after the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, the control of the kingdom passed into British hands. 6 | P a g e 4. Kodumanal excavation Context: The Kodumanal excavation in Tamil Nadu of 10 pots and bowls, instead of the usual three or four pots, placed outside three-chambered burial cists and inside the cairn-circle, threw light on burial rituals and the concept of afterlife in megalithic culture. Concept: It was once a flourishing ancient trade city known as Kodumanam, as inscribed in Patittrupathu of Sangam Literature. It is located on the northern banks of Noyyal River, a tributary of the Cauvery. Megaliths were constructed either as burial sites or commemorative (non- sepulchral) memorials. Cairn-circles are the prehistoric stone row which is a linear arrangement of parallel megalithic standing stones. Megaliths are spread across the Indian subcontinent, though the bulk of them are found in peninsular India, concentrated in the states of Maharashtra (mainly in Vidarbha), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telanga. 7 | P a g e 5. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Context: On the 66th death anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh has been observed. Concept: He was the independent India’s first Minister of Industry and Supply and founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. He became a member of the Bengal Legislative Council in 1929, and was the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta from 1934 to 1938. Later, he became the finance minister of the Province of Bengal, and was subsequently elected the national president of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, the Mahabodhi Society and the Royal Asiatic Society. Mookerjee was also a member of the Constituent Assembly. He was against Article 370 and had expressed his displeasure at special status for J&K. After he left the Indian National Congress due to difference of opinion with the then-Prime Minister Dr Jawaharlal Nehru on Jammu and Kashmir issues, he co- founded Janata Party in the year 1977-1979, which later on became the Bharatiya Janata Party. 8 | P a g e 6. Victory Day Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day trip to Russia to attend the 75th Victory Day where India’s tri-services contingent is going to participate in the Victory Day Parade. Concept: Victory Day marks the end of World War II and the victory of the Allied Forces in 1945. Though Adolf Hitler had shot himself on April 30, only on May 7, German troops surrendered. This was formally accepted the next day, and came into effect on May 9. In most European countries, it is celebrated on May 8, and is called the Victory in Europe Day. The erstwhile Soviet Union had not wanted the surrender to take place in the west, and wanted that such a significant event should reflect the contribution of the Red Army and the Soviet population. According to military historian, Joseph Stalin, premier of the Soviet Union, wanted Germany to also sign surrender in Berlin. So Russia has celebration on May 9. 9 | P a g e 7. Malabar rebellion Context: Malabar rebellion is going to be commemorated after 100 years. Concept: It was a peasant movement against the local Hindu landlords in 1921. The mains grievance of the peasants were lack of security of tenure , high rents and oppression by landlords The impetus to the revolt came from Malabar District Congress Conference. It was part of the Khilafat Movement, which demanded