Green Bonds

• issue Sovereign Green Bonds (SgrBs) worth Rs 16,000 crore.
• issued by any sovereign entity, inter-governmental groups or alliances and corporates with the aim that the proceeds of the bonds are utilised for projects classified as environmentally sustainable.
• Framework issued by the government on November 9, 2022.

The Preamble

• Foundation: Jawaharlal Nehru’s Objectives Resolution-adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 22, 1947

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY  twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Keywords

1.Sovereign

2. Socialist

• In Directive Principles of State Policy (Arts. 39(b) and 39(c))
• 42nd Amendment Act in 1976

3. Secular

• 42nd Amendment Act in 1976
• Articles 14, 15 and 27 establish the secular nature of the state.
• Arts. 25–28 guarantee to all individuals, the freedom to profess, practice and propagate their religion, and assure strict impartiality on the part of the state and its institutions towards all religions

4. Democratic

5. Republic

6. Liberty

• an absence of restraints on the activities of individuals 
• The ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity are taken from the French Revolution

7. Equality

• absence of special privileges to any section of the society
• Civic, (Article 14, 15, 17 and 18)
• Political, (Article 325 and 326)
• Economic (Article 39 and 16) 

8. Fraternity

• Article 51A (Fundamental Duties)
• 42nd Amendment Act in 1976

9. Justice

• Social, economic and political

Cases

1.Berubari Union Case, 1960

•  not a part of the Constitution.

2. Kesavananda Bharaticase, 1973

• Preamble is a part of the Constitution
• Doctrine of Basic Structure

3. S R Bommai Case, 1994

• Preamble is a part of the Constitution

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

• The formation of the IMF was initiated in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference. IMF came into operation on 27th December 1945.

Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) 

They are the IMF’s unit of account and not a currency.

The currency value of the SDR is determined by summing the values in U.S. dollars, based on market exchange rates, of a SDR basket of currencies

SDR basket of currencies includes the

• S. dollar,
• Euro,
• Japanese yen,
• pound sterling and
• Chinese renminbi (included in 2016).

The SDR currency value is calculated daily (except on IMF holidays or whenever the IMF is closed for business) and the valuation basket is reviewed and adjusted every five years.

Reports

Global Financial Stability Report

• It is released twice per year, in April and October.

World Economic Outlook

• It is a survey by the IMF that is usually published twice a year in April and October.

PYQs

Global Financial Stability Report’ is prepared by the (2016)

(a) European Central Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(d) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Rice

• Temperature: 22-32 C
• Rainfall: 150-300  cm
• Soil: Deep clayey and loamy

Recent News

For Addition

• Fortified Rice
• System Of Rice intensification (SRI)

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide? 

(a) Cotton 

(b) Rice 

(c) Sugarcane

(d) Wheat

World Water Week

• from August 24 till September 1
• Organised by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
• Theme is- “Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water”.

World Water Day

• March 22 
• Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
• Theme of 2022 “Groundwater: making the invisible visible.”
• The theme was decided by UN-water at its 30th meeting in Rome. It was proposed by the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC).

Government Initiatives

• Catch the Rain campaign 2022
• Jal Andolan a Jan Andolan
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’
• Atal Bhujal Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme
• National Water Mission
• Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has instituted National Water Awards and “Water Heroes – Share your stories” 
• Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• a permanent intergovernmental international organization. 
• It meets once every year 
• The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the highest decision-making body in the SCO
• The Secretariat in Beijing (China) and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent(Uzbekistan).
• Russian and Chinese are the official working languages of the SCO.
• SCO Business Council’s Permanent Secretariat is headquartered in Moscow.

History

• Before creation of SCO in 2001,Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five
• It was after the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
• India and Pakistan became members in 2017.
• 17^th September, 2021, it was announced that Iran would become a full member of the SCO.

SCO full members

•  India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan

PYQs

Consider the following countries: 

1. Azerbaijan 

2. Kyrgyzstan 

3. Tajikistan 

4. Turkmenistan 

5. Uzbekistan 

Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan? [2022]

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only 

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 

(c) 3, 4 and 5 only 

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

👉For Answer: Click Here

Modhera Sun Temple

• 11th century (1026)
• Raja Bimdev I - Chalukya
• Solanki Dynasty
• Nagara Style
• World Heritage Site
• **India's First 24*7 solar-powered village

PYQs

Which of the following is/are famous for Sun temples? (CSE 2017)
1. Arasavalli
2. Amarkantak
3. Omkareshwar

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains Question

1. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss 
2. Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and art in India. Discuss

Questions

1.The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from (CSE 2014)

a) Katha Upanishad
b) Chandogya Upanishad
c) Aitareya Upanishad
d) Mundaka Upanishad

2. Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India? (CSE 2015 )
a) The President of India
b) The Prime Minister of India
c) The Lok Sabha Secretariat
d) The Supreme Court of India

Election Commission

• An autonomous constitutional authority
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country. 
• The concept of a multi-member Commission has been in operation since then, with decision-making power by majority vote. 

Appointment

• President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
• tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament.
• The same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India. 

Dispute

• The Commission also has advisory jurisdiction in the matter of post-election disqualification of sitting members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
• The decisions of the Commission can be challenged in the High Court and the Supreme Court of India by appropriate petitions.
• In respect of elections for the offices of the President and Vice President, such petitions can only be filed before the Supreme Court.

Power

• Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the superintendence, direction, and control of elections are vested in the Election Commission.
• Commission has the power to recognize the party, from amongst splinter groups or rival sections.
• Commission power to settle such disputes pertaining to symbols between factions of a party, is entirely legal

Previous Years Questions.

• In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India? (2018)
• To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? (2017)

Add on

Source:

• https://eci.gov.in/

Elephant

 

• Asian elephants' ears are smaller compared to the large fan-shaped ears of the African species

PYQs

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 

2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 

3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 

4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?[CSE 2020] 

(a) 1 and 2 only 

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 3, and 4 only

Ans.[A]

Vice- President

Article 63: there shall be a Vice-President of India

Article 64: shall be ex officio Chairman of the Council of the States (Rajya Sabha)

• 2nd highest constitutional office
• is modeled on the lines of the American VP office
• Work as chairman of Rajya Sabha

Article 66: Election

• Single transferable vote
• indirectly by the electoral college
• only MOP(both elected and nominated) are the electorate
• secret ballot
• >35 years
• 20 electors as proposers and 20 electors as seconders

Election Dispute

• decided by the Supreme Court whose decision shall be final.

Oath

• By President or some person appointed by him.

Removal of  VP

• effective majority

**16th Vice-Presidential Election, 2022

**S Radhakrishnan, the First Vice-President, was elected President in 1962

President

Qualification

• 35  Years
• not hold any office of profit under any govt. post
• subscribed by at least 50 electors as proposers and 50 electors seconders.

Election:

• indirectly by an electoral college
• Secret ballot
• wip is not issued
• single transferable vote
• 1971 census (GPSC)
• secretary general LS and Secretary general RS are the ex-officier 

Electoral College

• elected members of both the Houses of Parliament
• elected members of Legislative Assemblies of the states
• elected members of Legislative Assemblies of the UT of Delhi & Puducherry(70th CAA, 1992)

Vote Value

(GPSC 2021)

Disputes related to the election

• SC decision is final and binding.

Oath

• Administered by Chief Justice of India

Term: 5 Years

• eligible for re-election n no. of times

Impeachment

• quasi-judicial procedure
• for violation of the Constitution
• initiated by either of the houses
• 14 days' notice
• special majority
• Only Member of Parliament can vote in this process
• no President has been impeached so far.

Vacancy of the post should be filled within 6 months.

Buddhism

• Siddhartha, as the Buddha was named at birth.
• Sakya clan
• He was deeply anguished when he saw an old man, a sick man, and a corpse
• After this he came to be known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One

·    According to Buddhist philosophy, the world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing; it is also soulless (anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it. Within this transient world, sorrow (dukkha) is intrinsic to human existence

Buddha’s life –

• where he was born (Lumbini),
• where he attained enlightenment (Bodh Gaya),
• where he gave his first sermon (Sarnath) and
• where he attained Nibbana (Kusinagara)

The structure of the stupa

The stupa (a Sanskrit word meaning a heap) originated as a simple semi-circular mound of earth, later called Anda.

Books:

• The Vinaya Pitaka included rules and regulations for those who joined the sangha or monastic order;
•  the Buddha’s teachings were included in the Sutta Pitaka;
• the Abhidhamma Pitaka dealt with philosophical matters.

 Four Holy Relics of Lord Buddha are being taken to Mongolia

• Together, they are known as the ‘Kapilvastu Relics’ since they are from a site in Bihar believed to be the ancient city of Kapilvastu.

His relics from the funeral pyre were collected and divided into eight shares to be distributed among the

• Ajathsatrus of Magadha, 
• Licchavis of Vaishali, 
• Sakyas of Kapilavastu, 
• Mallas of Kushinagar, 
• Bullies of Allakappa,
• Mallas of Pava,
• Koliyas of Ramagrama  
• Brahmana of Vethadipa.

Source

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/buddha-relics-mongolia-state-guest-importance-7966266/
2. NCERT