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 Desert and its Classification Desert is a biome in which evaporation exceeds precipitation. The rate of evaporation varies with temperature.  Desert is likely to develop where the annual precipitation is less than 250 mm. It is important to remember that aridity (or the absence of moisture) is the common characteristic of all deserts, while temperature varies from desert to desert.  Deserts may be classified into hot and dry deserts, semi deserts, coastal deserts and cold deserts, based on the amount and distribution of temperature and precipitation. Deserts in which sand is in abundance, completely covering the ground and leading to the formation of dunes that resemble wave-like ridges of the ocean surface, are called erg, meaning a sand sea. In other deserts, the wind may blow away all the sand, leaving behind closely packed, interlocking angular rock fragments. Such a stony desert is known as reg . In some deserts the landscape is dominated by boulders and exposed bed...

Ø   The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ø     Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica , came into existence on 16 November 1994, upon the entry into force of UNCLOS. Ø   It became fully operational as an autonomous international organization in June 1996.   Ø   ISA is the organization through which States Parties to UNCLOS organize and control all mineral-resources-related activities in the international seabed area, also known as “the Area.” Ø   The international seabed area is the seabed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction and represents around 50 per cent of the total area of the world’s oceans. Ø   ISA has the mandate to ensure the effective...

Ø Mohenjodaro , a very special tank, which archaeologists call the Great Bath , was built in this area. Ø Evidences of fire altars are found in Lothal and Kalibangan towards the Late Harappan phase, showing presence of immigrants. Ø Mohenjodaro, Harappa, and Lothal had elaborate store houses . Ø Cotton was probably grown at Mehrgarh from about 7000 years ago. Ø Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro . Ø The Harappans probably got copper from present-day Rajasthan, and even from Oman in West Asia. Ø Copper to produce bronze, may have been brought from present-day Afghanistan and Iran. Ø Gold could have come all the way from present-day Karnataka , and precious stones from present-day Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan. Ø We know from remains of plants that the Harappans grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard. Ø A new tool, the plough, was used to dig the ...

 It is a book on Statecraft written/compiled by Chanakya/Vishnugupta/Kautilya during 4th Century BC. There is a widely held belief that the text of Arthashastra was not available till it was discovered by Sanskrit scholar Dr R Shamasastry. He found the 17th century writing on a bundle of palm leaves from a pandit in Tanjore in 1904. Arthashastra, has 15 parts (or books), 180 divisions, 150 chapters and approximately 6,000 verses or shlokas. Book-1 contains details about the King, his ministers and other officers Book 2 lays down the duties of the various executive officers of the state and state’s role in activities like agriculture, mining etc Book-3 contains themes of law and administration. Book 4 highlights suppression of crime. Book-5 contains Miscellaneous topics like salary of officials etc. Book-6 contains constituent elements of a state and foreign policy. Book 7 also covers additional details on foreign policy. Book-8 contains details of various calamities which may ham...

NASHIK INSCRIPTION : Nashik Inscription or Nashik Prashasti gives details of the reign of Gautamiputra Satkarni. The inscription was issued by Gautami Balshri, the mother of Gautamiputra Satkarni in the 2nd Century CE. The inscription found in the Cave No. 3 of Pandavleni Caves in Nashik. The inscription is dated to the 19th regnal year of Vashishtiputra Pulumavi or Pulumayi who was the son of Gautamiputra Satkarni. The Nashik prashasti inscription states that Gautamiputra uprooted the Kshaharata (or Khagarata) family, to which Nahapana belonged. The Nashik inscription reaffirmed a grant of land to Buddhist monks living at the Triraśmi peak. This land was earlier in the possession of Nahapana's son-in-law Rishabhadatta (also known as Ushavadata), who had donated it to the monks. PRAYAG PRASHASTI OR INSCRIPTION It was composed by Harishena, the Court poet of Samduragupta. It gives details about the reign of Samudragupta. This was inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. It is i...

  The Hathigumpha Inscription written  in Prakrit language incised in Brahmi script in a cavern called Hathigumpha in Udayagiri hills, near Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India. It is dated between 2nd-century BCE and 1st-century CE, and was inscribed by the Jain king Kharavela of Kalinga kingdom.

  Deopara Prashasti an important epigraphic source for the reconstruction of the history of ancient Bengal. This inscription contains some eulogistic verses which throw important light on the history of sena dynasty, especially Vijayasena (1178–1206 AD). Famous Sanskrit poet of Sena period Umapatidhara, a minister of Laksmanasena, composed it.

It was composed by Harishena, the Court poet of Samduragupta. It gives details about the reign of Samudragupta. This was inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. It is in excellent Sanskrit written in the more refined Gupta script (a later version of Brahmi). The inscription is a panegyric praising Samudragupta and lists the political and military achievements of his reign including his expeditions to the south. It mentions Samudragupta’s great grandfather, grandfather, father and mother. His mother, Kumara devi, belonged to the Lichchhavi gana, while his father, Chandragupta, was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of maharaj-adhiraja, a title that Samudragupta also used. His great grandfather and grandfather are mentioned simply as maharajas.

  Nashik Inscription or Nashik Prashasti gives details of the reign of Gautamiputra Satkarni. The inscription was issued by Gautami Balshri, the mother of Gautamiputra Satkarni in the 2nd Century CE. The inscription found in the Cave No. 3 of Pandavleni Caves in Nashik. The inscription is dated to the 19th regnal year of Vashishtiputra Pulumavi or Pulumayi who was the son of Gautamiputra Satkarni. The Nashik prashasti inscription informs that Gautamiputra uprooted the Kshaharata (or Khagarata) family, to which Nahapana belonged. The Nashik inscription reaffirmed a grant of land to Buddhist monks living at the Triraśmi peak. This land was earlier in the possession of Nahapana's son-in-law Rishabhadatta (also known as Ushavadata), who had donated it to the monks.