CIVILSEVA - A Platform for Civil Service Aspirants

As per Annual Report 2022-23 of Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, there are 12 major ports and 200 non-major ports (minor ports) and intermediate ports owned by the government in the country. Major Ports are under the administrative control of Central Government and the non-major ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Maritime Boards/ State Government. All the 12 Major ports are functional. Out of the 200 non-major ports, around 65 ports are handling cargo and the others are “Port Limits” where no cargo is handled and these are used by fishing vessels and by small ferries to carry passengers across the creeks etc.

Mangrove forests, also called mangrove swamps, mangrove thickets or mangals, are productive wetlands that occur in coastal intertidal zones. Mangrove forests grow mainly at tropical and subtropical latitudes because mangrove trees cannot withstand freezing temperatures. Mangroves in India : Mangrove cover in India is about 0.15% of the total geographical areas  found in West Bengal, Gujarat,  Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Largest mangrove forest in India is Sundarbans (UNESCO world heritage site) followed by Bhitarkanika (Odisha).

What is Coral? Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms, which live in colonies. They flourish in shallow, mud-free and warm waters. They secrete calcium carbonate. The coral secretion and their skeletons from coral deposits in the form of reefs: they are mainly of three kinds: barrier reef. fringing reef and atolls. The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a good example of the first kind of coral reefs. Atolls are circular or horse shoe-shaped coral reefs. Distribution in India All the three major reef types occur in India (atoll, fringing and barrier). The total area of coral reefs in India is estimated to be 2,375 sq km . The mainland coast of India has two widely separated areas containing reefs: the Gulf of Kachchh in the northwest, which has some of the most northerly reefs in the world, and Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar in the southeast.  In addition to these, there are patches of reef growth on the West Coast, for example, coral reefs at Malvan.  The Andaman and...

In the Kashmiri dialect, the term Karewa means “elevated table land”. “Vudr” is the local name for Karewas in Kashmiri language. Firstly, this term was used by Godwin Austin in 1859 and later on by Lydekker in 1878 for unconsolidated to semi-consolidated sand clay conglomerate sequence. Karewas are the thick deposits of glacial clay and other materials embedded with moraines. These are unconsolidated lacustrine deposits. Lacustrine means “associated with lakes”. How were they formed in Kashmir valley? Kashmir valley resides between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal ranges of the Kashmir Himalayas. In earlier times, when the upliftment of the Pir Panjal ranges happened, the flow of the river had stopped. As a result, the whole of Kashmir valley became a large lake. Slowly, the glacial deposits have accumulated here in this lake. Thus creating a large lacustrine plain. Later on, the water drained away and these unconsolidated deposits remained there. These unconsolidated gravel and ...

The basin covers parts of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. In India it spreads over states of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland having an area of 41,723 Sq.km which is nearly 1.38% of the total geographical area of the country.  The Drainage area (sq. km) Meghalaya (10650 Sq Km), Manipur (9567 Sq Km), Mizoram (8866 Sq Km), Assam (7224 Sq Km), Tripura( 4688 Sq Km) and Nagaland (728 Sq Km). The basin extends between 89°50’ to 94°0’ east longitudes and 22°44’ to 25°58’ north latitudes with maximum length and width of 460 km and 350 km.  It is bounded by the Barail range separating it from the Brahmaputra basin on the north, by the Naga and Lushai hills on the east and by Mizo hills and territory of Bangladesh on the south and west.  The Barak River rises from the Manipur hills, south of Mao in Senapati district of Manipur at an elevation of 2,331 m.  It flows then along Nagaland-Manipur border through hilly terrains and enters Assam. It furthe...

Silk is an insect fibre, with lustre, drape and strength. Because of these unique features, silk is known as the “Queen of Textiles”, the world over.  India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China and also the largest consumer. India is the only country, which is producing all the four commercial varieties of silk, namely Mulberry, Tropical & Oak Tasar, Muga and Eri. The share of Mulberry Silk (74%) production is higher among all varieties. The major silk-producing states in the country are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Karnataka contributed around 32.3% of the total silk production in the country during 2022-23. This was followed by Andhra Pradesh which had a share of 26.0% in the overall silk production during 2022-23. Bankura, Kolar, and Jamnagar have historically been important centers for silk weaving and production.

  A Mahamatra (meaning "Officer of high rank") was an "officer of morality" established by the Indian Emperor Ashoka (reigned 269-233 BCE). Their full title was Dhaṃma Mahāmātā, the "Inspectors of the Dharma".  They were apparently a class of senior officials who were in charge various aspects of administration and justice. Some were called "Dharma-Mahamatras" ("Mahamatras of Virtue"), who seem to have been established in the 14th year of Ashoka's reign (256 BCE). There were also Anta-mahamatras in charge of foreigners, and Stri-adhyaksha- mahamatras, in charge of women. The Twelfth Rock Edict of Ashoka mentions the Ithijika Mahamatta. It appeals for toleration and to honor other sects. It also mentions that the beloved of the Gods does not consider gifts or honor to be important.   Ø   

 Vajrayana Buddhism is known as the "Diamond Vehicle," . Vajrayana is a form of Buddhism prominent in Tibet and incorporates esoteric rituals and practices.  

 Mahayana Buddhists believe they can achieve enlightenment through following the teachings of the Buddha. The goal of a Mahayana Buddhist may be to become a Bodhisattva and this is achieved through the Six Perfections. Compassion is very important in Mahayana Buddhism. Therefore, Bodhisattvas choose to stay in the cycle of samsara to help others to achieve enlightenment as well as themselves. This is a key difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists.  Theravada Buddhists strive to become Arhats and gain freedom from the cycle of samsara, Mahayana Buddhists may choose to stay in the cycle of samsara out of compassion for others.

Theravada Buddhism is older and the more conservative of the divisions of Buddhism and is often referred to as the ‘traditions of the elders’. Many Theravada Buddhists follow the teachings of the Buddha exactly, and many of them a monks or nuns. Theravada Buddhists strive to be arhats. Arhats are perfected people who have gained true insight into the nature of reality.  They followed the Noble Eightfold Path to ‘blow out’ the three fires of greed, hatred and ignorance and have become enlightened. In Buddhism, enlightenment leads to nibbana (or nirvana), which means freedom from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Consequently, they will no longer be reborn through samsara.

Ancient name Current Name Drishadvati Chautang Askini Chenab Vitasta Jhelum Purushni Ravi

  Name of Committee/ Commission Objective Year Malimath Committee For Criminal Justice Reform 2003 Vohra Committee Report Electoral Reforsm 1993 Rangarajan Committee On disinvestment of shares in Public Sector Enterprises Apr, 1993 C. Rangarajan Committee formed to Review the Poverty Measurement Methodology 2014 Justice Indu Malhotra Committee (Appointed by Supreme Court) To look into the alleged security breach of Prime Minister's Punjab visit on 5th January, 2022. 13 th Jan, 2022 Appleby Committee formed to examine the functioning of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India. 1948 A.D. Gorwala Committee set up to study the reorganization of states in India.   1948 Santhanam Committee investigating ...