Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Traditional water harvesting systems in India
Why in the News?
With summers nearing, the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan particularly in Churu, Jaisalmer, and Barmer districts largely rely on ‘Kundi’ system of traditional rainwater harvesting.
What is Kundi System?
- Found in Churu, Rajasthan, kundis (or kunds) are traditional rainwater harvesting structures designed for storing drinking water.
- A circular or rectangular pit, often lined with bricks or stones, is dug into the ground.
- Rainwater is collected through sloped catchments and funneled into the kundi for storage.
- A lid or stone slab covers the pit to prevent contamination and evaporation.
- These structures help communities survive in regions with scarce groundwater and unpredictable rainfall.
Other Traditional Water Harvesting Systems in India
| Khadin (Rajasthan) |
Earthen embankment (bund) built across slopes to retain surface runoff for moisture conservation and groundwater recharge, used since the 15th century. |
| Johads (Rajasthan, Haryana) |
Small crescent-shaped embankments that store rainwater, recharge groundwater, prevent runoff, and improve water availability. |
| Baolis / Stepwells (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, MP) |
Deep stepwells with stairs leading to groundwater storage, used for drinking, irrigation, and bathing; famous examples include Rani ki Vav (UNESCO site) and Agrasen ki Baoli. |
| Virdas (Gujarat – Kutch region) |
Shallow wells dug in depressions to separate fresh rainwater from saline groundwater, used by Maldhari pastoralists for drinking and livestock. |
| Tankas (Rajasthan, Gujarat) |
Circular underground tanks built in homes and temples for storing rainwater; lined with lime for purification, found in Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Dwarka. |
| Zabo (Nagaland) |
Terraced ponds built on hill slopes to collect rainwater for drinking, irrigation, and livestock, preventing soil erosion and increasing groundwater recharge. |
| Kuls (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K) |
Small channels (kuls) diverting glacial meltwater to fields for irrigation, made of stones, wood, and mud, and managed by local communities. |
| Ahar-Pyne (Bihar, Jharkhand) |
Ancient system from the Mauryan period, where reservoirs (Ahar) collect rainwater, and channels (Pyne) distribute it for paddy cultivation. |
| Eri (Tamil Nadu) |
Interconnected chain of tanks developed during the Chola period for irrigation, groundwater recharge, and flood control, still supporting agriculture. |
| Surangam (Kerala, Karnataka) |
Horizontal tunnels dug into hillsides to extract water from aquifers, similar to Iran’s Qanat system, common in Malabar and Kasargod. |
| Phad Irrigation (Maharashtra) |
Community-managed canal irrigation system drawing water from rivers, used in drought-prone areas, managed by a village council (patkari system). |
PYQ:
[2021] Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
(a) Dholavira
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Ropar |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
Why in the News?
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) recently organized Prani Mitra and Jeev Daya Award Ceremony in New Delhi.
- Prani Mitra Awards were established in 1966 to honor individuals excelling in animal welfare and protection.
- Since 1966, 54 individuals have received this award for their remarkable service.
- Jeev Daya Awards, instituted in 2001, acknowledge efforts in animal rescue, rehabilitation, and welfare education.
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About the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
- The AWBI is a statutory advisory body under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
- It was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, with Rukmini Devi Arundale as its first chairperson.
- Headquarters: Ballabhgarh, Haryana (previously in Chennai).
- Composition: 28 members serving for a period of three years.
- Jurisdiction: Initially under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, later moved to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, and is now managed by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
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- Recognition of Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs): Grants recognition to organizations meeting the Board’s guidelines.
- Financial Assistance: Provides funds for shelters, cattle rescue, ambulances, and birth control programs.
- Policy and Legal Advocacy: Proposes changes in animal welfare laws and offers guidance to law enforcement agencies.
- Awareness and Education: Conducts educational programs, workshops, and publications on animal welfare.
- Monitoring Animals in Research & Entertainment: Instrumental in setting up CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals) and implementing Performing Animals Rules (2001, amended 2005).
- Activism & Legal Rights for Animals: Successfully fought in 2014 (AWBI vs. Nagaraja case) for recognizing fundamental rights of animals under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
PYQ:
[2014] Consider the following statements:
1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Science Day
Why in the News?
February 28 is observed as National Science Day in India to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir C.V. Raman in 1928. It is the only Nobel achieved by an Indian while working in India.
About National Science Day
- National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 every year.
- It marks the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir C.V. Raman on February 28, 1928.
- The GoI declared this day as National Science Day in 1986 to promote scientific awareness.
- The primary objective of the day is to promote scientific temper, encourage research, and recognize India’s contributions to science.
- Schools, colleges, and research institutions organize seminars, science exhibitions, and debates to celebrate this day.
- The theme for National Science Day 2024 is “Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat.”
Who was C.V. Raman?
- Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was an Indian physicist born on November 7, 1888, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
- He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics from Presidency College, Madras.
- He initially worked as an Assistant Accountant General but continued his passion for physics through research.
- In 1917, he became a professor at Calcutta University and conducted groundbreaking experiments.
- He established the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore in 1948, which became a major center for scientific research.
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Contributions of C.V. Raman
- Raman Effect (1928): Proved that light changes wavelength when scattered by molecules.
- Inspired by the blue color of the Mediterranean Sea, disproving the earlier sky-reflection theory.
- Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, becoming India’s first Nobel laureate in science.
- Conducted research on vibrations of musical instruments like the veena, tabla, and mridangam.
- Raman Spectroscopy is widely used in chemistry, physics, medicine, and space exploration.
- Used by NASA in Mars Rover missions for mineral analysis.
- He established the Raman Research Institute to promote advanced scientific research in India.
- He contributed to strengthening India’s scientific infrastructure and mentored future physicists.
PYQ:
[2016] A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of:
(a) S. Ramanujan
(b) S. Chandrasekhar
(c) S. N. Bose
(d) C. V. Raman |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Doomsday Fish
Why in the News?
Recent sightings of the rare oarfish, also known as the “Doomsday Fish,” near the shores of Baja California Sur, Mexico, have sparked speculation and social media frenzy.
About the ‘Doomsday Fish’
- Japanese Folklore calls the oarfish “Ryugu no tsukai” or “Sea God’s Palace Messenger” and believes its rare appearance signals an impending natural calamity.
- The belief gained strength in 2011 when multiple oarfish washed ashore in Japan just before the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (9.0 magnitude).
- Some cultures also consider the oarfish a messenger of the deep, warning humans of major disturbances in the ocean.
Popular Legends
- Some scientists suggest that deep-sea fishlike oarfish may be sensitive to underwater vibrations from fault lines and could surface before an earthquake.
- However, no conclusive scientific evidence supports this theory.
- Powerful ocean currents, storms, or underwater disturbances may push weakened or dying oarfish toward the surface.
- The El Niño phenomenon or changes in water temperature might also affect their movements.
- A 2019 study in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America found no relationship between oarfish sightings and earthquakes in Japan.
PYQ:
[2017] Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences?
1. Pollination of some plants could be adversely affected.
2. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal infections of some cultivated plants.
3. It could lead to a fall in the population of some species of wasps, spiders and birds.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 |
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