Rana Sanga
Syllabus: GS1/ Personalities, Medieval Indian History
Context
- A recent statement by an MP labeling Rajput ruler Rana Sanga as a “traitor” has sparked controversy over historical interpretations of his role, particularly the claim that he invited Babur to invade India and defeat Ibrahim Lodi.
| First Battle of Panipat – Fought between Ibrahim Lodi, the last Sultan of the Lodi dynasty, and Zahir-ud-din Babur, a Timurid warlord from Central Asia. – Despite being outnumbered (Babur had 12,000 troops vs Ibrahim’s estimated 1 lakh), Babur’s use of superior tactics and artillery led to his decisive victory. – The battle marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate’s Lodi rule (founded by Bahlul Lodi in 1451) and the beginning of Mughal rule in India. |
Rana Sanga (1482–1528)
- Also known as Maharana Sangram Singh, he was the Rajput king of Mewar (ruled from 1508 to 1528) and is known for uniting various Rajput clans to resist the expanding influence of the Delhi Sultanate.
- His kingdom extended across present-day Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Madhya Pradesh, with Chittor as his capital.
- He was a patron of the arts and literature, supported many artists and poets, including the famous poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, who wrote the epic poem Padmavat.
- Military career: His most notable battle was against Babur at Khanwa in 1527, where he aimed to expel the Mughals from India.
- Despite suffering a defeat due to Babur’s superior artillery, Rana Sanga remains a revered figure in Indian history for his courage and vision of a united Rajputana.
Source: TH
Why is Myanmar Frequently Rocked by Earthquakes?
Syllabus: GS1/Physical Geography
Context
- A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 and at least six aftershocks struck central Myanmar.
About
- It was the strongest earthquake globally in the last 2 years.
- It was a shallow earthquake, with a depth of only 10 km.
- The epicenter was located 17.2 km from Mandalay, a metropolis with a population of around 1.5 million people.
- Affected Areas: Thailand (Bangkok),
- Northeast India – tremors felt, no reported casualties or significant damage.
- Tectonic Plates Involved: Indian Plate (west) and Eurasian Plate (east).
- Cause of Earthquake: Tectonic plates slipping past one another, releasing stored-up energy as seismic waves.
- The Myanmar earthquake took place due to the “strike slip faulting” between the Indian and Eurasian plates, meaning these two plates rubbed sideways against each other.
- Myanmar experiences frequent earthquakes, especially along the Sagaing Fault.
- It runs north to south through the centre of Myanmar, and is prone to earthquakes.
- Since 1900, at least six quakes of magnitude greater than 7 have occurred near the Sagaing Fault.
- Previous Significant Earthquakes in Myanmar:
- 1839: Magnitude 8.3, estimated 300-400 deaths.
- 1990: Magnitude 7, 32 buildings collapsed.
- 1912: Magnitude 7.9, near the recent epicenter.
- 2016: Magnitude 6.9.
Source: IE
Lok Sabha Passes Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill
Syllabus: GS2/ Polity
In News
- The Lok Sabha has passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, replacing the nearly century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.
About
- The Bill is part of India’s larger ambition to strengthen its maritime economy, a critical pillar under initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and Sagarmala.
- It aligns India’s maritime law with global standards like the Hague-Visby Rules, ensuring clarity on the responsibilities, rights, liabilities, and immunities of carriers.
- It simplifies complex legal jargon and provides certainty for international and domestic stakeholders.
Source: TH
First Person View (FPV) Drones
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
In News
- The Indian Army has achieved a milestone by developing and successfully testing an indigenous First Person View (FPV) drone equipped with an anti-tank kamikaze payload.
About First Person View (FPV) Drones
- Definition: FPV drones are remotely piloted aircraft that transmit real-time video feed from an onboard camera to the operator’s goggles or screen, providing a first-person view of the drone’s perspective.
- Purpose: Offers precise navigation and control, especially for tactical or combat missions, racing, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Significance
- These drones offer a cost-effective means to neutralize high-value enemy assets, such as tanks, thereby enhancing the Army’s combat effectiveness.
- The prominence of FPV drones in recent conflicts, notably in Ukraine, has demonstrated their capability to alter battlefield dynamics by effectively neutralizing substantial and costly military assets.
Source: TH
India’s Coffee Production
Syllabus :GS3/Economy
In News
- India’s coffee production for the crop year ending in March 2025 is expected to be 3.52 lakh metric tonnes, with a higher yield anticipated due to adequate blossom showers aiding berry setting.
Coffee production
- India’s coffee journey began in the 1600s when the holy saint Baba Budan brought seven Mocha seeds to Karnataka’s Baba Budan Giri, unknowingly sparking the rise of India as a major coffee producer.
- Over the centuries, coffee cultivation evolved into a thriving industry, and today, India is the seventh-largest coffee producer in the world.
- In FY 2023-24, coffee exports reached $1.29 billion, nearly double the $719.42 million in 2020-21.
- Coffee in India is primarily grown in the biodiverse Western and Eastern Ghats, with Karnataka being the largest producer, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Coffee consumption in India is rising, driven by cafe culture, higher disposable incomes, and a shift towards coffee over tea.
- Domestic consumption increased from 84,000 tonnes in 2012 to 91,000 tonnes in 2023.
India’s coffee exports
- They have surged due to increasing global demand, with over 9,300 tonnes exported in January 2025.
- Top buyers include Italy, Belgium, and Russia.
- Most of India’s coffee production (around three-fourths) consists of Arabica and Robusta beans, which are primarily exported as unroasted beans.
- There’s also growing demand for value-added products like roasted and instant coffee.
- The Coffee Board’s Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP) focuses on improving yields, expanding cultivation in non-traditional regions, and ensuring sustainability.
Source :TH
Current Account Deficit (CAD)
Syllabus :GS 3/Economy
In News
- India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $11.5 billion in Q3 FY25 from $10.4 billion in the same quarter last year, primarily due to an increase in the merchandise trade deficit.
- However, CAD remained stable at 1.1% of GDP.
The Current Account Deficit (CAD)
- It occurs when a country’s imports of goods and services exceed its exports.
- The current account is part of a country’s balance of payments (BOP), alongside the capital account.
- To reduce a current account deficit, a country can increase exports, reduce imports through tariffs or quotas, or implement policies to boost domestic competitiveness.
- Currency devaluation can also help by making exports cheaper.
Source :TH
India Fell Behind in the Cotton Race
Syllabus :GS 3/Economy
In News
- India, once the world’s leading cotton producer and a major exporter, has now become a net importer of cotton.
- This shift highlights a deeper crisis rooted in policy paralysis, regulatory inefficiencies, and the slow adoption of modern agricultural technologies.
Cotton Production growth
- India’s cotton production nearly tripled from 13.6 million bales in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013-14.
- India became the world’s top cotton producer in 2015-16 and a major exporter by 2011-12.
Contributing Factors
- The increase in production was driven by technological advances, such as the development of cotton hybrids like H-4 and Varalaxmi.
- Introduction of genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton in 2002-03 significantly boosted yields.
- Bt cotton covered 95% of India’s cotton area by 2013-14, raising lint yields to 566 kg per hectare.
Decline
- Post-2014, cotton production has declined, with projections for 2024-25 at 29.5 million bales, the lowest since 2008-09.
- Yields have dropped below 450 kg per hectare.
- The decline began with a moratorium on GM Bt brinjal and a growing opposition to GM crops under the UPA government.
- The government furthered this by halting GM crop trials and treating GM crops as “hazardous substances.”
- Regulatory hurdles have delayed approval for new GM crops like hybrid mustard and improved cotton variants.
- Issues like pink bollworm infestations have worsened due to the halt in GM crop technology advancements.
Global Implications
- India turning into a net importer benefits top cotton exporters like the US and Brazil.
- Pressure may rise for India to remove tariffs on cotton imports, as seen with GM soyabean meal imports in 2021.
| Do you know? – Union Budget 2025-26 has announced a five year Cotton Mission to address the challenges of stagnant cotton productivity and to increase cotton productivity especially extra-long staple varieties. |
Source :IE
Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project
Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture
Context
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by PM Modi approved the Kosi Mechi Intra-State Link Project of Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
About
- Central Support: Rs. 3,652.56 crore for project completion by March 2029.
- Objective: Diversion of surplus Kosi river water to extend irrigation to the Mahananda basin in Bihar.
- Project Details:
- Remodelling of Eastern Kosi Main Canal (EKMC).
- Extending EKMC up to river Mechi.
- Linking rivers Kosi and Mechi within Bihar.
- Impact:
- Additional 2,10,516 hectares of irrigation in Kharif season.
- Irrigation coverage in Araria, Purnea, Kishanganj, and Katihar districts.
- Utilization of 2,050 million cubic meters of surplus Kosi water.
- Restoration of a shortfall in 1.57 lakh hectares of EKMC’s existing command.
- PMKSY Overview:
- Launched in 2015-16 for enhanced irrigation access and water conservation.
- PMKSY (2021-26) has an outlay of Rs. 93,068.56 crore.
- The AIBP component focuses on major irrigation projects.
- Progress: 63 projects completed under PMKSY-AIBP, creating 26.11 lakh hectares of irrigation since 2016.
Source: PIB
Over 1,000 Species of Fungi Threatened With Extinction: IUCN
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
In News
- More than 1,000 species of fungi are threatened with extinction as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Deforestation, agricultural expansion and urban development are driving these species to decline worldwide.
About Fungi
- Scientific Classification:
- Kingdom: Fungi (distinct from Plantae, Animalia, Protista)
- Cell type: Eukaryotic (Cells contain membrane-bound organelles & nucleus)
- Cell wall: Composed of chitin (not cellulose)
- Nutrition: Heterotrophic (saprophytic, parasitic, symbiotic)
- Examples: Mushrooms, Yeasts, Molds, Penicillium
- Key Characteristics:
- Reproduction: Both asexual (spores, budding) and sexual
- Nutrition: Absorptive heterotrophs (digest food externally and absorb nutrients)
- Habitat: Moist, warm environments like soil, decaying matter.
- Symbiotic Relationships: Lichens: Fungi + Algae/Cyanobacteria (pioneer species in ecological succession)
- Mycorrhiza: Fungi + Plant roots (e.g., Glomus species improve nutrient uptake).
- Economic & Ecological Importance:
- Decomposers: Recycle nutrients in ecosystems
- Medicinal: Source of antibiotics like Penicillin
- Food Industry: Yeast in baking and alcohol fermentation; edible mushrooms
- Biocontrol agents: Trichoderma used in agriculture
Source: DTE
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