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The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has recently decided to keep petroleum products out of the GST regimes.

As the retail prices of petroleum products are soaring, demand for price reduction has gained momentum.

Fuel prices in India

• India meets its domestic oil demand mainly through imports.
• While international crude prices have risen sharply in the last six months, a major reason for the high selling price of petrol is the high levy of local taxes.

Factors affecting fuel prices?

1. Crude oil production and pricing
2. Rupee vs. Dollar Rates
3. Demand-Supply scenario
4. Internal transportation
5. Pricing mechanism

Present taxation of Fuels

• Currently, taxes on petroleum products are levied by both the Centre and the states.
• While the Centre levies excise duty, states levy value added tax (VAT).
• For instance, VAT on petroleum products is as high as 40% in Maharashtra, contributing over ₹25,000 crore annually.
• By being able to levy VAT on these products, the state governments have control over their revenues.
• When a national GST subsumed central taxes such as excise duty and state levies like VAT on July 1, 2017, five petroleum goods – petrol, diesel, ATF, natural gas and crude oil – were kept out of its purview.

Why bring Petro/Diesel under GST?

• GST is being thought to be a solution for the problem of near-record high petrol and diesel rates in the country, as it would end the cascading effect of tax on tax.
• The state VAT is being levied not just on the cost of production but also on the excise duty charged by the Centre on such output.

Why were they left out of GST?

• This is because both central and state government finances relied heavily on taxes on these products.
• Since GST is a consumption-based tax, bringing petroleum under the regime would have mean states where these products are sold get the revenue and not the producer ones.
• Simply put, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with their huge population and a resultant high consumption would get more revenues at the cost of states like Gujarat.
• Under the present Covid situation, bringing petroleum products under GST will be a very tough call for both the Centre and states “as both will stand to lose”.

Typically, for every Re 1 of excise hike on petrol and diesel, the gain to the exchequer is around Rs 13,000-14,000 crore. However, with the Covid-related consumption slump, the gains may be a bit lower than this.

How does this impact consumers?

High oil prices add to inflationary pressures. Inflation poses a challenge to growth.

• Record high prices for diesel means that the cost of transporting goods goes up across the country which in turn could result in increasing the prices of essential commodities like fruit and vegetables as well.
• Household incomes see a perceptible drop and gradually even the demand for discretionary goods starts declining.
• Petrol and diesel have a combined weight of 4.69% in the wholesale price index and 2.34% in the retail price index.
• Any increase in the prices of the transport fuels affect the WPI more than the CPI but what is more worrisome is the pass-through effect the increase in fuel prices can cause.

Impact of inclusion of fuel under GST

• If petroleum products are included under the GST, there will be a uniform price of fuel across the country.
• However, petroleum products coming under GST not necessarily means that taxes or prices will come down.
• If the GST council decides to opt for a lower slab, taxes may come down.
• At present, India has four primary GST rates – 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent and 28 percent.
• Levying a standard rate of GST on petrol would mean that the prices increase dramatically in Andaman and Nicobar, but on the flip side, they would fall in Maharashtra if the cumulative rate is lower than the current rate.

Way forward

• The government can offset the prices by lowering excise duty slightly, which saw an exorbitant hike during March last year.
• This window, the experts say, is available to the government only this year.
• Next year, when the demand for transport fuels comes back to pre-pandemic levels and there is sharper upward revision, the risk to inflation will be much higher and may leave no ammunition with the government.

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UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) With respect to Javadhu Hills, consider the following statements: 

1. It is an extension of the Eastern Ghats spread across parts of the state of Tamil Nadu in southeastern India. 
2. Malayali tribal people constitutes the majority of the inhabitants of the Javadhu hills. 
3. Vainu Bappu Observatory, India‟s astronomical observatory owned and operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, is located in the Javadhu Hills. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 1 and 3 only 

c. 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

Q2) Which of the following is/are the effects of temperature inversion?

1. Visibility may be greatly reduced below the inversion.

2. It results in less rainfall.

3. Diurnal variations tend to be very large due to inversions.

Select the correct option:

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 2 and 3 only

c. 1 and 3 only

d. All the above

Q3) Consider the following statements with respect to Red Rice 

1. The red rice, locally known as Baodhaan, is rich in Iron content. 

2. It is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to Simlipal Biosphere Reserve 

1. Simlipal, which derive its name from „Simul‟ (silk cotton) tree, is a national park and a tiger reserve situated in Odisha. 
2. Sal is a dominant tree species in the reserve. 
3. The reserve that lies in the eastern end of the eastern ghat was declared a biosphere reserve in 1994. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

a. 1 and 2 only 

b. 1 and 3 only 

c. 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

21st Sept 2021

 

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Earth System Governance Project (ESGP)

Established When and by Whom:  Developed under the auspices of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. It started in January 2009.

Headquarter: The Earth System Governance Project Office is hosted at Lund University, Sweden.

Key Functions:

The Earth System Governance Project aims to contribute to science on the large, complex challenges of governance in an era of rapid and large-scale environmental change.

The project seeks to create a better understanding of the role of institutions, organizations and governance mechanisms by which humans regulate their relationship with the natural environment

The Earth System Governance Project aims to integrate governance research at all levels. The project aims to examine problems of the ‘global commons’, but also local problems from air pollution to the preservation of waters, waste treatment or desertification and soil degradation

However, due to natural interdependencies local environmental pollution can be transformed into changes of the global system that affect other localities. Therefore, the Earth System Governance Project looks at institutions and governance processes both local and globally

The Earth System Governance Project is a scientific effort, but also aims to assist policy responses to the pressing problems of earth system transformation

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Established When and by Whom: The Global Environment Facility was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot program in the World Bank to assist in the protection of the global environment and to promote environmental sustainable development.

Headquarter: Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America

Key Functions:

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.

Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment.

An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

Funding: The GEF also serves as the financial mechanism for the following conventions:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
• Minamata Convention on Mercury

India specific trivia:

*India has formed a permanent Constituency in the Executive Council of the GEF together with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives.

The Council Meetings are held semi-annually or as frequently necessary. At each meeting, the Council elects a Chairperson from among its members for the duration of that meeting. India’s Executive Director in the World Bank represents the GEF Council from our Constituency.

India is both a donor and a recipient of GEF. It has been a leading developing country participant in the GEF since its inception in 1991 and has played a major role in shaping the restructuring of the GEF. It had contributed US $ 6.0 million to the core fund in the GEF Pilot Phase.

India has pledged an amount of US $ 9.0 million towards the resources of each of the Five GEF replenishments. The total funds pledged so far amounts to US$ 51 million and an amount of US$ 48.75 million has been paid by December 2012 towards GEF replenishments.

Ministry of Finance is the political focal point while Ministry of Environment & Forests is the Operational Focal Point for the GEF Projects.

Global Green Growth Institute

Established When and by Whom: GGGI was first launched as a think tank in 2010 by Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and was later converted into an international treaty-based organization in 2012 at the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil.

Headquarter: It is headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea

Key Functions: GGGI works to produce three major outcomes: adoption and implementation of green growth plans; provision of research for policymakers; and private sector engagement in the implementation of the national green growth plans. The organization uses three approaches to achieve these outcomes: Green Growth Planning & Implementation (GGP&I), Knowledge Development & Management (KDM), and Public-Private Cooperation (PPC).

Funding: Funds are given by Contributing members. Contributing members are defined as Member countries that make a multi-year financial contribution of core funding of no less than USD 15 million over three years. Participating members are defined as Member countries that are not contributing members.

India specific trivia:

GGGI has been working in India to promote green growth and sustainable development since 2013.

GGGI has worked at national, state, and city levels to develop and implement green growth strategies that reconcile short-term priorities with long-term vision of higher economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion

At the state level, GGGI worked closely with the governments of Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh (HP), and Punjab to develop comprehensive green growth strategies together with each.

GGGI also supported each of the three state governments in adopting integrated analytical approaches to assess green growth challenges and prioritize opportunities across key sectors, including energy, water, agriculture, and forestry

Building on these strategies, in 2015, GGGI supported the state governments in implementing specific green growth opportunities by formulating detailed project proposals, policy implementation roadmaps, and capacity building initiatives.

KIMO (Local Authorities International Environmental Organisation)

Established When and by Whom: KIMO was founded in August 1990 by four municipalities and from this modest start has grown in size to represent over 70 members in Belgium, Denmark, The Faroe Islands, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Headquarter: Esbjerg, Denmark

Key Functions:

• KIMO is committed to the development of sustainable coastal communities by:
• Preventing pollution of the seas and coastal waters of North-Western Europe and preserving, improving and enhancing them for future generations
• Protecting coastal communities from the impacts of marine pollution and climate change.
• Representing its member local authorities and associated members at an international and national level.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Established When and by Whom:   It was first established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly.

Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland

Key Functions:

• The IPCC produces reports that support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• IPCC reports cover all relevant information to understand the risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• The IPCC does not carry out its own original research.
• Thousands of scientists and other experts contribute on a voluntary basis.
• The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize was shared, in two equal parts, between the IPCC and an American Environmentalist.

The aims of the IPCC are to assess scientific information relevant to:

1. Human-induced climate change,
2. The impacts of human-induced climate change,
3. Options for adaptation and mitigation.

Funding: The IPCC receives funding through the IPCC Trust Fund, established in 1989 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

India specific trivia: India will have its own climate change models to project the impact of global warming over the decades and these will form part of the forthcoming Sixth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reports that is expected to be available in 2020.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Established When and by Whom: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation.

Founded in 1948, today IUCN the largest professional global conservation network. IUCN has more than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-government organizations.

Headquarter: The Union’s headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.

Key Functions: Conserving biodiversity is central to the mission of IUCN. The main areas of function are:

1. Science  – the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
2. Action – hundreds of conservation projects all over the world.
3. Influence – through the collective strength of more than 1,200 government and non-governmental Member organizations.

Funding:  Funded by governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, foundations, member organisations and corporations.

More about the IUCN

Governance by a Council elected by member organizations every four years at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly.

India specific trivia:

• India became a State Member of IUCN in 1969, through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The IUCN India Country Office was established in 2007 in New Delhi.
• IUCN India works with Members and Commissions to reduce ecosystem and species loss by providing the necessary tools and knowledge to value, conserve and use biodiversity sustainability; enhance governance and policy for better management of ecosystems and habitats, including protected areas; and address challenges related to poverty alleviation, food security and climate change.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Established When and by Whom: It was founded as a result of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) in 1972

Headquarter: Nairobi, Kenya

Key Functions:

• It coordinates UN’s environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.
• Its activities cover a wide range of issues regarding the atmosphere, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, environmental governance and green economy.
• UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing environment related development projects
• UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals, transboundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways
• UNEP is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
• The International Cyanide Management Code, a program of best practice for the chemical’s use at gold mining operations, was developed under UNEP’s aegis.

Funding:  The three main sources of funding of UN Environment are the UN Regular Budget, the Environment Fund, the core funding that enables UN Environment to implement its global and regional work, and Earmarked Contributions.

India specific trivia: UN Environment has sponsored the development of solar loan programs, with attractive return rates, to buffer the initial deployment costs and entice consumers to consider and purchase solar PV systems.

The most famous example is the solar loan program sponsored by UN Environment helped 100,000 people finance solar power systems in India.

Success in India’s solar program has led to similar projects in other parts of the developing world like Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia and Mexico.

World Nature Organization (WNO)

Established When and by Whom:  WNO initiative was born in 2010 by states which are threatened by rising sea levels. The WNO Treaty officially entered into force on 1st May 2014.

Location : Geneva

Key Functions:

• It is an intergovernmental organisation which promotes global environmental protection.
• WNO acts as a centre of competence for environmental protection, green technologies and sustainability, and as a mediator and initiator, making available experience of practical applications and strategies, offering support on all issues related to responsible conduct as regards the natural environment and its resources and assisting States to benefit from efficient development and from scientific and technology transfer.
• The World Nature Organization  promotes sustainable conduct as regards the natural environment, together with new, environments-friendly technologies, green economies and renewable energies.

India specific trivia: India is not a member

World Food Programme

Established When and by Whom:  The WFP was formally established in 1963 by the FAO and the United Nations General Assembly.

Headquarter: Rome

Key Functions:

• The WFP strives to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, with the ultimate goal in mind of eliminating the need for food aid itself.
• WFP’s efforts focus on emergency assistance, relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations.
• WFP food aid is also directed to fight micronutrient deficiencies, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat disease, including HIV and AIDS.
• WFP has coordinated the five-year Purchase for Progress (P4P) pilot project which assists smallholder farmers by offering them opportunities to access agricultural markets and to become competitive players in the marketplace.

Funding:  The WFP operations are funded by voluntary donations from world governments, corporations and private donors

India specific trivia: The World Food Programme has been working in India for over 50 years. In line with the developments in India, WFP has realigned its focus from a food aid provider to a catalytic partner to the Government of India, strengthening food-based social safety nets.

International Whaling Organization

Established When and by Whom:  The IWC was set up under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling which was signed in Washington DC on 2nd December 1946.

Headquarter:

Key Functions:

• The preamble to the Convention states that its purpose is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.
• An integral part of the Convention is its legally binding ‘Schedule.’  The Schedule sets out specific measures that the IWC has collectively decided are necessary in order to regulate whaling and conserve whale stocks.
• These measures include catch limits (which may be zero as it the case for commercial whaling) by species and area, designating specified areas as whale sanctuaries, protection of calves and females accompanied by calves, and restrictions on hunting methods. Unlike the Convention, the Schedule can be amended and updated when the Commission meets (a change requires at least three quarters majority agreement).
• There are a number of reasons why changes to the Schedule may be necessary.  These include new information from the Scientific Committee, and variations in the requirements of aboriginal subsistence whalers.
• The Commission also co-ordinates and, in several cases, funds conservation work on many species of cetacean. In addition to research, this includes building an international entanglement response capacity, working to prevent ship strikes, and establishment of Conservation Management Plans for key species and populations.
• The Commission has also adopted a Strategic Plan for Whalewatching to facilitate the further development of this activity in a way which is responsible and consistent with international best practice.

Funding:  Financial contributions from member governments form the IWC’s core income, but additional voluntary donations to support particular work programmes are generously made by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), industry bodies, and also by member governments.

India specific trivia: India is a Member

Bio-carbon Fund initiative

Established When and by Whom:  The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is a multilateral fund, supported by donor governments and managed by the World Bank. It is has been operational from 2013.

Headquarter: USA

Key Functions:

• It seeks to promote reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector, from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+), and from sustainable agriculture, as well as smarter land-use planning, policies and practices.
• The initiative will be managed by the BioCarbon Fund, a public-private program housed within the World Bank that mobilizes finance for activities that sequester or conserve carbon emissions in forest and agricultural systems.
• The new Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes seeks to scale up land-management practices across large landscapes, including improved livestock management, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable forest management, with a focus on protecting forests and greening and securing supply chains.
• It will engage a broader range of actors, including the private sector, initially through a portfolio of four to six programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Funding: Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States together committed $280 million – up to $135 million from Norway, $120 million from the U.K, and $25 million from the U.S. – as part of their efforts to slow climate change.

Arctic Council

Established When and by Whom: The Arctic Council was founded on the initiative of the Government of Finland in September 1989 where officials from the 8 Arctic Countries met in Rovaniemi, Finland, to discuss cooperative measures to protect the Arctic environment.

Headquarter: The location of the Secretariat was rotated biennially with the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

Key Functions:

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

The main focus areas of the Arctic Council are:

1. The Environment and climate change
2. Bio-diversity
3. Oceans
4. The indigenous Arctic peoples

Funding: By member states

India specific trivia: India is an Observer State

---

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UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) With respect to Tropical Cyclones, consider the following statements: 

1. A tropical cyclone is a rotating low pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but has no fronts. 

2. Tropical cyclones rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. 

3. Tropical cyclones across the globe, except South Pacific Typhoons, are moving westward, closer to land, in recent decades. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 1 and 2 only 

c. 1 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

Q2) Consider the following statements with respect to Mid-ocean ridges?

1. They are created by the upwelling of basaltic lava and lateral rifting of ocean crust.
2. They cover the largest fraction of the abyssal zone in the Arctic Ocean and are absent from the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
3. The mid-ocean ridges are the Earth’s largest volcanic system.
4. They are absent in the South Pacific Ocean.

Select the correct code using the codes given below.

a. 1, 2 and 3 only

b. 2, 3 and 4 only

c. 1 and 4 only

d. All the above

Q3) Polar fleeing force relates to:

a. Revolution of the Earth

b. Rotation of the earth

c. Gravitation

d. Tides

Q4) Consider the following statements with respect to the troposphere.

1. The troposphere is marked by temperature inversion, turbulence and eddies.
2. It is the atmospheric layer between the earth’s surface and an altitude of 16 km at the poles.
3. It is meteorologically the most significant zone in the entire atmosphere.
4. It is also called the convective region.

Select the correct code using the codes given below.

a. 2 and 3 only

b. 1, 3 and 4 only

c. 1, 2 and 4 only

d,. All the above

20th Sept 2021

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Indian Bullfrogs

• The Indian Bullfrog Hoplobatrachus Tigerinus (native to
  the Indian subcontinent) has rapidly invaded the Andaman
  islands after it was introduced there in the early 2000s.
• In human-dominated areas, it now shares space with other
  native (and often endemic) frog species.
•  The bullfrogs are prolific breeders: they have short breeding
  seasons, and each egg clutch can contain up to 5,750 eggs.
• Its tadpoles are carnivorous and eat other tadpoles (including their own species).
• The proportion of bullfrog tadpoles surviving was greater
  in the presence of both endemic frog tadpoles.
• This is worrying because other native frog species – many
  of which are only being described – could also be affected

Balsams of Eastern Himalayas

• Consisting of both annual and perennial herbs, balsams
  are succulent plants with high endemism.
• Because of their bright beautiful flowers, these groups of
  plants are of prized horticultural significance.
• The details of the new species, including several new
  records, have been highlighted in the book, recently published by the Botanical Survey of India.
• Of the 83 species described, 45 are from Arunachal Pradesh,
  24 from Sikkim and 16 species common to both states.

Threats:

• Prior to 2010, specimens of Impatiens that had potential
  of being identified as new species would be collected but
  the dried-up specimens looked identical to the species
  discovered earlier and their effort yielded no results.
• Other than high endemism, what sets Impatiens apart is
  their sensitivity to climate change.
• Most of the species of Impatiens cannot endure persistent
  drought or extended exposure to direct sunlight.
• As a result Impatiens species are typically confined
  to stream margins, moist roadsides, waterside boulders, near waterfalls and wet forests.

Miracle Plant Arogyapacha

• This ‘miracle plant’ is known for its traditional use by the
  Kani tribal community to combat fatigue.
• Studies have also proved its varied spectrum of pharmacological properties such as anti-oxidant, aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumour, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-diabetic.

Dracaena Cambodiana: India’s first dragon blood-oozing tree

• A group of researchers has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong, Assam.
•  This is the first time that a dragon tree species has been
  reported from India.
• In India, the Dracaena genus belonging to the family Asparagaceae is represented by nine species and two varieties in the Himalayan region, the northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• But Dracaena cambodiana is the only true dragon tree species.
• The Dracaena seeds are usually dispersed by birds. But due
  to the large fruit size, only a few species of birds are able
  to swallow the fruits, thus limiting the scope of its nature
  conservation.

7 New Species Of Insects That Can Walk On Water Discovered

• The newly described species belong to the genus Mesovelia
  whose size ranges from 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm and are equipped
  with hydrophobic setae (bristles) on their legs.
• The combination of hydrophobic setae and water surface
  tension prevents them from sinking.
• The insects are pale green with silver-white wings with
  black veins on the basal half which make them stand out
  over the green mat of aquatic weeds.
• Among the new discoveries, Mesovelia andamana is from
  Andaman Islands, bispinosa and M. isiasi are from Meghalaya, M. occulta and M. tenuia from Tamil Nadu and M.brevia and M. dilatata live both in Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu.

Evolution

•  These bugs are hemimetabolous insects without having
  larval stage i.e., they go from egg to nymph to adult.
• They are found on freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes,
  pools, streams, rocks with moss and sometimes on estuaries.
• These bugs serve as predators and scavengers (feed on
  midges, water fleas, feed on dead and dying mosquitoes),
  thereby removing organic waste and also providing a natural sanitation service.
• The females of Mesovelia are larger than males and dig
  several holes on plants and insert eggs in plant tissues with
  a specially adapted long serrated ovipositor (genital organ).

Emperor Penguin Colony In Antarctica Vanishes

• The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest
  and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic
  to Antarctica.
• Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body,
  and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat.
• Its diet consists primarily of fish, but also includes crustaceans, such as krill, and cephalopods, such as squid.
• The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter, emperor penguins trek 50–120 km over the ice to breeding colonies which can contain up to several thousand individuals.
• In 2012 the emperor penguin was uplisted from a species of least concern to near threatened by the IUCN.

Arctic Kelp Forests

• Kelp is a type of large brown seaweed that grows in shal-low, nutrient-rich saltwater, near coastal fronts around the world.
• They occur on rocky coasts throughout the Arctic.
• Kelp is a type of large brown seaweed that grows in shallow, nutrient-rich saltwater, near coastal fronts around the world.
• They occur on rocky coasts throughout the Arctic.
• The longest kelp recorded in the Arctic in Canada was 15 metres, and the deepest was found at 60-metre depth (Disko Bay, Greenland).
• Kelps function underwater in the same way trees do on land. They create habitat and modify the physical environment by shading light and softening waves.
• The underwater forests that Kelps create are used by many animals for shelter and food.More than 350 different species – up to 100,000 small invertebrates – can live on a single kelp plant, and many fish, birds and mammals depend on the whole forest.
• Kelp forests also help protect coastlines by decreasing the power of waves during storms and reducing coastal erosion.

Neelakurinji Blossom

• Kurinji or Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthianus) is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India
• Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish-blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms only once in 12 years.
• It is the most rigorously demonstrated, with documented bloomings in 1838, 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018
• Some Kurinji flowers bloom once every seven years, and then die. Their seeds subsequently sprout and continue the cycle of life and death.

Kashmir Stag (Hangul)

• Hangul, the state animal of Jammu & Kashmir, is restricted to the Dachigam National Park some 15 km north-west of Jammu & Kashmir summer capital Srinagar.
• The Hangul is placed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the J&K Wildlife Protection Act, 1978.
• The Hangul was once widely distributed in the mountains of Kashmir and parts of Chamba district in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
• The IUCN’s Red List has classified it as Critically Endan-gered and is similarly listed under the Species Recovery Programme of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) of the MoEFCC.
• From a population of 5,000 in the early 1900s, the Hangul’s numbers have constantly declined over the decades.
• The Hangul is considered equally significant to the state of Jammu & Kashmir as the tiger is to the whole of India.
• The Paliyan tribal people living in Tamil Nadu used it as a reference to calculate their age.
• It is the only Asiatic survivor or subspecies of the European red deer.
• But the state animal’s decreasing population remains a big concern.
• According to the latest survey in 2017, the population of Hangul is 182 in Dachigam and adjoining areas. Earlier population estimates suggest that there were 197 deer in 2004 and 186 in 2015. T
• The IUCN Red Data Book — which contains lists of species at risk of extinction — has declared the Hangul as one of three species that were critically endangered in J&K.
• The other two are the Markhor — the world’s largest species of wild goat found in Kashmir and several regions of central Asia — and the Tibetan antelope or ‘Chiru’.

Great Indian Bustard

• The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the few species that the Government of India has included in its ‘recovery programme for critically endangered species’.
• With less than 200 GIBs remaining in the world, most of them were found in Rajasthan’s ‘Desert National Park’. We are on the brink of forever losing a majestic bird species, which was once a strong contender to be declared as India’s National Bird.
• Habitat: Arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, tall grass interspersed with cultivation.
• It avoids irrigated areas. It is endemic to Indian Sub-continent. found in central India, westem India and eastern Pakistan.
• Currently, it is found in only six states in the country Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Protection: Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES and covered under CMS or Bonn Convention.
• Bustard Species Found in India: Great Indian Bustard, the Lesser Florican and the Bengal Florican; Houbara also belong to Bustard family but it’s a migratory species.
• Importance to Ecosystem: GIB is an indicator species for grassland habitats and its gradual disappearance from such environments shows their deterioration. Once the species is lost. there will be no other species to replace it, and that will destabilise the ecosystem of the grassland and affect critical bio-diversities, as well as blackbucks and wolves, who share their habitat with the GIB.
• Conservation Steps: Great Indian Bustard, popularly known as ‘Godawan is Rajasthan’s state bird. The state government has started “Project Godawan” for its conservation at Desert National Park (DNP) in Jaisalmer. It’s one of the Spades for The Recovery Programme under the Integrated Development of  Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Tasmanian Tiger

• The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (a dog headed pouched dog) was an exclusively carnivorous marsupial that is considered to be extinct.
• It has resemblance to a dog, with its distinguishing features being the dark stripes beginning at the rear of its body and extending into its tail, its stiff tail and abdominal pouch.
• The last known thylacine died in captivity over 80 years ago, in Tasmania’s Hobart Zoo in 1936.
• It may also be the only mammal to have become extinct in Tasmania since the European settlement.

Adratiklit boulahfa

• Named Adratiklit boulahfa, it is also the first stegosaurus to be found in North Africa.
• Its remains were discovered in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
• The scientists believe it is not only a new species but also belongs to a new genus.
• The name is derived from the words used by the Berber (an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa) for mountains (Adras), lizard (tiklit) and and the area where the specimen was found. (Boulahfa).

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UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on International Relations – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Consider the following statements with respect to International Labour Conference (ILC)

1. The member States of the International Labour Organization (ILO) meet at the ILC every year in Geneva, Switzerland.
2. Every two years the Conference adopts the ILO’s biennial work programme and budget, which is financed by member States.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2) Consider the following statements with respect to UN Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) 

1. India was recently elected to ECOSOC from the Asia-Pacific States category for the 2022-24 term. 

2. The ECOSOC, established in 1945 by the 4th Geneva Convention, is one among the six main organs of the United Nations (UN). 

3. The council‟s 54 members are elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly based on geographical representation. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 2 only 

b. 1 and 2 only 

c. 1 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

Q3) Consider the following statements with respect to East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) 

1. It stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia. 

2. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the lead partner of the Government of India in developing East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC). 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Which of the following countries are not parts of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+)?

1. India 

2. Russia 

3. Malaysia 

4. Australia 

5. South Sudan 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

a. All except 1 

b. 1 and 4 only 

c. 1, 3 and 4 only 

d. 2, 3 and 5 only

Q5) Fit for 55 Package is a proposal of which of the following organizations? 

a. World Health Organization (WHO) 

b. UN-Developmental Program (UNDP) 

c. World Trade Organization (WTO) 

d. European Union (EU)

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18th Sept 2021

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You will get following study material:-

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UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on International Relations – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) which aims to build resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region was launched by which of the following countries? 

1. India 

2. China 

3. Australia 

4. Sri Lanka 

5. New Zealand 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

a. 1 and 3 only 

b. 1, 2 and 4 only 

c. 1, 2 and 4 only 

d. All of the above

Q2) Global EV Outlook 2021 is published by which of the following organisations? 

a. International Energy Agency 

b. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 

c. International Atomic Energy Agency 

d. International Renewable Energy Agency

Q3) With respect to India-UK bilateral relations, consider the following statements: 

1. India and the United Kingdom have enjoyed a Strategic Partnership since 2004. 

2. The UK is the 3rd largest inward investor in India, after Mauritius, and Singapore. 

3. Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) was jointly initiated by India and the United Kingdom. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

a. 1 and 2 only 

b. 1 and 3 only 

c. 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3

Q4) With respect to One Health, sometimes seen in the news recently, consider the following statements: 

1. It is a high-level expert panel formed by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

2. It will study the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases and advise global agencies on how future outbreaks, especially due to zoonotic diseases, can be averted. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q5) Consider the following statements with respective to Open Skies Treaty Arms Control Pact 

1. Under the treaty, a member state can “spy” on any part of the host nation, with the latter’s consent. 

2. Both the U.S and India are members of the treaty and Russia is not a member of the treaty. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

17th Sept 2021

 

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Important Historical Sculpture and Paintings

		Famous Sculpture/                             Painting	Era/ Dynasty	Monument
		Bodhisattva Padmapani	Gupta Period	Ajanata
		Mahakapi Jataka	Sunga	Bharhut stupa
		Torso of Vishnu	Gupta Period	Mathura
		Stupa worship	Mauryan/Sunga period	Bharhut stupa
		Yakshini	Mauryan/Sunga period	Bharhut stupa
		Queen Maya’s dream	Mauryan/Sunga period	Bharhut stupa
		Painting of Yashodahara,Rahul & buddha	Gupta Period	Ajanata
		Standing Buddha	Gupta Period	Sarnath
		Seated Buddha	Kushanas	Mathura
		Standing Buddha	Kushanas	Gandhara
		Mara Vijaya	Multiple period	Ajanta
		Maheshmurthi	Rashtrakuta Period	Elephanta caves
		Shiva chasing boar	Vijaynagara Period	Lepakshi temple
		Shiva killing Tripurasura		Thanjavoor
		Dakshinamurthy	Vijaynagara Period	Lepakshi temple
		Ladies attending Parvathy	Vijaynagara Period	Lepakshi temple
		Krishna playing the flute		Pundareekapuram temple
		Sheshashayana Vishnu	Gupta Period	Dashavtar temple
		Vishnu in Nara-Narayan form	Gupta Period	Dashavtar temple
		Arjun Penance	Pallavas	Mahabalipuram
		Statue of Suparshvanatha	Pallavas
		Statue of Gommateshwara,	Ganga Dynasty	Shravanbelagola, Karnataka
		Yakshi	Mauryan Period	Didarganj
		Durga with eight arms shown in the act of defeating Mahishasura,	Pallavas	Mahishasura Mardini Cave, Mahabalipuram
		Ravana Shaking Mount Kailasha	Rashtrakuta	Ellora
		Nandi bull	Cholas	Brihadeshwara temple
		Kalyana Sundara Murthy	Rashtrakuta	Ellora
		Nayika	Ganga Dynasty	Lingraj temple
		Nataraja	Cholas	Brideshwar temple
		Manjira player	Ganga Dynasty	Surya Mandir,Odhisa
		Mohini	Hoysalas	Chennakeshava temple
		Pillars with horse rider	Naykas	Meenakshi temple
		Worship of Bodhi tree	Mauryan Period	Bharhut
		Animals worshipping Bodhi tree	Sungas	Sanchi
		Yakshini	Sungas	Sanchi
		Taming of Nalagiri elephant	Mauryan Period	Amravati
		Head of Buddha	Kushanas	Gandhara
		Seated Buddha	Kushanas	Mathura
		Dwarfish Yaksha		Pithalkoda caves
		Five Ratha	Pallavas	Mahabalipuram
		Vrikshika	Sunga	Sanchi Stupa
		Buddha’s Great departure	Kushanas	Gandhara
		Indra flying amid clouds together with celestial nymphs	Gupta Period	Ajanta

The following table contains the tribes in India, significant aspects of their life, and festivals they celebrate.

	Name of the tribe	States/ Region	Significant aspects related to the tribe	Festivals
	Munda	Chota Nagpur Plateu	1.Christianity is their main religion. 2..They speak Mundari which is austro-asiatic Language.	Main festivals of Munda tribe are Mage Parab , Ind-Parab Jom-Nagoa or Jom Nawa ,Batauli ,Kolom Sing ,Phagu Festival ,Sarhul or Ba Parab ,Karam and Sohrai Festival
	Santhals	West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Assam.	1.Santhals are the third largest tribe in India. 2.Santhals speak Santhali, which belongs to the Austro- Asiatic language family. Santhals have their script called Olchiki, which was developed by Dr Raghunath Murmu in 1925. 3.Santhals have no temples of their own. They even do not worship any idols. Santhals follow the Sarna religion.	Santhals mainly celebrate the Karam festival which falls in the month of September and October
	Angami	Nagaland	1.Men wear shawls called white Mhoushu and the black Lohe. The women wear Mechala – the wrap around skirt and shawls of unique designs and patterns 2.Christianity is the major religion followed among the Angami tribal people 3.Angamis are quite popular for their woodcraft and artwork.	Sekrenyi is the main festival celebrated among the Angamis in Nagaland.
	Bhils	The central Bhils are found in the mountain regions in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujrat and Rajasthan. Bhils are also found in the north eastern parts of Tripura.	1.Religion practice among the Bhils differ from place to place. Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some of the worship Tiger God called ‘vaghdev’. They have no temples of their own. 2.Ghoomar is the most famous dance among the Bhils. 3.Than Gair is the religious dance drama performed by the men in the month of Sharavana (July and August)	The Baneshwar fair is the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivatri (in the month of January or February) and is dedicated to Baneshwar Mahadev also known as Lord Shiva. On this occasion Bhils gather all together set up camps on the banks of the Som and Mahi river.
	Chenchus	Chenchu inhabit in the Nallamalai hills, which have been the part of the Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Sanctuary for centuries in Andhra Pradesh India.	1.Chenchus talk in Chenchu language with the Telgu accent. Their language is also known as Chenchucoolam, Chenchwar, Chenswar or Choncharu. 2.Chenchus worship number of deities. They mainly believe in Bhagaban taru who lives in the sky and look after the Chenchus in all their doings. Another deity they worship is Garelamai Sama, who is the Goddess of forest.
	Khasis	Khasi tribe is mainly found in the sate of Assam and the Khasi Jaintia hills in Meghalaya	1.Khasis speak Khasi, which is an Austro- Asiatic language. It is the part of the Mon-Khmer group of languages. 2.Khasis have a matriachal society. 3.Most of the Khasis follow Christianity as the religion. The Khasi believe in the supreme creator God U Blei Nong-thaw.	Nongkrem is the major festival celebrated among the Khasis.
	Bhuthias	Bhutia tribes are of the Tibetan origin. They migrated to Sikkim around 16th century. In the northern part of the Sikkim where they are the major inhabitants, they are known as the Lachenpas and Lachungpas. Majority of the Bhutias are concentrated in the dry valley of the North Sikkim.	1.Bhutia tribes usually speak Sikkimese. 2.The legal system among the Bhutias is termed as the Dzumsa, which means the rendezvous point of the common masses. 3. Bhutia male wear Bakhu which is a loose traditional dress with the full sleeves. While the women dress consists of Silken Honju, which is the full sleeves blouse	Losar and Losoong are the main festivals celebrated among the Bhutia tribes.
	Gonds	The Gonds are the tribal community mostly found in the Gond forests of central India. They are widely spread in the Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh	1.Gonds tribe speak Gondi language which is related to the Telgu and the other Dravidian languages. 2.Gonds have been largely influenced by the Hindus and for the long time have been practicing the Hindus culture and traditions. Gonds are the worshipers of Janani or the mother of creator. 3.Gusadi dance is the most famous dance perfomed by the Gonds.	Gonds fair and festivals are influenced from the Hindu traditions. Keslapur Jathra is the important festival of the Gonds.
	Gaddis	Himachal Pradesh.	1.The main occupation of Gaddi tribes is shepherding and they make their livelihood by rearing and selling sheeps, goats, mules and horses 2. They speak Gaddi langauge	The Namagen dance is performed in the month of September to celebrate the autum. They were costumes which are largely woolen and studded with ornaments of silver. They are worn by women.
	Birhor	Chattisgarh	1.They follow Hinduism and have their indigenous traditional beliefs. ‘Sing Bonga’, is regarded by the people as the supreme god. 2.Birhor tribe is one of the primitive tribes. They belong to the Proto-Australoid stock; linguistically, they originate from the Austro-Asiatic group.
	Garo	Meghalaya	1.In Garo tribes, women are the owners of property thus making it a matrilineal society. 2.most of the Garos adopted Christianity. These tribes speak Garo language, which is also further divided into different sub-languages or dialects.	Wangala is one of the significant festivals of these tribes This festival is celebrated after the harvest of crops as thanks giving ceremony to their deity Salijong
	Zeliang	Nagaland	1.The Zeliang practice wet cultivation or Panikheti and terraced cultivation. They practice Jhum cultivation though they prefer Panikheti. 2.Many have accepted the religion of Christianity.	The Hega festival is one of the most important and the largest festivals among the Zeliang community
	Rengma	Nagaland	1.They belong to the Mongoloid racial stock. The Rengma is a patriarchal society therefore the line of descent is traced through the male side and property rights goes to the male line.   2.The Rengma tribes are agriculturists. They grow paddy through Jhum cultivation and wet cultivation. 3.Traditionally Rengma tribes are worshippers of supernatural beings. The Supreme god is known as Teronyu. Nyensug and Nyensugi are the next important god and goddesses who are worshipped for household wealth. Now most of the Rengma tribes are Christians	Ngada is the most important festival of Rengma tribes. It is celebrated after harvesting the crop or at the end of November or in the beginning of December. Actually it is a “Thanks giving” festival of the Rengma tribes
	Ao	Nagaland	The Ao Nagas are rich in their folk literature. With the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 19th century the Ao were some of the earliest converts to Christianity among the other Naga tribes.	1. The Aos observe Moatsü Mong after the sowing is done. The festival provides them a period of recreation and entertainment after the stressful work of clearing fields, burning jungles, sowing seeds, cleaning up the Tsubu (wells) and repairs and construction of houses by elders of the Putu Menden, stretching over a week. 2.Aos have another festival called Tsüngrem Mong. It is celebrated in the eve of the harvest.
	Lushai	Manipur/Mizoram	1.Lushai tribes have developed expertise in swimming and hunting. That they are good archers are apparent from the fact that they can nicely handle ‘Sairawkher’. 2.The way they dress shows that these Lushai tribes have got aesthetic sense. Lukhum is a special hat worn by the Lushai tribes. It is sharp in shape, mainly prepared from ‘bamboo splits’. Special open-hexagonal weave are used for weaving these hats. 3.For proper administration, the whole of the Lushai society are segregated into clans and castes, nicely run by a village head. Different is the way in which they practice the ‘Sakhua sacrifice’. These Lushai tribes are pious.	There Bamboo dance(known as Cheraw dance) is very famous.
	Hmar	Manipur	1.The society is patrilineal and patriarchal in nature. 2. Hmars worship supernatural beings. Pathien is the supreme god. 3.The Hmars depend on forest products. Their economy can be classified dually -traditional and subsidiary occupations.	Chawn-lam, Dar-lam, Pheipheet-lam, Hrang-lam, Tinna-Hla-lam are the common dances of the Hmar community. All dances are based on the rhythmic tunes of musical instruments.
	Kuki	Manipur	Kuki Tribe of Manipur are mainly followers of Christianity and Judaism.
	Mizo	Mizoram	1.The Mizos are of the Mongoloid racial stock with well built features. 2.They follow Christianity 3.The Mizos are mainly an agricultural people. Jhum cultivation is the traditional form of agriculture that is practiced	The Mizo celebrate many festivals among which Chapchar kut and Pavlkut are most important festivals. Chapchar kut is celebrated in the month of March. It is the spring festival celebrated. Pawl kut is a harvest festival celebrated in the months of December and January.
	Chakesang	Nagaland		Held in between March and April, the Tsukhenyi festival is one of the least known tribal festivals in India that is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Chakesang Nagass
	Limboos	Sikkim	1.Many Limbu follow a combination of Buddhism and their traditional beliefs. 2.There traditional group dance is called dhannach and is performed during marriage,death or any festivities 3.The traditional dress of Limboos are mekhli and Taga
	Lepchas	Sikkim	1.The Lepchas are the aboriginal inhabitants of Sikkim and they are mostly settled in North Sikkim. They are mostly Buddhist but many of them have now adopted Christianity 2. The traditional cloths of the Lepchas are woven in exquisite colour combinations. Men’s dress is called Thokro-Dum and the female’s dress is called Dumdyam or Dumvum. 3. The Lepcha trace their descent patrilineally. The marriage is negotiated between the families of the bride and the groom.
	Apatani	Aruanchal Pradesh	1.UNESCO has proposed the Apatani valley for inclusion as a World Heritage Site for its “extremely high productivity” and “unique” way of preserving the ecology 2. Women of the Apatani Tribe, in India’s Apatani plateau, are famous for the bizarre nose plugs they’ve been wearing since times long passed.	They have two major festival- Dree and Myoko.
	Nyishis	Aruanchal Pradesh	1.The Nyishi language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family, however, the origin is disputed. 2.Polygyny is prevalent among the Nyish. 3. The Nyishis, who traditionally wear cane helmets surmounted by the crest of a hornbill beak (known as pudum, padam), have considerably affected the population of this bird. Several organizations, such as the Arunachal Wildlife and Nature Foundation and the Wildlife Trust of India, have been trying to stop the Nyishi hunting these birds in order to protect them from extinction. Nature reserves, such as the Pakke Sanctuary, are being set up to protect the birds, while artificial materials, such as fiberglass, have been introduced as an alternative to the hornbill beak in Nyishi dress.	Nyokum is the festival celebrated by the Nyishi people, a religion which commemorates their ancestors.
	Adis	Aruanchal Pradesh	Adi dances vary from the slow, rustic and beautifully enchanting style Ponung (performed in Solung festival) to the exhilarating, exuberant thumps of Delong performed by Men in Etor festival. These dances have led to certain forms of dancing which jointly narrate a story, the Tapu (War Dance). In the Tapu War Dance, the dancers vigorously re-enact the actions of war, its gory details and the triumphant cries of the warriors. Yakjong is performed in Aran festival.	The Adi celebrate a number of festivals, in particular their prime festivals are Aran, Solung, Etor.Solung, is observed in the first week of September for five days or more. It is a harvest festival performed after the sowing of seeds and transplantation, to seek for future bumper crops. Ponung songs and dances are performed by women folk during the festival
	Sema/Sumi Nagas	Nagaland	1.The ‘Sumi Naga’ is one of the major Naga peoples in Nagaland, India. The Sumis mainly inhabit the Zunheboto district, although many have spread and is now living in a few more districts within Nagaland. 2.Sumi Naga tribe practiced kiti-do and were a headhunter as every other Naga tribals .	Tuluni (July 8) is a festival of great significance for the Sumi. This festival is marked with feasts as the occasion occurs in the bountiful season of the year. Drinking rice beer indispensably forms as part of the feasts. Rice beer is served in a goblet made of bamboo or made from the leaf of plantain. This drink is called Tuluni which gives the festival its name.
	Konyak tribe	Nagaland	The Konyak are a Naga people, and are recognised among other Naga by their tattoos, which they have all over their face and hands; facial tattoos were earned for taking an enemy’s head. They are called the land of Angh’s. They have the largest population among the Nagas.	Aoleang is the biggest festival for the Konyak. They wear their traditional attire and sing folk song to celebrate the Aoleang festival.
	Reang	Tripura	1.The Reangs are basically a semi-nomadic tribe who practice jhum (slash and burn) or shifting method of cultivation on the hill sides. 2. The Reang basically belonged to the Mongoloid group and speaks the Tibeto-Burmese language ‘Kau Bru	The Hodaigri dance amongst the Reang (Bru) was usually performed on the occasion of Maikhlungmo rituals i.e. worship of Goddess of food grains and cotton especially during the month of September-October
	Mishing	Assam	1.The Mishing tribe is the second largest tribe among the other tribes of North- East India. 2.Traditionally Mishing people live near the bank of river and they build their “Chang Ghar” with the help of timber bamboo, thatch, etc for comfort living.	Mishing people are easy going, very simple living and are fond of festivals. The main festival is “Ali-Aye-Ligang” which is the most colourful spring festival held every year on first Wednesday of the month “Gimur polo”(Feb-March).
	Karbi	Assam	1.The Karbis believes in animism which consists of such a belief in the role of spiritual beings in human life. 2. Various types of dances are performed by the youths during the performances of Chomangkan, the death ceremony and other socio-religious festivals. The Karbis have very limited number of musical instruments. A big drum called Cheng is their main musical instrument.	A number of festivals are observed by the people belonging to Karbi tribal group. Like for instance, they celebrate ‘Chojun Puja’ or ‘Swarak Puja’, ‘Rongker’, ‘Chokk-eroi’, ‘Hacha-Kekan’, ‘Chomangkan’.
	Mikir	Assam
	Kols	Madhya Pradesh	Most of these tribes are landless labourer. They prefer to live in groups near villages called Kolhan
	Bonda	Odhisa	The Bonda are an ancient tribe of people who live in the isolated hill regions of the Malkangiri district of southwestern Odisha, India,
	Oarons	Odhisa,Bihar and Jharkhand	1.Oraon also called Kurukh, aboriginal people of the Chota Nagpur region in the state of Jharkhand, India. They call themselves Kurukh and speak a Dravidian language akin to Gondi and other tribal languages of central India. 2.Speakers of Oraon number about 1,900,000, but in urban areas, and particularly among Christians, many Oraon speak Hindi as their mother tongue. 3.It was long thought that the Oraons and the other tribals were animists, people who attribute a living soul to plants, inanimate objects and natural phenomena. This view has been discarded although amateur anthropologists still sort it out in articles, in popular magazines. The Oraons are not nature worshipers.
	Murias	Chattisgarh	1.The Muria are an adivasi (scheduled tribe) of the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, India. They are part of the Gondi people. 2.They have mixed-sex dormitories where adolescents are sent to practice premarital sex, sometimes with a single partner and sometimes serially. 3.The Muria are traditionally animists, with village and clan deities
	Korba	Chattisgarh	Famous for there Karma dance
	Sahariya	Rajasthan	1.Sahariya Tribe is the only primitive tribe of the Rajasthan state 2.They follow Hindu religious practices and speak a dialect influenced by Hadoti.
	Irulas	Tamil Nadu	1. They inhabit the area of the Nilgiri mountains, in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India 2.Early 20th century anthropological literature classified the Irular under the Negrito ethnic group. 3.Unlike the Negrito tribes in the Andaman Islands who have retained their language, Irular speak the Irula language, a Dravidian language that is closely related to Tamil, Yerukala, Sholaga and other Tamil languages
	Badagas	Tamil Nadu	1.The Badagas live in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, India. They speak the unwritten Badaga language and are the one of the social groups in Nilgiris 2.Thundu (a white piece of cloth) forms an integral part of the attire of Badaga women and as a cultural item, is presented to visiting dignitaries as a gesture of good will.	Their important festival is Hethai Habba.
	Uralis	Kerela	1.The Urali tribes like most of the tribes in south India, worship nature as Gods and inventor of the world. They consider the Sun as ‘the creator of all souls’ and moon as the mother of all creation. 2.The Uralis generally do not engage in inter-tribal marriage, instead they prefer to marry within their own tribe. It is custom amongst them to wear a sacred thread on special occasions like weddings and funerals.
	Jarawas	Andaman & Nicobar Island	1.The Jarawa are still at the primitive stage of life on earth. They entirely depend upon forest and sea for food. Wild boar and monitor lizard are consumed. Various kinds of fruit , honey and tubers are parts of their diet too. 2.The jarawas of both sexes go complete naked. However some ornaments made with shells and palm leaves are worn by them but these are not in the sense to cover their nudity. This tribe has lived in the southeast part of Andaman but after the British regime they shifted to the western region of the island. They have forever been hunter gatherers in the true sense however things have changed since the 1990’s specially after the building of the old trunk road.
	Sentinelese	Andaman & Nicobar Island	1.The Sentinelese people are said to be so hostile that their home has been named the ‘hardest place to visit’ in the world.The Sentinelese and other indigenous Andamanese peoples are frequently described as negritos, 2.They inhabit the North Sentinel island, and are the only remaining tribe in the Andamans to still maintain their isolation from the rest of the world. Nobody knows exactly how they look, the population or how they live. Since 1967, the indian governments with the help of anthropologists have tried to make contact with the tribe. They tried giving gifts of food, coconuts, etc but they were always met with hostility. The tribe showers arrows and stones at whoever comes near the island. .
	Onge	Andaman & Nicobar Island	Onges are one of the most primitive tribes in India. They belong to the Negrito racial stock and they have been mainly seen near the Dugong creek in Little Andaman. They are dependent on the food provided by nature and are a semi-nomadic tribe. The onge population fell post british colonization from 672 in 1986 to 92 in 1901 but has remained stable since.
	Shompen	Andaman & Nicobar Island	The Shompens, who live in the Great Nicobar island, are a semi-nomadic people. They wander in their forest and coastal habitat in search of fruits and games. There are two territorial groups among the Shompens; The habitation of Shompens is the Great Nicobar which is the largest among the Nicobar group of Islands. Like the Nicobarese, they belong to the Mongoloid race.
	Pangwal	Himachal Pradesh.	1.These rugged people, who are Hindus, have their unique customs, traditions, and institutions. The native Pangwals and Bhotis are robust, hardworking, handsome people who keep the valley’s unique culture alive in folk songs, music and tribal dances.	Music, dance and the locally brewed liquor ‘patar’, play a significant role in the life of the Pangwals. One of the major festivals celebrated towards the end of February is ‘Jukaru’
	Sherdukpen	Aruanchal Pradesh	1.The Sherdukpen language is part of the Kanauri branch of the Tibeto-Burman family. 2.Bardo Chham is a folk dance of Sherdukpens, a small community of West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, Bardo Chham is based on the stories of good and evil. According to the local beliefs, there are both good and evil in mankind. The Sherdukpens mask themselves representing the different animals and dance to show an act of fighting the evil forces.
	Wattal tribe	Jammu & Kashmir	Dumhal dance is performed by Wattal tribe on special occassions
	Bhutias	Sikkim	1.The Bhutia are a community of people of Tibetan ancestry, who speak Lhopo or Sikkimese, a Tibetan dialect fairly mutually intelligible to standard Tibetan 2. Singhi Chham or Kanchendzonga Dance is a dance form in Sikkim whereby the dancers perform in a lion costume that represents the snow lion. It is a dance of the Bhutia people
	Todas	Tamil Nadu	Tribals of Nilgiri hills

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