National places in news UPSC 2024
Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary: Urgent Conservation Concern for Blackbucks in Punjab
- Location: State of Punjab
- Wildlife Census Alert: Blackbucks on the verge of extinction in Punjab
- Recognition:
- It has been declared as the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Cultural Importance:
- It is a symbol of purity for Hinduism as its skin and horns are regarded as sacred objects. For Buddhism, it is a symbol of good luck.
- Protection Status:
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- CITES: Appendix III
- Threat:
- Habitat Fragmentation, Deforestation, Natural Calamities, Illegal Hunting.
- Ownership: Entire sanctuary area on private or community-owned land of 13 Bishnoi villages
Kareri Lake: High-Altitude Drama and Natural Marvel in Himachal Pradesh
- Location: Himachal Pradesh
- Rescue Operation: Police rescues 39 tourists stranded near Kareri Lake
- Hydrology: High-altitude, shallow freshwater lake, frozen from December to March-April
- Water Source: Snow melting from the Dhauladhar range, with Nyund as the outflowing stream
Shanan Powerhouse: Historical Handover and Hydroelectric Legacy in Himachal Pradesh
- Location: Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh
- Administrative Move: Chief Minister hands over legal documents to Union Power Ministry
- Power Generation: 110 MW project commissioned in 1932 amidst dense deodar forests
Adi Kailash: Pilgrim Rescue and Sacred Mountain in Uttarakhand
- Location: Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
- Pilgrim Rescue: Over 180 pilgrims rescued from Adi Kailash
- Sacred Status: Considered one of the five Kailash mountains, believed to be Lord Shiva’s abode
- Geographical Significance: Located in the Kumaon Himalayan mountain range near the Indo-Tibetan border
Beki River: Assam’s Rising Water Woes and Brahmaputra Connection
- Geographical Origin: Bhutan, known as Kurissu River in Bhutan
- Flow and Tributaries: Right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River, flows through Assam, passes through Manas National Park, and eventually merges with the Bay of Bengal
Zemithang: Buddhist Conference and Cultural Hub in Arunachal Pradesh
- Location: Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Bhutan and Tibet
- Cultural Event: Major Buddhist Conference hosted in Zemithang
- Zemithang (in the Pangchen Valley) is a village and the last circle headquarters bordering Bhutan and Tibet. Zemithang means “sand valley” and the people of the area are referred to as Pangchenpa, meaning “people who gave up sin”.
- Historical Note: First stop of the 14th Dalai Lama during his flight from China-occupied Tibet in 1959
Santiniketan: UNESCO Recognition Bid for Bengal’s Cultural Gem
- Location: West Bengal
- UNESCO Recommendation: Santiniketan recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List
- Historical Significance: In 1862, Rabindranath Tagore’s father, Debendranath Tagore, spotted this scenic landscape and decided to establish an ashram, building a house called Santiniketan, meaning “abode of peace”.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Ministry of Culture proposed Santiniketan for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, emphasising its importance in human values, architecture, arts, town planning, and landscape design.
- Rabindranath Tagore was awarded with Knighthood for Services to Literature by King George V in 1915.
- He wrote the national anthems of two countries, “Jana Gana Mana” (the Indian national anthem) and “Amar Shonar Bangla” (the Bangladesh national anthem).
- His literary works include poems, short stories, novels, essays, and plays. Some of his notable works include “The Home and the World,” “Gora,” Gitanjali, Ghare-Baire, Gora, Manasi, Balaka, Sonar Tori, and “Kabuliwala.”
- He is also remembered for his song ‘Ekla Chalo Re’
- Tagore renounced his title of Knighthood after the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve: Conservation Challenges in Chhattisgarh
- Location: Chhattisgarh
- Conservation Incident: Forest personnel attacked while clearing encroachments
- Tiger Reserve Status: Declared in 2008-09, home to the endangered Asiatic Wild Buffalo
- Natural Features: Udanti and Sitanadi Rivers flow through the reserve, featuring perennial springs like Deodhara and Godene falls
Golconda Fort: Telangana Formation Day Celebration at Historical Citadel
- Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
- Historical Journey: Originally known as Mankal, fortified by Bahmani Sultans and Qutub Shahi dynasty
- Cultural Celebration: Ministry of Culture observes Telangana Formation Day at Golconda Fort
Gira Waterfall: Honeybee Encounter Near Gujarat’s Seasonal Cascade
- Location: Gujarat
- Unfortunate Incident: 19 people injured after honeybee stings near Gira Waterfall
- Seasonal Beauty: 75 ft waterfall emerging from the Kapri Tributary, dropping into the Ambika River
- about Ambika River:
- It is a major westward flowing river that has a huge catchment area in two states, namely Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- Origin: The river has its origins in the Saputara Hills, near Kotambi Village in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
- After flowing for a length of 136 km it drains in to the Arabian Sea.
Summary Q&A (Raah UPSC)
1. Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary: Urgent Conservation Concern for Blackbucks in Punjab
Q: Where is the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary located, and what is the urgent conservation concern associated with it?
A: The Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the state of Punjab. The urgent conservation concern is the endangered status of blackbucks in Punjab, with the wildlife census indicating that they are on the verge of extinction.
Q: Who owns the entire sanctuary area, and what is its unique feature?
A: The entire sanctuary area is on private or community-owned land of 13 Bishnoi villages. Its unique feature is the ownership model involving local communities, contributing to conservation efforts.
2. Kareri Lake: High-Altitude Drama and Natural Marvel in Himachal Pradesh
Q: Where is Kareri Lake located, and what recent event unfolded near the lake?
A: Kareri Lake is situated in Himachal Pradesh. Recently, a rescue operation was conducted by the police to rescue 39 tourists stranded near Kareri Lake.
Q: What defines the hydrology of Kareri Lake, and what is its water source?
A: Kareri Lake is a high-altitude, shallow freshwater lake frozen from December to March-April. Its water source is the snow melting from the Dhauladhar range, with Nyund as the outflowing stream.
3. Shanan Powerhouse: Historical Handover and Hydroelectric Legacy in Himachal Pradesh
Q: Where is the Shanan Powerhouse located, and what recent administrative move took place?
A: The Shanan Powerhouse is situated in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Recently, the Chief Minister handed over legal documents to the Union Power Ministry in a historical administrative move.
Q: When was the Shanan Powerhouse commissioned, and what is its power generation capacity?
A: The 110 MW project was commissioned in 1932 amidst dense deodar forests, marking a significant chapter in the hydroelectric legacy of Himachal Pradesh.
4. Adi Kailash: Pilgrim Rescue and Sacred Mountain in Uttarakhand
Q: Where is Adi Kailash located, and what recent event involved pilgrim rescue?
A: Adi Kailash is in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Over 180 pilgrims were rescued from Adi Kailash in a recent operation.
Q: What is the sacred status of Adi Kailash, and where is it geographically significant?
A: Adi Kailash is considered one of the five Kailash mountains, believed to be Lord Shiva’s abode. It is located in the Kumaon Himalayan mountain range near the Indo-Tibetan border.
5. Beki River: Assam’s Rising Water Woes and Brahmaputra Connection
Q: What is the geographical origin of the Beki River, and through which states does it flow?
A: The Beki River originates in Bhutan and is known as the Kurissu River in Bhutan. It is a right bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River, flowing through Assam, passing through Manas National Park, and eventually merging with the Bay of Bengal.
Q: How is the Beki River connected to Assam’s water woes?
A: The Beki River’s flow through Assam contributes to the region’s rising water woes, reflecting the broader challenges associated with Brahmaputra’s tributaries.
6. Zemithang: Buddhist Conference and Cultural Hub in Arunachal Pradesh
Q: Where is Zemithang located, and what recent cultural event took place there?
A: Zemithang is in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Bhutan and Tibet. A major Buddhist Conference was hosted in Zemithang recently.
Q: What historical note is associated with Zemithang?
A: Zemithang holds historical significance as the first stop of the 14th Dalai Lama during his flight from China-occupied Tibet in 1959.
7. Santiniketan: UNESCO Recognition Bid for Bengal’s Cultural Gem
Q: Where is Santiniketan located, and what recent recognition bid has it received?
A: Santiniketan is in West Bengal. It has been recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.
Q: How did Santiniketan evolve historically?
A: Originally an ashram built by Debendranath Tagore, Santiniketan developed into a university by Rabindranath Tagore, showcasing its evolution as a cultural and educational hub.
8. Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve: Conservation Challenges in Chhattisgarh
Q: Where is the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve located, and what recent conservation incident occurred?
A: Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve is in Chhattisgarh. Forest personnel were attacked while clearing encroachments in a recent conservation incident.
Q: When was the Tiger Reserve declared, and what are its natural features?
A: The Tiger Reserve was declared in 2008-09 and is home to the endangered Asiatic Wild Buffalo. It features the Udanti and Sitanadi Rivers, along with perennial springs like Deodhara and Godene falls.
9. Golconda Fort: Telangana Formation Day Celebration at Historical Citadel
Q: Where is Golconda Fort located, and what historical journey does it represent?
A: Golconda Fort is in Hyderabad, Telangana. Originally known as Mankal, it was fortified by Bahmani Sultans and the Qutub Shahi dynasty, representing a significant historical journey.
Q: What recent cultural celebration took place at Golconda Fort?
A: The Ministry of Culture observed Telangana Formation Day at Golconda Fort, highlighting its ongoing cultural relevance.
10. Gira Waterfall: Honeybee Encounter Near Gujarat’s Seasonal Cascade
Q: Where is Gira Waterfall located, and what unfortunate incident recently occurred there?
A: Gira Waterfall is in Gujarat. Recently, 19 people were injured after a honeybee encounter near Gira Waterfall.
Q: What defines the seasonal beauty of Gira Waterfall?
A: Gira Waterfall is a 75 ft seasonal cascade emerging from the Kapri Tributary, eventually dropping into the Ambika River, contributing to its seasonal beauty.
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Source VISIONIAS