• Establishment: In April 1936, at the age of 67, Mahatma Gandhi decided to settle in a small village called Segaon (later renamed Sevagram, meaning "Village of Service") near Wardha, Maharashtra.
• Shift from Sabarmati: After beginning the Dandi March in 1930, Gandhi vowed not to return to Sabarmati Ashram until independence was achieved. Sevagram became his new home and headquarters.
• Role of Jamnalal Bajaj: Seth Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate of Gandhi, provided 300 acres of land for the Ashram.
• Origin of Name: Originally named Shegaon, it was renamed Sevagram in 1940 to avoid confusion with another town (Shegaon, famous for Saint Gajanan Maharaj).
• Center of Decision Making: Many critical decisions on national matters, including the strategy for the Quit India Movement (1942), were taken at Sevagram.
• "Do or Die" Mantra: The historic "Do or Die" message was finalized here, and the Quit India Movement was planned here after the 1942 Bombay session.
• Meetings with Leaders: It was a crucial meeting spot where prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Azad met Gandhi for consultations.
• Telephone Connection: The British government installed a direct telephone connection to Sevagram for direct consultation with Gandhi, highlighting its political importance.
• Nai Talim (Basic Education): The Ashram housed the Nai Talim Sangh, fostering an education system focused on learning through manual labor and rural skills.
• Village Industries Association: Established nearby (at Maganwadi) to promote self-reliance through local industrial activities (khadi, paper making, soap making).
• Anti-Untouchability: The Ashram employed Dalits (untouchables) in the common kitchen to break caste barriers.
• Simple Living: The Ashram promoted the 11 vows (including truth, non-violence, and manual labour) and was built with locally available, low-cost materials.

The census is being conducted in two major phases:

• Phase I: Houselisting and Housing Census (April – September 2026)
  • This phase gathers data on housing conditions, amenities (water, electricity, internet), and household assets.
  • As of April 16, 2026, door-to-door field operations have begun in the first batch of states (including Goa, Karnataka, and Odisha) after the conclusion of their self-enumeration window.
  • Self-enumeration for the next batch (including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh) is scheduled to start on April 16, 2026.
• Phase II: Population Enumeration (February 2027)
  • This phase will collect socio-economic details, including education, migration, fertility, and caste data.
  • The national reference date is March 1, 2027.

Key Innovations & Features

• Digital Enumeration: Over 3 million officials are using mobile apps for data collection.
• Self-Enumeration: Residents can log into the Official Census Portal to submit their household details online in 16 languages.
• Caste Census: For the first time since 1931, the census will include a comprehensive enumeration of all castes (beyond just SC/ST categories).
• Relationship Status: For the first time, live-in relationships can be recorded as "stable unions" under marital status.

• Establishment: Incorporated on January 13, 1992, as a non-profit company (Section 8 of Companies Act).
• Mandate: Focused on fostering economic self-reliance for Backward Classes (OBCs) through skill development and targeted self-employment initiatives.
• Implementation Model: Operates via Channel Partners (State Channelizing Agencies, Banks) rather than direct lending.

• First Chief Minister of the state: Govind Ballabh Pant
• First woman Chief Minister of the state and country: Sucheta Kripalani
• Present CM: Yogi Adityanath
• Highest Peak: Amsot Peak
• Total Districts: 76

• Present Governor: Anandiben Patel
• Uttar Pradesh Day: 24 January
• First woman governor of the state and country: Sarojini Naidu
• Largest District: Lakhimpur Kheri
• Most Populous District: Prayagraj
• Least Populous District: Mahoba

• Foundation Day: 1st November
• CM: N. Chandrababu Naidu
• Bifurcated in 2014 to form Telangana

• Governor: S. Abdul Nazeer
• First state in India to be formed on a linguistic basis.
• National Parks: Papikonda, Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram), Sri Venkateswara

• Capital: Hyderabad
• Formation: Officially formed on June 2, 2014, as the 29th state of India (currently 28th after Jammu & Kashmir became a UT)
• Governor- Shiv Pratap Shukla
  • Chief Minister-Revanth Reddy
• Telangana has a bicameral legislature (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council).
• Telangana was part of the Nizam’s Hyderabad state, merged with Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh, and separated after a long movement.
• Etymology: Derived from "Trilinga Desa" (Land of three lingas: Draksharama, Kaleshwaram, Srisailam) or "Telugu-angana" to distinguish it from Marathi-speaking Marathwada.
• Important Historic Eras: Satavahanas, Kakatiyas (Warangal Fort), Qutb Shahis (Hyderabad, Charminar), and Asaf Jahi Nizams (1724–1948).
• Key Historic Events: Operation Polo (1948 - integration with India), Telangana Rebellion (1946-51), Gentlemen’s Agreement (1956), Srikrishna Committee (2010), AP Reorganisation Act (2014).
• Forest: Kawal Tiger Reserve, Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, and Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
• Key irrigation projects: Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (world's largest), Palamuru-Rangareddy, and Mission Kakatiya
• Festivals: Bonalu (Goddess Mahakali), Bathukamma (Flower festival), Ramzan, and Muharram
• Arts & Crafts: Bidri craft (metalwork), Banjara needle crafts, Dokra metal crafts, and Nirmal arts.

• Official Name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
• Capital: Islamabad (replaced Karachi in 1960).
• Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR).
• President: Asif Ali Zardari
  • Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif
  • National Motto: Faith, Unity, Discipline (Iman, Ittihad, Nazm).
• National Animal: Markhor (a type of large wild goat).
• Land Borders: Shares borders with India (East), Afghanistan (West/Northwest), Iran (Southwest), and China (Northeast).
• Highest Point: K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) at 8,611 metres—the second-highest peak in the world.
• Longest River: Indus River, which supports the world's largest contiguous irrigation system.
• Major Provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan (the largest province by area).

Important Boundaries:

• • Radcliffe Line: Boundary with India (partition 1947).
  • Durand Line: Boundary with Afghanistan.
  • Line of Control (LoC): De facto ceasefire line in Jammu & Kashmir.
• Key Passes: Khyber Pass (connects Peshawar to Kabul), Bolan Pass (connects Sindh Plain with Quetta).
• Fertile Desert: The Tharparkar Desert in Sindh is noted as the only fertile desert in the world.
• Independence: Formed on 14 August 1947 following the partition of British India.
• First Leaders: Muhammad Ali Jinnah served as the first Governor-General, and Liaquat Ali Khan was the first Prime Minister.
• Separation of Bangladesh: Originally comprised West and East Pakistan; East Pakistan seceded to become Bangladesh in 1971 after a civil war.
• First Female PM: Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority nation.
• Current Leadership: As of 2026, Asif Ali Zardari is the President and Shehbaz Sharif is the Prime Minister.

History of Pakistan

• Independence: Formed on August 14, 1947, as a homeland for Muslims.
• Partition: Based on the "Two-Nation Theory" championed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
• 1971 Civil War: East Pakistan separated to become Bangladesh.
• Key Wars with India: 1947-48 (Kashmir), 1965 (Kashmir), 1971 (Bangladesh liberation), 1999 (Kargil conflict).
• Nuclear Power: Conducted tests in 1998, establishing nuclear parity in South Asia.

• Official Name: French Republic (République française).
• Capital: Paris (situated on the Seine River).
• President: Emmanuel Macron.
• Location: Western Europe, often referred to as a "Hexagon" due to its shape.
• Bordering Countries (7): Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Andorra.
• Water Bodies: Bay of Biscay (West), English Channel (Northwest), Mediterranean Sea (South).
• Overseas Regions (5): French Guiana (South America), Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and La Réunion (Indian Ocean).
• Highest Peak: Mont Blanc (4,810m) in the Alps.
• Major Rivers: Seine, Loire (longest), Rhône, and Garonne.
• Currency: Euro (€) (Adopted in 2002)

History

• The French Revolution (1789-1799): Led to the fall of the Bourbon monarchy, introduced the slogan "Liberté, égalité, fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity), and drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
• Napoleonic Era (1799–1815): Napoleon Bonaparte introduced the Napoleonic Code (civil law system) and expanded French power across Europe.
• World Wars: France was a key member of the Allies in both WWI and WWII, but was occupied by Germany in 1940.
• The Fifth Republic (1958): Established by Charles de Gaulle after the Algerian War, creating a strong presidential system.
• UNESCO Sites: 45+ sites (including Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles).

India-France Relations

• Strategic Partnership: Established in 1998, covering defense, space, and civil nuclear cooperation.
• Defense Cooperation: Rafale fighter jets, Scorpene submarines. Joint exercises include:
  • Varuna (Naval)
  • Garuda (Air)
  • Shakti (Army).
• Space & Tech: Jointly launched satellites; AsterX was France's first space military exercise (2021).
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): Co-founded by India and France in 2015.

• A premier autonomous research and training organization under the Ministry of Personnel, Government of India.
• Established in 1954 on the recommendation of Paul H. Appleby, it serves as the nation's primary think tank and training hub for public governance.
• President: Vice President of India
• Chairman: Jitendra Singh

• Condemnation of Shipping Attacks: Jaishankar stated that attacks on merchant shipping are "completely unacceptable" and pose a direct threat to global economic stability.
• Maritime Security: He emphasized India's firm commitment to safe and unimpeded transit passage for maritime shipping, which is vital for unconstrained energy markets.
• Supply Chain Resilience: As a major energy consumer, Jaishankar affirmed that India will collaborate with like-minded partners to develop more resilient energy supply chains against future shocks.
• Regional Context: The summit included leaders from AZEC members like Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines, as well as partner nations including India, South Korea, and Bangladesh.
• Japan's "AZEC 2.0" Initiative: During the summit, Japan introduced an "AZEC 2.0" framework, which includes a $10 billion initiative offering low-interest loans for the procurement of crude oil and refined fuel to bolster regional energy security.

About Japan

Geography of Japan

• Archipelago: Comprises four major islands (north to south): Hokkaido, Honshu (largest), Shikoku, and Kyushu.
• Terrain: Highly mountainous (over 80%) with a rugged landscape.
• Ring of Fire: Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity.
• Key Features: Highest peak is Mount Fuji (3,776 m), a stratovolcano. The longest river is the Shinano River.
• Climate: Temperate climate, with four distinct seasons, surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the west, Sea of Okhotsk to the north, and Pacific Ocean to the east

Emperor: Reiwa Era – Naruhito

Currency: Japanese Yen (¥)

• Capital: Tokyo.
• Language: Japanese.
• National Sport: Sumo Wrestling.
• Cultural Element: "Washoku" (traditional Japanese cuisine) is listed as UNESCO Cultural Heritage.
• Senkaku Islands: Disputed between Japan and China.

India-Japan Relations

• Partnership: Elevated to "Special Strategic and Global Partnership" in 2014.
• Defense: 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Malabar Exercise, JIMEX, and Acquistion and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) for logistics support.
• Infrastructure: Japan is India's largest ODA (Official Development Assistance) donor, financing projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) and Delhi Metro.
• Regional Strategy: Both are part of the Quad (India-Japan-USA-Australia) to maintain a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
• Trade: Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) 2011. Trade has expanded, but a significant trade deficit favors Japan.

• A group of seven premier public pharmacy research universities in India
• Declared as Institutes of National Importance.
• Location: The pioneering institute is in S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Punjab.
• Branches: Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Raebareli.
• Governance: Operates under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.
• Focus: These institutes aim to produce specialized talent, focusing on drug discovery, development, and pharmaceutical formulations.

Operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Key Functions of the Department of Commerce

• Foreign Trade Policy (FTP): Formulates, implements, and monitors the FTP, which is periodically updated to meet global economic scenarios.
• Trade Negotiations: Handles multilateral (WTO), regional, and bilateral commercial relations, including Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
• Export Promotion: Manages Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and bodies like APEDA (agricultural products), Tea Board, Rubber Board, and Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
• Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Develops, operates, and regulates SEZs, including policy framework and fiscal regimes.
• Trade Logistics & Remedies: Oversees export infrastructure and trade remedies, including anti-dumping and safeguard measures.

Important Organizations/Bodies Under the Department

• Attached Offices: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).
• Autonomous Bodies: APEDA, Coffee Board, Tea Board, Spices Board, Rubber Board, Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Quality Council of India (QCI).
• Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs): State Trading Corporation of India (STC).

• Iconic Leadership: Known for his dynamic leadership during the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict, where his strategic vision was vital for India's success.
• Distinguished Career: He was the first Air Chief Marshal of the IAF (1966) and served as the Chief of Air Staff from 1964 to 1969.
• Only Five-Star Rank: In 2002, he was promoted to the highest rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force, the only officer to achieve this distinction.
• Post-Retirement Service: He served as India’s Ambassador to Switzerland and the Vatican, and was a respected administrator and mentor to the IAF.
• Commemoration: The IAF and government leaders celebrated his 107th birth anniversary (born April 15, 1919) to honor his lasting impact on India’s air power

• Definition: A tropical cyclone is an intense, rotating low-pressure system that forms over warm tropical or subtropical oceans.
• Etymology: The word "Cyclone" is derived from the Greek word Cyclos, meaning "coils of a snake," coined by Henry Piddington because tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal resemble coiled serpents.
• Direction of Rotation:
  • Northern Hemisphere: Anticlockwise.
  • Southern Hemisphere: Clockwise.
• Thermal Origin: These storms are primarily "thermal" in origin, deriving energy from the latent heat of condensation released as warm, moist air rises and cools.

Structure of a Mature Cyclone

• The Eye: A central calm region of sinking air (subsidence) with light winds and clear skies. It has the lowest surface pressure and highest temperatures aloft.
• Eye Wall: The most violent part of the cyclone, immediately surrounding the eye, characterized by the highest wind speeds and heaviest rainfall.
• Spiral Rainbands: Curved bands of cumulonimbus clouds trailing away from the eye wall that produce intense rainfall.

Regional Names

• Indian Ocean- Cyclone
• Atlantic & NE Pacific- Hurricane
• NW Pacific (China Sea/Japan)-Typhoon
• Western Australia- Willy-Willies