• Launch Year: August 2021.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Scheme Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Financial costs shared between Centre and States).
• Total Financial Outlay: ₹11,040 crore (Centre's share: ₹8,844 crore; State's share: ₹2,196 crore).

Focus Area

• Main Target: Bring an additional 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm cultivation by 2025–26, eventually reaching a total area of 10 lakh hectares.
• Production Aim: Raise Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production to 11.2 lakh tonnes by 2025–26.
• Special Focus Regions:

1. North-Eastern States
2. Andaman & Nicobar Islands

• Reason for focus: High rainfall and tropical climate conditions mimicking the native habitats of West Africa/Southeast Asia.

• Serves as a single-window digital governance platform.
• Integrates services for seafarers, ports, and shipping companies.
• Aims to make maritime administration transparent and time-bound.

• Chief Minister: Mohan Charan Majhi (15th Chief Minister; first from the Santhal tribal community).
• Governor: Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati (Assumed office in January 2025).
• Legislature: Unicameral assembly with 147 seats.
• Parliamentary Representation: 21 Lok Sabha seats and 10 Rajya Sabha seats

Major Tribes (Scheduled Tribes)

Odisha holds the 3rd largest tribal population in India.

• Kondha (Khonds): The largest tribal group in the state; historically famous for the Meriah (human sacrifice) ritual abolished during British rule.
• Santhal: Notable for their traditional Ol Chiki script; highly targeted in SSC exams.
• Bonda: One of the most primitive tribal groups (PVTGs), primarily residing in Malkangiri.
• Saora: Known for their unique wall paintings called Idital.
• Gond & Bhuyan: Prominent tribal communities in northern and western hills.

Major Festivals & Art Forms

• Rath Yatra (Puri): Famous chariot festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
• Raja Parba: A 3-day unique festival celebrating womanhood and earth fertility.
• Nuakhai: An agricultural harvest festival primarily celebrated in Western Odisha.
• Bali Jatra: Celebrated in Cuttack on Kartik Purnima to commemorate the ancient maritime trade glory with Bali.
• Dhanu Jatra (Bargarh): Recorded as the world’s largest open-air theatre, depicting the mythological story of Krishna and Kansa.
• Chhau (Mayurbhanj Chhau): A prominent martial folk dance form.

Major Temples & Architecture

• Jagannath Temple (Puri): Built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva (Ganga Dynasty); known as the "White Pagoda".
• Konark Sun Temple: Built by King Narasimhadeva I (Ganga Dynasty); designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and known as the "Black Pagoda".
• Lingaraj Temple (Bhubaneswar): Dedicated to Lord Shiva (Harihara); built in Kalinga architectural style primarily by the Somavamsi dynasty.

Rivers & Hydro Projects

• Mahanadi River: The longest river in Odisha.
  • Exam Hook: Houses the Hirakud Dam, which is the longest earthen dam in the world.
• Brahmani River: Formed by the confluence of Sankh and South Koel rivers near Rourkela.
• Baitarani River: Originates from the Gonasika hills; often central to historical geography questions.
• Subarnarekha River: Forms the geographical boundary between Odisha and West Bengal/Jharkhand.

Industrial Regions & Resource Production

• Odisha is a powerhouse for India's mineral economy.

• Formed: in 1956 as Mysore State and in 1973 renamed as Karnataka
• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
• Festivals: Kambla – Buffalo race, Ugadi, Hampi festival, Vairamudi Brahmotsava, Tulu Sankramma, Gowri, Karaga

• National Park: Bandipur NP, Anshi NP,
• Kudermukh NP, Nagarahole NP, Bannerghatta NP, Mudumalai NP
• Lakes: Ulsoor Lake, Kukkarahalli Lake, Jaraganahalli Lake
• Waterfalls: Jog, Gokak, Shivanasamudra Fall

• Dances: Yakshagana, Nagamandala, Kunitha, Krishna Parijatha, Bhootha Aradhane
• Hill Stations: Chikmagalur, Brahmagiri, Kodachadri, Nandi Hills, Kemmangundi, Madikeri, Nandi hills
• Tribes: Barda, Bavacha, Chodhara, Dubla, Gowdalu, Irulina

• Formation: 1 October 1953
• Capital: Amaravati
• Governor: S. Abdul Nazeer
• Chief Minister: N. Chandrababu Naidu
• Parliamentary Representation: 25 Lok Sabha seats and 11 Rajya Sabha seats
• Classical Dance: Kuchipudi
• Major Rivers: Godavari (Ganga of the South) and Krishna
• Leading Producer of: Mica
• Coastline: India's second-longest coastline (approximately 974 km), after Gujarat
• Major Lakes:

• • Kolleru Lake (freshwater, Ramsar Site)
  • Pulicat Lake (brackish water, home to Sriharikota Island)

• Visakhapatnam Steel Plant: India's first shore-based integrated steel plant
• Major Festivals: Ugadi (Telugu New Year), Sankranti, and Tirupati Brahmotsavam
• National Parks:

• • Papikonda National Park
  • Sri Venkateswara National Park
  • Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) National Park

• Major Ports:

• • Visakhapatnam Port (India's deepest natural seaport)
  • Gangavaram Port

• An intergovernmental organization of major emerging economies that serves as a leading platform for South-South cooperation.
• Coined by: The term "BRIC" was originally coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill
• Formalization: The grouping was formalized in September 2006 during the UN General Assembly in New York
• First Summit: The first official BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
• Original Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China (joined 2006) and South Africa (joined 2010).
• Recent Joiners (2024-2025): Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) became full members on January 1, 2024. Indonesia officially joined as a full member on January 6, 2025.
• Partnership Status: In 2024, a new "partner country" category was created. Current partners include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
• 2025 Presidency: Brazil held the chairmanship with the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance".
• 2026 Presidency: India assumed the BRICS Chairmanship on January 1, 2026. India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit.

New Development Bank (NDB)

• Headquarters: Shanghai, China.
• Objective: Mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies.
• Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): A framework created to provide mutual support against short-term balance of payments pressures.

• Capital: Bogotá (It is one of the highest capital cities in the world, located at an altitude of 2,640 meters).
• Currency: Colombian Peso (COP).
• Official Language: Spanish.
• Continent: South America (Located in the northwestern region of the continent).
• Bordering Countries: Shares land borders with 5 countries:
  • Venezuela (East)
  • Brazil (Southeast)
  • Peru (South)
  • Ecuador (Southwest)
  • Panama (Northwest)
• Coastlines: It is the only country in South America that has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Physical Geography (Rivers, Mountains & Biodiversity)

• Mountain Range: The Andes Mountains run through Colombia, dividing into three distinct branches (Western, Central, and Eastern Cordilleras).
• Highest Peak: Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar (Both share nearly the same height of ~5,730 meters).

Major Rivers:

• • Magdalena River (The principal river of Colombia, flowing north into the Caribbean Sea).
  • Cauca River.
  • It also contains parts of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. [

• Biodiversity Landmark: Colombia is classified as one of the world's 17 "Megadiverse" countries. It has the highest biodiversity in birds and orchids per square meter globally.

Culture, UNESCO Sites & Economy

• Major Festivals: The Barranquilla Carnival (The second-largest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro, designated as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity).
• Important UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• • Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena (Famous colonial architecture).
  • Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
  • Chiribiquete National Park (The largest tropical rainforest national park in the world, famous for its ancient rock art tepuis)

• Key Exports: It is globally renowned for producing high-quality Coffee, Emeralds (producing over 70-90% of the world's finest emeralds), and Flowers (specifically orchids and roses).

Historical Facts

• Liberator: Simón Bolívar helped Colombia win independence from Spain in 1819. He became the first president of Gran Colombia (a republic that included modern-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama).
• Famous Personality: Gabriel García Márquez, the Nobel Prize-winning author of "One Hundred Years of Solitude", hailed from Colombia.

Establishment and History

• Recommendation: Established based on the Hilton Young Commission (Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance) of 1926.
• Act: Enacted under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• Commencement: Started operations on April 1, 1935, as a private shareholder's bank.
• Initial Capital: Set up with an authorized capital of ₹5 crore.
• Nationalisation: Fully nationalised by the Government of India on January 1, 1949, under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer) Act.
• Headquarters Shift: Originally located in Kolkata, but permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937.

Key Leadership and Personalities

• First Governor: Sir Osborne Smith (1935–1937).
• First Indian Governor: Sir Chintaman Dwarkanath Deshmukh (CD Deshmukh) (1943–1949).
• Only PM as Governor: Dr. Manmohan Singh served as the 15th Governor of RBI (1982–1985).
• Longest Serving Governor: Sir Benegal Rama Rau (1949–1957) for over 7 years.
• Shortest Serving Governor: Amitav Ghosh (1985) for just 20 days.

Core Functions of RBI

• Monetary Authority: Formulates, implements, and monitors India's monetary policy to maintain price stability.
• Issuer of Currency: Sole authority to issue banknotes in India, except for the one-rupee note and all coins, which are issued by the Ministry of Finance (signed by the Finance Secretary).
• Banker to the Government: Manages public debt and acts as the banker for both Central and State governments.
• Banker’s Bank: Maintains liquidity accounts of all scheduled banks and acts as the Lender of Last Resort.
• Custodian of Foreign Exchange: Manages the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, to maintain the external value of the rupee.

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

• Structure: Consists of 6 members (3 from RBI, including the Governor, and 3 appointed by the Government of India).
• Chairman: The RBI Governor acts as the ex-officio chairman of the MPC.
• Objective: Meets at least 4 times a year to fix the benchmark interest rate (Repo Rate) to contain inflation within the target band of 4% (+/- 2%).

Important Financial Terms and facts

• Repo Rate: The rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks for short periods.
• Reverse Repo Rate: The rate at which RBI borrows money from commercial banks.
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): The share of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) that banks must maintain with RBI as cash.
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): The share of NDTL that banks must maintain with themselves in safe/liquid assets like gold or government securities.
• Bank Rate: The rate at which RBI lends long-term funds to commercial banks without any collateral.
• RBI Emblem: Features a Palm Tree and a Tiger. Originally, it featured a Lion, but it was replaced by the Tiger in 1972 to match the national animal.
• Financial Year Shift: RBI's financial year previously ran from July 1 to June 30. It was aligned with the government's fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) starting from 2021.
• Burma & Pakistan: RBI acted as the central bank for Burma (Myanmar) until 1947 and for Pakistan until June 1948.

• A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean (between 180° and 100°E), primarily affecting countries like China, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Geographical Naming Conventions

Scientific Mechanism & Conditions

• Pressure System: Typhoons are intensely developed low-pressure systems. Wind always blows inward toward this low-pressure center.
• Direction of Rotation (Caused by the Coriolis Force):
  • Northern Hemisphere: Counter-clockwise / Anti-clockwise.
  • Southern Hemisphere: Clockwise.
• Latitudinal Zone: They mostly occur between 6° and 20° North & South of the Equator. They do not form exactly at the Equator (0° latitude) because the Coriolis force is zero there, preventing the storm from spinning.
• Primary Fuel: Warm ocean water. A sea surface temperature of ≥ 27°C is mandatory to trigger and sustain a typhoon.
• The "Eye" of the Storm: The innermost central core of a typhoon is called the "Eye". It is uniquely characterized by calm winds, clear skies, and lowest atmospheric pressure.
• Etymology: The word "Typhoon" is derived from the Chinese term 'Tai Fung' which translates to "Great Wind".
• Coined Term: The word "Cyclone" was coined by Henry Piddington based on the Greek word 'Cyclos' (coils of a snake).
• Naming Authority: Typhoons in the Western Pacific are systematically named by the WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) Typhoon Committee using names contributed by member nations.

• Establishment: Founded on 23 December 1940 as Hindustan Aircraft Limited by industrialist Walchand Hirachand.
• Renaming & Merger: Amalgamated and renamed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in 1964 after merging with Aeronautics India Limited.
• Headquarters: Located in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Nodal Ministry: Governed directly under the Ministry of Defence (Department of Defence Production).
• Company Status: Conferred with Navaratna status by the Government of India in 2007.
• Current Leadership: Shri Ravi K. assumed charge as the 22nd Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)

Indigenous Aircraft

• First Indigenous Aircraft: HAL HT-2, a primary trainer aircraft, was the first built entirely in India.
• First Fighter Jet: HAL HF-24 Marut was the first indigenous fighter-bomber aircraft manufactured in India.
• LCA Tejas: HAL is the sole manufacturer of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, a multi-role supersonic fighter.
• Advanced Helicopters: Key indigenous production lines include the Dhruv (Advanced Light Helicopter), Prachand (Light Combat Helicopter), and Rudra (Armed Helicopter).

• Establishment Year: 2003 (under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002).
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Nature of Body: Statutory and Autonomous body.
• International Link: Formed to implement India's obligations under the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)