Key Points

• A complete ban on imports from a certain country is called Embargo.
• Tariff Barriers are taxes on certain imports.
• Subsidies: It is a form of financial grant or aid given by the state to help an industry or business keep the price of a commodity or service at an affordable price.
• Export Security: It is a measure used by the government for the protection of producers or consumers of a particular. It is not a trade barrier.

Key Points

• Switzerland Tourism has appointed Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra as its ‘Friendship Ambassador’ to showcase and promote locations in the country to Indian travelers.
• Chopra also donated his gold-winning javelin to The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, in September 2022.
• Mary Kom’s gloves as well as Dhyan Chand’s hockey are a part of the exhibits at the museum.

Additional Information

• Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country.
• It is home to numerous lakes, villages, and the high peaks of the Alps.
• Switzerland:
  • Capital: Bern
  • President: Ignazio Cassis
  • Currency: Swiss franc
  • Population: 87 lakhs (2021) World Bank
  • Official languages: French, German, Italian, Romansh

• If any Members of Parliament want to raise any matters during the Zero Hour, He or She must give the notice before 10 am to the Speaker/ Chairman on the day of the sitting in the House.

Key Points

• Zero Hour was introduced in the Parliament in 1962. It is the time when Members of Parliament (MPs) can raise an Issue of Urgent Public Importance.
• The time of Zero Hour starts at 12 noon immediately following the Question Hour in the Parliament.
• The Notice must state the Subject they wish to Raise the issue in any of the Houses. However, the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairman of Rajya Sabha may Allow or Decline a Member to raise a matter of importance regarding public issues.
• It is not mentioned in the Rules of Procedure Book of Parliament. Thus, it is an Informal subject available to Members of Parliament to Raise issues without any notice period 10 days in advance. This is because, generally, the Matters are of Public Importance cannot wait for 10 days in the Parliament.

Additional Information

• In 1962, Rabi Ray (Ninth Speaker of Lok Sabha) introduced this Zero Hour.

• Metal salts commonly used in firework displays include calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium chloride, copper chloride, etc.
• The green flame produced in fireworks is due to the presence of Barium.
• The blue flame is due to the presence of Copper.
• The orange flame is due to the presence of Calcium.
• A yellow flame is due to the presence of Sodium.
• Lithium /Strontium are used to impart a red colour to fireworks.

So,  Sodium metal is used for yellow colour In fireworks.

Key Points

• Ravikirti was the court poet of 'Pulakeshin II'. 
• Pulakeshin II was the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty who reigned from 610 to 642 CE.
• The most notable military achievement of Pulakeshin II was his victory over the powerful emperor Harshavardhana, who ruled over much of Northern India.
• The famous Aihole inscription written in classical Sanskrit was composed by Ravikirti.
• Pulakeshin I was the founder of the Chalukya Dynasty.
• Narasimhavarman I was the ruler of the Pallava Dynasty who defeated Pulakeshin II.

Additional Information

CONCEPT:

• Plane Mirror: A plane mirror is a mirror with a flat (planar) reflective surface.

The characteristics of an image formed in a plane mirror:

• The image formed by the plane mirror is virtual and erect i.e. image cannot be projected or focused on a screen.
• The distance of the image ‘behind’ the mirror is the same as the distance of the object in front of the mirror.
• The size of the image formed is the same as the size of the object.
• The image is laterally inverted, i.e. left hand appears to be right hand when seen from the plane mirror.

• If the object moves towards (or away from) the mirror at a certain rate, the image also moves towards (or away from) the mirror at the same rate.

EXPLANATION:

From the above discussion, we can say that,

• The image formed by Plane Mirror is always Virtual and Erect. So option 1 is correct.
• A convex lens and a concave mirror forms both real and virtual images.
• A concave lens and a convex mirror can form only virtual images.

• Thallophyta is the lowermost plants of the plant kingdom.
• It is the largest group of the plant kingdom.
• Ulva, Chara, and Cladophora are examples of Thallophyta.
• Algae and Fungi are two subdivisions.

Key Points

• Calcium oxide (CaO):
  • It is commonly known as Quick lime or burnt lime.
  • It is commonly used in making porcelain and glass and also in preparing bleaching powder, etc.

Important Points

• Calcium chloride (CaCl₂):
  • It is used in the production of activated charcoal and used as an electrolyte in sports drinks.
• Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂:
  • It is also known as slaked lime.
  • It is used in sewage treatment, paper production, and food processing, etc.
• Calcium Sulfate (CaSO₄):
  • Calcium Sulfate, often known as Gypsum, is a well-known soil conditioner that helps farmers enhance the structure of their soil.
  • This form of fertilizer provides all of the nutrients essential for the growth of your plants.
  • Calcium enhances soil structure and produces oxygen conditions that are necessary for the health of the soil and plants.
  • Potassium is an important nutrient in commercial fertilizers.
  • It improves plant disease resistance and has a vital role in enhancing crop yields and overall quality.

Additional Information

Some common chemical compounds with their common names are:

Key Points

• The Battle of Chausa was fought between Humayun and Sher Shah Suri.
• Sher Shah defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa in 1539.
• The Tomb of Sher Shah Suri is located in Sasaram, Bihar.
• The Battle of Chausa was a notable military engagement between the Mughal emperor, Humayun, and the Afghan, Sher Shah Suri.
• It was fought on 26 June 1539 at Chausa.
• Sher Shah was victorious and crowned himself Farid al-Dīn Sher Shah.

Additional Information

• Sher Khan defeated Humayun at Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), forcing him to flee to Iran.
• In Iran, Humayun received help from the Safavid Shah.
• He recaptured Delhi in 1555 but died the next year after an accident in the library "Sher Mandal".

• Sutlej River is the tributary of the Indus River not of Ganga.

Key Points

• River Ganga:
  • River Ganga is a transboundary river that flows through India and Bangladesh.
  • The Upper Ganga canal starts from the Bhimgoda Barrage near Harki Pauri at Haridwar.
  • Sources of river Ganga are: Gangotri Glacier, Satopanth Glacier, Kedarnath, Trisul, Kamet, Nanda Kot
  • Tributaries of river Ganga are: Yamuna, Bhagirathi Tamsa, Son, Punpun, Kiul, Karamnasa, Chandan, Damodar etc.

Additional Information

• The Indus arises from the northern slopes of the Kailash range in Tibet near Lake Manasarovar
• It enters the Indian Territory in Jammu and Kashmir by forming a picturesque gorge
• It flows between the Ladakh Range and the Zaskar Range at Leh
• The major tributaries of the Indus River in India are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej (north to south arrangements)
• n the Kashmir region, it joins with many tributaries – the Zaskar, the Shyok, the Nubra and the Hunza
• It has a large number of tributaries in both India and Pakistan and has a total length of about 2897 km from the source to the point near Karachi where it falls into the Arabian Sea out of which approx 700km lies in India.