Prelims in Focus, an IAS Abhiyan Initiative to quickly navigate through the important facts, current affairs, static portion to enrich aspirant’s knowledge base along with conceptual clarity. Our Prelims in Focus initiative will surely be an added advantage for UPSC Prelims Examinations. This initiative will help the aspirants to focus to the main points of a topic quickly at the same time. In this initiative, we will cover 10-15 important facts on a daily basis. Click here to Join our Telegram Channel to read these articles.  We will continue our Monthly Pre-Bits Flash Liner along with this initiative. 

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Prelims in Focus-Part-27

1. The thorny Ronjh or Safed Keekar, with its grey-white bark is one of Delhi’s own, battling the scrubland and surviving with tenacity, much like its residents.

   ➖Native to Delhi’s historical (what was once) open scrubland, this moderate to large sized thorny deciduous tree is characteristic of dry regions, hardy and drought-resistant, adapting to dry, rocky, sandy soils.

2. Soil Water

   ➖Rhezic Water is term used for Soil Water
   ➖ Gravitational Water, Capillary Water and Hygroscopic Water are types of Soil Water

3. Climate Technology Centre and Network
   ____________
   ➖Operational arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism

   ➖Hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

   ➖Promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate resilient development at the request of developing countries.

4. Forest Reference Level (FRL) is a benchmark for emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and removals from sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (all REDD+ activities). Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) is a benchmark for emissions exclusively from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD only). Setting forest reference levels (FRLs) and/or forest reference emission levels (FRELs) is one of the first steps countries need to take to benefit from REDD+.
5. CAMELS
   _________
   ➖An international rating system used by regulatory banking authorities to rate financial institutions, according to the six factors represented by its acronym.

   ➖Acronym stands for “Capital adequacy, Asset quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity, and Sensitivity.”

6. Khirer Putul
   _______
   ➖Children’s fantasy novel written by Abanindranath Tagore in 1896.

   ➖Considered a masterpiece and landmark by writers in Bengali language children’s literature.

7. Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG)
   _______________
   ➖The IUCN AsESG is a global network of specialists concerned with the study, monitoring, management, and conservation of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus).

   ➖Promote the long-term conservation of Asia’s elephants and, where possible, the recovery of their populations to viable levels.

   ➖Acts as the Red List Authority for the Asian Elephant, carrying out Red List assessments for inclusion in the IUCN Red List

8. Asan Conservation Reserve
   __________________
   ➖Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar site, making it a ‘Wetland of International Importance’,

   ➖Announced the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

   ➖Located on the banks of Yamuna river near Dehradun district in Garhwal region of the Himalayan state.

   ➖Home to many rare and endangered species like the Ruddy Shelduck, Red Crested Pochard

   ➖Receives about 40 migratory species, including Rudy Shelduck, Common coot, Gadwall, Kingfisher, Indian cormorant, Baer’s pochard, Northern pintail, Bar-headed goose
   _________
   🔹 Note: the number of Ramsar sites in India goes up to 39, the highest in South Asia

9. Kabartal Wetland
   ___________
   ➖Also known as Kanwar jheel covers 2,620 hectares of the Indo-Gangetic plains, in Begusarai district of the state of Bihar.

   ➖Acts as a vital flood buffer for the region besides providing livelihood opportunities to the local communities.

   ➖An important stopover along the Central Asian Flyway, with 58 migratory waterbirds using it as a wintering site.

   ➖Besides, critically endangered vultures including red-headed vulture and white-rumped vulture also use the site as a habitat.

10. Pied Avocet
    __________
    ➖Winter migratory birds

    ➖Surajpur Bird Park, Greater Noida.

    ➖Distributed in the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Africa and Europe.

    ➖Uses the specialised beak to find crustaceans to feed on in marshy water.