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-28

1. India is the second-largest producer and consumer of rice at the global level.

   ➖Sheath blight disease caused by a necrotrophic fungal pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani) is a big threat to rice crops.

2. Aldabra
   ______
   ➖One of the world’s largest atolls — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Seychelles

   ➖Located in the Indian Ocean

   ➖comprises four main islands of coral limestone separated by narrow sea passages and encloses a large shallow lagoon

   ➖home to a population of endemic giant Aldabra tortoises

3. Bleaching is a process where corals lose their vivid colour and turn white. This happens when the zooxanthellae algae, which is in a symbiotic relationship with corals and provide them with food, die due to ocean warming and acidification.
4. Maldharis
   ________
   ➖Traditional pastoral people found in and around the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

   ➖Founds in Rajasthan and other parts of Gujarat, and Banni grasslands

   ➖Maldharis of Gir, Alech and Barda have included among the Scheduled Tribes since 1956, although these castes are not classified as Scheduled Tribes outside the forest areas.

5. Platform for Science-Based Ocean Solutions (PSBOS)
   ____________
   ➖Launched by Chile at the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) to the UNFCCC

   ➖Platform aims to promote the necessity of addressing ocean and climate issues synergistically

   ➖Concept note highlights the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC)

   ➖Through the ‘Because the Ocean’ Declaration, Chile and many other countries have promoted the inclusion of ocean solutions as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

   Note: COP 25 as declared as the ‘Blue COP.’

6. The Vijayanagar state has been called ” a citadel of (Hindu) orthodoxy and conservatism”.

   ➖In matters of religion, the Vijayanagar rulers were not narrow. Although Saivities to begin with, they did not discriminate against the other sects among the Hindus. They also give patronage to Jainism. The Christian missionaries who had settled down in south India were allowed to do missionary work, and make conversions among the Hindus.

7. Unemployment in India, statistics has traditionally been collected, compiled and disseminated once every five years by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MLE), primarily from sample studies conducted by the National Sample Survey Office.
8. The Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC)
   __________
   ➖A voluntary initiative that catalyzes action towards the successful implementation of carbon pricing around the world.

   ➖Brings together leaders from government, business, civil society and academia to support carbon pricing, share experiences and enhance the global, regional, national and sub-national understanding of carbon pricing implementation.

   ➖Secretariat is administered by The World Bank Group.

   ➖Launched in 2015 at COP21 in Paris

9. Important Jain Caves at Ellora

   At the north end of Ellora are the five Jain caves belonging to the Digambara sect, which were excavated in the ninth and early tenth centuries.

   ➖The Indra Sabha (Cave 32), excavated in the 9th century, is a two-storey cave with a monolithic shrine in its court. The Indra Sabha Jain temple is historically significant as it contains evidence, in the form of layered deposits and textual records, of active worship inside by the Jain community.

   ➖The Jagannatha Sabha (Cave 33) is the second-largest Jain cave at Ellora and dates to the 9th century according to the inscriptions on the pillars.

10. Vishvakarma Cave

    ➖Notable among the Buddhist caves is Cave 10 at Ellora, a chaitya worship hall called the ‘Vishvakarma cave’, built around 650 CE.

    ➖It is also known as the “Carpenter’s Cave”, because the rock has been given a finish that has the appearance of wooden beams.

    ➖Beyond its multi-storeyed entry is a cathedral-like stupa hall also known as chaitya-griha (prayer house).

    ➖At the heart of this cave is a 15-foot statue of Buddha seated in a preaching pose.