PRELIMS
SERVANTS OF INDIAN SOCIETY
- Founded: 1905 by Gopal Krishna Gokhale
- Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra
- Motto: “Service before Self”
- Activities: Adult education, health care, tribal welfare, rural development
- Legacy: Influenced Gandhi; focused on ethical public service
- Contemporary relevance: Tensions over governance of GIPE (Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics)
GYAN POST
- Launched by: Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications
- Delivery: Surface (rail/road), pan-India
- Cost: ₹20 (up to 300 gms) to ₹100 (up to 5 kg)
- Allowed: Printed educational, cultural, religious books only
- Not Allowed: Handwritten notes, magazines, letters, newspapers
UNGA GAZA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION
- Resolution Date: June 2025
- Proposed by: Spain
- Passed with: 149 out of 193 vote
- India’s Position: Abstained (4th abstention in 3 years)
- India-Palestine Relations: Recognition in 1988, support for Two-State Solution
VIRTUAL DIGITAL ASSETS (VDAs) TAXATION
- Tax: 30% flat under Sec 115BBH (no deductions allowed)
- TDS: 1% on all transactions since July 1, 2022
- Regulation: Finance Act 2022
- Common VDAs: Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum), NFTs
Monitoring: CBDT’s “NUDGE” system for voluntary compliance
AVILIST — GLOBAL BIRD CHECKLIST
- Launched by: International Ornithologists’ Union (IOU)
- Replaces: IOC World Bird List, Clements Checklist
- Features: Morphological, genetic, vocal data
- Conservation Role: Helps enforce CITES, Ramsar, CMS agreements
TEA EXPORT & ISRAEL—IRAN CONFLICT
- India’s tea exports (2024): 254.67 million kg (↑9.92%)
- Largest importers: Iraq (20%), Iran, UAE, Russia
- Share of black tea: 96%
- Conflict Effect: Risk to Middle East exports via maritime routes
- India: World’s 2nd largest tea exporter after China
OIL PALM CULTIVATION
- Introduced in India: 1886 at Kolkata Botanical Garden
- India’s Major Growers: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala
- Oils Produced:
- Palm Oil: From mesocarp
- Palm Kernel Oil: From seed core (rich in lauric acid)
- Major Global Producers: Indonesia (No.1), Malaysia
TOTAPURI MANGO DISPUTE
- Cultivation States: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
- Trade Disruption: Chittoor (AP) banned Totapuri mango inflow
- Legal Backing:
- Article 301: Free interstate trade
- Article 304(b): Restrictions must be reasonable, legislated, and get Presidential assent
RUDRASTRA VTOL DRONE
- Type: VTOL hybrid drone (by Solar Aerospace and Defence)
- Range: Strike over 50 km, total 170 km
- Payload: Precision anti-personnel munitions
- Advantage: No pilot risk, autonomous return
