Arab League (League of 📅 Establishment

Arab States)
• Established on: March 22,
1945
• Based on Alexandria Protocol
(1944)

👥 Membership
• Total Members: 22

📌 Current Context ⭐ Founding Members

• Arab League held an • Egypt

emergency session in Cairo • Iraq
• Issues discussed: • Lebanon
o Al-Aqsa closure • Saudi Arabia
o Prisoner execution law • Syria
• Jordan
• Yemen

🏛 About Arab League

• It is an Intergovernmental
Organisation
• Covers Arab states in the
Middle East & North Africa
(MENA region)

🎯 Mandate (Objectives)
• Strengthen relations among 📍 Headquarters
member states
• Coordinate policies of member • Located in Cairo (Egypt)
countries
• Promote co-operation
• Safeguard independence &
sovereignty of each member
Revision Pointers 💱 Non-Deliverable
Derivatives (NDD)
• Arab League =
Intergovernmental body of
Arab countries (MENA region)
• Founded: 1945 | Based on
Alexandria Protocol (1944)
• HQ: Cairo (Egypt)
• Members: 22
• Core Aim: Unity + Policy
Coordination + Sovereignty
protection
• Founding Members (7) →
Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi
Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Yemen
• Recent relevance → Emergency
meeting on Al-Aqsa issue &
prisoner law

📌 What is NDD?
• NDD = Non-Deliverable
Derivative
• It is a financial contract based
on currency (₹ vs $)
• But 👉 NO actual exchange of
currency happens

➡ Only the difference in value is

settled in cash (mostly in US
dollars)

🧠 Easy Understanding
with Example
🎯 Suppose:

• Today: ₹1 = $0.012
 • You (Investor) think → Rupee • Example: Singapore, London
will weaken (₹ will fall)
👉 That means:
So you make an NDD contract:
• Reserve Bank of India has
• Agree future rate = ₹1 = $0.011 limited control

❓ Why were NDDs

created?
• Foreign investors cannot easily
trade rupee in India
• So they created NDD to:
o Trade rupee outside India
📉 Case 1: Rupee falls (Prediction o Avoid Indian regulations
correct)

• Actual rate becomes ₹1 = $0.010

• You gain profit 💰 👥 Who uses NDD?
• You get the difference in dollars
• Foreign investors
• Hedge funds
• Global banks
📈 Case 2: Rupee strengthens
(Prediction wrong)

• Actual rate becomes ₹1 = $0.013 🚫 Why RBI is

• You incur loss ❌
• You pay the difference in dollars concerned?
👉 Important: • NDD affects rupee value
without RBI control
• No rupees are exchanged • Can lead to:
• Only profit/loss is settled in o Volatility in rupee
cash ($) o Speculation

👉 So RBI has restricted Indian banks

from NDD participation
🌍 Where do these trades
happen?
• Outside India (Offshore
markets)
Revision Pointers Raja Ravi Varma
• NDD = No actual currency
delivery (cash settlement only)
• Based on future exchange rate
(₹ vs $)
• Settled in US dollars
• Happens offshore (outside
India)
• Used by foreign investors,
hedge funds, global banks
• Created due to restrictions in
Indian forex market
• RBI concern → loss of control
over rupee
• RBI barred banks from NDD
contracts

📌 Why in News
• Painting “Yashoda and
Krishna” by Raja Ravi Varma
sold for ₹167.2 crore at
Saffronart

🏛 About Raja Ravi

Varma
• Born: 29 April 1848, Kilimanoor
(Kerala)
• Belonged to Koil Thampuran
(chieftain family)

🎨 Artistic Contribution
• Famous for blending:
o Hindu Historical themes
 o European realism & 🖨 Printing Press
naturalism
• Among the first Indian artists to Contribution
use oil paints
• Mastered lithographic printing • Set up own lithographic press
→ enabled mass reproduction o First in Ghatkopar
of paintings o Later shifted to Lonavala
(1894, Maharashtra)
• Helped spread Indian art to
common people

🏅 Awards & Recognition

• Kaiser-i-Hind Medal (1904)
• Earned title “Raja” Ravi Varma
• Painting “Nair Lady Adorning
Her Hair” (1873):
o Governor’s Gold Medal
(Madras Presidency)
o Certificate of Merit
(Vienna Exhibition)

Revision Pointers
🖼 Themes of Paintings
• Born: 1848, Kilimanoor
• Hindu Historical Themes (Kerala)
• Portraits of Indian & British • Blend: Indian Hinduism
figures Themes + European realism
• First Indian painters to use oil
paints
• Pioneer of lithographic
⭐ Notable Works printing → mass reach
• Themes: Mythology + portraits
• Shakuntala Writing a Love • Printing press: Ghatkopar →
Letter to Dushyanta Lonavala (1894)
• Shri Rama Vanquishing the • Awards: Kaiser-i-Hind (1904)
Sea • Famous works: Shakuntala,
Shri Rama Vanquishing Sea
• Recent news: Yashoda &
Krishna sold for ₹167.2 crore
 Burkina Faso 🌄 Terrain

• Mostly savannahs & plateaus

• Low mountains in southwest
• Sahel region (north) → arid &
desert-like

⛰ Highest Peak
• Mount Tenakourou

🌊 Rivers (Important)
📌 Why in News • Black Volta
• Red Volta
• India sent 1000 metric tonnes • White Volta
of rice as humanitarian ➡ All merge in Ghana → form
assistance to Burkina Faso Volta River

🏛 About Burkina Faso 🏞 Lakes

• Landlocked country in West • Lake Bam → largest lake,
Africa located near the center
• Capital: Ouagadougou

⛏ Natural Resources
🌍 Borders
• Rich in minerals:
• Mali → North & West o Gold
• Niger → East o Silver
• Benin → Southeast o Zinc
• Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast → o Manganese
South o Phosphate
o Limestone

🏞 Geographical Features
 ⚡ Earthquake Lights

Revision Pointers
• Burkina Faso = Landlocked
West African country
• Capital: Ouagadougou
• Borders (6 countries): Mali,
Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana,
Ivory Coast
• Terrain: Savannah + plateaus
+ SW low mountains
Sahel region (north) → dry &
•
desert-like
📌 Why in News
• Highest peak: Mount
• Earthquakes in Aegean Sea
Tenakourou
(near Turkey & Greece)
• Rivers: Black, Red, White
• Mysterious glowing lights
Volta → join in Ghana
observed in sky → called
• Largest lake: Lake Bam
Earthquake Lights
• Rich in minerals → gold most
important
• Current relevance: India sent
rice aid

🌍 About Earthquake
Lights
• Unusual light phenomena seen:
o Before, during, or after
earthquakes
 • Appear as:
o Flashes
o Streaks
o Balls
o Pillars of light

⚙ Formation
• Earthquakes occur due to
movement of tectonic plates
• Stress builds in rocks (especially
quartz-rich rocks)
• This creates electric charges
inside rocks
• Charges move through:
o Cracks & faults to the
surface
• At surface:
o Charges interact with air
molecules Revision Pointers
o Cause ionisation →
formation of plasma • Earthquake lights = glowing
(glow) lights linked to seismic activity
• Result: • Seen before/during/after
o Visible light without heat earthquakes
or fire • Forms: flashes, streaks, balls,
pillars
• Cause: Stress in rocks →
electric charges
🌐 Key Scientific • Quartz minerals important
Charges travel via faults/cracks
Observation •
• Ionisation of air → plasma →
light
• More common in:
• No heat/fire involved
o Regions with straight,
• Common in rift zones (vertical
vertical faults
faults)
o Example: Rift zones
• Recent: Observed near Aegean
➡ These act as pathways
Sea (Turkey-Greece)
for electric charges
 Ammonium Nitrate o Ammonia + Nitric acid
(salt)
(NH₄NO₃)

⚙ Properties (Important)
• Melting point: 170°C
• Highly soluble in water
• On heating solution →
decomposes into:
o Nitrous oxide (laughing
gas)

📌 Why in New s
• Leasing agreement signed
between
o Bharat Coal Gasification
and Chemicals Limited
(BCGCL) and 🧪 Applications
o Mahanadi Coalfields
Limited (MCL) • Fertilizer → rich in nitrogen
• For Coal to Ammonium Nitrate (very important for crops)
Project at Lakhanpur, Odisha • Used as oxidizing agent in
explosives
• Key ingredient in commercial
explosives
🏛 About Ammonium • Main component in slurry
explosives (mining)
Nitrate
• Chemical formula: NH₄NO₃
White crystalline solid
•
• Formed from:
⚖ Legal Controls in India
 • If mixture contains >45% ⚙ India’s First Coal-to-
ammonium nitrate →
classified as explosive Ammonium Nitrate Plant
• District Magistrate:
o Can permit up to 30 metric
tonnes
• Larger quantity:
o Requires approval from
Petroleum and
Explosives Safety
Organisation (PESO)
• PESO regulates:
o Manufacture, storage,
transport, and use

📌 Why in News

Revision Pointers • Agreement signed between

o Bharat Coal Gasification

• Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃) and Chemicals Limited

= salt of ammonia + nitric acid and
• White crystalline solid o Mahanadi Coalfields

• Melting point: 170°C Limited

• Highly soluble in water • For India’s first coal-to-
• Heating → nitrous oxide ammonium nitrate project
(laughing gas)
• Uses:
o Fertilizer (high nitrogen)
o Explosives (oxidizing agent) 🏭 Project Details
o Mining slurry explosives
• Legal: • Location: Lakhanpur,
o 45% → explosive Jharsuguda (Odisha)
category • Production: 2000 tonnes/day
o DM → up to 30 tonnes (TPD)
o Beyond → PESO approval • Investment: ~₹11,782 crore (up
• Current: Coal to Ammonium to ₹25,000 crore potential)
Nitrate project in Odisha • Implementing Body:
o BCGCL (JV of Coal India
Ltd 51% + BHEL 49%)

🎯 Objective & Uses

• Produce Ammonium Nitrate
 • Uses:
o Explosives (mining – Coal

o
India major user)
Fertilizers (agriculture)
🌍 Strategic
Significance
⚙ Core Technology: Coal 📉 Reducing Import
Gasification Dependence
🔬 What is it? • India imports:
o Ammonium nitrate
• Thermo-chemical process o Natural gas
• Converts coal → syngas (CO + • Project ensures:
H₂) o Self-reliance
o Lower costs

🔄 Process Flow (VERY

IMPORTANT) 🪨 Utilizing Domestic
• Coal Mining → Gasification → Resources
Syngas (CO + H₂) → Ammonia
→ Ammonium Nitrate • India has 4th largest coal
reserves
👉 Coal is partially oxidized using: • Gasification:
o Uses non-coking, high-
• Air / Oxygen / Steam / CO₂ ash coal
o Cleaner than direct burning

🇮🇳 Special Technology
(PFBG) 🚀 Technological
Sovereignty
• Developed by Bharat Heavy
Electricals Limited • First commercial use of
• Pressurised Fluidised Bed indigenous tech (BHEL)
Gasification (PFBG) • Reduces dependence on:
o Foreign technology
⭐ Significance (West/China)

• Handles high-ash Indian coal

(30–45%)
• Avoids clogging issues of
imported tech
⚡Revision Pointers 👑 Samrat Samprati
• India’s first coal → ammonium
nitrate plant (Odisha)
• BCGCL (CIL + BHEL JV)
• Production: 2000 TPD
• Investment: ₹11,782 crore+
• Uses: Explosives + fertilizers
• Coal Gasification → syngas
(CO + H₂)
• Process:
o Coal → Syngas →
Ammonia → Ammonium
nitrate 📌 Why in News
• PFBG tech (BHEL) handles
high-ash coal • Prime Minister of India
• Reduces imports (fertilizer + inaugurated Samrat Samprati
gas) Museum in Gujarat
• Uses India’s coal advantage
• Boosts Atmanirbhar Bharat +
industrial tech

🏛 About Samrat
Samprati
• Lived: 224–215 BC
• Mauryan ruler
• Grandson of Ashoka
• Also known as:
o Indrapalit
o Sangat
o Vigatashok

🕊 Contributions
 Promoted Jainism & non-
•
violence (Ahimsa) 🛕 Key Facts about
Known as “Jain Ashoka”
•
• Established Jain cultural Jainism
centres in:
o Iran 📖 Nature
o Arab regions
• Credited with building thousands • Sramanic religion → “Sramana”
of Jain temples in western & = ascetic/monk
southern India

👥 Tirthankaras
• Tradition of 24 Tirthankaras
• 24th: Mahavira

🎯 Goal
• Moksha / Nirvana (liberation)

🔑 Three Jewels (Triratna)

• Samyak Darshana → Right Faith

• Samyak Jnana → Right
Knowledge
• Samyak Charita → Right
Conduct

📚 Sources ⚖ Five Vows (Panch

• Mentioned in Jain texts:
Mahavrata)
o Sampratikatha
• Ahimsa → Non-violence
o Parishistaparva
• Satya → Truth
o Prabhavakcharita
• Asteya → Non-stealing
• Aparigraha → Non-possession
• Brahmacharya → Celibacy
Revision Pointers 🛕 JAINISM
• Samprati: Mauryan ruler (224–
215 BC), grandson of Ashoka
• Also called: Jain Ashoka
• Promoted Jainism & Ahimsa
• Built Jain temples widely in
India
• Spread Jainism to Iran & Arab
regions
• Sources: Sampratikatha,
Parishistaparva,
Prabhavakcharita

Jainism:

• Sramanic religion (ascetic

tradition) 📌 Basic Meaning
• 24 Tirthankaras → Mahavira
(last) • ‘Jain’ comes from “Jina /
• Goal: Moksha/Nirvana Jaina” = Conqueror
• Three Jewels: Faith, 👉 One who conquers desires &
Knowledge, Conduct senses
• Five vows: Ahimsa, Satya,
Asteya, Aparigraha,
Brahmacharya
🕰 Origin & Time
• Became prominent in 6th
Century B.C.
• Spread mainly through teachings
of Mahavira

👥 Tirthankaras (Very
Important)
• Jainism based on teachings of 24
Tirthankaras
• 1st Tirthankara → Rishabnath
• 24th Tirthankara → Mahavira
👉 Tirthankara = one who shows path to • At 30 years → Left home
liberation (became ascetic)
• At 42 years → Attained Kaivalya
(omniscience)
o Place: River Rijupalika
• At 72 years (468 B.C.) → Died at
Pavapuri (Bihar)

🏷 Titles of Mahavira
• Mahavira
• Jitendriya (one who conquered
senses)
• Nirgrantha (free from bonds)

👑 Vardhamana 🧠 Jain Philosophy

Mahavira (Life) 💎 Three Jewels
👶 Birth (Triratna)

• Born in 540 B.C. 👉 Path to Moksha:

• Place: Kundagram (near
1. Right Faith (Samyak
Vaishali, Bihar)
Darshana)
2. Right Knowledge (Samyak
Jnana)
3. Right Action (Samyak Charita)
👪 Family
• Mother: Trishala → Lichchhavi
princess
⚖ Five Doctrines (Panch
• Related to King Chetaka of
Vaishali Mahavrata)
• Father: Siddhartha
• Belonged to Kshatriya (Jnatri (For monks – VERY IMPORTANT)
clan)
1. Ahimsa → Non-violence
2. Satya → Truth
3. Asteya → No stealing
🧘 Life Events 4. Aparigraha → No possession
 5. Brahmacharya → Celibacy • Women cannot become
👉 Added clearly by Mahavira Tirthankaras
• Tirthankaras did not marry
• Strict monastic rules
• Sub-sects:
🧩 Philosophical o Mula Sangh
o Terapanthi
Concepts o Taranpanthi
o Bisapanthi
🔶 Anekantavada

• Truth is complex & has many

sides
👉 No single absolute truth
2⃣ Svetambaras
• Wear white clothes
• Leader: Sthulabhadra
🔶 Syadvada • Women CAN become
Tirthankaras
• Truth depends on conditions • Believe 23rd & 24th
👉 Statement can be true in one Tirthankaras married
context, false in another • Less strict rules
• Sub-sects:
o Sthanakvasi
o Murtipujaka

📚 Jain Councils
🥇 1st Council
• Year: 300 BCE
• Place: Pataliputra (Patna)
• President: Sthulabhadra
• Outcome:
o 12 Angas compiled
o Replaced lost 14 Purvas
🏛 Sects of Jainism
1⃣ Digambaras
🥈 2nd Council
• Believe in complete nudity
(monks) • Year: 512 CE
• Leader: Bhadrabahu • Place: Vallabhi (Gujarat)
 • President: Devarddhi UPSC Prelims 2022 PYQ
Kshamashramana
• Outcome: Q. With reference to Indian history,
o Final compilation of 12 consider the following texts:
Angas + Upangas
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanasataka
Revision Pointers 4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina texts?

• Jain = Jina = conqueror
• 24 Tirthankaras → 1st (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Rishabnath, 24th Mahavira (b) 2 and 4 only
• Mahavira: 540–468 B.C., (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
Kundagram (Bihar) (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
• Left home at 30, Kaivalya at 42,
died at 72
• Titles: Jitendriya, Nirgrantha
3 Jewels → Faith, Knowledge,
•
Conduct
📚 1. Nettipakarana
• 5 vows → Ahimsa, Satya,
• Buddhist text (Theravada
Asteya, Aparigraha,
tradition)
Brahmacharya
❌ NOT Jain
• Anekantavada → multiple
truths
• Syadvada → conditional truth
• Digambara vs Svetambara
differences (VERY 📚 2. Parishishtaparvan
IMPORTANT)
• Councils: • Written by Hemachandra
o 1st: Pataliputra, 300 BCE
• Jain text (history of Jain monks
o 2nd: Vallabhi, 512 CE
& kings)
• Goal: Moksha (liberation) ✅ Jain

📚 3. Avadanasataka
• Collection of Buddhist stories
❌ NOT Jain
📚 4. Trishashtilakshana o “Mahapurana (Jain
context)” → Jain
Mahapurana tradition

• Written by Jinasena
• Deals with 63 great beings of
Jainism
✅ Jain

✅ Final Answer
• Correct texts: 2 and 4 only

👉 Answer: (b) 2 and 4 only

⚡ Quick Trick for

Exam
• “Parishishtaparvan” &
“Mahapurana” → Jain
• “Avadana” & “Nettipakarana”
→ Buddhist

Revision Pointers
• Jain texts:
o Parishishtaparvan
(Hemachandra)
o Trishashtilakshana
Mahapurana (Jinasena)
• Buddhist texts:
o Nettipakarana
o Avadanasataka
• Keyword:
o “Avadana” → Buddhist
stories
 Better engine
⛽ E20 Fuel o
performance
• Cleaner burning fuel → reduces
pollution
• Considered advanced & eco-
friendly alternative

🧪 About Ethanol
• Also called Ethyl Alcohol
(C₂H₅OH)
• Clear, colourless liquid
• Biodegradable & relatively
non-toxic
• Fuel ethanol contains
denaturants → makes it
undrinkable
Why in News
• Government of India mandated
petrol pumps to supply E20 fuel
• With minimum octane rating of
🌾 Sources of Ethanol
95 RON
• Renewable sources:
o Sugarcane
o Maize (corn)
o Barley, wheat
🏛 About E20 Fuel
• Also from:
o Agricultural residues
• Blend of:
o Wood (cellulosic ethanol)
o 20% Ethanol + 80% Petrol
• Ethanol = Biofuel derived from:
o Sugarcane, maize, grains

⚡ What is Octane
Rating?
⚙ Key Features /
🧠 Simple Meaning
Advantages
• Octane rating = measure of
• Higher octane rating (95 RON)
fuel’s ability to resist knocking
vs normal petrol (91–92 RON)
(engine noise/explosion)
• Leads to:
o Smoother combustion
🔥 Easy Example • Mandate: E20 with minimum
95 RON
• In an engine: • Higher octane → smoother
o Fuel should burn smoothly combustion
o If it burns unevenly → • Regular petrol: 91–92 RON
causes knocking (damage) • Cleaner fuel → less pollution
• Ethanol properties: C₂H₅OH,
➡ Higher octane fuel = smoother & biodegradable
controlled burning • Contains denaturants
(undrinkable)
• Sources: crops + agricultural
waste
📊 Key Points
• Octane rating = resistance to
knocking
• Regular petrol: ~91–92 RON
• E20 fuel: ≥95 RON (better
quality)
• Higher octane:
o Improves efficiency
o Protects engine
o Gives smoother
performance

Revision Pointers
• E20 = 20% ethanol + 80%
petrol
• Ethanol = biofuel (sugarcane,
maize, grains)
 • Native to Arctic regions of
North America & Eurasia
🦉 Snowy Owl

⚙ Key Characteristics
• Not nocturnal → active day &
night
• Nomadic bird:
o Does not breed regularly at
same place
o May skip breeding if prey
unavailable

📌 Why in News
• Snowy owl granted
international protection under
Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals

🏛 About Snowy Owl

• Scientific name: Bubo
scandiacus
• A large white owl belonging to
the true owl family

🌍 Habitat & Distribution 🍖 Diet & Hunting

• Mainly found in Arctic tundra • Carnivorous
(treeless regions) • Feeds on:
• Also seen in: o Lemmings
o Coastal dunes
o Meadow voles
o Prairies
• Hunting method:
o Moorlands, meadows,
o “Wallop” technique →
marshes, agricultural swoops down and catches
lands prey with strong talons
🛑 Conservation Status
Acute Lymphoblastic
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable Leukaemia (ALL)

Revision Pointers
• Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
= Arctic white owl
• Habitat: Tundra (treeless), also
prairies & marshes
• Distribution: North America +
Eurasia (Arctic)
• Unique: Not nocturnal (active
📌 Why in News
anytime)
• A multi-institutional study
• Nomadic + irregular breeding
(830 adult patients) found:
• Diet: Small mammals
o About 1 in 10 adults with
(lemmings important)
ALL have TP53 gene
• Hunting: Wallop method
mutation
(swooping attack)
• Status: Vulnerable (IUCN)
• Protected under UN CMS
(migratory species)
🏥 About ALL
• Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukaemia (ALL) is a:
o Cancer of blood and bone
marrow
• Affects:
o White blood cells
(lymphocytes)
• Characterised by:
o Rapid production of
immature cells
(lymphoblasts)

⚙ Key Features
• “Acute” → progresses rapidly
 • Abnormal cells crowd out:
o Normal blood cells
• Leads to:
o Weak immunity, anaemia,
infections
Revision Pointers
• ALL = blood & bone marrow
cancer
• Affects lymphocytes (WBCs)
• Acute → fast progressing
• Produces immature
lymphoblasts
• Causes:
o Low immunity,
infections, anaemia
• TP53 = tumor suppressor gene
• Mutation → uncontrolled
growth + severe disease
🧬 TP53 Mutation • Study: 1 in 10 adults have TP53
mutation
• TP53 gene = tumor suppressor
gene
• Helps in:
o Controlling cell division
o Preventing cancer growth

➡ Mutation in TP53:

• Cells grow uncontrollably

• Indicates more severe disease /
poor prognosis

📊 Key Finding (Exam

Relevant)
• ~10% adult ALL patients show
TP53 mutation
 🌍 Algeria

📌 Why in News
• 7th Foreign Office 🌦 Climate
Consultations held between
India and Algeria in Algiers • Predominantly Mediterranean
climate:
o Warm, dry summers
o Mild, rainy winters
🏛 About Algeria
• Located in Maghreb region
(North Africa) 🌊 Major Rivers
• Capital: Algiers
• Has coastline on • Djedi River
Mediterranean Sea (north) • Chelif River

🌍 Borders ⛰ Physical Features

• Tunisia, Libya, Niger → • Highest Peak: Mount Tahat
East/Northeast/Southeast
• Mali, Mauritania, Western 🏔 Mountain Ranges
Sahara → Southwest
• Morocco → West • Atlas Mountains
• Saharan Atlas
 • Tell Atlas
• Hoggar Mountains
• Tassili n’Ajjer

Form 6 Row (Electoral

⛏ Natural Resources Rolls Issue)
• Rich in:
o Oil & Natural Gas (very
important)
o Solar energy
o Iron, Zinc, Lead, Silicon,
Helium

Revision Pointers
• Algeria = North Africa
(Maghreb region)
📌 Why in News
• Capital: Algiers
• Mediterranean coastline
• Ahead of West Bengal elections
(north)
(April 23 & 29)
• Borders:
• Allegations of large-scale Form
o Tunisia, Libya, Niger,
6 submissions
Mali, Mauritania, W.
• Concern: ‘outsider’ voters (from
Sahara, Morocco
Bihar & UP) being added
• Climate: Mediterranean (dry
• Around 30,000 applications
summer, rainy winter)
filed in few hours → raises
• Rivers: Djedi, Chelif
procedural concerns
• Highest peak: Mount Tahat
• Mountains:
o Atlas, Saharan Atlas, Tell
Atlas, Hoggar, Tassili
• Resources: Oil & gas (very
📝 What is Form 6?
important) + minerals
• Form 6 = Application for new
• Current: India–Algeria
voter enrolment
consultations
• Under Registration of Electors
Rules, 1960
• Submitted to Electoral
Registration Officer (ERO)
• Acts as:
 o Primary gateway for 1. Booth Level Officer (BLO)
voter registration verifies details
o Based on self-declaration 2. ERO checks:
+ verification o Age (18+)
o Citizenship
o Ordinary residence
3. If satisfied → Name added to
👨⚖ Role of ERO electoral roll

• Appointed by Election
Commission of India
• Responsible for: 🚨 Key Allegations
o Maintaining electoral
rolls • Mass submissions (30,000
o Adding/removing voters forms in 6–7 hours)
o Hearing objections • Violation of limit:
o Booth Level Agents → max
50 forms/day
• Possible duplicate voters
⚖ Citizenship (already registered in other states)
o Violates Representation of
Requirement the People Act, 1950
• Similar concerns seen in:
• As per Article 326 of
o Karnataka (2023),
Constitution:
Maharashtra (2024),
o Only Indian citizens (18+)
Delhi (2025)
can vote
• Form 6:
o No mandatory proof of
citizenship
o Uses self-declaration
🏛 Election Commission
o False claim → penalty/jail Response
up to 1 year
• No official EC response yet
• CEO (West Bengal):
o Only forwards complaints
📥 Mode of Application o ERO has final authority
on voter inclusion/exclusion
• Online: ECINET portal
• Offline: Submitted to ERO
(usually SDM-level officer)

🔄 Processing of Form 6
Revision Pointers
• Form 6 = new voter 📝 Prelims MCQ
registration form
• Under Registration of Electors Q.1 With reference to the Arab
Rules, 1960 League, consider the following
• Submitted to ERO statements:
• No citizenship proof required
→ self-declaration 1. It is a military alliance of Arab
• Article 326 → voting rights countries.
(18+, citizen) 2. It was established in 1945.
• Verification: 3. Cairo is its headquarters.
o BLO → field check
o ERO → final decision
Which of the statements given
• Updates: above is/are correct?
o SSR (annual)
(a) 1 and 2 only
o Continuous updation
(b) 2 and 3 only
• Objection window: minimum 7
(c) 1 and 3 only
days
(d) 1, 2 and 3
• Duplicate voting illegal (RPA
1950)
• Limit: 50 forms/day (Booth
Agents) ✅ Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
• Allegation: mass entries (30,000
forms quickly)
• ERO = key authority, not CEO
Q2. Non-Deliverable Derivatives
(NDD) involve:

(a) Physical exchange of currency

(b) Only domestic trading
(c) Gold-backed contracts
(d) Settlement only in Cash

✅ Answer: (d) Settlement only in

cash
Q3. Raja Ravi Varma is best known Q6. Coal gasification primarily
for: produces:

(a) Mughal miniature paintings (a) Methane only

(b) Blending Indian themes with (b) Oxygen
European realism (c) Nitrogen
(c) Abstract modern art (d) Syngas
(d) Buddhist cave paintings

✅ Answer: (d) Syngas

✅ Answer: (b) Blending Indian
themes with European realism

Q4. Burkina Faso is best described Q7. Samrat Samprati is associated

as: with:

(a) A Landlocked Country (a) Buddhism

(b) An Island Nation (b) Shaivism
(c) A peninsula (c) Jainism
(d) A coastal country (d) Vaishnavism

✅ Answer: (A) A landlocked country ✅ Answer: (C) Jainism

Q.5 Earthquake lights are caused Q8. Anekantavada in Jainism

due to: means:
(a) Volcanic lava emissions (a) Non-violence
(b) Ionisation of air due to electric (b) Truth has multiple aspects
charges in rocks (c) Renunciation of wealth
(c) Reflection of sunlight (d) Worship of idols
(d) Burning of gases

✅ Answer: (b) Truth has multiple

✅ Answer: (b) Ionisation of air due
aspects
to electric charges in rocks
Q9. Higher octane rating of fuel
indicates:
Q12. Algeria has a coastline along
(a) Higher carbon content which sea?
(b) Lower combustion efficiency
(c) Higher fuel consumption (a) Red Sea
(d) Better resistance to engine knocking (b) Arabian Sea
(c) Mediterranean Sea
(d) Black Sea

✅ Answer: (d) Better resistance to

engine knocking
✅ Answer: (c) Mediterranean Sea

Q10. With reference to the Snowy Q13. Form 6 is used for:

Owl, consider the following
statements: (a) Deletion of voters
(b) Correction of voter details
1. It is strictly nocturnal. (c) New voter registration
2. It is classified as Vulnerable by (d) Transfer of constituency
IUCN.

Which of the statements given

above is/are correct? ✅ Answer: (c) New voter
registration
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

✅ Answer: (b) 2 only

Q11. TP53 gene is associated with:

(a) Oxygen transport

(b) Tumour suppression
(c) Digestion
(d) Hormone secretion

✅ Answer: (b) Tumour suppression