Rakhigarhi
History and Culture
Context
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has sent nearly 5,000-year-old skeletons unearthed at Haryana’s Rakhigarhi, for scientific examination and facial reconstruction.
Rakhigarhi
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- The present-day Rakhigarhi is located 27 km from the Ghaggar river, in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain in Haryana.
- The archaeological site, dating back to 2600-1900 BCE.
- It is the largest Harappans site in the Indian Subcontinent.
- The site was first excavated by Amarendra Nath of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Findings
- Granary: A granary belonging to the mature Harappan phase (2600 BCE to 2000 BCE) has been found here. It has 7 rectangular or square chambers.
- Culture, clothing and worship: Fire altars and apsidal structures were revealed in Rakhigarhi.
- Cemetery and burial sites: A cemetery of Mature Harappan period is discovered at Rakhigarhi, with eight graves found.
First Amendment
Polity
Context
- On June 18, 1951, the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution came into force.
- The First Amendment to the Indian Constitution, enacted on June 18, 1951, was introduced by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to override court rulings that blocked state policies.
Key Changes
- Restricted Free Speech: Added “public order,” “friendly relations with foreign states,” and “incitement to an offence” as limits to Article 19.
- Protected Land Reforms: Created the Ninth Schedule to shield land reform laws from judicial review.
- Allowed Quotas: Added Article 15(4) to enable caste-based reservations in education and employment.
- Enabled State Monopolies: Allowed the government to nationalise trades or businesses.
Ammonia Gas
Science & technology
Context
- An ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu has hospitalized many working people.
Ammonia (NH₃)
- Ammonia (NH₃) is a colourless gas with a strong, pungent smell.
- It is a simple inorganic compound made up of nitrogen and hydrogen.
- Although it occurs naturally in small quantities during the decomposition of organic matter, it is also produced on a large scale because of its wide industrial and agricultural applications.
- Industrial ammonia is commercially produced through the Haber–Bosch process, in which atmospheric nitrogen reacts with hydrogen under high temperature and pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst.
- It is majorly used in fertilizers industries, chemical industries and in food processing due to its excellent cooling efficiency.
Biochar
Environment
Context
- Biochar is emerging as a sustainable solution to convert agricultural waste into a valuable resource for improving soil health and mitigating climate change.
Biochar
- Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis.
- Unlike ordinary organic matter, biochar decomposes very slowly and can remain in the soil for hundreds of years.
- It is highly porous, enabling it to store water, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms.
Benefits of Biochar
- Agricultural Productivity: Studies indicate that biochar can improve crop yields by 10–30%, particularly in nutrient-deficient soils.
- Carbon Credits: Biochar can generate carbon credits because it removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in soil.
- Water Retention: Biochar acts like a sponge and stores water within its porous structure. Research shows that it can increase the water-holding capacity of soils by 10–25%.
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