About Phoenicia:

• Phoenicia was an ancient region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.
• It covered the land where the present day Lebanon is located.
• The Phoenicians lived on the seacoast and were skilled shipbuilders and navigators.
• Their trade routes reached as far as Spain and the British Isles.
• The Phoenicians traded wood, linen, dyes, and wine.
• They also carved wood and ivory and worked with metals and glass.
• The art of glassblowing was probably invented in Phoenicia.
• The Phoenician alphabet was the source of the Greek alphabet and of the Latin alphabet, which most people use today.
• They built the cities of Sidon, Tyre, and Berot (modern Beirut).
• The Phoenicians set up colonies all around the Mediterranean. Carthage, in North Africa, was a very successful colony.
• Decline:
  • Over the centuries a number of foreign powers controlled all or parts of Phoenicia. They included Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia.
  • The Macedonians, led by Alexander the Great, conquered Phoenicia in 332 BCE.
  • In 64 BCE Phoenicia became a part of the Roman Empire.

About Bhadra Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in Karnataka.
• The habitat has a good population of elephants and is also an Elephant Reserve.
• It is drained by the river Bhadra and its tributaries.
• Vegetation: It has dry-deciduous, moist-deciduous, shola, and semi-evergreen patches.
• Flora: Teak, Rosewood, Mathi, Honne, Nandi and many medicinal plants, etc.
• Fauna:
  • Tiger, Leopard, Leopard cat, Dholes, Indian Civet, ungulates like Gaur, Sambar, and Barking Deer are common.

About Lead Bank Scheme (LBS):

• On the recommendations of the Nariman committee, the LBS was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in 1969.
• Aim: Coordinating the activities of banks and other developmental agencies in order to achieve the objective of enhancing the flow of bank finance to the priority sector and other sectors and to promote banks' role in the overall development of the rural sector
• For coordinating the activities in the district, a particular bank is assigned ‘Lead Bank’ responsibility of the district.
• The Lead Bank is expected to assume a leadership role for coordinating the efforts of the credit institutions and the Government.
• For the preparation of District Credit Plans and monitoring their implementation, a Lead bank Officer (LBO), now designated as Lead District Manager was appointed in 1979.

About Chennakeshava Temple:

• The Chennakeshava Temple, also referred to as the Keshava, or Vijayanarayana Temple of Belur, is a 12th-century temple in Karnataka.
• It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• It was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE (after a major military victory in 1116 CE over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakkad), on the banks of the Yagachi River in Belur, also known as Velapura.
• The temple is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Architecture:
  • It is a stunning example of Hoysala architecture.
  • The Hoysalas used soft soapstone for their structures, as they were found suitable for intricate carvings.
  • Enclosed by a Prakara with a Gopura built in the Vijayanagar style, the temple stands on a platform, or Jagati, and looks like a huge casket.
  • The outer walls of the temple are adorned with intricate carvings, which depict various gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures.
  • There are Madanika sculptures in the temple, dancing, hunting, standing under canopies of trees.
  • One of the unique features of the Chennakeshava Temple is the stepped well, which is located in the temple complex.

About Tetrataenium paikadae:

• It is a new plant species.
• It was discovered in the high-altitude grasslands of the Western Ghats in the Idukki district, Kerala.
• It was identified inside Eravikulam National Park and belongs to the Apiaceae family, which includes commonly known plants such as carrot and coriander.
• The newly discovered species has densely stiff-haired stems, ovate leaves, and clusters of small white flowers.

About Barbados:

• Location: It is an island country located in the south eastern Caribbean region of North America.
• It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.
• It is part of Caribbean Community (CARICOM)which was established in 1973.
• Capital City: Bridgetown
• Geographical Features of Barbados:
  • Climate: Its climate is classified as a tropical monsoon.
  • Highest Point: The highest point on the island is Mount Hillaby.

About Dornier 228 Aircraft:

• It is a highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft.
• It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport, third level services and air-taxi operations, coast guard duties and maritime surveillance.
• Features of Dornier 228 Aircraft:
  • It is powered by a pair of Garrett TPE331 turboprop engines and has a supercritical wing that generates large amounts of lift at slow speeds.
  • It is a twin-turboprop aircraft known for its reliable performance and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. 
    • The STOL capabilities, allows it to operate from unprepared, unpaved, and grass surfaces and specialize in hot and high environments.
  • It has the unique design of the TNT wing, capable of generating large amounts of lift at slow speeds.
  • The Dornier 228 is typically promoted for its versatility, low operational costs, and high levels of dispatch reliability.

About Combined Maritime Forces:

• It is a multinational maritime partnership that upholds the International Rules Based Order (IRBO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas.
• It promotes security, stability and prosperity across international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
• Mandate: Its main focus areas are counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities and promote a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors.
• CMF has five Combined Task Forces: 
  • CTF 150(Maritime Security Operations outside the Arabian Gulf)
  • CTF 151(Counter-Piracy)
  • CTF 152(Maritime Security Operations inside the Arabian Gulf)
  • CTF 153(Red Sea Maritime Security)
  • CTF 154(Maritime Security Training)
• Member Countries: It comprises 47 nations including India.
  • The member countries are not bound by either a fixed political or military mandate. 

About Rajaji National Park:

• Location: It is located in
• It was established by merging three wildlife sanctuaries- Rajaji, Motichur and Chilla. 
• It is named after  Rajagopalachari,a prominent freedom fighter, fondly known as “Rajaji”. 
• It is nestled between the Shivalik ranges and the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• Rivers: River Ganga bifurcates the park into two parts.
• Vegetation: It hosts Moist Shivalik Sal Forest, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest, Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous and Khair-Sissoo forests in the Southern Slopes,
• Fauna: It is home to Asian Elephant, Tiger, leopard, Himalayan Black bear, sloth bear, Civet, Marten, Jackal, Hyena etc.

About Wheat:

• Wheat is an important staple food crop in India.
• It is a temperate crop that thrives in cool and dry climates.
• It is primarily grown as a Rabi crop.
• Required climatic conditions for wheat cultivation
  • Temperature: A cool temperature (10°C to 15°C) during sowing and 21°C to 26°C during ripening ensures optimum growth and grain quality.
  • Rainfall: Wheat requires 50-75 cm of well-distributed rainfall.
  • Soil: It grows well in a clay loam or loam texture
• Major Wheat Producing Countries: China, India, Russia and United States.
• Major Wheat Producing States: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.