DAILY PRELIMS CA — 14 SEPTEMBER

Context: High-definition projection of the temple's 1,212-pillar corridor was displayed at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Location: Situated on Pamban Island, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu | Flanked by Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar
Architecture: Built in classical Dravidian style | Dedicated to Lord Shiva (Ramanathaswamy)
Significance: Revere as one of 12 Jyotirlingas + forms southern anchor of Char Dham circuit
Patronage: Inner sanctum constructed in 12th century by King Parakramabahu of Sri Lanka
Patronage: Outer structures expanded by Sethupathi rulers | East Rajagopuram completed by Devakottai Nagarathar family
Key Features: Features world's longest pillared corridor with 1,212 granite pillars spanning ~3,850 feet
Key Features: Contains 17-foot-high monolithic Nandi statue + 22 sacred theerthams (freshwater wells)

Context: India was selected to host the World Circular Economy Forum 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Initiative: Created in 2017 by Sitra (Finnish Innovation Fund) | Marked centenary of Finland's independence
Milestone: 10th edition in 2026 | Marks debut edition for the South Asia region
Theme: Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity
Core Aim: Transition from linear take-make-waste model to circular economy + Mobilize green capital
Governance: Harmonize Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks + Host UN 10YFP Board meeting

Context: ICAR-CAZRI developed four resilient moth bean varieties that demonstrated field tolerance during El Niño.
Type: Short-day annual pulse | Vigna aconitifolia | Family Fabaceae
Distribution: Native to South Asia | Extensively grown in Thar Desert, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.
Growing Conditions: Requires low rainfall + poor sandy soil + withstands extreme heat exceeding 40°C
Adaptations: Deep taproot extracts subsoil moisture + mat-forming canopy prevents wind erosion
Nitrogen Fixation: Symbiotic association with Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules enriches arid soil fertility.
Phenology: Initiates flowering within 30 days of sowing + maintains pods under moisture stress.

Context: Indian Navy hosted a three-day maritime defense exercise under the Colombo Security Conclave at Visakhapatnam.
Nature: Simulated operational tabletop war game | Rehearses joint protocols without deploying physical assets at sea
Host: Indian Navy at Eastern Naval Command | Visakhapatnam
Members: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Bangladesh + Designated observer states
Focus: Tackles non-traditional security threats | Covers drug trafficking, piracy, terrorism, and IUU fishing
Operation: Harmonisation of SOPs | Real-time surveillance and white-shipping information exchange
Alignment: Aligned with India's MAHASAGAR and SAGAR visions | Secures Indian Ocean Region SLOC

Context: Female Indian Gaur rescued from an illegal snare in Eco-Sensitive Zone of Papikonda National Park, Andhra Pradesh.
Location: Northern Eastern Ghats along Godavari River | Covers Andhra Pradesh (Alluri Sitharama Raju, Eluru) and Telangana
History: Established as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978 + Declared National Park in 2008
Alternative Name: Historically termed Bison Hills by British naturalists
Vegetation: Dominated by tropical moist deciduous forests + Teak, rosewood, bamboo breaks
Status & Fauna: Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) | Hosts Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Malabar Pied Hornbill
Indigenous Tribes: Inhabited by Konda Reddis and Koya tribal communities

PRELIMS CA 14 SEPT 2026