Mangalore IAS - Current Affairs 2026
Non-renewable energy comes from finite sources, like fossil fuels and uranium, that take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished once consumed. Burning these resources releases greenhouse gases, contributing heavily to global pollution and climate change.
Coal: A combustible black rock used heavily in electricity generation and steel production.
Oil (Petroleum): A liquid fossil fuel primarily refined into transportation fuels (like gasoline and diesel) and used to manufacture plastics.
Natural Gas: A gas found in underground deposits, primarily composed of methane, used for heating, cooking, and generating electricity.
Nuclear Energy: Generated by splitting uranium atoms (fission) in power plants to create massive amounts of electricity without emitting traditional greenhouse gases, though it produces highly radioactive waste.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the principal organs of the United Nations, tasked with maintaining international peace and security. It is the only UN body authorized to pass legally binding resolutions that all member states are obligated to implement.
Membership: Consists of 15 member states: 5 permanent members (P5) with veto power (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US) and 10 non-permanent members elected for overlapping two-year terms.
India and Australia have made significant progress in their strategic technology partnership through the establishment of the Australia-India Partnership for Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS).
The Seven Pagodas, a famous historical moniker for the monuments of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), India, were built by the Pallava dynasty between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. The specific architectural marvels were primarily constructed under the reigns of Narasimhavarman I and Narasimhavarman II.
The Shore Temple: Built by Narasimhavarman II around 700–728 CE, this is the most famous surviving "pagoda." It is a structural stone temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
The Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots): Carved during the reign of Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century, these are spectacular monolithic rockcut shrines shaped like chariots.
Myanmar is universally known as the "Land of Pagodas". The city of Bagan is particularly famous, featuring thousands of ancient, 11th- and 12th-century Buddhist temples and stupas scattered across the plains.
A stupa is a traditional, dome-shaped Buddhist monument meant to house sacred relics and serve as a place for meditation. A pagoda is the East Asian architectural evolution of the stupa, typically characterized by a tall, tiered, multi-roofed tower that can be entered and used for worship or other purposes.
Key Renewable Energy Sources
Solar Energy: Harnesses sunlight using photovoltaic panels or solar thermal systems to generate electricity or heat.
Wind Energy: Uses large wind turbines to convert the kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.
Hydropower: Uses the flow of moving or falling water—usually through dams or river systems—to spin turbines and generate electricity.
Geothermal Energy: Extracts heat from beneath the Earth's surface for direct heating or to produce electricity.
Biomass: Converts organic materials, such as plant waste and animal manure, into electricity or liquid biofuels
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