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The word Laterite is derived from Latin word ‘later’ which means ‘brick’. They are mainly tropical based reason’s soil where we have heavy seasonal rainfall and high temperature. Because of that, it promotes leaching of the soil. Due to rain, lime and silica are always leached away. Laterite soils are said to farraginous aluminous rock. They are formed by decomposition. 

Humus content of the soil is removed fast by bacteria that thrives well in high temperature. The rocks are completely leached out having a high proportion of iron and aluminium as residue. The Laterite soils in India are not very fertile and are can be only used with sufficient manure and fertilizers dosage. They are coarse in texture and poor in nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and urea. These soils are red in colour as it is mixed with iron oxides. They are good for cultivation of Cashewnuts and Tapioca. These soils are also used as building materials in India in the form of bricks. Even we can used it for other agriculture needs like cotton, rice, wheat, pulses, tea and coffee with the help of suitable fertilizers. 

Laterite soils in India are mainly found in Eastern Orissa, South Western Ghats, plains of Malabar Coast, Maharashtra and some part of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and West Bengal.

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The French Revolution was a milestone episode in modern European history. It began in the year 1789 and ended in the late 1790s with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. All through that time, residents of France were levelling and restructuring their country’s administrative landscape, uprooting centuries-old foundations such as sheer monarchy and the feudal system. The turmoil was caused due to extensive discontent with the monarchy and the pitiable economic policies of King Louis XVI. 

The French Revolution played a critical role in shaping modern nations by showing its goals and at times disintegrated into a chaotic bloodbath. The social and political structure of France was completely changed due to this revolution. It came to an end to the French feudalism, monarchy and took political power from the Catholic Church. It brought new ideas to Europe including liberty and freedom for the commoner as well as the abolishment of slavery and the rights of women. These new ideas continued to influence Europe and helped to shape many of Europe’s modern-day governments. 

Before the French Revolution, the people of France were divided into social groups called “Estates.” The First Estate included the clergy (church leaders), the Second Estate included the nobles, and the Third Estate. Most of the taxes were used to be paid by third estate people, while the nobility lived lives of luxury and got all the high-ranking jobs. Many of the new political ideas and alliances of the French Revolution were formed in political clubs. They were called Jacobin Club, the Feuillants, the Cordeliers, and the Pantheon Club.     

In India, the arid soil is mainly found in parts of Western Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab and extends up to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. They are one of the most prevalent soil orders in the world. It is also called desert soil in some places.

 Following are the important features of arid soil

1. Mostly, the arid soil is red and brown in colour and sandy in texture. 

2. By nature, it is saline. Owing to the presence of dry climate and high temperature, evaporation occurs at a faster rate. This soil lacks humus and moisture. 

3. Due to high calcium content, the bottom horizon of this soil is occupied by ‘Kankar’ which restricts the infiltration of water through the soil. 

4. The soils contain a considerable amount of soluble salts. Due to dry climate and absence of vegetation, it also contains a very low percentage of organic matter.

5. The soil is alkaline in nature as there is no rainfall to wash soluble salts.

6. These soils are very infertile, but with proper fertilizers and irrigation, the drought resistant and salt tolerant dry crops such as barley, cotton, wheat, millets, maize, pulses, etc., can be grown.

7. After proper irrigation, these soil become cultivable as has been in the case of western Rajasthan.

8. Arid soils are most characterized by their water deficiencies. Most arid soils contain sufficient amounts of water to support plant growth for no more than 90 consecutive days.

9. Arid soils typically contain high levels of calcium carbonates, gypsum, as well as sodium.

10. This soil is usually not suited for major crop production owing partial moisture content and accumulated soluble salts. However, if properly managed and irrigated, it can become productive. We have some notable soils in the world which are classified as arid soils, nevertheless are notable for their unique fertility.

 A ballot paper is actually a device meant for casting votes in an election, and maybe a piece of paper or a small ball used in secret voting. The word ballot derives from an Italian ‘ballotta’, which means a small ball used in voting or a secret vote taken by ballots in the city of Venice, Italy It is a printed form upon which voters mark their choices in an election. The choices are then tabulated and the ballot paper is stored for review should the election’s results be questioned. It was originally a small ball used to record decisions made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. 

During the simplest elections, a ballot is barely a simple scrap of paper in which the name of the respective candidate is writing by each voter. But during governmental elections, use of pre-printed ballots is must for protecting the secrecy of the votes. The voter casts their ballot in a box at a polling station. The ballot paper is also called Paper ballot in British English. During historical times in India, say around 920, it is said that Palm leaves were used for village assembly elections in the state of Tamil Nadu. They used to give palm leaves with candidate names, which would be then put inside a mud pot, for counting. This was called Kudavolai system. Now most of the places, they are replaced by EVM (Electronic Voting Machine).

1. Use of alternative sources of power such as solar and wind energy. These different sources of energy are bio-friendly because they do not produce any harmful gases. We all know that those gases damage the ozone layer. They are better compared to burning fossils such as coal and charcoal. They are also cheap to use, not easily depleted and are renewable sources.

2. Use of biofuels and biogas. For more than a century, fossil fuels have been a major source of energy. But we need to find out alternative sources of fuel such as biofuels which are mainly from plant species as fossil fuels are depleting rapidly. They are called biofriendly and can reduce the occurrence of air pollution to a very high extent. All over the World, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), one of the most extensive sources of fuel in our homes, restaurants today. Continuous use of LPG results in the exhaustion of the oil reserves. Therefore, biogas is a good alternative. It is mainly produced from cattle dung. We must remember that biogas plants are a very good source of both biogas and manure.

3. Planting trees in home compounds and to prevent soil erosion. Proper shade and perfect air conditioning are mainly provided by natural trees and forests. Forests ensure that there is clean air for us to breathe thus creating a perfect air conditioner. This helps to cut down the electricity costs from the use of air conditioning appliances. This entails planting trees and vegetation to control soil erosion caused by wind and water. For the maintenance of the ecosystem, trees and vegetation are essential. Most insects, birds and some symbiotic plants also stay there as their home. Thus, it creates a cool habitat for wildlife consequently conserving wildlife altogether.

The World Health Organization, or WHO, is part of the United Nations that focuses on global health issues. The organization has been working for more than 60 years on issues such as smallpox eradication, family planning, childhood immunization, maternal morbidity, poliomyelitis eradication and AIDS.       

  

WHO describes several leadership priorities as part of initiatives for better global health? These leadership priorities include:   

• Work for universal health coverage

• Develop international health regulations

• Increase access to medical products

• Look for factors such as social, economic and environmental issues as they contribute to health

• Prevent non communicable diseases

And focus on other “millennium development goals” such as the fight against poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women

The aims and objectives of the ILO (International Labour Organization) were set out in the preamble to its constitution, drafted in 1919. The preamble states that “universal and lasting peace can only be established if it is based on social justice. “. Therefore, the fundamental purpose of the organization is to help improve social conditions around the world. The following examples of concrete “emergency” measures are specifically mentioned in the preamble: the regulation of hours of work, including the establishment of a day and a maximum work week; the regulation of the labour supply ; prevention of unemployment; the provision of a decent living wage; protection of the worker against illness, illness and injuries arising out of his employment; protection of children, adolescents and women; provision for old age and injuries; the protection of the interests of workers employed in countries other than their own; recognition of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value; and recognition of the principle of freedom of association.            

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) undertakes to promote and, where appropriate, to recommend national and international measures concerning : 

(a) Scientific, technological, social and economic research related to the nutrition, food and agriculture; 

(b) improving education and administration in nutrition, nutrition and agriculture and disseminating public knowledge of nutritional and agricultural science and practice; (c) the conservation of natural resources and the adoption of improved methods of agricultural production;   

(d) Improving the processing, marketing and distribution of food and agricultural products; 

(e) The adoption of policies for the provision of adequate domestic and international agricultural credit; and 

f) the adoption of international policies on the arrangements relating to commodities agricultural.   

FAO also plays a major role in food and agricultural emergencies such as drought, famine, plant diseases and insect infestations.