Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- India and China are in advanced discussions regarding a joint UNESCO nomination for Xuanzang’s work, \u2018The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Who Was Xuanzang?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) <\/strong>was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler<\/strong> who journeyed across India during the 7th century CE.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- He spent nearly 19 years travelling through India and studying Buddhist philosophy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- He studied at the ancient university of Nalanda University.<\/strong> His work, The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions<\/strong>, provides detailed information about:\n
\n- Political conditions under Harshavardhana<\/strong> and other rulers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Social and economic life in early medieval India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Religious traditions and Buddhist institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Economic and geographical conditions of early medieval India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other Joint Nominations Under Consideration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Panchatantra with Iran:<\/strong> India is exploring a joint UNESCO nomination of Panchatantra with Iran. The Panchatantra has influenced Persian literature and folklore<\/strong> for centuries and represents a shared literary heritage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Satyagraha with South Africa: <\/strong>The idea reflects the historical association of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent movement with South Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shared Civilizational Traditions:<\/strong>\n
\n- Ramayana traditions<\/strong> shared between India and Indonesia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Buddhist scriptures<\/strong> and heritage common to India and China.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Source: <\/strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nArbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Syllabus: GS3\/Science & Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nContext<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- A new study published in Science has reported the first global map of the earth\u2019s vast underground network of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- These fungi have sustained plant life for millions of years<\/strong> but their scale and distribution has been largely invisible until now.\n
\n- By forming symbiotic relationships with 70% of plant species, <\/strong>trading nutrients for carbon, the AM networks sequester an estimated 4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent a year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grassland ecosystems<\/strong> like those in South Sudan, the Tibetan plateau, and India\u2019s Banni grasslands house 40% of the world\u2019s AM fungal networks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grasslands are being converted to farms four-times faster than forests, <\/strong>these ecosystems are at extreme risk.\n
\n- The work hopes to move fungi from the periphery of environmental policy to the centre of climate action.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
AM fungi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- These are soil fungi <\/strong>that form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship <\/strong>with the roots of about 70% of terrestrial plant species.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They belong mainly to the phylum Glomeromycota <\/strong>and form specialized structures called arbuscules inside root cells for nutrient exchange.<\/strong>\n
\n- AM fungi enhance the uptake of essential nutrients <\/strong>such as phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, and copper, as well as water from the soil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In return, plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates and lipids <\/strong>produced through photosynthesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFungi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Fungi are eukaryotic organisms <\/strong>that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms and belong to the kingdom Fungi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They lack chlorophyll<\/strong> and cannot perform photosynthesis; instead, they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their surroundings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fungi reproduce through spores and can be either unicellular (e.g., yeast) or multicellular (e.g., mushrooms).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They play an important role as decomposers, breaking down dead plants and animals and recycling nutrients in ecosystems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who Was Xuanzang?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) <\/strong>was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveler<\/strong> who journeyed across India during the 7th century CE.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- He spent nearly 19 years travelling through India and studying Buddhist philosophy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- He studied at the ancient university of Nalanda University.<\/strong> His work, The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions<\/strong>, provides detailed information about:\n
\n- Political conditions under Harshavardhana<\/strong> and other rulers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Social and economic life in early medieval India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Religious traditions and Buddhist institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Economic and geographical conditions of early medieval India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other Joint Nominations Under Consideration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Panchatantra with Iran:<\/strong> India is exploring a joint UNESCO nomination of Panchatantra with Iran. The Panchatantra has influenced Persian literature and folklore<\/strong> for centuries and represents a shared literary heritage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Satyagraha with South Africa: <\/strong>The idea reflects the historical association of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent movement with South Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shared Civilizational Traditions:<\/strong>\n
\n- Ramayana traditions<\/strong> shared between India and Indonesia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Buddhist scriptures<\/strong> and heritage common to India and China.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Source: <\/strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nArbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Syllabus: GS3\/Science & Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nContext<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- A new study published in Science has reported the first global map of the earth\u2019s vast underground network of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- These fungi have sustained plant life for millions of years<\/strong> but their scale and distribution has been largely invisible until now.\n
\n- By forming symbiotic relationships with 70% of plant species, <\/strong>trading nutrients for carbon, the AM networks sequester an estimated 4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent a year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grassland ecosystems<\/strong> like those in South Sudan, the Tibetan plateau, and India\u2019s Banni grasslands house 40% of the world\u2019s AM fungal networks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grasslands are being converted to farms four-times faster than forests, <\/strong>these ecosystems are at extreme risk.\n
\n- The work hopes to move fungi from the periphery of environmental policy to the centre of climate action.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
AM fungi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- These are soil fungi <\/strong>that form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship <\/strong>with the roots of about 70% of terrestrial plant species.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They belong mainly to the phylum Glomeromycota <\/strong>and form specialized structures called arbuscules inside root cells for nutrient exchange.<\/strong>\n
\n- AM fungi enhance the uptake of essential nutrients <\/strong>such as phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, and copper, as well as water from the soil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In return, plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates and lipids <\/strong>produced through photosynthesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFungi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Fungi are eukaryotic organisms <\/strong>that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms and belong to the kingdom Fungi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They lack chlorophyll<\/strong> and cannot perform photosynthesis; instead, they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their surroundings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fungi reproduce through spores and can be either unicellular (e.g., yeast) or multicellular (e.g., mushrooms).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They play an important role as decomposers, breaking down dead plants and animals and recycling nutrients in ecosystems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Political conditions under Harshavardhana<\/strong> and other rulers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Social and economic life in early medieval India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Religious traditions and Buddhist institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Economic and geographical conditions of early medieval India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other Joint Nominations Under Consideration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Panchatantra with Iran:<\/strong> India is exploring a joint UNESCO nomination of Panchatantra with Iran. The Panchatantra has influenced Persian literature and folklore<\/strong> for centuries and represents a shared literary heritage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Satyagraha with South Africa: <\/strong>The idea reflects the historical association of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent movement with South Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shared Civilizational Traditions:<\/strong>\n
- \n
- Ramayana traditions<\/strong> shared between India and Indonesia.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Buddhist scriptures<\/strong> and heritage common to India and China.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Source: <\/strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Syllabus: GS3\/Science & Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- A new study published in Science has reported the first global map of the earth\u2019s vast underground network of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- These fungi have sustained plant life for millions of years<\/strong> but their scale and distribution has been largely invisible until now.\n
- \n
- By forming symbiotic relationships with 70% of plant species, <\/strong>trading nutrients for carbon, the AM networks sequester an estimated 4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent a year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grassland ecosystems<\/strong> like those in South Sudan, the Tibetan plateau, and India\u2019s Banni grasslands house 40% of the world\u2019s AM fungal networks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grasslands are being converted to farms four-times faster than forests, <\/strong>these ecosystems are at extreme risk.\n
- \n
- The work hopes to move fungi from the periphery of environmental policy to the centre of climate action.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
AM fungi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- These are soil fungi <\/strong>that form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship <\/strong>with the roots of about 70% of terrestrial plant species.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They belong mainly to the phylum Glomeromycota <\/strong>and form specialized structures called arbuscules inside root cells for nutrient exchange.<\/strong>\n
- \n
- AM fungi enhance the uptake of essential nutrients <\/strong>such as phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, and copper, as well as water from the soil.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In return, plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates and lipids <\/strong>produced through photosynthesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFungi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Fungi are eukaryotic organisms <\/strong>that include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms and belong to the kingdom Fungi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They lack chlorophyll<\/strong> and cannot perform photosynthesis; instead, they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their surroundings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fungi reproduce through spores and can be either unicellular (e.g., yeast) or multicellular (e.g., mushrooms).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- They play an important role as decomposers, breaking down dead plants and animals and recycling nutrients in ecosystems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- They lack chlorophyll<\/strong> and cannot perform photosynthesis; instead, they obtain nutrients by absorbing organic matter from their surroundings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In return, plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates and lipids <\/strong>produced through photosynthesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- They belong mainly to the phylum Glomeromycota <\/strong>and form specialized structures called arbuscules inside root cells for nutrient exchange.<\/strong>\n
- These are soil fungi <\/strong>that form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship <\/strong>with the roots of about 70% of terrestrial plant species.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grassland ecosystems<\/strong> like those in South Sudan, the Tibetan plateau, and India\u2019s Banni grasslands house 40% of the world\u2019s AM fungal networks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- By forming symbiotic relationships with 70% of plant species, <\/strong>trading nutrients for carbon, the AM networks sequester an estimated 4 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent a year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- These fungi have sustained plant life for millions of years<\/strong> but their scale and distribution has been largely invisible until now.\n
- Buddhist scriptures<\/strong> and heritage common to India and China.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Satyagraha with South Africa: <\/strong>The idea reflects the historical association of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent movement with South Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-98-1024x435.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n