M
M.N. Roy

Indian revolutionary and political thinker.Associated with Radical Democratic Party.Advocated constitutional democracy.Critic of orthodox communism.

Macaulay Committee

Committee led by T.B. Macaulay that advocated English education in India.UPSC Traps: 1835 Minute; promotion...

Mackenzie

Colonial official involved in early land surveys.UPSC Traps: Associated with Madras Presidency surveys.

Madame Blavatsky

Co-founder of Theosophical Society.UPSC: Russian origin.

Magan

- An ancient region mentioned in trade records. Prelims Pointer: It refers to modern-day Oman. It...

Mahadev Govind Ranade

Social reformer and judge.UPSC: Widow remarriage supporter.

Mahal

A fiscal and revenue unit comprising one or more villages under the Mahalwari system.UPSC Traps:...

Mahalanobis Model

Definition: A development model emphasizing heavy industries and capital goods, adopted in the Second Five-Year...

Mahalwari

Definition: Land revenue system where assessment was made village-wise.• Time Period: 1820s• UPSC Prelims Pointers:...

Mahalwari System

Village-based land revenue system.UPSC Traps: Introduced by Holt Mackenzie; North-Western Provinces.

Mahanadi

Definition: An east-flowing river originating in Chhattisgarh.Key Facts: Major coal-bearing region along its valley.Current Affairs:...

Mahanadi Basin

Definition: Coal-rich basin in eastern India.Key Facts: Talcher coalfield.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Definition: Founder of Sikh Empire.• Time Period: 1799–1839• UPSC Prelims Pointers: Capital Lahore; modernized army.

Mahatma Gandhi

Definition: Leader of Indian freedom struggle.Prelims facts: Introduced Satyagraha; led Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India...

Major Mineral

Definition: Minerals notified as major minerals under the MMDR Act.Key Facts: Regulated by Central Government;...

Makrana

Definition: Marble-producing region in Rajasthan.Key Facts: Makrana marble used in Taj Mahal.

Makrana Coast

Definition: Coastline of Pakistan affected by active tectonics.UPSC Pointers: Near Makran subduction zone; Tsunami-prone; Arabian...

Marble

Definition: Metamorphosed limestone.Key Facts: Makrana marble used in Taj Mahal.

Marginal Standing Facility

Definition: A facility under which scheduled commercial banks can borrow overnight from the RBI by...

Mars

Definition: Fourth planet, called Red Planet.UPSC Traps: Thin atmosphere.Current Affairs: Focus of rover missions.

Mascarene High

Definition: Subtropical high-pressure cell near Madagascar.Role: Drives SW monsoon.PYQ: 2016

Mass Wasting

Definition: Downslope movement of soil and rock under gravity.Prelims Pointers: Includes landslides, mudflows, creep; No...

Mawjymbuin Cave

Definition: Limestone cave in Meghalaya.Prelims Pointers: Stalagmite worship.PYQ: UPSC Prelims 2018Current Affairs: Geotourism promotion.

Mawsynram

Definition: Wettest place on Earth (Meghalaya).PYQ: 2014

Meanders

Definition: Loop-like bends in a river course.Prelims Pointers: Mature stage of river; Leads to oxbow...

Meluhha

- An ancient name found in Mesopotamian texts. Prelims Pointer: It refers to the Indus Valley...

Mesopause

Definition: Boundary between mesosphere and thermosphere.UPSC Traps: Coldest atmospheric layer.Current Affairs: Studied in upper-atmosphere research.

Meteoroid

Definition: Small rocky or metallic body moving through space.• UPSC Pointers: Meteor when burns in...

methane

Definition: Potent greenhouse gas (CH₄).UPSC Traps: Shorter life than CO₂ but higher warming potential.Current Affairs:...

Mica

Definition: Sheet silicate minerals.Key Facts: Used in electrical industry.

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Definition: A divergent plate boundary running through the Atlantic Ocean.UPSC Pointers: Separates Eurasian–North American &...

Mid-Ocean Ridges

Definition: Submarine mountain chains formed at divergent plate boundaries.Prelims Pointers: Youngest oceanic crust; Source of...

Mid-Oceanic Ridge

Definition: An underwater mountain system formed by diverging tectonic plates.UPSC Pointers: Site of sea-floor spreading;...

Minimum Support Price

Definition: Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention in which the government...

Mir Jafar

Definition: Nawab installed by British.• Time Period: 1757• UPSC Prelims Pointers: Betrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Mir Kasim

Definition: Nawab of Bengal.• Time Period: 1760–1763• UPSC Prelims Pointers: Abolished internal duties; fought British.

Misl

Definition: Confederacy or independent unit of Sikh warriors.• Time Period: 18th century• UPSC Prelims Pointers:...

Mississippi

Definition: Major river of North America.Prelims Pointers: Bird’s foot delta; USA.PYQ: UPSC Prelims 2013Current Affairs:...

Mist

Definition: Light fog with visibility more than 1 km.PYQ: 2018

Mistral

Definition: Cold, dry northerly wind blowing from Alps to Mediterranean.Region: Southern France.PYQ: 2014

Mixed Economy

Definition: A mixed economy is one where both the market mechanism and government intervention coexist...

Mohorovicic Discontinuity

Definition: Boundary between crust and mantle.• UPSC Pointers: Depth ~35 km (continents) and ~5–10 km...

Monazite

Definition: Mineral rich in rare earth elements.Prelims Pointers: Beach sands of India.PYQ: UPSC Prelims 2016Current...

Monetary Policy Committee

Definition: A statutory body constituted under the RBI Act, 1934, responsible for determining the policy...

Monetisation of Deficit

Definition: Financing fiscal deficit by borrowing from the RBI, effectively increasing money supply.Key Points for...

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

Definition: Constitutional reforms introducing limited self-government.Act: Government of India Act, 1919Prelims facts: Introduced Dyarchy in...

Moraines

Definition: Accumulations of glacial debris.Prelims Pointers: Lateral, medial, terminal.PYQ: UPSC Prelims 2016Current Affairs: Glacier retreat...

Morley-Minto Reforms

Definition: Constitutional reforms introduced by the Indian Councils Act, 1909, expanding legislative councils and introducing...

Motilal Nehru

Definition: Congress leader and constitutionalist.Prelims facts: Leader of Swarajists; chaired Nehru Report Committee.

Mount Cilo

Definition: Highest peak of Turkey.Prelims Pointers: Taurus Mountains.PYQ: UPSC Prelims 2020Current Affairs: Glacial melt studies.

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