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Shelling Dolphins use the technique called shelling to capture the tiny fishes into empty shells. This method of tool use has been learnt from their peer groups and not from their mothers. This shows how dolphins adapt to the changing environment. Freshwater Dolphins The four freshwater dolphins in the world are: The ‘Baiji’ is now likely extinct from the Yangtze River in China, The ‘Bhutan’ of the Indus in Pakistan, and The ‘Boto’ of

28 June, 2020
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Novel coronavirus infection might trigger type-1 diabetes

Novel coronavirus infection might trigger type-1 diabetes Diabetes poses one of the key risk factors for developing severe COVID-19, and the chances of dying are elevated in people with diabetes. Now, there is growing evidence that a novel coronavirus might actually be triggering diabetes in some people who have so far remained free of it. These patients typically develop type-1 diabetes. The virus seems to be causing diabetes spontaneously in people. Type-1 diabetes

28 June, 2020
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Indian Ocean Dipole- New phenomenon to emerge

Indian Ocean Dipole- New phenomenon to emerge When the Indian Ocean’s ancient climate patterns return About 19,000-21,000 years ago, ice sheets covered North America and Eurasia, and sea levels were much lower, with Adam’s Bridge exposed so that the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka were contiguous. This period, the peak of ice age conditions, is called the Last Glacial Maximum. Researchers analysed simulations of this past climate and predicted th

Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Why Eco Sensitive zone tag to Asola Wildlife sanctuary? The Asola wildlife sanctuary has both floral and faunal diversity in the form of Wide variety of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. The large number of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and dragonflies. Sanctuary comprises of Around 200 species of resident and migratory birds. Wildlife habitats inside the sanctuary act as water recharge zone for Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram. &nb

28 June, 2020
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Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)

Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) SATAT Scheme The Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme on Compressed Bio Gas was launched in 2018. It envisages targeting the production of 15 MMT of CBG from 5000 plants by 2023. The Government of India has taken various enabling steps to ensure the success of the SATAT scheme. Oil Marketing Companies have offered long-term pricing on CBG to make projects bankable and have agreed

Supreme Court ruling- disqualification petitions

Supreme Court ruling- disqualification petitions In January 2020, a three-judge bench of the SC expressed its displeasure with the Speaker’s lack of urgency in deciding the disqualification petitions. It ruled that Speakers of assemblies and the Parliament must decide disqualification pleas within a period of 3 months. Extraordinary circumstances are exceptions to this. The ruling settled the law for situations where the timing of the disqualification is misused to manipulate fl

UN@75 Declaration

UN@75 Declaration Recently, a commemorative declaration marking the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations (UN) Charter was delayed as member states could not reach an agreement on phraseology. The Five Eyes (FVEY)— Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States— along with India, objected to the use of the phrase “shared vision of a common future”, which is associated with Ch

28 June, 2020
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Amendments in Postal Ballot System

Amendments to Postal Ballot System Recently, the Law Ministry has reduced the age limit for senior citizens who opt for the postal ballot in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Imp Points Now, the voters aged above 65 years or a Covid-19 suspect can opt for postal ballot. Earlier, in 2019, the Law Ministry had amended the Conduct of Election Rules to allow persons with disabilities and those who are 80 years of age or above to opt for

Torpedo Decoy System: Maareech

Torpedo Decoy System: Maareech The Indian Navy has inducted an Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS) called ‘Maareech’ that is capable of being fired from all frontline ships. Torpedoes are self-propelled weapons with a warhead and can be used under or on the water surface. They are one of the mainstays of sea-warfare attack systems. Description: ‘Maareech’ has been designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and