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Skaftareldar It was erupted in 1783 near the Vatnajokull glacier. As a result, 25% of the country’s population died at the time. Grimsvotn It is the most active volcano in Iceland. At the time of its eruption, it was the largest in Iceland. (eruptions – 1902, 2004, 2011). Vesuvian It is also known as Plinian eruption. These eruptions are distinguished by powerful bursts of gas, an
India and Indonesia were the top 2 beneficiaries of the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) schemes for exports in 2022. In 2023, however, the situation is expected to change significantly as some of the largest recipients of GSP benefits, including several sectors from India, graduated out of the scheme. Under the GSP scheme, the EU allows identified products originating in certain developing countries preferential access to its markets in the form of reduced o
It is India’s premium Cotton in the world cotton Trade. It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, the Cotton Corporation of India, Trade Bodies & Industry. The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) has been designated as the implementing agency for Traceability, Certification and Branding of "KASTURI Cotton India". India is the 2nd largest cotton producer and the largest consumer of cotton in the world.
Red Planet Day is annually observed on November 28 to mark the launch of Mariner 4, the first aircraft to land on Mars in 1964. Scientists explain that Mars, also known as the Red Planet, is cold and a sandy desert. It is the 4th planet from the sun, situated between the sun and from Earth.
Vaccine maker Indian Immunologicals (IIL) has recently launched measles and rubella vaccine Mabella for children. It was launched as part of the 25th celebrations of the IIL division Human Biologicals Institute (HBI) in Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Tamil Nadu.
A former Somali refugee intent on bringing books and education to his compatriots in Kenya was recently received UN refugee agency’s prestigious Nansen Award. The Nansen Refugee Award is a medal given annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the cause of refugees, displaced, or stateless people. The award was established in 1954 to honor
A recent study has found that the Muthassi Plavu at Thrikkodithanam, Kerala is 543 years old. Muthassi Plavu is a jackfruit tree stands tall near an ancient Mahavishnu temple. It has also ascertained the age of two other jackfruit trees located on the same property as 416 years and 396 years, respectively and temple advisory committee started efforts to secure a heritage status for the 3 trees. Thrikkodithanam temple, regarded as an important seat of the Tamil Vaishnav
Perur- Sundakamuthur Lake or Perur Lake located in the southwestern edges of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This Lake Stores the water from Noyaal River and distributes to the other lakes in the surrounding lakes of Coimbatore. The Perur Lake Forum has conducted a 6-year study on the decline of water birds in urban wetlands.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its 1st X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). Aim - To investigate the polarisation of intense X-Ray sources. The satellite is planned to be launched on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). It is expected to have a mission life of at least 5 years. The satellite will carry 2 scientific payloads in a low Earth orbit – POLIX And XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has given approval to construct training walls at the Pazhaverkadu estuary to stabilise the bar mouth, which often gets closed due to silting. Pazhaverkadu or Pulicat is a vast brackish water lake with 3 estuaries situated in Thiruvallur district of Tamilnadu. Pulicat Lake is the 2nd largest brackish water lake in South Asia, after the Chilika Lake in Odisha.
The Peralassery Subrahmanya Temple pond in Kannur, Kerala has found place in the list of 75 water heritage sites of India. It is locally known as Aynivyal pond. It is situated on the banks of the Anjarakandy River. There is no provision under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 to declare a site as a “Water Heritage Site” under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). However, the Ministry of Jal Shakti had constituted a Commit
US, Britain, 18 other countries ink agreement to make AI 'secure by design' recently. The agreement is non-binding, carries mostly general recommendations such as monitoring AI systems for abuse, protecting data from tampering and vetting software suppliers. 18 countries that signed on to the new guidelines include Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Australia, Chile, Israel, Nigeria and Singapore.
India’s 1st woman Supreme Court Justice Fathima Beevi passes away recently. She was born in Pathanamthitta, Kerala in 1927. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989. She had also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001.
India and the European Union has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on semiconductors. It will help in building a “robust supply chain” and support innovation between the two countries.
Udaasis It is a religious, ascetic sect, sampradaya (tradition) which considers itself as denomination of Sikhism, and focuses on the teachings of its founder, Sri Chand (1494-1643), son of Guru Nanak Dev. Nagar Kirtan Sikhs celebrate Guru nanak jayanti with a procession called Nagar Kirtan. Janamsakhis Biographies of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
India is looking at sealing a landmark deal to procure 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the U.S. under a government-to-government framework by March next year. The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (sometimes called Predator B) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, one component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS)). It is capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), U.S.
Irish writer Paul Lynch wins Booker Prize with dystopian novel 'Prophet Song' recently. Prophet Song - It is about a woman’s struggle to protect her family as Ireland collapses into totalitarianism and war. Booker Prize – It is founded in 1969, is open to English-language novels from any country published in the U.K. and Ireland, and has a reputation for transforming writers’ careers.
Malaysia will grant a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian and Chinese citizens. Thailand and Sri Lanka has already announced free visas to foreigners including India to promote tourism. The 30-day visa-free entry is also currently enjoyed by 8 ASEAN countries for the purpose of social visits, tourism and business.
Russia was intensely attacking the eastern town of Avdiivka and the southern village of Robotyne in Ukraine recently. Avdiivka is an industrial hub in Donetsk region. The city is a former coal hub and is home to the large Avdiivka Coke Plant. Robotyne is a village in Ukraine. It's located in Polohy Raion, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Robotyne was the 1st Ukrainian breach in Russian lines of defense.
Coinciding with the onset of the Northeast monsoon the butterflies from the subfamily Danainae migrate from the Eastern Ghats and plains towards the Western Ghats was below par this year. Butterflies -Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Double-branded Crow, and Common Crow (commonly known as ‘Tigers and Crows’). Blue Tiger - Tirumala limniace is a Nymohalidae butterfly popularly known as Blue Tiger. It is commonly seen in villages, cities and forests. Dark Blue
The 9th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-IX) was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard off Vadinar, Gujarat recently. It demonstrates the level of preparedness and coordination between various resource agencies to respond to a marine oil spill invoking provisions of the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP). The Indian Coast Guard functions as the Central Coordinating Authority for response to Oil spills in Indi
South East Asia's 1st Night Sky Sanctuary will be setup in Ladakh with the help of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. It will be located within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent to the Indian Astronomical Observatory (2nd-highest optical telescope in the world).
Leh Berry is a juice made from the sea buckthorn fruit of Leh, Ladakh. The sea buckthorn fruit is known as the "King of Vitamin C". It contains over 100 nutrients, 8 vitamins, 24 minerals, 18 amino acids, and antioxidants. It got Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently.
The Union Minister of AYUSH has recently participated in the Yoga and Ayurveda in Neurosciences, Therapeutics and Research Approaches (YANTRA) conference, 2023 recently. YANTRA, 2023 is an international conference on Integrative Medicine with a theme on models of integration in healthcare. It was held at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in association with Jignasa, which provides a common platform to address all aspects related to AYUSH systems.
NCC celebrated its 75th Anniversary on November 26, 2023. It was established in 1948 as a largest uniformed youth organization of Indian Armed Forces with its headquarters in New Delhi. It aims at developing character, comradeship, discipline, secular outlook, the spirit of adventure and ideals of selfless service amongst young citizens. It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis as a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, the Navy
The Union Government has decided to rename the existing Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ The new tag line will be Arogyam Parmam Dhanam. National Health Policy, 2017 envisioned the Health and Wellness Centres.
Recently scientists have detected disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field called G1 geomagnetic storms, which are temporary disturbances in the planet’s magnetic field due to solar sparks. As a result of this geomagnetic storm, people living in northern and southern latitudes can witness more beautiful northern and southern lights, also known as aurorae Solar flares are categorised into 4 different classes B (Too small to harm Earth), C (Noticeable
Ministry of Education has recently launched the 3rd phase of Yuva Sangam under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign. Under the programme, the students within the age group of 18 to 30 will get multi-dimensional exposure in 5 broad areas. Paryatan (tourism), Parampara (traditions), Pragati (development), Prodyogik (technology) and Paraspar sampark (people-to-people connect) in the host States. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) is a governmen
The 17th edition of Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN between India and Nepal conducted in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand recently. It is an annual event and conducted alternatively in the two countries.
It is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector to be conferred as a part of National Milk Day celebration 2023. Aim - To motivate farmers to rear indigenous breeds, increase their population, and improve their production and productivity. National Milk Day is celebrated every year on November 26 to honor the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien (Father of White Revolution).
Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare jointly launched training of Krishi Sakhis for promotion of Natural Farming. Krishi Sakhis are Community Agriculture Care Service Providers (CASPs). They are trained para extension professionals and practicing farmers at the grass root level. The Krishi Sakhis initiative was launched under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods.
CREAMS is a laboratory that monitors crop conditions in extreme weather, established in 2013 by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. CREAMS provides data on the number of Active Fire Events (AFE) caused by burning paddy crop residue. CREAMS also provides data on stubble-burning incidents in northern India. In 2023, the number of stubble-burning incidents in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh decreased
The Central government recently exempted the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) from the ambit of the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005. CERT-In, established in 2004, is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. It functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. According to RTI Act, organisations listed under Schedule II of RTI Act are exempted. With this, there are 27 other int
Against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Prime Minister of India chaired a virtual summit of G20 leaders recently.
Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) was declared in 1974. It is situated in Bengaluru, Karnataka and borders with Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in the South and with Javalagiri Reserved Forests in the Tamil Nadu State on its South-Eastern boundaries. There are 4 ranges in the national park, namely, Anekal, Bannerghatta, Harohalli and Kodihalli wildlife ranges. Bannerghatta’s Sloth Bear Rescue Centre completes 18 years. Sloth Bear A Sloth Bear (Melursus urs
The 6th annual Australia India Leadership Dialogue 2023 held in Melbourne, Australia recently. The Australia India Leadership Dialogue is the premier forum for informal diplomacy between Australia and India. The dialogue used Bridges of Bharosa (trust) as one of its themes. It provides an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding between Australian and Indian leaders. It also paves way for addressing Australia-India bilateral relations in the wider context of the Indo-Pacific
Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539) was the founder of Sikhism. He was born in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, near Lahore). Nanak was a Bhakti saint who preached that the most important form of worship is Bhakti, or devotion to Waheguru. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak
The Indian Navy completes 2nd anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Guinea in Atlantic Ocean with the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) INS Sumedha recently. INS Sumedha is the 3rd of the indigenously developed Naval OPV of Saryu class. It was built by Goa Shipyard Limited and commissioned on 2014. It took part in the recently conducted Operation Kaveri for evacuation of Indian diaspora from war hit Sudan recently.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) visits Galathea Bay and reviews progress of proposed International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) recently. Galathea Bay Galathea Bay is located on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Galathea Bay is also the name of a National Park that was established in 1992. It is part of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve.
The Jammu & Kashmir government has terminated 4 government employees for being a threat to the security of the state under article 311 (2) (c) recently. Article 311(2) – It states that a civil servant cannot be dismissed, demoted, or reduced in rank unless they have been given a reasonable opportunity to show cause against the proposed action. Article 311(2)(c) - It allows the government to terminate employees without ordering an inquiry into their conduct or giving
Daniel Noboa sworn in as Ecuador's President recently. Ecuador is a country in South America that's named after the equator, which splits the country in two. Capital – Quito. It's bordered by Colombia in north, Peru in east and south and in west by Pacific Ocean. It is home to Amazon rainforest, Andean paramos, Cloud forests, Galápagos Islands.
A recent study says that Peru has lost more than half of its glacier surface in the last 6 decades, and 175 glaciers became extinct due to climate change between 2016 and 2020. The Chila mountain range lies in the Arequipa Region in the Andes of Peru. This mountain range is home to key first waters that give rise to the Amazon River, the longest and mightiest in the world, descend from the glacier. It has lost 99% of its glacial surface since 1962.
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a tree-dwelling herbivorous marsupial of Australia. Koalas are folivore specialists, feeding mainly on Eucalyptus leaves, and occasional leaves of other plant species. Conservation status – IUCN - Endangered. Chlamydia is a bacterial infection affecting many koalas in South East Queensland. Australia is planting kola corridors to save them. Marsupials are a group of mammals that are also known as pouched mammals.
Scientists have discovered a new species of 'music frog', Nidirana noadihing in Arunachal Pradesh recently. The speciality of this new species of frog is that both the male and female are vocal. Habitat - Swamps, ponds and paddy fields, and they often construct nests to lay their eggs. The new species was named after the Noa-Dihing River, which is near where the specimens were discovered and collected. Noa-Dihing is a tributary of Brahmaputra, ori
Lachit Borphukan was the commander of the Ahom forces and an icon of Assamese nationalism. In the Battle of Saraighat (Naval battle) on the River Brahmaputra, he thwarted an invasion by the Mughal Forces under the command of Ramsingh I. On 24th November each year, Lachit Diwas is celebrated in Assam to commemorate the heroism of Lachit Borphukan and the victory of the Assamese army at the Battle of Saraighat.
India becomes Chair of International Sugar Organization (ISO) for 2024 to lead global sugar sector. ISO is an intergovernmental organization with 90 member countries, based in London, which was established by the International Sugar Agreement of 1968, as the body responsible for administering the Agreement. ISO represents (based on data for 2022) - 87% of world sugar production, 64% of world sugar consumption, 34% of world imports, 92% of world exports. India is the largest
SATHEE is an open learning platform to help students prepare for competitive exams at no cost. It has been launched by the Ministry of Education and IIT-Kanpur. The preparation material will be available in English, Hindi and other regional languages
Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai (1826–1889), also known as Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai, was an Indian civil servant, Tamil poet, novelist and social worker. He is remembered for the authorship of Prathapa Mudaliar Charithram, recognized as the "1st modern Tamil novel". He is also a great connoisseur of Carnatic music. His religious works are Kochakappa, Mata Patikankal, Tayabarakanni, Deva Thothiramalai, Tiruvarul Malai, Deva Mata Antati, and Tiruvarul Antati.
WHO and the Ministry of AYUSH signed the Traditional and Complementary Medicine 'Project Collaboration Agreement' recently. It aims to standardize Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems, integrate their quality and safety aspects into the National Health System, and disseminate them at the international level.
The Yuva Tourism Club is a program launched by the Ministry of Tourism as part of the India@75 campaign. The program's goal is to develop young ambassadors for Indian tourism. The program is "of the youth, by the youth, for the youth".
India’s 1st urban ropeway project in Shimla will begin in September 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2029. It is the world’s second longest, after La Paz in Bolivia.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom Day is observed every year on 24 November. He is the 9th of ten gurus. He was born in Amristar, Punjab in 1621. He is also called Hind ki Chadar, or Shield of India. He composed 115 songs that are included in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the central book of Sikhism.
Saint Meera Bai is one of the famous Hindu mystic poetess of 16th century and a great devotee of lord Krishna. Meera Bai was born into a royal family in Kudki, now Pali district of Rajasthan in 1498 CE. Her childhood name was Yashodha. Bhaktmal, a poetry collection that describes the biography of Meera Bai, is written by Guru Nabha Dass ji in 1585 CE in Braja language.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a strategic project that aims to improve economic development by connecting Asia, the Persian Gulf, and Europe. The IMEEC will consist of 2corridors: East corridor - Connects India to West Asia/Middle East Northern corridor - Connects West Asia/Middle East to Europe The IMEEC was unveiled at the G-20 summit in New Delhi. The route runs through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece.
I2U2is a strategic partnership between four countries: India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The group's goal is to work together on global challenges and economic opportunities.
It is an annual forum organized by United Service Institution of India in collaboration of International Committee of the Red Cross and the Centre for UN Peacekeeping Operations. The 2023 forum will be organized in New Delhi with focus on the importance of adhering to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) principles in complex peacekeeping situations. United Service Institution of India –It is the country's oldest think-tank established in 1870 for research and deb
A high-level committee has been formed to improve Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF) programme, intending to include more SATHIs. SATHIs - Launched by - Department of Science & Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) Aim - To provide professionally managed services with efficiency, accessibility and transparency under one roof to meet the demands of industry, start-ups and academia.
14th Edition of the exercise “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023” commenced in Umroi, Meghalaya recently. It is a joint military special force exercise between India and U.S.A
Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) is India's first national assessment regulator. PARAKH was established in 2020 as a standard-setting body in line with the National Education Policy (NEP). It will create standards and criteria for student assessment and evaluation for all nationally recognized educational boards. It aims to help remove disparities in scores of students enrolled with diff
North Korea recently claims that it has successfully placed a 1st military spy satellite, Malligyong-1 into orbit. The satellite was launched on a new carrier rocket, “Chollima-1”. North Korea has also developed a class of experimental satellites called the Kwangmyongsong program.
Ahead of the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Israel has declared the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terror organization. Lashkar-e-Taiba is an Islamist militant group particularly active in the Kashmir region.
Rani Lakshmi Bai, also known as the Rani of Jhansi, was a queen and freedom fighter in India. Her original name was Manikarnika Tambe. She was born on November 19, 1828 in Varanasi. She was the Maharani of the princely state of Jhansi from 1843 to 1853. The British East India Company refused to accept their adopted son as legal heir through Doctrine of Lapse and decided to annex Jhansi. So, Rani Lakshmi Bai took part in the Indian Rebellion of 185
It commemorates the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly of India on November 26, 1949. The Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950.
Mars solar conjunction is a phenomenon that occurs when the Sun is between Earth and Mars. This happens once every 2 years. During conjunction, Mars is located on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth.
KBR National Park, also known as Chiran Fort Palace is located in the Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad. The park is also known as ‘jungle amidst the concrete jungle’ and was declared as a National Park in 1998. The park is named after former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kasu Brahmananda Reddy
Russia has recently signed a contract to supply Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles to India and allow production of the Igla under licence in India. The Igla-S is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) that can be fired by an individual or crew to bring down an enemy aircraft with a range of upto 6km. It is also known as the Igla-Super and SA-24 Grinch India is the world’s largest arms importer and Russia remains its largest supplier (45%) with Fra
India has overtaken China to become the largest contributor of inland capture water fisheries, thereby emerging as one of the top 3 fish-producing countries in the world. Inland fish production has doubled over the past 9 years to 131 lakh tonnes. In 2021-22, India's annual fish production reached an all-time record of 162.48 lakh tons. Some of India's inland capture fisheries resources include - Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Bhima, West Coast Narmada, Tapti, Mahi.
Joseph Boakai was recently declared winner of Liberia's presidential election, beating incumbent George Weah. Liberia is a country in West Africa sharing its borders with Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast to the northwest, north, and east respectively. The Atlantic Ocean borders Liberia to the south-southwest.
Union ministry of ports, shipping and waterways reinstated the Vadhavan Port project in Maharashtra, after it had been stuck over environmental concerns for over 2 years. It is India's 13th major port, developed as a joint venture by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB). It is a Public-private partnership (PPP) project (JNPA - 74% stakes and MMB - 26% stakes).
It is the world's 1st ever AI humanoid robot CEO of Polish rum company Dictador. It is developed by Dictador and Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong-based engineering and robotics company which is behind the renowned AI robot Sophia. Mika is a more advanced version of her sister prototype, Sophia, who was activated in 2015
Union Minister for Cooperation has recently launched the ‘Bharat Organics’ brand of National Cooperative Organics Ltd (NCOL). 6 products under the 'Bharat Organics' brand were tur dal, chana dal, sugar, rajma, basmati rice, and Sonamasoori rice. About 50% of profits from the sale of organic products through NCOL will be transferred directly to member farmers.
The United States and the Philippines have recently signed a nuclear deal that would allow Washington to export nuclear technology and material to Manila, Philippines. The pact is in adherence with non-proliferation requirements.
It is the world-1st rifle protection ballistic helmet, indigenously developed by Kanpur-based MKU Limited. It offers uniform protection in all 5 zones of the head against threats like the AK-47 MSC, M80 NATO BALL, and M193 rifle bullets. ‘Back Face Signature’ is a way to measure how much a protective helmet deforms or indents on the inside due to the impact of a high energy bullet.
It is a Palestinian-led campaign that uses economic pressure to delegitimize Israel. It is a loosely connected network of Palestinian civil society groups coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee. The BDS movement aims to create a world without a Jewish state. The movement was launched in 2005 by more than 170 Palestinian groups to garner international support for Palestinian people’s rights.
The world’s 1st gene therapy “Casgevy” for sickle cell disease has been approved in Britain recently. It is made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd. and CRISPR Therapeutics. Gene therapy for sickle cell disease uses a non-infectious lentivirus to silence the BCL11A gene. It approved the treatment for patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia who are 12 years old and over. Both sickle cell disease (common in people with African
It is one of the largest river turtles in South America, also known as the yellow-headed sideneck turtle and the yellow-spotted river turtle. This diurnal (most active in mid-morning and afternoon turtle) is native to the Amazon River basin and can be found in the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers and are locally known as Taricayas. Conservation status - IUCN - Vulnerable. An extended heat wave and drought have shortened the incubation period for thousands of turtle hatchlings in t
The Silkyara tunnel connects the villages of Silkyara and Dandalgaonin in Uttarakhand. It is part of the Chardham project of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The tunnel aims to reduce the distance between 2 major pilgrim sites Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand. The tunnel collapsed recently trapping at least 40 workers inside.
Nayi Chetna – 2.0 is a gender campaign that aims to eradicate violence against women and advance the rights of women and gender-diverse individuals. The campaign was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The campaign is led by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and launched in all states under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, supporte
Operation 1027 is a joint military operation by the 3 brotherhood alliance - Ta’ang National Liberation Army, (TNLA) the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Arakan Army. Its goal is to combat the Myanmar Junta’s armed forces and allied militias in northern Shan State, close to the Myanmar-China border. The operation, titled after the date of its commencement - Oct. 27. The violence has forced people to flee to Mizoram in India.
The Watch and earn initiative is a project to protect the Sinhagad fort, an ancient hill fortress located at Pune in Maharashtra. The fort is previously known as Kondhana and it is known for the Battle of Sinhagad. Battle of Sinhagad was held in 1670 between Tanaji Malusare, a Maratha commander and Udaybhan Rathore, a fort keeper under Jai Singh I.
Australia has offered refuge to citizens of Tuvalu because of the catastrophic impacts of climate change, in a landmark agreement. Under the pact, citizens of Tuvalu will have the right to live, work and study in Australia. Tuvalu is a nation of 9 coral islands nestled in the South Pacific, formerly known as the Ellice Islands. It has been defined by the United Nations as "extremely vulnerable" to the effects of climate change, with most of its landmass less than 5 met
Union Minister of Science & Technology recently launched the software application "Dashboard" portal. It is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven technology dashboard to analyze Parliament Questions on various parameters including member's profile. It also serve as a dashboard for Cabinet Notes, Acts of Parliament and Gazette Notifications of Govt. of India related to Department of Science & Technology.
2nd Thomas Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. The shoal is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, Philippines and lies within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The shoal is a disputed territory and is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan (ROC) and Vietnam.
A panchayat in Odisha’s Nuapada district recently introduces Bartan Bank to reduce plastic waste. The Bartan Bank will act as a repository of steel utensils as alternatives to single use plastics during community functions and social gatherings.
It is a cyclonic storm that is expected to intensify over the Bay of Bengal. The storm is expected to cross the Bangladesh coast and bring heavy rainfall to West Bengal's coastal districts. The name Midhili was proposed by the Maldives.
Giant tortoises were once so abundant on the Galapagos archipelago off Ecuador. The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger) is the largest living species of tortoise. It is also one of the longest-lived land vertebrates, with an average lifespan of over 100 years. Of the 15 species of giant tortoises that once lived in the Galapagos, 3 are now extinct. The Galapagos National Park (Ecuador's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) was established to collect eg
The 9th edition of Mitra Shakti, a Joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka commenced recently in Pune. Aim - To jointly rehearse conduct of Sub Conventional operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter. Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace.
India recently hosts the 33rd Conference of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Regional Commission for Asia and the Pacific at New Delhi. WOAH is an intergovernmental Organization working across borders to improve the health of animals. WHOA is headquartered in Paris and has 182 Members including India. WHOA has adopted its Seventh Strategic Plan for 2021 - 2025.
Hirodai ohtsukai is a new genus and species of crustacean parasite discovered recently in the Dollfus’ Stargazer (Uranoscopus guttatus) fish species off the coast of India. Dollfus' stargazer (Uranoscopus dollfusi) is a marine fish in the family Uranoscopidae. It is widespread in the Western Indian Ocean, including the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf. It can be found at depths ranging from 300-550 m. The stargazers are a family of perciform fish that have
It's a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 2.7-meter (106-inch) reflecting telescope and is the world's only airborne telescope. The telescope weighs 19 tons and is mounted in the rear fuselage of the aircraft. SOFIA was designed for infrared astronomy observations in the stratosphere at altitudes of about 12 kilometers. SOFIA achieved full operational capability in 2014 and concluded its final science flight on September, 2022.
It is a joint Low Earth Orbit observatory mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scheduled to take place in the early 2024. Aim - To survey all of Earth's land and ice-covered surfaces every 12 days. NISAR carries L and S dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which operates with the Sweep SAR technique to achieve large swaths with high-resolution data.
The White-cheeked macaque is a species of macaque found only in Medog County in southeastern Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. Conservation status – Endangered (IUCN Red List) It is not covered by the Wildlife Protection Act of India. Along with White-Cheeked Macaques and Arunachal Macaque, Assamese Macaque (Macaca assamensis) and Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) reported from the same landscape.
9th edition of the annual event, India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held at Faridabad, Haryana in January 2024. Theme - Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal. Aim - To provide a platform to engage the public with science and celebrate how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can improve lives. It is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences in association with Vijn
Recently, scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to discover the 2nd and 4th most distant galaxies in a part of space known as Pandora’s cluster. Pandora's Cluster is the nickname of Abell 2744, a giant galaxy cluster in the constellation Sculptor. It's about 4 million light-years across and has the mass of 4 trillion suns (Dark matter – 75%). The cluster is located approximately 4 billion light years from Earth. The gas (around 20%)
The Sea Guardian-3 exercise is a joint bilateral naval exercise between China and Pakistan in the Northern Arabian Sea. China and Pakistan will conduct their 1st joint maritime patrol during this exercise. The exercise is divided into 2 phases, shore-based exchanges, and maritime joint operations with the theme of Joint Response to Maritime Security Threats.
White goods are large home appliances and electrical goods for the house which were traditionally available only in white. Example - Stoves, Refrigerators, Freezers, Washing machines, Tumble driers, Dishwashers, Air conditioners, LED lights, Water heaters, Microwave ovens, Induction cookers. It also refer to white fabrics, especially linen or cotton that are historically used to be made of white cloth. In the beverage industry, white goods are colorless spirits, such a
Location - South West Iceland, on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a volcanically active region that runs along the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates are drifting apart. Recently, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted in this region.
Also known as “LockBit Black”, LockBit 3.0 is a ransomware, a type of malware that locks a victim’s data or device unless the victim pays a ransom to the attacker. It operates under the business model of "ransomware-as-a-service". Recently, the US arm of the China’s Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), world’s largest lender in terms of assets, was hit by Lockbit 3.0.
It is a proposed canal through Israel that would connect the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) to the Mediterranean Sea. It was named after David Ben-Gurion, Israel's founding father and 1st Prime Minister. The project was envisioned in the 1960s to create an alternative route to the Suez Canal and challenge Egypt's monopoly on the shortest trade route between Europe and Asia.
They are fireworks made with a reduced shell size without ash, and use additives such as dust suppressants to reduce emissions and particulate matter. These crackers lack barium compounds that is responsible for the green hue and noise pollution. The idea was introduced by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Insititute (CSIR-NEERI) in 2018. 3 broad categories of green crackers - SWAS (safe water rele
Recently, the National Ayurveda Day was observed on 10th November. It is celebrated in India every year on the occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti (Dhanteras) since 2016. Focal theme for 2023 is 'Ayurveda for One Health', with the tagline, 'Ayurveda for everyone, every day' focusing on human-animal-plant-environment interface. Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Science (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush is the coordinating agency for
Also known as korai paai in Tamil, these mats are crafted from the dry grass cultivated along the banks of the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu. During summer, straw mats are cool to sleep on, and they turn warm to sleep on in cold weather. It is an inseparable element in traditional gifts in Tamil weddings.
Aim - To encourage Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country to voluntarily submit key data through a user-friendly data entry form on the portal Initiative of - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Ministry through Digital India Corporation will provide handholding support to ULBs in the data submission process.
It is located in the Neelam Valley of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC). It's situated on the banks of the Kishanganga River. It is regarded as one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas and a major centre of learning.
It is a green alga that lives in saline-soda lakes. It is an extremophilic alga resorting to physiological adaptation to highly saline-alkaline/hyperosmotic conditions. It was spotted for the 1st time in India in the Sambhar Lake.
It is a new species of gecko discovered in the Western Ghats (endemic) near Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu. The new species is also called Rashid’s dwarf gecko as it is the smallest (approx. 2 inches) among the genus. The dwarf gecko has been found in small numbers and it is endemic to the Western Ghats. So far, 93 species of gecko have been documented and this is the 94th species.
Pancorius sebastiani, a new species of jumping spider, was discovered from the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Kerala. It belongs to the genus Pancorius Simon, 1902, and Salticidae family. The Pancorius genus of Asian jumping spiders is primarily distributed in south east Asia. While its distribution was hitherto limited to the east and northeastern regions in India, the new species is the first to be reported from the south.
Union Defence Minister has approved a proposal to grant maternity, child care and child adoption leave to women soldiers, sailors and air warriors on par with their officer counterparts. At present, the women officers get maternity leave of 180 days with full pay for each child, subject to a maximum of 2 children. Childcare leave of 360 days is granted in total service career (subject to the child being less than 18 years of age) to women officers. Child adop
Alvin Anto of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has won the Hasmukh Shah Memorial Award for Ecological Studies for the year 2023 in the research category. He has been recognised for his extensive research on the resilience of coral reefs in the Lakshadweep islands, highlighting the increasing threats these critical ecosystems face from climate change and other human-induced factors. Hasmukh Shah Memorial Award, instituted by the Gujarat Ecology Society and f
India and Bangladesh jointly inaugurated 3 India assisted development projects. The 3 projects are The Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link – Dual gauge rail line connects Bangladesh and Tripura. The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line - Broad gauge rail route between Mongla Port (Bangladesh) and the existing rail network in Khulna (Bangladesh). Unit - II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant - Rampal in Khulna Division of Bangladesh.
The Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety was adopted at the 2nd global high-level conference on road safety in Brazil in 2015. The declaration includes recommendations on Sustainable transport, Enforcement, Post-crash response, Pedestrian and cyclist safety. The declaration also includes the Sustainable Development Goal 3.6, which is to half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030. The United Nations has also declared 2011-2020 as the decade o
A deep bay of the Southern Ocean, the Ross Sea exists between Marie Byrd Land and Victoria Land of Antarctica. The majority of the Ross Sea Region MPA is fully protected under a General Protection Zone (GPZ). Around 72% of the MPA is a no-take zone, excluding areas under ice shelves. A no-take zone is an area set aside by the government where no extractive activity is allowed. Extractive activities include fishing, hunting, logging, mining, and drilling. Shell collecting and a
Pied avocet - A migratory bird species that breeds in Europe and Central Asia, arriving in Africa and southern Asia during winters. Greater painted snipe and Slaty breasted rail, Brown crake - spotted at Visakhapatnam. Great crested grebe - A winter migrant to India (found in all wetlands of Srikakulam and some places in Visakhapatnam). Other species spotted in Andhra Pradesh - Lesser florican, Terek sandpiper, Jerdon’s courser and green munia
Status of MSME in India Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) serve as the ‘backbone of Indian economy’ and the ‘growth engines of the country’. Classification- MSMEs are classified based on the investment in plant & machinery/equipment and annual turnover. It includes both manufacturing service rendering enterprises. Classification Micro
Digital India- In 2015, it was launched to improve online infrastructure and increase internet accessibility among citizens. Unified Payment Interface-It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. Bhasini- It is an AI powered language translation platform which will support digital inclusion in India's diverse languages. Udyam portal- It provides regis
NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has declared the commercial operation of its first project, the 50 MW wind project at Dayapar in Kachch, Gujarat. Dayapar Wind is the first capacity in India to be declared commercial under new Indian Electricity Grid Code and General Network Access Regime.
India-born author Nandini Das won the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, a leading international non-fiction prize. The prize was awarded her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire’. The prize was established in 2013, formerly known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize. The prize is open to authors of any nationality based anywhere in the world and working in any language provided the nominated wor
More than 97% of the Rs. 2,000 bank notes have returned on the deadline (October 31, 2023) of circulation withdrawn of Rs. 2,000 bank notes by RBI. However, the window for deposit and/or exchange the Rs. 2,000 banknotes continues to be available at the 19 Issue Offices of RBI. The RBI reiterated that Rs. 2000 bank notes continue to be legal tender.
Hurun India and EdelGive released the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023. Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Technologies, has retained the top spot as the leading Indian philanthropist. The list includes philanthropists who donated more than Rs 5 crore in the financial year 2023.
Operation Cactus was a military operation led by the Indian Armed Forces in the Maldives in 1988. The operation thwarted a coup attempt against the Maldivian Government headed by President Abdul Gayoom.
Diagnostic Services in Healthcare - Availability and Geo-mapping of Laboratory services in India (DISHA) is a portal that helps the public access nearby diagnostic healthcare facilities. It was launched by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Pathology (NIP). The portal provides information on the type of facility, distance, test availability, test cost, and turn-around time.
After Pakistan’s deadline expired for undocumented foreigners, about 1.7 million people were forced to leave Pakistan across the Torkham border. The Torkham border crossing is a major border connecting Nangarhar province of Afghanistan with Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Dholes, also known as Asiatic wild dogs, are wild dogs native to Asia and genetically similar to African wild dogs. In India, they are found in 3 clusters (Western and Eastern Ghats, central Indian landscape and North East India). Conservation Status CITES – Appendix II IUCN - Endangered. A pair of elusive wild dogs, often referred to as Dholes, have made a rare appearance in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary of Odisha recently.
Japanese scientists have said that Mouse embryos were grown in space (International Space Station) for first time. The embryos cultured under microgravity conditions developed normally into blastocysts, cells that develop into the foetus and placenta and demonstrates that gravity had no significant effect. This is the world's first experiment that cultured early-stage mammalian embryos under complete microgravity of ISS.
It was formed as a trilateral maritime security grouping between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives operating in the Indian Ocean region. It focuses on Maritime security, Countering terrorism and Cybersecurity. In 2020, Mauritius was added as a member of the grouping, with Bangladesh and the Seychelles as observers. Bangladesh and Seychelles are observers and have been invited to join the group and are likely to join as full members.
2 women navy officers trained to undertake the first women solo-circumnavigation as part of the Navy’s ‘Sagar Parikrama’. The Golden Globe Race (GGR) is a solo sailing race around the globe in a yacht. It started off on 2018, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race when Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to make a non-stop solo circumnavigation trip. The GGR is modeled on the race that took place in 1968. This m
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed, was nominated as the next Regional Director for the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia region recently. The nomination will be submitted to the WHO Executive Board during its 154th session, which is scheduled to take place on January 22-27 in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Region (SEARO) Member countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR (North) Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives
It was a 100 million megaton blast that occurred 66 million years ago. It was caused by an asteroid or comet that crashed into Earth off the coast of Mexico. The impact generated a core of superheated plasma that was over 10,000 degrees, wiped out 75% of all species on Earth, created a 2-year cloud of dust that caused an extreme and abrupt shift in climate.
The explosion of a star, a supernova recorded in the year 1,054 AD led to the creation of the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant. Now, the James Webb Space Telescope has looked at the nebula that is located 65,000 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, revealing exquisite new details. The Crab Nebula is one of the brightest supernova remnants in the sky, is also known as Messier 1 (M1).
Quality Council of India (QCI) in collaboration with the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS) hosted the ICSTS in New Delhi recently. Sustainability Standards are special rules that guarantee the products you buy do not hurt the environment and the people that make them. Standards are considered a market-based tool to transform production, global supply chains and consumption patterns into more sustainable ones.
Indian Air Force recently inducted 153 women Agniveervayu into its non-officer cadre for the 1st time. Agniveervayu (Women) is a group of female soldiers in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Agniveers are cadets appointed to the Army wings under the Agnipath scheme, a short-term service youth recruitment. Agniveers are recruited for a period of 4 years, with the option to extend their service for an additional 4 years. After completing their service, 25% of Agniveers will
It is a scheme to provide employment to the people of West Bengal on the lines of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). It is a 100-day job scheme like MGNREGA.
The Houthis are a large clan belonging to the Zaidi Shia sect, in Yemen’s northwestern Saada province. The Houthi movement, officially called Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), began in the 1990s against the dictatorship of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Today, the Houthis are one faction in a bloody civil war that has raged in Yemen since 2014. They currently control territory in the west and northwest of Yemen, including the capital Sana’a. They have waded into the
Executive Director of the Rubber Board has launched the 4th edition of the Virtual Trade Fair (VTF) recently. The Rubber Board is a statutory body constituted by the Government of India, under the Rubber Act 1947, for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country. The Rubber Board is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Head Office - Kottayam, Kerala.
The indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand’, successfully carried out inaugural firing recently. It was designed, developed and extensively test-flown by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 ft), which makes it ideal to operate in the high altitude areas of the Siachen glacier. It is also capable of firing a range of air-to-ground a
The Tamil Nadu government has enforced a complete ban on the sale, storage, purchase, import and use of manjha threads. Manjha threads refers to kite flying threads made of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material which causes severe injury or even death of people and animals. The contravention of the ban shall be penalised under provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The ban comes after the National Green Tribunal in 2017 had imposed a total ban on Manjha t
The 2nd edition of Rohini Nayyar Prize was presented to Deenanath Rajput, for his work on empowering tribal women in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. It is a prize to recognize the exemplary contributions of young Indians, under the age of 40 years, towards improving the lives of people in rural India. The prize was presented in memory of late economist-administrator Dr Rohini Nayyar.
The Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon was recently decommissioned at INS Hansa, Dabolim in Goa. The IL-38 Sea Dragon is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft that was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1977.
It is a self-propelled, indigenously made deep-ocean mining vehicle. It is a part of India’s Deep Ocean Mission. Positioned at a pre-surveyed mineral-rich site, Varaha uses a high-power pressure pump system to facilitate the extraction of precious polymetallic nodules. These nodules are pumped from the ocean bed to the surface ship.
Prime Minister launched MY Bharat platform for youth of the country at Kartavya Path on the National Unity Day (October 31). It aims to facilitate youth development and youth-led development. It is a 'Phygital Platform' (physical + digital) comprising physical activity along with an opportunity to connect digitally. Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), an autonomous body, will benefit the youth in the age group of 15-29 years.
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court directed the Goa government to notify a tiger reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and other contiguous areas of the state within 3 months. The sanctuary is located in Goa, Western Ghats of South India. It was established in the forests spread within the Mhadei River basin in the year 1999 with an objective to protect Bengal Tigers living in this area.
Prime Minister will address the Officer Trainees of the 98th Common Foundation Course at the culmination of Aarambh 5.0. Aarambh was launched in 2019 by bringing together all trainees of the All-India Civil Services and Group-A Central Services. The course provides a first-hand introduction to the ideas, challenges and responsibilities of governance in a large and diverse country, the release said. The 5th edition of Aarambh is being held on the theme of 'Harnessing the power of
National Medical Commission (NMC), the regulatory body for medical education and medical professionals, is all set to launch its one nation, one registration platform. It aims to eliminate duplication, red tape and allow the public to access information on any physician working in India. The platform will generate UIDs for all practicing doctors.
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