12th January – Editorials/Opinions Analyses
Contents Why are Bushfires raging in Australia? WHY ARE BUSHFIRES RAGING IN AUSTRALIA? Why in news? Australia’s bushfires have razed more than 10.3 million hectares (103,300 sq km) of land — roughly the size of South Korea — since September. Why did Australia suffer from drought? Playing out to the north and south of […]
WHY ARE BUSHFIRES RAGING IN AUSTRALIA?
Why in news? Bushfires in Australia have razed more than 10.3 million hectares (103,300 sq km) of land — roughly the size of South Korea — since September. It may be an implication of Indian Ocean Diploe (IOD). Why did Australia suffer from drought? Playing out to the north and south of the equator, the […]
Current Affairs for UPSC IAS Exam – 12 January 2020
Contents: Iran Admits its Missile Shot Down Ukraine Jet Ukraine Demands Justice, Compensation LCA Navy Varian successfully Lands on INS Vikramaditya Transgender Persons Act Comes into Effect We Won’t Leave Siachen: Army Chief 34 lakh OCI Cards Issued: Centre New method better estimates Melting of Debris-covered Himalayan Glaciers VR and Visual Memory Species-Rich forests offer […]
SPECIES-RICH FORESTS OFFER STABLE CARBON CAPTURE
Why in news? Spending over six months conducting surveys inside Anamalai Tiger Reserve and using satellite data from multiple locations in the Western Ghats, an international team of researchers has shown that carbon storage was highest in species-rich evergreen forest. What is found in study? The results showed that the species-rich evergreen forests stored carbon […]
VR AND VISUAL MEMORY
Why in news? Researchers have found that virtual reality (VR)—a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment usually experienced using head mounted displays (HMDs)—may interfere with visual memory, a finding that may lead to better application of the technology. They speculate that the enhanced sense of realism and immersion created by the ability to […]
NEW METHOD BETTER ESTIMATES MELTING OF DEBRIS-COVERED HIMALAYAN GLACIERS
Why in news? A study of the Satopanth glacier in order to model the melting of debris-covered glaciers has been carried out by a group of Indian researchers. Their new method gives a better estimate of the glacier’s melting than existing ones. Why is this study important? Studying debris-laden Himalayan glaciers is important from the […]
34 LAKH OCI CARDS ISSUED: CENTRE
Why in news? The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stated that more than 34 lakh Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registrations had been done but declined to divulge information relating to the number of persons whose OCI cards had been cancelled, citing non availability in a “consolidated form.” Background The Diaspora encompasses a group […]
WE WON’T LEAVE SIACHEN: ARMY CHIEF
Why in news? The Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, said on 11th January, that the Army would not disengage from the Siachen Glacier as the world’s highest battlefield was key to deterring a two-front engagement with Pakistan and China. He outlined an increase in focus on improving infrastructure and capabilities in […]
TRANSGENDER PERSONS ACT COMES INTO EFFECT
Why in news? The Social Justice Ministry issued a notification on January 10, 2019, notifying the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which was passed by Parliament on November 26 and given Presidential assent on December 5, 2019. Background The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 Bill defines a transgender person as one […]
LCA NAVY VARIANT SUCCESSFULLY LANDS ON INS VIKRAMADITYA
Why in news? In a significant development, the naval version of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made its first arrested landing on the deck of India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The Navy currently operates Russian MiG-29K fighters from INS Vikramaditya which will also fly from the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant once it […]