Belarus faces backlash sanctions over forced landing
Context: Western powers prepared to pile sanctions on Belarus and cut off its aviation links after it scrambled a warplane to intercept an aircraft and arrest a dissident journalist, an act which one leader denounced as ‘state piracy’. The European Union (EU) imposed sanctions against Belarus, including banning its airlines from using the airspace and […]
NGT forms panel to probe construction in Mekedatu
Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone has appointed a joint committee to look into allegations of unauthorised construction activity taking place in Mekedatu, where the Karnataka government had proposed to construct a dam across the Cauvery River. Relevance: GS-II: Polity and Governance (Intra-State Relations, Functions & responsibilities of the Union and the States, […]
Mount Nyaragongo eruption
Context: An active volcano in Congo, Mount Nyaragongo, erupted again. The Indian Army contingent under the United Nations peace keeping mission (MONUSCO) assisted in protecting civilians and U.N. officials as well as assets during the evacuation. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography, Volcanoes, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Disaster Management Dimensions of the Article: Mount Nyiragongo Stratovolcano […]
Cyclone Yaas, Increasing Tropical Cyclones
Context: Cyclone Tauktae that was the first Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm in the Arabian Sea to make landfall in Gujarat in 130 years. In less than a few days after the landfall of Tauktae, there is a possible cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal called Yaas. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important […]
Cloudbursts and Floods in Uttarakhand
Context: A number of cloudbursts caused several homes and roads in a number of villages in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, Tehri and Rudraprayag districts to be flooded with water and debris in early May 2021. Cloudburst-like events have hit Uttarakhand since May 2021 and have caused considerable damage in the four hilly districts of Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, […]
Cyclone ‘Tauktae’
Context: Tauktae – an ‘Extremely severe cyclonic storm’ moved north-northwestwards and hit the Gujarat Coast with maximum wind speeds gusting up to 185 – 210 km/h. Along the cyclone’s path, several people died in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka due to electrocution and wall collapse. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: […]
Two tornadoes strike China
Context: Two tornadoes that struck central and eastern China killed at least 12 people and injured more than 400. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena) Dimensions of the Article: What is a Tornado? Distribution of tornadoes Differences between a Tornado and a Cyclone What is a Tornado? A tornado is a […]
Assam earthquake
Context: Several houses and buildings were damaged after an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Assam. Six aftershocks, of magnitude ranging from 3.2 to 4.7, occurred in the two-and-a-half hours following the main tremor. Relevance: GS-III: Disaster Management (Earthquakes) GS-I: Geography (Important Geophysical Phenomena) Dimensions of the Article: About the Fault line […]
BRO reports glacier break in Uttarakhand
Context: There are reports of a glacier breaking off in the Sumna area, located close to the Indo-China border in Uttarakhand. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Commander concerned had informed them that reports of such an incident had been received and teams were being sent to the area. Relevance: GS-I: Geography (Physical Geography, Distribution of […]
Fossils of Cynodonts found in Tiki Formation
Context: The Tiki Formation in Madhya Pradesh, a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils, has now yielded a new species and two genera of cynodonts, small rat-like animals that lived about 220 million years ago. Relevance: Prelims, GS-I: Geography (Geomorphology, Origin & Evolution of Earth) Dimensions of the Article: Tiki Formation New Species found: The Study […]