AEGEAN SEA EARTHQUAKE STRIKES TURKEY
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-III Disaster Management Why in news? At least 14 people were killed in Turkey and Greece after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea in October 2020, bringing buildings crashing down and setting off tidal waves which slammed into coastal areas and islands. The Earthquake struck with a magnitude of up to […]
TYPHOON GONI AND TYPHOON MOLAVE
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-III Disaster Management Why in news? Philippine officials ordered evacuation of thousands of residents in the southern part of the main Luzon island as a category 5 storm – Typhoon Goni – that is the world’s strongest in 2020 approaches the Southeast Asian nation. Recently Typhoon Molave in October 2020 killed 22 […]
Science of monsoons
Context: The southwest monsoon 2020 has officially drawn to an end with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declaring a withdrawal of the associated winds and rainfall pattern from India on Wednesday. Relevance: GS Paper 1: Salient Features of World Physical Geography; Important Geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones); Mains questions: What characteristics can be assigned […]
MOUNTAINS THAT SUSTAIN MILLIONS
Focus: GS-II Geography, GS-I Indian Society Introduction The Himalayas region is among the 36 world biodiversity hotspots and encompasses 240 million people. The mountains are the most resilient; yet, ironically, their inhabitants are vulnerable. With few livelihood options, forests form an essential life support system for the locals. However, dwindling natural resources, unsustainable agricultural practices, […]
AMAZON TRIBE TALKING TO INDIANS ABOUT BLOOD GOLD
Focus: GS-I Geography Introduction From the remote rainforests of Brazil, a little-known tribe has made an emotional appeal to Indians – to stop the import of gold by the government and companies saying that “gold which has come from Yanomami territory is Blood Gold, gold at the cost of indigenous blood”. The Yanomami peoples The […]
LANDSLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAPPING IN UTTARAKHAND
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-III Disaster Management Introduction Like most hill townships, Mussoorie, the popular hill station in Uttarakhand, has witnessed several landslides, probably resulting from an increased spate of developmental activities. The increased disaster hazard has led scientists to map the landslide susceptibility of Mussoorie and surrounding areas, showing that 15 percent of the region […]
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF ATAL TUNNEL AT ROHTANG
Focus: GS-I Geography Introduction The Atal Tunnel at Rohtang, near Manali, is almost complete in all respects and the approx. 9-km-long tunnel under the Pir Panjal range, named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be the world’s longest highway tunnel above the altitude of 10,000 feet (3000 metres). What were the problems faced […]
1ST ALL-WEATHER ROUTE TO LADAKH
Focus: Prelims, GS-I Geography, GS-III International Relations Why in news? India’s national security planners are pushing hard to complete an all-weather strategic route to Ladakh that will link Darcha in Himachal Pradesh to Nimu via Padum in Kargil’s Zanskar valley. Details Senior military commanders said the third route to connect Ladakh by road is urgently […]
INDIAN BID FOR SYLHET AIRPORT TOO HIGH: DHAKA
Focus: GS-I Geography, GS-II International relations Why in news? Bangladesh Foreign Minister said the contract for building an airport terminal at Sylhet was not awarded to an Indian firm because of a high bid and therefore, went to a Chinese firm. Details The construction of a new terminal at MAG Osmani International Airport at Sylhet […]
HURRICANE HANNA
Focus: GS-I Geography Introduction Texas is facing another hardship apart from being one of the largest hotspots for Covid-19 in the U.S., as Hurricane Hanna has made landfall. Details As per the latest update issued by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC), the centre of Hanna has moved into north-eastern Mexico and the storm surge warning […]