Harvest Festivals 2025: The President of India has greeted citizens on the eve of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Magh Bihu.These are harvest festivals celebrated in diverse forms across the various regions of India.They are celebrated to mark the end of the harvesting season across India under various names e.g., Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu, […]
Day: January 14, 2025
Wildfires in California
Wildfires in California: Los Angeles, California, is battling devastating wildfires, with fatalities and structural losses, as authorities deploy pink fire retardants to contain the flames.These wildfires have been occurring with increasing frequency and outside the usual wildfire season, prompting questions about their causes, the role of climate change, and potential solutions. Authorities are using pink […]
Cryo-Born Baby Corals
Cryo-Born Baby Corals: The world’s first cryo-born baby corals have been successfully introduced into the Great Barrier Reef, marking a groundbreaking achievement in coral restoration and conservation.Australian scientists used cutting-edge cryopreservation to fertilize coral eggs with cryopreserved sperm collected from the Great Barrier Reef.Scientists grew the corals in the National Sea Simulator before transferring them […]
Henley Passport Index 2025
Henley Passport Index 2025: In the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, India’s rank has dropped to 85th, down from 80th in 2024 giving its holders visa free access to 57 countries. India’s ranking showed fluctuations over the years, with its highest being 71st in 2006 and lowest 90th in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.Top Rankings: […]
Terrace Tourism
Terrace Tourism: With the Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) festival approaching, Old Ahmedabad has become a hub of terrace tourism, where residents rent out their terraces for kite flying and festive celebrations.Renting of residential terraces in Old Ahmedabad during festivals like Uttarayan, offering exclusive vantage points for kite flying and other activities.
Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform
Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform: Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, launched the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 in New Delhi.A national platform designed to enhance India’s cleantech value chains and enable collaboration in the renewable energy sector. Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Plasticizers Degradation
Plasticizers Degradation: Researchers at IIT Roorkee have developed a groundbreaking method to degrade plasticizers, specifically diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), using bacterial enzymes.A method using bacterial enzymes to break down high molecular weight plasticizers like DEHP, commonly found in plastics and personal care products.Esterase enzyme from Sulfobacillus acidophilus for degrading DEHP into less harmful byproducts. Additional […]
Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary: The Centre’s National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved exploratory drilling for oil and gas in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Assam’s Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary.Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary Situated in Jorhat district, Assam, the sanctuary lies in a secluded region of evergreen forest.
Mining Pact Between India and Mongolia
Mining Pact Between India and Mongolia: India is poised to sign a preliminary agreement with Mongolia to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of geology and exploration. This agreement focuses on sourcing critical minerals, particularly copper and coking coal, vital for India’s industrial sectors. Mongolia’s rich reserves of these minerals offer India an opportunity to […]
6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan
6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan: A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck southwestern Japan, with its epicenter located in the Hyuga-Nada Sea off Miyazaki Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory for Miyazaki and nearby Kochi Prefectures, warning of potential waves up to one meter in height. The advisory was later lifted, and no […]
