Svalbard: A significant new discovery recently emerged in the Arctic, with scientists spotting an unexpected gathering of walruses on the remote shores of Svalbard, a wild stretch of land nestled between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago that is situated in the Arctic Ocean, to the north of the European […]
Month: December 2025
Ramban Sulai Honey
Ramban Sulai Honey: The Prime Minister, during the 128th episode of his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ noted that Ramban Sulai honey from Jammu and Kashmir, made from wild basil, gained wider recognition after receiving a GI tag. Ramban Sulai Honey, produced in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir, is known for its rich […]
Protosticta sooryaprakashi
Protosticta sooryaprakashi: A new species of damselfly named, Protosticta sooryaprakashi, sporting vibrant sky-blue markings, has been recently discovered in the biodiversity hotspots of India’s Western Ghats. It is a new species of damselfly. Named the Kodagu Shadowdamsel, it was discovered in Karnataka’s Kodagu district. The species has been named in honour of the late Dr. […]
Booth Level Officer
Booth Level Officer: Concerns have been raised with several Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deaths that have been reported from the states undergoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BLOs are representatives of the Election Commission of India (ECI) at the grass-root level who assist in updating the electoral roll using their local knowledge. […]
Darjeeling Mandarin Orange
Darjeeling Mandarin Orange: The Darjeeling Mandarin orange received the Geographical Indication status. It is grown in the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal. The Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is a major cash crop of the Darjeeling Hills. It is the third product from the region, after Darjeeling Tea and Dalley Khursani chilli, to get […]
Bamboo Shrimp
Bamboo Shrimp: A team of researchers rediscovered Indian populations of the bamboo shrimp in Karnataka and Odisha after 72 years. Bamboo Shrimp is a freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia. Common names: Wood Shrimp, Flower Shrimp, Singapore Wood, Marble Shrimp and Asian Fan Shrimp. Characteristics of Bamboo Shrimp: They have the ability to camouflage themselves […]
Khiamniungan Tribe
Khiamniungan Tribe: The Prime Minister of India mentioned about the Khiamniungan tribe in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode. The Khiamniungan tribe is one of the major tribes among the Nagas, with habitation both in India and Myanmar. The meaning of the term Khiamniungan is ‘source of great water or river’. The traditional social structure was […]
Perseverance Rover
Perseverance Rover: NASA’s Perseverance rover recently detected electrical activity in Mars’ atmosphere for the first time. Perseverance, nicknamed “Percy“, is a semi-autonomous rover the size of a small car designed to explore the surface of Mars. It is part of NASA’s ongoing Mars 2020 Mission. Successfully landed on the surface of Mar’s Jezero Crater in […]
India’s Disaster Risk Financing
India’s Disaster Risk Financing: The Union Government recently sanctioned only Rs 260 crore in disaster relief to Kerala following the devastating Wayanad landslides of July 2024, against the State’s estimated losses of Rs 2,200 crore. This glaring disparity has reignited debates around the weakening of cooperative federalism and the increasing centralisation of disaster-risk finance in […]
Uranium Contamination in Delhi
Uranium Contamination in Delhi: New groundwater testing by the Central Ground Water Board shows rising uranium levels in Delhi, with 13–15% of samples showing elevated contamination.Uranium contamination refers to the presence of uranium— a naturally occurring radioactive heavy metal— in groundwater at levels above permissible limits for safe drinking water. World Health Organization (WHO) guideline […]
