Hanle Dark Sky Reserve: A rare blood-red auroral activity was captured by the all-sky camera at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Ladakh’s Hanle Dark Sky Reserve. Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located in the remote Changthang region of Ladakh. It is part of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, offering Bortle-1 dark skies (the darkest category). It […]
Category: Current Affairs
Coking Coal
Coking Coal: The Government of India has notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). Coking Coal is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock found within the earth’s crust. It is also known as Metallurgical coal. It is a type of coal that […]
Living Root Bridges
Living Root Bridges: India submitted Meghalaya’s living root bridges to UNESCO for World Heritage status. The living root bridges are locally known as Jingkieng Jri or Lyu Chrai. These are nestled across the lush southern slopes of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. These are masterpieces of bioengineering created by indigenous Khasi and Jaintia […]
NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme
NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) recently rolled out the NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme (NSPS) on a pilot basis. NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme (NSPS) is a new initiative launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) as a Proof of Concept (PoC) under its Regulatory Sandbox Framework. […]
Pechora Missile System
Pechora Missile System: Bengaluru-based defence equipment manufacturer Alpha Design Technologies Ltd (ADTL) has completed a major upgrade of the ’s (IAF) Pechora, a surface-toair missile (SAM) system, in line with the Centre’s push for modernising ageing military hardware through indigenous capability. The Pechora, officially known as the S-125 Neva/Pechora, is a Soviet-origin, medium-range surface-to-air missile […]
PAIMANA Portal
PAIMANA Portal: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has operationalised a new web-based portal, PAIMANA portal for the mandated monitoring of Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above. The Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building (PAIMANA) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). […]
IIT-Kanpur team developed a new way to predict solar cycles
IIT-Kanpur team developed a new way to predict solar cycles: The solar cycle describes an approximately 11-year cycle of solar activity driven by the sun’s magnetic field.It is indicated by the frequency and intensity of sunspots visible on the surface.Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips.This means that the Sun’s north […]
Paathara Practice
Paathara Practice: It is observed that the ancient grain storage tradition named Paathara practice or Khoni is fading fast in Srikakulam district.Paathara Practice is an ancestral practice of underground grain storage.In the storage pit freshly harvested grains, mostly paddy, are stored.It is observed by farmers along the banks of the Mahendratanaya River in the Uddanam […]
Kyasanur Forest Disease : In News
Kyasanur Forest Disease : In News A 29-year-old man in Karnataka has tragically lost his life recently after contracting Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever, bringing fresh attention to a disease that often goes unnoticed until it turns fatal.It is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease mostly found in southern India.The disease was […]
Phosphorus
Phosphorus: Phosphorus accumulation in US farmland is causing significant water pollution. It is a highly reactive nonmetallic chemical element of the nitrogen family (Group 15 [Va] of the periodic table). It has the symbol P and atomic number 15. The two main forms of phosphorus are white phosphorus and red phosphorus. White phosphorus is a […]
