Geography and Environmental

TOPICS COVERED: Salient features of world’s physical geography Context: Following heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, landslides have occurred in the state. About a cloudburst A cloudburst is a localised but intense rainfall activity. While it can also occur in plains, the phenomenon is most common in hilly regions. Not all instances of very heavy rainfall, however, are cloudbursts. …

For India it was the hottest month since 1901, recording the highest monthly average maximum (day) temperature (29. 5 degrees Celsius) in 122 years. The India Meteorological Department on Tuesday signalled bitter days ahead with a forecast of hotter than normal summer in many parts of the country during the …

Cracks first appeared in a few houses in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath town in October 2021. Over a year later, by January 11, 2023, 723 houses in all of the nine wards in the town had developed major or minor cracks on the floors, ceilings and walls. In response, 145 families have …

The Union government has granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to 9 products from across the country, including the Gamosa of Assam; Alibag White Onion from Maharashtra; Ladakh RaktseyKarpo Apricot; and AttappadyAattukombuAvara, among others. Of the 9 GI tags given, five were for products from Kerala, including AttappadyThuvara, an important …

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on earth, and their role in maintaining marine biodiversity is of no small measure. However, it is well documented that coral systems around the world are bleaching and dying due to climate and chemical changes in the sea water. A team from …

Water level in Mullaperiyar dam was brought down to 140.2 feet from its maximum permissible level of 142 feet by Tamil Nadu Public Works Department officials on Sunday. No official statement was issued to clarify if the water was released from the dam on the advice of the disaster management …

The RBI on Wednesday cited inflation concerns as it raised interest rates for the second time in as many months by 25 basis points, setting its benchmark repo rate at 6.5%. “Uncertainty around domestic inflation needs to be carefully monitored in the coming months,” the central bank said in its …