GEOGRAPHY

GS1 – Geography Context   During an ongoing heatwave, Portugal experienced a spectacular and rare roll cloud, a dramatic atmospheric event. What Are Roll Clouds? Roll clouds, also termed volutus, belong to the arcus cloud family. They are rare, tube-shaped horizontal clouds that appear to roll along their horizontal axis. …

GS1 – Geography Context   An intense cold wave hit South America due to the intrusion of a strong polar anticyclone, resulting in rare snowfall in Chile’s Atacama Desert—the first in over a decade. This was caused by an unusually northward extension of an Antarctic high-pressure system. Understanding Polar Anticyclones: …

GS1 – Geography Context: Recently, Taiwan’s Wandan mud volcano erupted. What are Mud Volcanoes? Mud volcanoes are geological formations caused by the eruption of mud, water, and gases—not lava or molten rock. Their eruptions are usually cool, in contrast to the high-temperature eruptions of magmatic volcanoes. They do not involve …

GS1 – Geography  Context India faces an intensifying water crisis triggered by over-extraction, climate change, and governance failures, demanding urgent and coordinated action for sustainability and resilience. Current Water Stress in India Global Ranking: 13th among the most water-stressed countries (World Resources Institute). 600 million Indians face high to extreme …

GS1 – Geography Context In 2023–24, India’s coastline was officially revised, increasing from 7,516.6 km to 11,098.81 km, a 47.7% rise. The number of islands also rose to 1,389 — comprising 1,298 offshore islands and 91 inshore islands. Who Conducted the Revision? Survey of India (Ministry of Science & Technology) …

GS I – Geography Context A recent study warns that the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could cause drastic drops in winter temperatures across northern Europe. Cause of AMOC Disruption Human-induced climate change, especially the accelerated melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, has introduced large volumes of …

GS II – GEOGRAPHY Context Recent studies reveal that thirstwaves—atmospheric events marked by high moisture demand—are increasing in intensity, frequency, and duration, especially during the growing season. What Are Thirstwaves? Episodes where the atmosphere draws excessive moisture from soil and vegetation, impacting agriculture and water security. Difference from Heatwaves: Heatwaves …

GS Paper I – Geography & GS Paper II – International Relations Context: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to resume from June 30, 2025, after a five-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Indo-China border tensions. The resumption is being seen as a cultural revival and diplomatic milestone …

GS1 – Geography Context: The Indian government plans to officially enforce Indian Standard Time (IST) as the sole time standard for legal, commercial, digital, and administrative matters across the country. This marks the first instance where IST will be legally recognized as India’s official time. To bring this into effect, …

GS1 – Geography Context : A rare crescent-shaped weather formation observed over Delhi was identified by IMD radar as a “bow echo”. Understanding Bow Echo: Definition: A bow echo is a curved band of thunderstorms, also known as a squall line, which appears on radar in the form of an …

GS1 – Geography Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the updated SHAKTI Policy. About SHAKTI Scheme: Introduced by the Ministry of Coal in 2017, the SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) framework aims to allocate coal linkages in a transparent …

GS-1: Urbanization – Urban Safety Infrastructure Key Points: A tragic fire in a Kolkata hotel in the crowded Burrabazar area claimed 14 lives and injured 13, revealing deficiencies in urban fire safety and response. The six-storey building had only one staircase and no alternative exits, breaching fire safety regulations. A …

Context: A recent research study focused on six major river basins—Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery—examines the impact of heavy rainfall, baseflow, and river floods in Peninsular India, highlighting the factors contributing to regional flooding. What is Baseflow? Baseflow is the continuous flow of water in a river channel …

UPSC Relevance GS-1: Geography (plate tectonics, geomorphology) GS-3: Science and Technology (geological research) Key Points Scientists discovered that continental rifting triggers deep mantle waves, causing stable continental regions (cratons) to rise, forming plateaus and escarpments. Detailed Insights Rifting, as seen in the African Rift Valley, stretches the crust, initiating mantle …

GS1 – Geography Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), along with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) in Delhi, is collaboratively working on India’s inaugural research testbed dedicated to the study of Norwesters. This initiative focuses on the …

GS 1: Geography The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently confirmed a shift to ENSO-neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific, marking the conclusion of a mild La Niña phase. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) significantly shapes global climate patterns, making an understanding of its phases essential for forecasting …

GS I-Geography A research study conducted in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone has identified that the metallic nodules present on the ocean floor generate what is termed as “dark oxygen.” This refers to oxygen production occurring in the deep-sea abyssal region, where photosynthesis is not possible. The process takes place as polymetallic …

GS1 – Geography Context: The Vernal Equinox, occurring on March 20, signifies the official beginning of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The term “vernal” translates to “spring,” indicating the transition from winter to longer, warmer days in the north, while the southern …

GS 1-Geography Context: Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have detected a flareless coronal mass ejection (CME) using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) onboard Aditya-L1, India’s first dedicated solar observation mission. Aditya-L1 Mission Overview: Launch Date: September 2, 2023 Developed By: ISRO, with contributions from Indian research …

GS I-Geography Context: The Fuego volcano in Guatemala recently erupted, prompting emergency response measures, as reported by The Guardian (TG). About Fuego Volcano Name & Location: Also known as Volcán de Fuego (Spanish for “Volcano of Fire”), it is situated near Antigua, Guatemala. Volcanic Activity: One of Central America’s most …