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Indian Scientists, along with international collaborators, have measured the magnetic field of an eruption from the Sun’s atmosphere (solar corona), offering a rare peek to the interior of the Sun. Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is one of the biggest eruptions from the Sun’s surface that can contain a billion tons of matter …

The Shiksha Parv is being celebrated by the Ministry of Education from 5th-17th September to recognize the contributions of teachers and to take New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 a step forward. The Prime Minister launched multiple key initiatives in the education sector on the occasion. Important points: It was launched for the Children and persons with hearing …

Recently, the Prime Minister paid tribute to V. O. Chidambaram Pillai, the legendary freedom fighter on his 150th birth anniversary. He was popularly known as Kappalottiya Tamilan (The Tamil Helmsman) and Sekkizuththa Semmal (scholarly gentry who suffered at the oil press). Important points: Vallinayagam Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (VOC) was born 5th September 1872 to an eminent lawyer Olaganathan Pillai and …

According to recent research, climate change can cause extreme and more frequent El Niño and La Niña events. The findings have been obtained using one of South Korea’s fastest supercomputers, Aleph. Important points: Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide can cause a weakening of future simulated El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) sea surface temperature variability. Future El Niño events will …

Recently the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021 was announced. The award is presented in a formal ceremony in Manila, the capital of the Philippines on 31st August each year. Important points: The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in 1957 and is considered Asia’s premier prize and highest honour. It is named after Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the …

Amid criticism of the renovated Jallianwala Bagh memorial, some people raise questions over the statue of Shaheed Udham Singh installed at the Bagh. Important points: Born in Sunam in Punjab’s Sangrur district in 1899, also referred to as Shaheed-i-Azam Sardar Udham Singh which means ‘Great Martyr’. He is regarded as one of the foremost revolutionaries of the Indian …

Recently, the Fukutoku-Okanoba Submarine Volcano exploded in the Pacific Ocean, off Japan. Earlier, a surge of Earthquakes and the ground swelling was noticed at Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano. Important points: It is situated about 25 metres below the sea, five kilometres north of Japan’s South Iwo Jima Island. The plume reached a height of 16 kilometres …

Recently, the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research – Asia Pacific (WHITR-AP) has recognised CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, Gujarat) University’s programme in conservation and regeneration as a commended case of Global Innovation on World Heritage Education. The World Heritage Education Programme was initiated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) …

Recently, a surge of earthquakes and the ground swelling at the southern part of the crater was noticed at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano A volcano is an opening on the surface that allows material warmer than its surroundings to escape from its interior. Important points: Kilauea, also called Mount Kilauea (“Much Spreading” in Hawaiian), is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the southeastern …

Recently, the United Nations (UN) has banned British stamps from being used on the Chagos archipelago. Important points: Now the UPU (Universal Postal Union) will stop registering, distributing and transmitting stamps bearing the words British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), the name given by Britain to the archipelago. UPU is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector’s primary forum …

Recently, the Vice-president of India visited monuments at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka. Important points: The site of Hampi comprises mainly the remnants of the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th century CE), the last great Hindu Kingdom. It encompasses an area of 4187, 24 hectares, located in the Tungabhadra …

Recently, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Sree Narayana Guru on his birth anniversary. Earlier, the Vice President of India launched “Not Many, But One”, an English translation of poems of Sree Narayana Gurudev. Important points: Sree Narayana Guru was born on 22nd August, 1856 to Madan Asan and his wife Kuttiyamma in Chempazhanthy, a village …

Recently, the government has announced that India is going to have 35 more earthquake observatories by the end of the 2021 and aims to add 100 more earthquake observatories by 2026. The announcement came at the inaugural function of the Joint Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) – International Association of …

World Sanskrit Day (Viswa Samskrita Dinam) was celebrated on 22nd August 2021. In India, Sanskrit is a Classical and an Eighth Schedule language. In 2020, the Uttarakhand Government decided to develop ‘Sanskrit Grams’ across the state to teach use of Sanskrit regularly. Important points: It is an annual event aimed to promote revival and maintenance of Sanskrit Language. It is celebrated …

Recently, as per the age-old tradition related to the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) of Lord Shiva was brought to the ancient Shankaracharya Temple. Important points: It is also known as the Jyesteshwara temple or Pas-Pahar by Buddhists. Persians and Jews call it Bagh-i-sulaiman or the Garden of King Solomon. Persian inscriptions are also found inside …

According to a recent study, more than 3,56,000 people died in 2019 as a result of extreme heat and that number is likely to grow in the future. Recent heat waves across the world have been alarming in terms of global warming and have been attributed to climate change. Important points: Heat wave is a condition of air temperature …

Recently, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified certain geological sites across the Northeast for promotion of geo-tourism. 12 locations in the Northeast have been included in the 32 approved geo-tourism or geo-heritage sites in the country. Important points: Geo-heritage refers to the geological features which are inherently or culturally significant offering insight to earth’s evolution or history to earth …

A new research paper has provided some new insight on the linguistic culture of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) Earlier, a study found that the diet of the people of IVC had a dominance of meat, including extensive eating of beef. In July 2021, UNESCO announced the Harappan city of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40th world heritage …

The Karez System of Afghanistan is in threat whereas a similar system named Surangam in South India is thriving. Surangams resemble the karez System both in structure and spread. Important points: The surangam or suranga is usually found in northern Kerala and southern Karnataka. Surangam is basically a tunnel dug through a laterite hillock from …

Recently, the Narayankoti temple (Uttarakhand) has been included under the Centre’s Adopt a Heritage project Important points: Launched on 27th September, 2017 (World Tourism Day), it is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments. To develop tourism amenities at heritage/ natural/ tourist sites spread across India to make …