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Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated various projects in Somnath, Gujarat under PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme at a total cost of over Rs 47 crore. Important points: The Somnath Exhibition Centre, developed on the premises of ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’, displays the exhibits from dismantled parts of the old …

Recently, a political leader claimed that the Moplah rebellion, also known as the Mappila riots, of 1921 was one of the first manifestations of the Taliban mindset in India. Important points: Moplahs/Mappilas: The name Mappilla (lit. son-in-law; anglicized form Moplah) is given to Malayali-speaking Muslims who reside along the entire length of the Malabar Coast of …

Recently, it was announced that the second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) will be held in Hyderabad, India, in 2022. The event would show a glimpse of India’s evolving geospatial ecosystem. Important points: United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) To enhance international collaboration among the Member States and …

The Odisha Forest and Environment Department is starting ecotourism packages for tourists to islands inside the Hirakud reservoir Cattle island, one of three islands in the Hirakud reservoir, has been selected as a sightseeing destination. Important points: It is located in one of the extreme points of Hirakud Reservoir. It is completely inhabited by wild animals, and without any trace …

Recently, the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh which was installed in 2019, vandalised by a member of radical outfit Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a religious organisation at the Lahore Fort in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Important points: He was born on 13th November, 1780 in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan. He was the only child of Maha Singh, on whose death in …

Recently, scientists have found two nearly perfectly preserved cave lion cubs which lived 28,000 years ago, nicknamed Boris and Sparta. They were found in Siberia’s permafrost, Russia. The cubs were found 15 metres apart but are not only from different litters but were also born thousands of years apart. Important points: The Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea), often …

Recently, a resolution has been reintroduced in the US House of Representatives to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Mahatma Gandhi for his contributions made through his methods of non-violence. If given the award, Mahatma Gandhi would become the first Indian to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian award in the US. …

Navroz festival is being celebrated in India on 16th August in India. Across the world, Navroz is celebrated at the time of the vernal equinox (marking the start of spring) in the Northern Hemisphere. Important points: Navroz is also known as Parsi New Year. In Persian, ‘Nav’ stands for new, and ‘Roz’ stands for the day, which literally …

On 8th Aug 2021, India completed 79 years of Quit India Movement also known as August Kranti. Important points: On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call to end the British rule and launched the Quit India Movement at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai. Gandhiji gave the call “Do or Die” in his speech delivered at the …

The year-long celebrations marking 150 years of Abanindranath Tagore will be started soon, with a host of online workshops and talks paying tributes to the leading light of the Bengal School of Art. Important points: Abanindranath Tagore took birth in a family of Tagores of Jorasanko in Kolkata in 1871. He was a nephew …

Amagarh Fort of Jaipur, Rajasthan is at the centre of a conflict between the tribal Meena community and local Hindu groups. Members of the Meena community say the Amagarh Fort was built by a Meena ruler predating Rajput rule in Jaipur, and has been their holy site for centuries. They accused Hindu groups of trying to …

Recently, Indian astronomers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, have for the first time given the theoretical explanation of the existence of a near-surface shear layer (NSSL) in the Sun. ARIES is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. Important points: Apart from differentiation rotation between equator and poles, the …

Recently, cloudbursts have been reported from several places in India. Important points: Cloudbursts are short-duration, intense rainfall events over a small area. It is a weather phenomenon with unexpected precipitation exceeding 100mm/h over a geographical region of approximately 20-30 square km. In the Indian Subcontinent, it generally occurs when a monsoon cloud drifts …

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), humanity has again used up all biological resources that our planet regenerates during the entire year by 29th July, 2021. Humanity currently uses 74% more than what the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate — or 1.7 Earths. From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, humanity operates on …

Recently, UNESCO has announced the Harappan city of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40th world heritage site. It is the first site of Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) in India to be included on the coveted list. With this successful nomination, India now enters the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions. Apart from India, Italy, Spain, Germany, China and France have 40 …

The 22nd anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on the 26th of July 2021. The day is dedicated to the martyred soldiers of the Kargil war. Important points: After the Indo-Pak war of 1971, there had been many military conflicts. Both the countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998 which further escalated tensions and …

Recently, Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Mulugu district, Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Ramappa Temple was proposed by the government as its only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage site tag for the year 2019. Important points: The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the …

Recently, India in partnership with International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) celebrated Asadha Poornima Dhamma Chakra Day 2021 on 24th July 2021. The day is also observed as Guru Poornima by both Buddhists and Hindus as a day to mark reverence to their Gurus.  Important points: It commemorates Buddha’s first sermon to his first five ascetic disciples. He gave his …

Recently, the city of Liverpool, England has been removed from UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) list of world heritage sites. Earlier six Indian places were added to the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Important  points: The port city was included in the prestigious list for its architectural beauty and in …

A recent study by the ETH technical university in Zurich, Switzerland shows that climate change has dramatically altered the Swiss Alp landscape. Important points: Melting glaciers have created more than 1,000 new lakes across the mountains. The inventory of Swiss Glacial lakes showed that almost 1,200 new lakes have formed in formerly glaciated regions of the Swiss Alps since the …