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The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research -National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) has launched an ‘Environmental Seismology’ group to develop a ‘Landslide and Flood Early Warning System’ for the Himalayan region. The scientists at the NGRI in collaboration with German scientists at GFZ, Potsdam have launched this system. Important points: It will be based on real-time monitoring with dense …

One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)India and the UK are likely to announce a joint declaration on “one sun, one world, one grid” — or OSOWOG at the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP26). The UN Climate Change Conference, or COP26, is scheduled to be held between 31st October and 12th November in Scotland. The concept of OSOWOG is what …

Recently, Cyclone Gulab made landfall on India’s east coast and weakened into a depression. Another cyclone–Shaheen–may form over the Arabian Sea from the remnant of cyclone Gulab. Important points: Gulab was a tropical cyclone and was named by Pakistan. It affected the coasts of south Odisha north Andhra Pradesh. According to WMO (World Meteorological Organization) guidelines, countries in …

Recently, as many as 157 artefacts and antiquities were handed over to the Prime Minister by the United States including a bronze Nataraj figure. The list has a diverse set of items bas-relief panel of Revanta in sandstone made in the 10th century, 56 terracotta pieces, several bronze figurines and copper objects, among others which mainly belong to 11th and 14th centuries. It also includes an 18th-century …

Recently, steep stairways and wooden ramps among other changes have been brought at the World Heritage Site of Qutub Minar that will make the place accessible for disabled and the elderly. Humayun’s Tomb (1993) and Red Fort Complex (2007) are other world heritage monuments in Delhi. Important points: It is a five-storeyed red sandstone tower (72.5 m high) built by …

Recently, the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, erupted. Important points: The Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted for the first time in 50 years. The last time hot molten lava erupted and spread was in 1971. La Palma is the most north-westerly island of the Canary Islands, Spain. It’s geography …

Recently, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh (1886-1979) State University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Important points: Born in Hathras (UP) in 1886, he was a freedom fighter, revolutionary, writer, social reformer, and internationalist. He was well versed in eight different languages and practised different religions. Promoted Education: In 1909, he gave up …

Every year on 15th September, India along with Sri Lanka and Tanzania celebrate National Engineer’s day to recognise and honour the achievements of the great engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. The day is observed to commemorate the great work of engineers and to encourage them for improvement and innovation. It is different from the World Engineers’ Day celebrated annually by UNESCO on …

The Thamirabarani civilisation in Tamil Nadu is at least 3,200 years old, reveals carbon dating done on organic material retrieved from archeological excavations in Sivakalai, Thoothukudi district. The determination of the age or date of organic matter from the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. Important points: The shortest river in …

A new island has been discovered that is located off the Greenland’s coast. Important points: Measuring 60×30 metres and with a peak of three metres above sea level, it has now become the new northernmost piece of land on Earth. Before this, Oodaaq was marked as the Earth’s northernmost terrain. It …