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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 …