GEOGRAPHY

GS 3 Poás Volcano, one of Costa Rica’s most visited tourist destinations, recently erupted, drawing significant attention. About Poás Volcano Poás is known as one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes and is situated within the Poás Volcano National Park. It is a composite stratovolcano with a complex, irregular shape, …

GS 3 According to the latest European State of the Climate Report for 2024, Europe is experiencing warming at nearly twice the pace of the global average. This accelerated heating trend is triggering widespread environmental and climatic shifts. What Is Arctic Amplification? Arctic amplification refers to the intensified warming seen …

GS 3 NASA researchers have introduced a groundbreaking concept involving quantum gravity gradiometers (QGGs), aiming to track how Earth’s mass distribution evolves over time—particularly in response to climate change. Their proposal involves deploying these advanced instruments aboard satellites to enhance our understanding of global mass shifts. What Is a Quantum …

PRELIMS BITS – RIVER Context: Rising human-wildlife conflicts in Assam’s Majuli River Island have drawn attention to its ecological challenges. About Majuli: Geographical Significance: The world’s largest river island, formed by the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries. Administrative Status: Became India’s first island district in 2016. Demographics: Inhabited by indigenous …

GS 3 – GEOGRAPHY Context: The Ministry of Mines has reclassified Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz from minor minerals to major minerals. What is a Mineral? A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic material that has a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure. Distinction Between Major and Minor Minerals …

GS 3 – GEOGRAPHY The West Bengal government has introduced the “Nodi Bandhan” scheme as part of its 2025-26 budget. This initiative aims to address natural disasters, river erosion, and unemployment by promoting river interlinking and wetland conservation. The Ghatal Masterplan, a key component of this scheme, will focus on …

GS 3 – GEOGRAPHY Recent studies by IIT-Bombay and ETH Zurich highlight the increasing occurrence of oppressive heatwaves in India. These events, characterized by high temperatures and humidity, pose severe health risks and are expected to worsen with global warming. Definition of Heatwaves General Definition: Periods of excessively high temperatures. …

GS 3 – GEOGRAPHY  Names: Tibet: Yarlung Tsangpo. India: Dihang (Arunachal Pradesh), Brahmaputra (Assam). Bangladesh: Jamuna. Source: Originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Mount Kailash in Tibet, separated from Manasarovar Lake by the Mariam La Pass. Course: Tibet: Flows through the Tsangpo Valley, receiving tributaries like Raga Tsangpo. India: Cuts …

GS 3 – Geography   Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemical elements that play a crucial role in modern technology, energy, and defense industries. Despite the name, they are not necessarily “rare,” but they are often difficult to find in concentrated forms suitable for extraction. REEs are …

GS 3 – Geography   Seafloor Hot Springs: These are openings on the ocean floor where geothermally heated water escapes. Tectonic Activity: Hydrothermal vents are commonly found in volcanically active regions, particularly near mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are diverging. Formation Process: Seawater seeps into cracks in the oceanic crust. The …