A deep depression over the southeast Arabian Sea intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’.   How did Cyclone Biparjoy get its name? The name ‘Biparjoy’ was given by Bangladesh. It means ‘calamity’ or ‘disaster’. Reportedly, the name was adopted by World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) countries in 2020. It also includes all the tropical cyclones that… Continue reading Biparjoy

Goa Power Minister recently said that bitumen used in road construction is a major cause of pollution.   About Bitumen – It is a dense, highly viscous, petroleum-based hydrocarbon. It is found in deposits such as oil sands and pitch lakes (natural bitumen) or is obtained as a residue of the distillation of crude oil. At the temperatures normally encountered in natural deposits,… Continue reading Bitumen

A 15-year-old tiger has died after being found in an injured condition near the Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district.   About Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) – Kanha Tiger Reserve, also called Kanha National Park, is the largest national park of Madhya Pradesh. Location — It is located in the Mandla and… Continue reading Kanha Tiger Reserve

Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology inaugurated the Lavender festival at Bhaderwah in the Jammu region.   About Lavender Festival – It is the 2nd year of the lavender revolution. Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender capital of India and an Agri StartUp destination. The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine… Continue reading Lavender Mission

The Indian Army generated a unique ecosystem for peaceful co-existence with wild elephants in Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.   About Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary – It is located in the state of Assam. It comprises three Reserve forests — Khanapara, Amchang, and South Amchang. It stretches from the Brahmaputra River in the north to the hilly forests of… Continue reading Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary

Recently, several farmers raised the concern over “foot rot” disease in the saplings of the Basmati variety of paddy in the nurseries.   About Foot rot disease – It is also known as Bakanae Disease. It is a soil and seed-borne deadly fungus which is seen only in the Basmati variety of paddy. It is… Continue reading Foot rot disease

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has envisaged celebrating World Environment Day 2023 with a thrust on the Mission LiFE.   About EIACP Programme – It is one of the Central Sector sub-scheme being implemented in alignment with Mission LiFE. The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) is renamed EIACP (Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building… Continue reading EIACP Programme

Recently, the government-owned Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd (TDCCOL) decided to procure sal seeds (Shorea robusta) from nine Odisha districts.   About Sal seeds – Odisha has no major solvent extraction plant that produces oil from sal seeds, due to which the intermediaries procure the seeds from the state at a lower rate… Continue reading Sal Tree

Clusters of brown Sargassum seaweed reported to be infested by flesh-eating bacteria were recently found awash in Florida.   About Seaweeds – “Seaweed” is the common name for countless species of marine plants and algae that grow in the ocean as well as in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. They range in colours from red, green,… Continue reading Seaweeds

Recently, the Union government of India permitted the import of pet coke for making graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries.   About Petroleum Coke – It is a final carbon-rich solid material and residual waste material extracted from oil refining. It is a spongy, solid residue from oil distillation that can be burned for fuel… Continue reading Petroleum Coke