Current Context : IIT Madras has developed India's first Hyperloop test track, a 410-meter prototype, located at its Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, Tamil Nadu. Aim : to assess Hyperloop technology's practicality, with the Mumbai-Pune corridor selected for the first full-scale Hyperloop route. This system is projected to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune to just 25 minutes. What is Hyperloop? A high-speed transport system proposed by Elon Musk in 2013. It uses vacuum-sealed tubes for pods (passenger or cargo) to travel at speeds up to 1,100 km/h. Features: Near-Vacuum Tubes: Minimized air resistance. Magnetic Levitation: Frictionless movement. Linear Induction....Read More

Current Context : The Maharashtra government plans to submit a proposal to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to include the famous Lonar Lake in Buldhana district in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. About Lonar Lake: It is a lake of lagoon in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra It was created due to a meteorite. It is the only known saline crater lake in the world, formed by the impact of a meteorite about 50,000 years ago. Its water is seven times saltier than seawater. The lake has a diameter of 1.2 kilometers and a depth of 150 meters, and is surrounded by....Read More

Current Context : Recently, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global leader in agricultural research, has launched its 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD). Purpose: Focuses on improving food security, conserving biodiversity, and building resilient livelihoods for 2.7 billion people living in drylands, especially in Asia and Africa. About CGIAR Established: In 1971, as a global agricultural research partnership. Goal : Reduce poverty and hunger. Enhance human health, nutrition, and ecosystem resilience. Objectives: Food for People: Boost sustainable food productivity and availability for the poor. Environment for People: Protect biodiversity and natural resources while addressing climate challenges. Policies for People: Support policy reforms for agricultural growth and equity,....Read More

Current Context : According to the World Drought Atlas around 75 per cent of the population will be affected by drought by 2050 About World Drought Atlas: Launch: Launched by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in collaboration with the European Commission Joint Research Centre. Focus Areas: Link to Human Activities:Explains how human activities contribute to worsening drought risks. Impacts of Drought:The atlas explores impacts in five key areas: Water Supply Agriculture Hydropower Inland Navigation Ecosystems Global Scope: Features 21 case studies worldwide, showing that no country is immune to drought, regardless of size, GDP, or latitude. Strategies for Drought Management: Governance Measures:Early warning....Read More

Current Context : The Union Minister of State for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change recently launched Nanobubble technology, at Delhi's National Zoological Park, enhances water cleaning and purification, promoting aquatic health. What are Nanobubbles? Tiny bubbles, 70-120 nanometers in size, 2500x smaller than a salt grain. Made from any gas and injected into liquids. Possess unique physical and chemical properties superior to traditional aeration methods. Properties: High Surface Area: Enhances gas transfer efficiency. Brownian Motion: Nanobubbles remain suspended in water, distributing oxygen evenly. High Oxygen Transfer: Achieves up to 90% oxygen transfer efficiency. Surface Charge: Negatively charged, improving pollutant separation.....Read More

Current Context : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a reply from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and others over the deteriorating condition of Varkala cliff, a designated national geo-heritage site. About Varkala cliff: Location: It is a natural formation located in Varkala, a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. Varkala was the only place in the west coast of the country where sediments in the Mio-Pliocene age (13 lakh to 2.5 crore years ago) had been exposed. The cliff, also known as the North Cliff, stretches along the coast for about one kilometre, towering up to....Read More

Current Context : The National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) technical committee has approved the proposal to notify Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district as a tiger reserve. This is set to make Madhav the 9th tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. About Madhav National Park (MNP): Location: Located in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, in the northern part of the Central Highlands of India. Establishment: Established as a national park in 1958. Recently approved in-principle as a tiger reserve. Rivers: Contains the catchments of Amarnadi and Sind rivers; eastern park area features Vindhyan sedimentary rocks like sandstone and limestone. Lakes:....Read More

Current Context : Koraga tribal community in Kerala is set to receive land titles under Operation Smile project. About koraga tribe Habitat Found primarily in Kasaragod district (Kerala)and Karnataka. Classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). PVTG Classification PVTGs identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs. India has 75 recognized PVTGs. Scheduled Tribe Status : Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Presidential Order of 1956. Language : Primarily speak Tulu, but have their independent language. Traditional Occupation : Known for basket weaving as a traditional livelihood. About Operation Smile :  It is a Kerala government initiative to rehabilitate and support homeless people, including tribal communities.Read More

Current Context : Recently, the Rengma Naga tribe concluded a two-day celebration of the Ngada festival-cum-Mini Hornbill Festival at the Tseminyu RSA ground in Nagaland. About Rengma Naga Tribe: Ethnic Group: Tibeto-Burman. States: Predominantly in Nagaland and Assam. Names: Refer to themselves as "Njong" or "Injang". Racial Stock: Mongoloid. Migration History: Believed to have migrated from Southeast Asia across the Yunnan mountains to Upper Burma before settling in their current region. Economic Activities: Primary occupation: Practices: Jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn) and wet cultivation for paddy. Festival : "Ngada" is the most important festival of Rengma tribes.Read More

Current Context :  Recently, Cyclone Fengal originated as a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal. The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential flooding to the region. Cyclone Fengal was named by Saudi Arabia. The naming process for cyclones in the North Indian Ocean involves a group of 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia, which contributes names that are used on a rotating basis. About Cyclone : A cyclone is a large-scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure. It is characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall. Types: Tropical....Read More