Current Context : 116 people were killed, several others injured, in a stampede which happened during a satsang hosted by a local preacher Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari aka Bhole Baba in Hathras, UP. ABOUT HATHRAS Hathras is a historical city in Uttar Pradesh. It was formed on 3 May 1997 by merging parts of Aligarh, Mathura and Agra.Read More

Current Context : Srinagar has become the fourth Indian city to be recognised as a ‘World Craft City’ It was recognised by the World Craft Council (WCC). The achievement follows Srinagar’s recognition as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City for Crafts in 2021. It is recognised due to its rich heritage and the exceptional skills of its artisans leading to global acclaim. Indian cities that have been recognised as World Craft Cities are Jaipur, Malappuram and Mysore. ABOUT WCC Established in 2014 by International World Crafts Council. It established a dynamic network of craft cities....Read More

Current Context : Recently, Armenia has officially recognised Palestine as a State. ABOUT ARMENIA Location: It is a landlocked country of Transcaucasia (populated region to the south of the Caucasus Mountains). Bordering counteries : Azerbaijan, Turkey, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (an exclave of Azerbaijan), Georgia, and Iran. Topography : Mountainous terrain with no lowlands. Highest Peak : Mount Aragats (Alaghez) River : Aras RiverRead More

Current context : Centre has approved the Uttarakhand government’s proposal to rename Joshimath tehsil in Chamoli district as Jyotirmath, and Kosiyakutoli tehsil in Nainital district as Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham. ABOUT JOSHIMATH Jyotirmath named after Adi Guru Shankaracharya visited it in the 8th century to perform penance under the Amar Kalpa tree and attained enlightenment (Divya Gyan Jyoti). Joshimath is also near to Vishnu Prayag where Alkananda and Dhauli Ganga river merge.Read More

Current Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day meditation break at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. ABOUT VIVEKANAND MEMORIAL From very ancient times, the rock has been regarded as sacred place. In Puranic tradition, it has been known as “Sripada Parai: meaning the rock, that has been blessed by the touch of Shripada feet of the Goddess. On the rock, is a projection similar in form to a human fort and a little brownish in complexion, which has traditionally, been revered as a symbol of According to legend, it was on this rock that Goddess....Read More

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated an airstrip and the St James Jetty on North Agaléga Island in the Indian Ocean. Agaléga — a group of two islands with a total area of 26 sq km and a native population of about 300 people — lies approximately 650 nautical miles (1,050 km) north of Mauritius, and belongs to the island nation. Ties between India and Mauritius go back to 1948, 20 years before the country’s independence from Britain. Seventy per cent of the inhabitants of Mauritius are of Indian origin, and the two....Read More

The Spanish region of Catalonia has declared a state of emergency as it faces its worst drought on record. More than six million Catalans will be affected across 200 towns and cities, including the capital Barcelona. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest and most highly industrialised regions. It is located in north east of Iberian peninsula.Read More

Russian energy company Novatek was forced to suspend some operations at Ust-Luga, a huge Baltic Sea fuel export terminal and processing complex, due to a fire started by what Ukrainian media said was a drone attack. The attack is the third on Russia's large energy infrastructure facilities. Ust-Luga is a settlement and railway station in Kingiseppsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, near the Estonian border, situated on the Luga River near its entry into the Luga Bay of the Gulf of Finland in Baltic Sea.Read More

Residents of Kanniyakumari district have objected to the Union government’s plans for oil exploration under HELP (Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy) off the Kanniyakumari coast, as it could severely impact the Wadge Bank Ecosystem. Wadge Bank, a 10,000 square kilometre area of the sea south of Kanyakumari is rich in biodiversity and considered India’s richest fishery resource. Low intensity of currents, waves and tides make it an ideal place for building a wealth of nutrients and fish food. Wadge Bank was one among the handful of such rich biodiversity spots in the world and It is also the mainstay of....Read More

Lake Retba, better known as Lac Rose (the Pink Lake), is located near Dakar, Senegal (West Africa). It sits in a depression with a shoreline 6.5 metres below sea level. The lake is isolated from the sea by about 1km of sand dunes. Its fresh water comes from the seasonal water table in the dunes, which are higher than the lake. Thus the sea provides most of the lake's water and all of its salt. The lake's waters are virtually devoid of life, with the exception of a few microscopic algae and bacteria. The Pink Lake is one of the....Read More