Subject: Geography/Environment Context: By studying microscopic zooplankton called foraminifera, researches had published a paper which first found evidence from the past of an Indian Ocean El Nino Concept: Findings: The report speaks about Last Glacial Maximum which existed about 19,000-21,000 years ago, in which ice-sheets covered North America and Eurasia, and sea-levels were much lower, […]
Subject: Geography/science and tech Context: A recent report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that the supply of raw materials to produce rechargeable batteries, crucial to move to cleaner energy is uncertain. Concept: As electric vehicles (EVs) have gradually been integrated into global transportation, there has been a rapid growth in demand for rechargeable batteries. This will […]
Subject: IR/Geography Context: Ishigaki city assembly, a local council in Japan has approved change of name of an area containing Senkaku Islands from Tonoshiro to Tonoshiro Senkaku. Concept: The Senkakus are administered by Japan, but claimed by China and Taiwan, which refer to them as Diaoyu Dao and Diaoyutai, respectively. Japan annexed the archipelago following China’s defeat in […]
Subject: Geography Context: Indian navy has stopped Chinese maritime research and survey vessels that entered Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf (CS) of India without prior consent in 2018 and 2019 Concept: Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as generally extending 200 nautical miles from shore, within which the coastal state has the right to explore […]
Subject: Economy/Geography Context: Government has announced the auction of 41 coal blocks that have a capacity to produce 225 million tonnes of coal per year after removing the end-use restrictions and relaxed prior mining experience as bidding criteria. Concept: India imports nearly 250 million tonnes of coal from other countries despite having the world’s […]