What early warning did Kerala have before Wayanad disaster? Sub: Geo Sec: Climatology Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah discussed early warning systems and alerts given to the Kerala government before the Wayanad landslides. National Monsoon Mission: It was launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2012. Aim: To improve forecasting skills […]

    Above-normal rain expected in August and September, says IMD Sub: Geo Sec: Climatology Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts above-normal rain for August and September. Monsoon Rainfall Prediction: August is expected to receive normal rainfall. September is likely to receive more than the average 17 cm of rainfall if the forecast of […]

    Tanzania Evicting Tens of Thousands Of Maasai: HRW Sub: Geo Sec: Human geo Eviction of Maasai from Ancestral Lands: The Tanzanian government is forcibly evicting tens of thousands of Maasai from their ancestral lands. Human Rights Watch reported that government rangers have beaten some Maasai community members with impunity. Tensions and Relocation Program: […]

    122 dead as landslides flatten Wayanad villages Sub: Geo Sec: Physical geo Context: At least 122 people were killed and 197 injured due to multiple landslides in Vythiri taluk, Wayanad district, Kerala, on July 30. Affected area: Chooramala Bridge, Chaliyar River. Worst landslides in India: Guwahati, Assam September 18, 1948 The landslide took […]

    Surprising ‘dark oxygen’ discovery could ensnarl deep-sea mining Sub: Geo Sec: Eco geo Context: A study published in Nature Geoscience on July 22 revealed an unknown process producing oxygen in the deep ocean, where photosynthesis is not possible. This discovery suggests the existence of previously unknown ecosystems in the abyssal zone, a deep-sea […]

    Environmentalists alarmed as Himachal witnesses shift in snowfall patterns Sub: Geo Sec: Climatology   Context: Himachal Pradesh is experiencing a reduction in snow cover and a shift in snowfall patterns from winter to early summer, raising concerns about climate variability in the Himalayas. The decrease in snow during peak winter months (December and […]

    Why Australia has banned mining in one of the world’s largest uranium deposits Sub: Geo Sec: Eco geo Ban on Mining at Jabiluka Site: Australia announced plans to ban mining at the Jabiluka site, which is surrounded by Kakadu National Park and contains one of the world’s largest high-grade uranium deposits. The park […]

    India’s illegal coal mining problem Sub: Geo Sec: Eco geo Context: On July 13, three workers died of asphyxiation in an illegal coal mine in Surendranagar district, Gujarat. Background and Legal Framework Coal in India was nationalized in two phases: coking coal in 1971-72 and non-coking coal in 1973. The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) […]