Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TOI Context: Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami alert after Mount Ruang volcano erupted five times, expelling ash and lava. The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation issued the highest-level alert, warning of potential hazards including the collapse of the volcano into the sea, which could trigger a tsunami. …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: DTE Context: NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch (CRW) and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) have confirmed the occurrence of the fourth global mass coral bleaching event in 2023-2024. This event, the second in the last decade, coincides with unprecedented ocean heat recorded in 2023 and 2024.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: PHYS.ORG Context: A University of Melbourne expedition to the Southern Ocean has uncovered that wind is a significant factor in the creation of massive rogue waves. The team utilized advanced technology to capture three-dimensional images of ocean waves, revealing insights into their behaviour. They found that rogue waves arise …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and among the most active volcanoes, has been producing rare smoke rings known as volcanic vortex rings. These circular rings of gas, primarily water vapour, emerge from a newly formed pit crater on the volcano’s north side. How Volcanic Vortex Rings …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Kuchipudi, a traditional dance-drama performance, has evolved from being male-dominated to a classical dance form with the prominence of female dancers across India. However, in the village of Kuchipudi in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, the art form faces challenges, including a lack of interest among the younger …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: The Southern Ocean is known for having the cleanest air on Earth, a fact previously attributed mainly to minimal human activity. However, recent research has unveiled that clouds and rain play a significant role in keeping the air pristine. Role of clouds: The Southern Ocean experiences …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: NDTV Context: In a surprising turn of events, scientists observed the Arctic’s polar vortex spinning in the opposite direction, marking one of the six strongest occurrences of its kind since 1979. The polar vortex is a massive spinning wheel of freezing cold air that forms high in the …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: Recently around 3,730 lead coins were unearthed in an earthen pot at Phanigiri, a renowned Buddhist heritage site in Telangana. The coins, bearing an elephant symbol on the obverse and a Ujjain symbol on the reverse, are believed to belong to the Ikshvaku period. Phanigiri is considered …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Archaeologists, have unearthed a 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement at Padta Bet in Gujarat’s Kachchh district, near the Juna Khatiya necropolis. The excavation revealed evidence of Early Harappan to Late Harappan period occupation, including pottery, artefacts, animal bones, and structural remains. Unique ceramics suggest a local pottery tradition, …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: A recent study suggests that the accelerated melting of glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica due to climate change is affecting Earth’s rotation, potentially postponing the need for a “negative leap second” to keep clocks aligned with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). As the …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Coastal areas in southern and central Kerala experienced inundation from swell waves, locally known as ‘Kallakkadal,’ prompting alertness from disaster management authorities. The phenomenon is not common for this time of the year, as noted by the fishing community.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: The Vaikom satyagraha, initiated in 1924 in Vaikom, Travancore, marked the beginning of temple entry movements in India
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Deccan Herald Context: The Kerala Kalamandalam, a prestigious cultural institution, has announced a significant policy change allowing male dancers to learn Mohiniyattam, a classical dance form previously reserved exclusively for women.
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to delist 18 centrally protected monuments due to their assessed lack of national importance. This is the first large-scale delisting exercise in decades, reducing ASI’s purview from 3,693 to 3,675 monuments. These monuments, including landmarks like the medieval highway …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: The Jaipur tradition of “Gulaal Gota” involves small lac balls filled with dry Gulaal (coloured powder) thrown during Holi celebrations. About Gulaal Gota: These balls are made by Muslim artisans known as Manihaars in Jaipur, with lac sourced from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The tradition dates back around …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TOI Context: A modelling study suggests that a dormant subduction zone beneath the Gibraltar Strait could become active and migrate into the Atlantic Ocean, potentially forming an Atlantic “Ring of Fire” in about 20 million years. The subduction zone, known as the Gibraltar arc, has been slowly moving …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Hindustan Times Context: Madhya Pradesh celebrates a significant achievement as six of its heritage sites are included in UNESCO’s tentative list. The sites included are Gwalior Fort, the Historical Group of Dhamnar, Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Rock Art Sites of Chambal Valley, Khooni Bhandara in Burhanpur, and God Memorial of …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: TH Context: Conservationists plan to propose the Kazhuveli watershed region in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, for nomination to the World Monuments Fund Watch 2025 programme. This region, spanning 740 sq. km. from Gingee to Marakkanam and up to the Auroville plateau, features an ancient Eri (tank) network crucial …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: India Today Context: The Gorsam Kora Festival, held annually in Arunachal Pradesh’s Zemithang valley, concluded, celebrating the shared Himalayan Buddhist cultural heritage and the enduring friendship between India and Bhutan. Located along the Nyanmjang Chu River, Zemithang is historically significant as the refuge where the 14th Dalai Lama sought …
Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: The Guardian Context: The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years, driven by global heating and an El Niño climate pattern. Aerial surveys have revealed widespread bleaching across two-thirds of the reef, with particular concern for the southern section where centuries-old corals …
