January 8, 2025 Introduction: In the years from 2019 to 2024, Indian cities made strides in reducing PM2.5 pollution levels. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities achieved a notable 24% reduction. Varanasi emerged as the frontrunner with a remarkable 76% decrease. Despite these advancements, cities like Delhi, Gurugram, and Faridabad continue to grapple with severe air pollution […]

January 8, 2025 Introduction: Recent studies have brought into light the Alaknanda River’s susceptibility to landslide-induced natural dams. Researchers from IIT Roorkee, Shivani Joshi and Srikrishnan Siva Subramanian, conducted a comprehensive study titled ‘Landslide Dam Studies in Uttarakhand, India – Past, Present, and Future’. Published by Springer, the study identifies the Alaknanda River as the […]

January 7, 2025 Introduction: The golden jackal, a native species, has been increasingly spotted in urban areas of Mumbai, particularly in Navi Mumbai. Once thriving in mangroves and grasslands, these animals are now venturing into bustling neighbourhoods due to habitat loss caused by urban development. The Wildlife Conservation Society India conducted a survey revealing that golden […]

January 7, 2025 Introduction: The recent passage of the Bill to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act marks change in India’s approach to forest regulation. This amendment comes after more than four decades since the original Act was enacted in 1980. The government aims to align the Act with contemporary ecological, strategic, and economic needs. The brief nature […]

January 7, 2025 Introduction: The United States is currently facing severe winter storms, impacting over 60 million people in the eastern regions. This cold spell is expected to bring temperatures as low as -50°C (-60°F). The cause is the polar vortex, a mass of extremely cold air that has expanded southwards from the Arctic. This […]

January 7, 2025 Introduction: On January 6, 2025, several workers became trapped for over 12 hours in a coal “rat-hole” mine in Dima Hasao district, Assam. The mine was flooded, prompting ongoing rescue operations. Two motor pumps are currently at work to remove water from the mine, which is reportedly several hundred feet deep. Assam’s Chief […]

January 7, 2025 Introduction: It has been wreaking havoc on the planet’s water cycle, leading to severe consequences for ecosystems and human populations. The 2024 Global Water Monitor Report marks the alarming effects of climate change on water distribution and availability. Researchers from various countries, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Germany, compiled the report using data […]

January 6, 2025 Introduction: The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) is actively working on a comprehensive action plan to study and monitor glacial lakes in the region. This initiative aims to establish early warning systems to prevent disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has identified 13 glacial lakes in Uttarakhand, […]

January 6, 2025 Introduction: Recent events have brought into light a serious outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in India. Three tigers and a leopard have succumbed to the virus at the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park in Nagpur. This incident marks first, as it is the first recorded case of HPAI causing mortality […]

January 6, 2025 Introduction: Tripura-has achieved milestone in biodiversity documentation with the discovery of the Banded Royal butterfly (Rachana jalindra indra). This rare species was recorded for the first time in the state, specifically within the Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary. Wildlife officials announced this finding, which has been documented in the peer-reviewed journal Munis Entomology & […]