PERUMBAKKAM LAKE
The black-tailed godwit, a near-threatened bird species had arrived at the lake The Great Trigonometrical Survey, a Survey of India initiative to survey the whole land mass of India was started from the measurement of a small section of plain land with Perumbakkam Hill on the southern end by Major Lambton in 1802 CE.
ARCTIC ICE MELT IS DISRUPTING KEY OCEAN CURRENT, MAY ALTER CLIMATE IN WESTERN EUROPE
Ocean water current, which plays a key role in keeping Western Europe warm, could be altered by an influx of unprecedented amounts of cold, fresh water from melting ice in the Arctic A seawater current called the Beaufort Gyre keeps the polar environment in balance by storing fresh water near the surface of the Arctic […]
NASA, ESA SET TO SEND SOLAR ORBITER PROBE TO MAP SUN’S POLES
Why in news? NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are gearing up to send a new probe toward the Sun to take a unique look at its blazing poles, an unprecedented view expected to help researchers grasp how the star’s vast bubble of energy affects Earth and humans in space. Using the gravitational influence […]
ONLY 82 TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS AWARDED RELIEF IN LAST 8 YEARS
Highlighting the poor status of compensation awarded to survivors of human trafficking in the country, response obtained through RTI queries from 25 States and seven Union Territories reveal that between March 2011 and April 2019 only 82 such victims were awarded compensation Between 2011 and 2018, the total number of cases of human trafficking recorded […]
HOW POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS POLLUTE THE AIR?
Why in news? Recent findings from researchers at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi on the efficacy of a specific air purifier technology have revealed more about a class of pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. Details: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can associate with other particulate matter, […]
GOVERNMENT MULLS ENHANCING AUDIT INDEPENDENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY
The government has proposed significant amendments to existing regulations to enhance independence and accountability of auditors. Background: Many auditors and auditing entities coming under the regulatory lens for alleged misdoings Suggestions for curbing five “threats” for the independence of auditors which pertain to self-interest, self-review, advocacy, familiarity and intimidation. economic concentration of the “Big Four” […]
CREDIT, DEBIT CARD DETAILS OF 4 LAKH INDIANS UP FOR SALE
Why in news? A whopping 98% out of a large packet of sensitive credit and debit card details, that have been put up for sale on the dark net, are those of Indian customers, GroupIB a Singapore based cybersecurity company has revealed. According to GroupIB’ s statement released, the stash of 4,61,976 card payment details […]
GOVT. SET TO HOST ANOTHER VISIT BY FOREIGN DIPLOMATS TO J&K
Why in news? The government is making preparations to organise a second visit of diplomats, including several European Ambassadors to visit Srinagar and Jammu next week While all the Ambassadors expressed their concerns about issues like political detentions and Internet restrictions, they were able to see that there was normalcy on the roads, and the […]
INDIA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES RESOLVE TO FIGHT TERROR
Why in news? Lucknow Declaration urges need for stronger international partnership Details? India and several African countries on Thursday pledged to deepen cooperation to combat the growing threat of terrorism and preserve maritime security by sharing information, intelligence and surveillance, in a joint deceleration adopted at the first India Africa Defence Ministers conclave at the […]
WHAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY ACT? (PSA)
Details: The Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, of Jammu & Kashmir is an administrative detention law that allows detention of any individual for up to two years without a trial or charge. The Public Safety Act allows for the arrest and detention of people without a warrant, specific charges, and often for an unspecified period […]