- CAPITAL RECEIVES HIGHEST SINGLE DAY RAINFALL IN DECEMBER IN 101 DAYS
SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHY
- Delhi Records Historic December Rainfall: 41.2 mm rainfall recorded in a single day, second highest since 1901.
- Caused by western disturbances interacting with easterly winds.
- Effects: Cooler temperatures, improved air quality, reduced AQI (139 from 353).
- Significance: Highlights the role of western disturbances in North India’s climate.
- Reflects linkages between urban weather patterns and pollution control.
2. LOTHAL WILL BECOME GLOBAL HUB FOR MARITIME HERITAGE, SAYS UNIN PORTS MINISTER
SUBJECT: CULTURE
- National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, under the Sagarmala Programme.
- Focus: Showcasing maritime heritage with an “edutainment” approach.
- Historical Significance: Lothal’s role in Indus Valley Civilization’s trade and dock systems.
- Economic Benefits: Boost to tourism, skill development, and maritime education
3. WHY WILL INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY BE A TIGHTROPE WALK
SUBJECT: EXTERNAL RELATION
- India-China Negotiations: Disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was a critical step towards restoring bilateral trust.
- Concept: Importance of LAC for India’s territorial integrity and regional stability.
- India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA):First FTA with Europe concluded but challenges persist with Australia and the U.K.
- Concept: FTAs contribute to economic growth and strategic alliances.
- Bilateral Diplomacy: Visits by leaders of neighboring countries (Bhutan, Maldives).
- Focus on Neighborhood First Policy
- Engagement with multilateral initiatives like IMEC(India-Middle East Europe Corridor) andI2U2(India, Israel, UAE, U.S.).
- Continued calls for ceasefire in Gaza and engagement in West Asia.
4. MARINE HEATWAVE KILLED FOUR MILLION ALASKA SEABIRDS
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Pacific marine heatwave (2014-2016) caused mass mortality among seabirds (Uria aalge) due to:
- Intense ocean warming disrupting marine ecosystems.
- Decrease in prey availability (e.g., fish stocks).
- Highlights cascading effects of marine heatwaves:
- Loss of keystone species like kelps.
- Disruption of trophic levels impacting predator-prey dynamics
- A keystone species is a species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure, balance, and functioning of an ecosystem.
- Its impact on the ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its population size.
- The absence or decline of a keystone species can lead to significant changes in the ecosystem, potentially causing its collapse.
- Examples:
- Sea Otters: Control sea urchin populations, which helps maintain kelp forests.
- Honeybees: Pollinate crops and plants, supporting agriculture and biodiversity.
- Mangroves: Protect coastlines and provide habitats for numerous aquatic species
5. WHY BETTER PREDICTION OF CYCLONE INTENSITY, HEAVY RAINFALL IS NEEDED
SUBJECT: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
- Issues in predicting cyclone intensity:
- Rapid intensification: Hard to forecast due to complex atmospheric conditions.
- Rainfall during landfall: Current models struggle with precise predictions.
- Regional Context:
- Bay of Bengal: Higher cyclone frequency.
- Arabian Sea: Increasing intensity (due to global warming).
- Suggests investment in advanced forecasting technologies (e.g., real-time data assimilation) to mitigate loss of life and property.
