Current Affair Category: Geography

Natural Forces and Deaths Associated with Animals in 2023 (NCRB Report) Total Deaths from Natural Forces: Six thousand four hundred forty-four individuals have succumbed to natural forces such as lightning, heat, and floods, cold-related deaths, and landslides. Deaths from Lightning: Two thousand five hundred sixty deaths, comprising 39.7% of total deaths from natural forces. Heat/Sun […]

India to extend its Railway Grid to Bhutan: About the Project: Recently , the Centre announced two railway projects to connect Bhutan with the bordering areas of Assam and West Bengal. The 69-km Kokrajhar (Assam)-Gelephu (Bhutan) and 20-km Banarhat (West Bengal)-Samtse (Bhutan) lines . The Two New Rail Links: Kokrajhar-Gelephu Line: This 69-km line will […]

The “Great Bend” & Medog County The “Great Bend” is a dramatic geographical turn in the Yarlung Zangbo River (the upper stream of the Brahmaputra) where the river takes a U-turn around the Namcha Barwa mountain (one of the easternmost peaks of the Himalayas). This occurs just before the river exits Tibet (China) and enters […]

Why in News? Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently wrote to the Chief Ministers of all states urging them to immediately stop the “forced tagging” of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). This action came in response to widespread complaints from farmers, who reported that retailers were […]

Why in News?  As climate change intensifies, the frequency and unpredictability of natural disasters—such as cyclones, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes—have increased significantly. This has strained traditional insurance systems. In this context, Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds) offer an innovative financial instrument for transferring risk from governments to capital markets. Given India’s exposure to disaster risk and […]

Why in News?  The Strait of Hormuz has been a focal point in recent news due to escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, particularly following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains Prelims : Zonal council Mains :   GS 2 What is the Strait of […]

Why in News ? India recently participated in the global observance of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, reinforcing its dedication to sustainable land management and climate resilience. Relevance : Pre & Mains Prelims: NAAPC/UNCCD Mains :  GS 1- Geo/ GS 3 –Environment Established: By the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, observed […]

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, established in 1999 and headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana. It operates as a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) and is mandated to provide ocean information and advisory services to society, […]

Why in News ? A recent study by ETH Zurich researchers, published on May 22, 2025, indicates that cyclones will become more destructive under the SSP5-8.5 climate scenario, which assumes high greenhouse gas emissions and rapid fossil fuel use. Relevance : UPSC Pre & Mains Prelims: SSPs/RCPs Mains :  GS 1 /Geography/ GS 3 ( […]

Why in News ? In May 2025, the Yala Glacier in Langtang Valley, Nepal, was officially declared “dead” during a poignant ceremony, recognized as Asia’s first glacier funeral. This event underscored the devastating effects of climate change on the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, a critical area known as the “Third Pole” for its vast […]