Pittas find new haven in Odisha districts Context: The first-ever census of mangrove pitta birds was conducted in two coastal districts of Odisha, yielding 179 sightings. Mangrove pitta birds are a nearly threatened species located in a few regions of eastern India, notably Odisha’s Bhitarkanika […]
Chhattisgarh Seeks 76% Quota Context: On Monday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel requested that two amendment Bills allowing for higher quotas in jobs and educational institutions be incorporated in the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule. Points to Ponder: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime […]
India to Host a Summit on Buddhism Context: On April 20 and 21, India will hold an international Buddhist conference. Delegates from 30 countries will attend, with China being the conspicuous exception. The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, is also unlikely to attend the two-day […]
Coastal Species Living On Plastic Debris Context: Plastic waste abounds in our cities, rivers, and forests, from the highest peaks to the depths of abyssal tunnels. According to a new study conducted by researchers from Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States, coastal lifeforms have […]
Petitions Around Same-Sex Marriage Context: A five-judge Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is set to hear a series of petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage on April 18. According to the Union administration, same-sex marriage is only an […]
Dealing With Extreme Heat Context: Between April and May 2022, almost 350 million Indians were subjected to severe heat stress. Summer temperatures rose by 0.5-0.9°C on average across districts in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan between 1990 and 2019; winter temperatures rose by […]
Chinese Shenanigans in Arunachal Pradesh Context: For the third time in recent years, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs made a provocative move on April 2 by releasing new names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh under the guise of standardizing geographical names in “Zangnan” (a […]