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 […]
Army May Build Bailey Bridges In Kaziranga Context: The Army may assist in the construction of Bailey bridges in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve to allow forest guards to move more quickly in strategic, vulnerable regions of the one-horned rhino realm. Points to […]
Indian Study Supports Same-Sex Marriage Context: With the Supreme Court set to hear petitions seeking legal recognition for same-sex marriages on Tuesday, a survey among Indians has concluded that legalizing such unions will have a “positive impact on LGBTQIA+ individuals’ mental health.”Marriage equality, according to […]
G-7 Ministers Commit To Work For Carbon-Free Electricity By 2035 Context: Climate and energy ministers and envoys from the G-7 countries agreed on Sunday to strive towards achieving carbon-free electricity production by 2035 and “accelerating” the phase-out of coal. The countries reached an agreement at […]
Omicron variants evolve strategies to evade T-cell immunity Context: A study recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS) found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus encodes multiple viral factors that modulate major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) expression in the host cells. […]
Top-Notch Toilets To Usher In Change Context: A quarter of all new public restrooms in Indian cities will soon have high-end features such as luxurious bath cubicles, touchless flushing, breast-feeding rooms, and automatic sanitary napkin incinerators. These will be indicated as “aspirational toilets” on Google […]
Magnetoresistance: One More Thing Graphene Does Differently Context: Researchers in the U.K., led by Nobel laureate Andre Geim, have discovered another property of graphene— a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a honeycomb pattern — that further distinguishes this ‘wonder’ material. Points to Ponder: […]