Facts in News

Facts In News

Western Disturbance (Geography)

Western Disturbance (WD)

• It is an extra-tropical storm that originates in the Mediterranean region.
  • The disturbance travels from the “western” to the eastern direction. 
    • Disturbance means an area of “disturbed” or reduced air pressure. 
    • Equilibrium exists in nature due to which the air in a region tries to normalize its pressure.
    • The WD is not always the harbinger of good weather.
  • In the term “extra-tropical storm”, storm refers to low pressure. 
    • “Extra-tropical” means outside the tropics (as WD originates outside the tropical region). 
• It brings rainfall, snowfall, and fog in northern India.
• If winds (jet stream) flow from the west to east direction at an altitude of 30,000 feet then the weather will be stable in that region. 
  • A jet stream is a river-like current of air circulating across the globe at upper levels of the troposphere.
• WD is important for the agriculture of the Rabi crop in the Northern subcontinent.
• Sometimes WDs can cause extreme weather events like floods, flash floods, landslides, dust storms, hail storms, and cold waves killing people, destroying infrastructure, and impacting livelihoods.

Image Courtesy: Lotus Arise

Tripura Jackfruits Exported to London (Agriculture)

• This would boost exports of agricultural and processed food products from the northeast.

Key Points

• Jackfruit is the state fruit of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and also the national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
  • It is well-suited to tropical lowlands and is widely cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world.
  • Native Areas: Originally Western Ghats of Southern India thereafter spread to other parts of the world e.g; the rainforests of Malaysia, Sri Lanka, etc.
  • Soil: Laterite Soil.
  • It can be harvested in less rainfall, also can survive drought, frost, pests, and high temperatures.
  • Characteristics: 
    • Tall tree, 
    • Belongs to the mulberry family,
    • Largest edible fruit, 
    • Also called poor man’s fruit
    • Jackfruit is a dicot plant and a unisexual plant.
    • It is rich in potassium, calcium, and iron.

Image Courtesy: Npr.org

International Tea Day (Geography)

Key Points

• Theme- 2021: Harnessing Benefits for All, from field to cup.
• Aim: To draw global attention to the impact of the global tea trade and promote sustainable production & consumption of tea, and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.
• Background: 
  • In 2019, the United Nations body Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) moved a resolution to celebrate International Tea Day every year throughout the world.
  • Since 2005, the day has been celebrated only in tea-producing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
• Climatic Conditions: 
  • It is a plantation crop in which black tea leaves are fermented whereas green tea leaves are unfermented. 
  • Tea leaves have a rich content of caffeine and tannin. 
  • It originated from the hills of Northern China. 
  • It is grown in hilly areas and well-drained soils in humid and sub-humid tropics and sub-tropics. 
    • Frost-free climate.
    • Rainfall: 1200 mm
  • Major countries: Sri Lanka (leading producer), China, India, and Indonesia.
• Tea Cultivation in India
  • Major areas: Assam, West Bengal (hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts), Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, and Tripura.
    • Assam accounts for about 53.2 percent of the total cropped area and contributes more than half of the total production of tea in the country. 
    • West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the other leading producers of tea.

Sick-Building Syndrome (Health)

Sick-Building Syndrome (SBS)

• SBS is the situation in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building (particular room or zone), but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
  • In contrast, the term “building-related illness” (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.
• Reasons: Closed, un-ventilated indoor spaces, droplets, and aerosols become quickly concentrated and greatly increase the risk of transmission to people in the area.
• Measures to be taken: Proper ventilation through mechanical or natural methods. 
  • Recently, the government has made an advisory on stopping the spread of COVID-19 in indoor spaces.

Image Courtesy: The Hindu

International Day of Biodiversity (Environment)

Key Points

• Theme-2021: We’re part of the solution #ForNature. 
• Objective: To draw people’s attention towards the fact that biodiversity continues to be the answer for a significant number of sustainable development challenges.
• Aim: To convey to people that conservation and rebuilding of biodiversity can help mankind find solutions to things as serious as climate change, health issues.
• The United Nations General Assembly in December 2000, adopted May 22 as International Day for Biodiversity.
• Global Initiatives
  • Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Biodiversity in India

• India has just 2.4% of the land area and supports nearly 7% of the recorded species and 18% of the human population.
• India has 23.39% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover.
• India’s position in terms of species:
  • 7th in mammals, 
  • 9th in birds
  • 5th in reptiles.
• Biomes in India:
  • Tropical Humid Forests
  • Tropical Dry or Deciduous Forests (including Monsoon Forests)
  • Warm deserts and semi-deserts
  • Coniferous forests and
  • Alpine meadows.
• Biodiversity hotspots in India:
  • Himalayan region: Indian Himalayan region (and that falling in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar).
  • Indo-Burma: Entire North-eastern India, except Assam and Andaman group of Islands (and Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and southern China)
  • Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Entire Western Ghats (and Sri Lanka).
  • Sundaland: Nicobar group of Islands (and Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines).
• Indian initiatives for Biodiversity conservation:
  • National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Shangri-La Dialogue (IR)

Key Points

• It is a “Track One” inter-governmental security forum.
• Organized at: Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore) since 2002.
• Organized by: International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) which is attended by defense ministers and military chiefs of 28 Asia-Pacific countries.
• Objective: Building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation in the Asia-pacific region.

INS Rajput decommissioned (Defence)

Key Points

• It was built by the erstwhile USSR, which remained in service for around 41 years.
• Motto: Raj Karega Rajput 
• Achievements: 
  • Operation Aman
  • Operation Pawan
  • Operation Cactus
  • Operation Crowsnest
• The ship was also the first Indian Naval Ship to be affiliated with an Indian Army regiment, the Rajput Regiment. 
  • INS Rajput was also the first ship in the Navy to get the first version of the BrahMos anti-ship supersonic cruise missile in 2005.
  • Project 15: Under this project, the Indian Navy is developing a class of stealth-guided missile destroyers e.g; Rajput class, Delhi class, and Kolkata class.
• The Indian Navy inducted its first destroyer (INS Ranjit) in 1949 from the UK.

Image Courtesy: Indian Navy