What are the Blue tides spotted at Mumbai beaches?

The blue tide phenomenon was observed in several stretches of Maharashtra coast – such as in the Juhu Beach. The phenomenon is due to bioluminescence, which is the emission of light by microscopic marine plants called phytoplanktons. Eg: dinoflagellates. The blue light stems from chemical reactions of proteins inside the organism. What are Dinoflagellates? It ..

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020

Category: Environment Current Affairs

Topics: bio luminescence • Climate change • Mumbai • Ocean pollution • Sewage • Water pollution

What is Five Eyes Alliance?

The Five Eyes countries recently issued a joint statement expressing their concern about increasing Chinese curbs on the autonomy of Hong Kong. The joint statement was issued following the postponement of Legislative Council elections that was due in September 2020 and imposition of national security law in Hong Kong. According to the countries the decisions ..

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020

Category: International Current Affairs

Topics: China-Hong Kong • Disarmament • five eyes alliance • Hong Kong • US-China • US-Russia • World War II

Gujarat’s PPP project in Leopard rescue and rehabilitation

The Gujarat forest department has transferred 12 leopards to a private rescue and Rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar. These leopards were captured from the wild after they encountered conflicts with humans. The project is first of its kind in the state. Project is implemented under public private partnership between the Reliance Industries Limited and the state ..

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020

Category: Environment Current Affairs

Topics: CITES • Gujarat • Human-Animal Conflict • IUCN • IUCN Red List • Leopard • Wildlife conservation • Wildlife Institute of India • Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972

China’s proposed Hydropower project in Brahmaputra, Tibet

Under the 14th five-year plan that is to be implemented from 2021, China has proposed hydro power project on Brahmaputra river in Tibet. The project has been proposed by the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China. The Committee prepared the fourteenth five-year plan, 2021 to 2025 and the long-term goals through 2035 ..

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020

Category: International Current Affairs

Topics: Brahmaputra • Brahmaputra River • Hydroelectricity in India • Hydroelectricity Project • India-China Border • River Brahmaputra • River Disputes • yarlung zangpo

Dry Swab Direct RT-PCR Test Method

The Dry Swab Direct RT-PCR testing method was recently approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research to test the covid-19 virus. The test was developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) by making a simple variation to the standard RT-PCR method. What is Dry Swab Direct RT-PCR ..

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs

Topics: COVID-19 • COVID-19 testing • CSIR-CCMB • Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) • RT-PCR