21 March 2026
3 articles3 high importance3 with quiz
Science & TechHighQuiz
India Delays Updated Seismic Building Codes Amid Himalayan Earthquake Risks
- •The Indian government has postponed the implementation of revised earthquake building codes.
- •These updated standards, based on a decade of scientific research, would have significantly increased hazard estimates for the Himalayan and Northeast regions.
- •The proposed revisions aimed to align India's seismic safety benchmarks with international standards.
UPSCSSCBankingRailwayDefence
Read AnalysisEnvironmentHighQuiz
Himalayan Glaciers Face Rapid Ice Loss, Threatening Regional Water Security
- •Himalayan glaciers have lost ice equivalent to 24 meters of water depth between 1973 and 2023.
- •Analysis by ICIMOD highlights sustained glacier shrinkage, with eastern Himalayas showing higher rates of loss.
- •The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, or 'Third Pole', is crucial for major river basins but faces Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risks and long-term water supply instability.
UPSCSSCBankingRailwayDefence
Read AnalysisEconomyHighQuiz
India's Cotton Acreage Shrinks by a Fifth Amid Productivity Challenges
- •India's cotton cultivation area is projected to decrease by nearly 20% between 2019-20 and 2025-26.
- •The acreage is expected to fall from 13.4 million hectares to 11.2 million hectares.
- •This decline is primarily attributed to volatile cotton productivity, impacted by erratic weather patterns and pest infestations.
UPSCSSCBankingRailway
Read Analysis