Important Places in News Summary 2023

Brazil. The Cerrado is spread across several states of Brazil and is one of the world’s largest
savannas, is often called an “upside-down forest” because of the deep roots its plants sink into
the ground to survive seasonal droughts and fires. Cerrado is a major carbon sink that helps to
stave off climate change.

Yucatan Peninsula. The Maya civilization originated in the Yucatan Peninsula. The Maya are an
indigenous people of Mexico and Central America who have continuously inhabited the lands
comprising modern-day Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chiapas in Mexico
and southward through Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Alps is a small segment of
a discontinuous mountain chain that stretches from the Atlas Mountains of North Africa across
southern Europe and Asia to beyond the Himalayas

Turkmenistan (Karakum desert). Recently, Turkmenistan has decided to find a way to extinguish
a fire in a huge natural gas (Mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide
and helium) the Darvaza gas crater also known as the ‘Gateway to Hell’. Located in the Karakum
desert, 260 kilometres away from Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, the crater has been burning
for the last 50 years. The crater has become a significant tourist attraction in the country. In
2018, the country’s president officially renamed it as the “Shining of Karakum”.

Alp mountains. The Alps are an interzonal mountain system (Orobiome), or a “transition area”
between Central and Mediterranean Europe. Mont Blanc is the highest peak. The Alpine crests
isolate one European region from another and are the source of many of Europe’s major rivers.
Waters from the Alps ultimately reach the North, Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Black seas.

Burkina Faso. Recently, Burkina Faso’s army announced that it had ousted President Roch
Kabore, suspended the constitution, dissolved the government and the national assembly, and
closed the country’s borders. Burkina Faso, landlocked country in western Africa. The country
occupies an extensive plateau, and its geography is characterized by a savanna that is grassy in
the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. It is bounded by Mali to the
north and west, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, and Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and
Togo to the south.

Agartala (Tripura). Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated the New Integrated Terminal
Building of Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport. The inauguration of the new terminal is seen as a
first step to make the airport operational as an international airport owing to the State’s
proximity to Bangladesh and accessibility to southeast Asian countries. It is also known as
Agartala Airport, is an international airport situated 12 kilometres northwest of Agartala, the
capital of Tripura in India.
Jagannath Puri temple (Puri, Odisha). Jagannath Puri temple is believed to have been
constructed in the 12th century by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga
Dynasty. The temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power
of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.
This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath,
Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).

Madhya Pradesh. With help from the Wildlife Institute of India and the Wildlife Trust of India, the
Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change will be translocating around 8-12
cheetahs from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The cheetah will live at Kuno Palpur
National Park owing to its suitable habitat and adequate prey base. It is in the Chambal region
of Madhya Pradesh.

Darrang and Sonitpur districts (Assam). The Orang National Park also known as Rajiv Gandhi
Orang National Park is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Darrang and
Sonitpur districts of Assam and covers an area of 78.81 square kilometers. It was established as a
wildlife sanctuary in 1985 but was declared as a National Park in 1999. It is also the 49th Tiger
Reserve of the country, being notified in 2016. It is also known as the mini Kaziranga National
Park since the two parks have a similar landscape made up of marshes, streams, and grasslands.
It is the only stronghold of rhinoceros on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river.

Kohima War Cemetery (Nagaland). Recently, the United Kingdom-based Commonwealth War
Graves Commission (CWGC) has listed five sites with unusual features. These sites are associated
with World War I and World War II. Nagaland capital Kohima is included in the list because of
the Kohima War Cemetery. The Kohima War Cemetery is one of 23,000 World War graves across
the continents maintained by the CWGC.

Arunachal Pradesh. Recently, the Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have found
a new mammal species in the country — the White Cheeked Macaque (Macaca leucogenys).
While the species was first discovered in China in 2015, its existence was not known in India
before this. It is only now that Indian scientists have discovered its presence in the remote Anjaw
district in central Arunachal Pradesh.

Jammu and Kashmir. Devika river originates from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in
Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir and flows down towards western Punjab (now in
Pakistan) where it merges with the Ravi river. The river holds religious significance as it is revered
by Hindus as the sister of river Ganga. River Devika project, built at the cost of over Rs 190 crore,
will be complete by June, 2022. The work on the project was started in March 2019 under the
National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
Munger (Bihar). Recently, Bihar Chief Minister has announced that 15th February would be
commemorated as “Shahid Diwas” in memory of the 34 freedom fighters who were killed by
police in Tarapur town (now subdivision) of Bihar’s Munger district 90 years ago. The Tarapur
massacre was the biggest carried out by the British police after the one in Jallianwala Bagh in
Amritsar in 1919.

Hampi, Karnataka. Recently, the Union Culture Minister inaugurated Devayatanam, a one-of-a-
kind conference on temple architecture of India, at Hampi, Karnataka. It is a part of the
celebration under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and is being organized on 25th-26th February by
the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of the Ministry of Culture. The inaugural session took
place at Pattabhirama Temple in Hampi.

Similipal Tiger Reserve. Similipal Tiger Reserve derives its name from ‘Simul’ (silk cotton) tree. It
was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 and brought under Project Tiger in the year
1973. It has been part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve since 2009. It is
situated in the northern part of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. Geographically, it lies in the
eastern end of the eastern ghat.

U.S. Eastern Coast. Recently, ‘Bomb cyclone’ hits eastern US, which triggers transport chaos,
outages. A bomb cyclone is a large, intense midlatitude storm that has low pressure at its center,
weather fronts and an array of associated weather, from blizzards to severe thunderstorms to
heavy precipitation. Bomb cyclones put forecasters on high alert, because they can produce
significant harmful impacts.

Falkland Islands. Falkland Islands, also called Malvinas Islands or Spanish Islas Malvinas,
internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic Ocean. It
lies about 300 miles northeast of the southern tip of South America and a similar distance east
of the Strait of Magellan. The capital and major town is Stanley, on East Falkland, there are also
several scattered small settlements as well as a Royal Air Force base that is located at Mount
Pleasant.

Brest, France. Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the high-level segment of the One Ocean
Summit. The summit was organised by France in Brest, France in cooperation with the United
Nations and the World Bank. The summit was addressed by various other Heads of State and
Governments from countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Canada
among others.

Oman. Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman began a five-day
bilateral exercise at the Jodhpur air force station. The exercise is named Eastern Bridge VI, as is
in its sixth edition. The exercise seeks to promote professional interaction, exchange of
experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral
relations between the two countries.
Iraq. Razzaza Lake, also known as Lake Milh, Arabic for Salt Lake, is located between Iraq’s
governorates of Anbar and Karbala. It’s the second largest lake in Iraq and is part of a wide
valley that includes the lakes of Habbaniyah, Tharthar and Bahr al-Najaf. Lake Tharthar is the
largest.The lake was constructed as a measure to control floods in the Euphrates and to be used
as a huge reservoir for irrigation purposes.

Konark Sun Temple (Odisha). Konark Sun Temple, located in the East Odisha near the sacred city
of Puri. Built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264). Its scale, refinement
and conception represent the strength and stability of the Eastern Ganga Empire as well as the
value systems of the historic milieu.

Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay. Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to go ahead with
the establishment of India's first conservation reserve for the Dugong in Gulf of Mannar, Palk
Bay. It facilitates India to act as the leading nation in the South Asia Sub-region with respect to
dugong conservation. Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is one of the four
surviving species in the Order Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal
that lives exclusively in the sea including in India.

Sabarkantha district (Gujarat). On 7th March 2022, the government of Gujarat marked the 100
years of the Pal-Dadhvav massacre. The Pal-Dadhvav massacre took place in the Pal-Chitariya
and Dadhvaav villages of Sabarkantha district, then part of Idar state (Now Gujrat). Villagers
from Pal, Dadhvav, and Chitariya had gathered on the banks of river Heir as part of the ‘Eki
movement’, led by one Motilal Tejawat.

Maikala range near Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh). Narmada is the largest west flowing river of
the peninsular region flowing through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range on the north and
the Satpura Range on the south. It rises from Maikala range near Amarkantak in Madhya
Pradesh. It drains a large area in Madhya Pradesh besides some areas in the states of
Maharashtra and Gujarat. The river near Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) forms the DhuanDhar Falls.

Malabar Coast of northern Kerala. The name Mappilla is given to Malayali-speaking Muslims
who reside along the entire length of the Malabar Coast of northern Kerala. By 1921, the
Moplahs formed the largest and fastest growing community in Malabar. Mapillah Revolt was
fuelled by the fiery speeches by Muslim religious leaders and anti-british sentiments, the
Mopillahs launched a violent rebellion. Numerous acts of violence were reported and a series of
persecutions were committed both against the British and the Hindu landlords.

Ukraine. Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Powerplant, the largest nuclear power
plant in Europe. It is located on the banks of the Dnieper river, just 200 kilometers from the
conflicted Donbas region where Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces have been
fighting. Zaporizhzhya is one of the four operating NPPs in the country and has been operating
since 1984. It accounts for about 40% of the total electricity generated by all the Ukrainian NPPs
and one-fifth of Ukraine’s annual electricity production.
Madagascar. Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle’ has been unveiled in Madagascar to mark Azadi
ka Amrit Mahotsav. The word green in the plaque (a flat piece of stone or metal) signifies their
commitment to sustainable development and saving the environment. The naming of this park
as Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Indonesia. Recently, Indonesia has introduced a global declaration that calls on parties to the
Minamata Convention on Mercury to tackle illegal trade of mercury. The declaration was read in
Nusa Dua, Bali, where Indonesia is hosting the fourth Conference of Parties (COP4) to the
Minamata Convention on Mercury. The conference was held from 21st to 25th March 2022.

Zambia. Recently, high levels of lead were found in the blood of thousands of children living
around the Kabwe mine in Zambia. Kabwe has a long history of lead and zinc mining, centered
around the now-closed Broken Hill Mine. Due to the mine, the city is also one of the most
polluted places on Earth.

Romania. The B9 is a group of nine NATO countries in Eastern Europe that became part of the
US-led military alliance after the end of the Cold War. The B 9 or Bucharest Format, often
abbreviated as the B9, was founded on November 4, 2015. It takes its name from Bucharest, the
capital of Romania. B9, it is also regarded as the “voice of the Eastern Flank” in the NATO
alliance. The members of B9 are Romania and Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, and the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Namchi (South Sikkim), Sikkim. Recently, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified two
geological heritage sites in the Indian Himalayan Region of India. The sites identified are Siwalik
Fossil Park, Himachal Pradesh and Stromatolite bearing Dolomite / Limestone of Buxa Formation
of Buxa Formation, Sikkim. With inclusion of these two sites, there are 34 Geological Heritage
Sites in India.

Jaynagar, Bihar. Recently, the Prime Minister of Nepal visited India. During this visit, the 35-km
cross-border railway line linking Jaynagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal was launched. This is the
first broad-gauge passenger rail link between the two sides and it will be extended to Bardibas
in Nepal under a project supported by an Indian grant of Rs 548 crore.

Nanar Village, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra. The project, Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemical
Limited, was going to be Asia’s ‘biggest oil refinery’, and was proposed to be built at Nanar
village in Ratnagiri district in coastal Konkan region. It was supposed to be a joint venture
between Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, and Saudi Arabia-owned
Aramco and United Arab Emirates’ National Oil Company.

Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats, Kerala. The Periyar River is the longest river in the state of Kerala
with a length of 244 km. It is also known as ‘Lifeline of Kerala’ as it is one of the few perennial
rivers in the state. Periyar River originates from Sivagiri hills of Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu and
flows through the Periyar National Park. The main tributaries of Periyar are Muthirapuzha,
Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti.
Mulugu District, Telangana. Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at
Mulugu district, Telangana was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2021. The temple
stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned with
intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiya sculptors. The foundation is built
with the “sandbox technique”, the flooring is granite and the pillars are basalt.

Gulf of Oman. It is located in the Gulf of Oman, in Southeastern Iran. The port serves as the only
oceanic port of Iran and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Beheshti and Shahid
Kalantari.

Solomon Islands is a nation in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, comprising more than 990
islands. Its capital is Honiara, located on the island of Guadalcanal. The Solomon Islands have
been inhabited by Melanesian people for at least 30,000 years. It consists of a double chain of
volcanic islands and coral atolls in Melanesia. Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania in the
southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Turkey. The Black Sea is bordered by Ukraine to the north and northwest, Russia and Georgia to
the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west. It links to the Sea of
Marmara through the Bosphorus Strait and then to the Aegean Sea through the Dardanelles
strait.

Central North Island, New Zealand. Mount Ruapehu is 2800m stratovolcano in New Zealand's
central North Island. It is also capped by a hydrothermal system and a warm crater lake (Te Wai
a Moe). The volcano is forested below its line of permanent snow cover. Above the line, glaciers
flow from the peak. Within the crater lies a lake, which is drained by the Whangaehu River.

Jerusalem, Israel. The al-Aqsa Mosque is one of Jerusalem’s most recognized monuments. The
site is part of the Old City of Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. The United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has classified the Old City of
Jerusalem and its walls as a World Heritage Site.

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Recently, scientists from the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and
Natural History (SACON) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu carried out a survey for Gray slender loris
populations. Gray Slender Loris generally inhabits dry and drought-prone areas of Dindigul
district of Tamil Nadu. It is found in acacia and tamarind-dominated thorn and scrub forests
near cultivated fields.

Rakhigarhi, Haryana. The Harappan site of Rakhigarhi has been excavated by Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI) and has revealed the structure of some houses, lanes and drainage system.
Rakhigarhi is the largest Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent. Rakhigarhi is located in the
state of Haryana.
Gaya district, Bihar. Mahabodhi temple is situated in Gaya district of Bihar. It has spiritual
importance. Huge gathering occurs on the day of Buddha purnima. Mahabodhi Temple is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bodhi Temple is the location where Lord Buddha has attained
enlightenment.

Western Outskirts of Mumbai. The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments
located on the western outskirts of Mumbai. The caves are located within the forests of the
Sanjay Gandhi National Park.The name Kanheri is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ in Prakrit and occurs
in the Nasik inscription of the Satavahana ruler Vasisthiputra Pulumavi.

Odisha. It is a redevelopment project of the Odisha government in Puri to create an

international heritage site, including the Jagannath temple. Though conceived in 2016, it was
unveiled in December 2019. Under the umbrella project falls the Shree Jagannatha Heritage
Corridor (SJHC) or the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project, for the revamp of the area around the
temple

Cote d'Ivoire, Western Africa. Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate
Change addressed the fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It has been organized in Cote d'Ivoire,
Western Africa. Theme: ‘Land. Life. Legacy: From scarcity to prosperity'.

Central African Republic. The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It
is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR
Congo to the south, the Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and Cameroon to the west.
Recently, the Central African Republic (CAR) became the second country after El Salvador to
adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. The population of the Central African Republic is 5 million, CAR is
among the poorest and most economically fragile countries globally.

Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous and heavily forested region that under

international law is recognised as part of Azerbaijan. However, ethnic Armenians who constitute
the vast majority of the population there reject Azeri rule (the legal system of Azerbaijan).

Bangladesh. Recently, the third edition of Exercise Bongosagar, bilateral naval exercise between
India and Bangladesh, commenced at Port Mongla, Bangladesh. The exercise is aimed at
developing a high degree of interoperability and joint operational skills through the conduct of
a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations between the two navies.

Vancouver. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme is the United Nations
programme for human settlements and sustainable urban development. It was established in
1978 as an outcome of the First UN Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban
Development (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1976. It is mandated by the United
Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities
with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka plans to develop Trincomalee port into an industrial hub that
would spark global interest. The proposal is a long-standing plan to monetize land that belongs
to the Sri Lanka Port Authority, by getting foreign and local investment for a special economic
zone, an industrial park, or an energy hub.

Barents Sea. The Barents Sea borders the Norwegian and Greenland Sea in the west, the Arctic
Sea in the north and the Kara Sea in the east. The Barents Sea is divided between Russia and
Norway as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The
region around the northern Barents Sea has been warming 2 to 2.5 times the average warming
of the Arctic region and five to seven times the warming in the rest of the world.

Aegean Sea. Recently, the Turkish President warned Greece to demilitarize islands in the Aegean
Sea. Aegean Sea an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between the Greek peninsula on the
west and Asia Minor on the east. The Aegean is connected through the straits of the
Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus to the Black Sea.

Greenbushes lithium Mine, Australia. The largest hard-rock lithium mine in the world is an open-
pit mining operation in Western Australia called the Greenbushes lithium mine. The highest-
grade quality lithium spodumene in the world is present in the Greenbushes mine.

Port Mongla, Bangladesh. Recently, the third edition of Exercise Bongosagar which is a bilateral
naval exercise between India and Bangladesh, was conducted at Port Mongla, Bangladesh.

Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh. Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh is one the most
unique destinations for all wildlife lovers and enthusiasts. It has a healthy population of
cheetahs, chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, chinkara and cattle. India will relocate cheetahs from
South Africa and Namibia into the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh. It will initiate
India’s ambitious plan of transcontinental relocation of cheetahs.

Ramappa Temple, Telangana. Ramappa Temple, at Mulugu district of Telangana presents the
distinct style of Kakatiyas. The foundation of this temple is “sandbox technique”. It is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.

Sirumalai Hills, Tamil Nadu. The Sirumalai Hills are spread over 60,000 acres in Dindigul District
of Tamil Nadu. They are considered to be the spur of the Eastern Ghats. They are located about
25 kilometers from Dindigul town, at an altitude of 400 to 1,650 meters from mean sea level.
The hills act as a repository of several rare and endemic plants.

Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghalaya. Scientists have discovered a new species of

bamboo-dwelling bat near the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary. Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
is situated in Meghalaya. The new species of bamboo-dwelling bat has been named Glischropus
meghalayanus.
Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha. Bhitarkanika National Park is one of Odisha’s finest
biodiversity hotspots and is famous for its green mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine
crocodiles and countless creeks. Bhitarkanika is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani,
Dhamra and Mahanadi River systems.

Sakurajima Volcano, Japan. Sakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes and eruptions of
varying levels take place on a regular basis. It is an active stratovolcano. A volcano is an opening
on the surface of a planet that allows material warmer than its surroundings to escape from its
interior.

Hambantota Port, Sri Lanka. The Hambantota Port is a deep-water port in Hambantota, Sri
Lanka. This port was constructed with the help of Chinese investment. Construction of the port
commenced in January 2008

Tajikistan. Tajikistan is the nation where India has developed Ayni airport to boost the
international ties. India’s Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences held a bilateral
meeting with the Minister for Energy and Water resources of Republic of Tajikistan.

Bagan, Myanmar. Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mandalay
Region of Myanmar. China’s Foreign Minister and counterparts from Mekong Delta nations
(Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam) attended this meeting.

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland. The European
Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has reignited the Large Hadron Collider for the third
time in July 2022, 10 years after it enabled scientists to find the ‘God particle’ or Higgs Boson. It
is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ramagundam, Peddapalli district, Telangana. The largest floating solar power plant in India,
located in Ramagundam, Peddapalli district, Telangana. These are Photovoltaic (PV) modules
mounted on platforms that float on water reservoirs, lakes etc. It is declared operational from 1st
July 2022. These installations are relatively quick to construct, silent to run and require no land
leveling or removal of vegetation.

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Chenkurinji (Gluta travancorica), is a
species endemic to the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Established in 2001, the Agasthyamala
Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in India that spans in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is
situated at the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats. Gluta travancorica flowers in January on
average, but the species has recently reported a tendency to extend the process due to climate
change. It's used to lower blood pressure and treat arthritis.
Mangarh hilltop, Rajasthan. National Monuments Authority (NMA) designated Mangarh hilltop
in Rajasthan as a national monument in honor of 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters. Ancient
National Monuments are defined under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and
Remains Act,1958. The Central Government is authorized to maintain, protect and promote the
monuments.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Maharashtra. Jawaharlal Nehru Port became the first major port of the
country to become a 100% Landlord port of India having all berths being operated on PPP
model. It is situated in Thane creek on the west coast of Maharashtra. The publicly governed
port authority acts as a regulatory body and as a landlord, while private companies carry out
port operations—mainly cargo-handling activities.

Pala Wetland, Mizoram. The geographical location of Pala Wetland in Mizoram falls under the
Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and is therefore rich in animal and plant species. The lake is a
major component of the Palak Wildlife Sanctuary, and it supports the major biodiversity of the
sanctuary. It is home to a wide range of animals, birds, and reptiles.

Falkland Island. Britain and Argentina are claiming territorial ownership of Falkland Island.
Argentina based its claim to the Falklands based on an official document of 1493 modified by
the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494). Britain based its claim on its “open, continuous, effective
possession, occupation, and administration” of the islands since 1833 and its determination to
apply to the Falklanders the principle of self-determination. India extended support to
Argentina's campaign to restart international negotiation on the Falklands Territorial Issue.

Bangladesh. The Kushiyara River is a distributary river in Bangladesh and Assam. It forms on the
India-Bangladesh border as a branch of the Barak River when the Barak separates into the
Kushiyara and Surma. The waters of the Kushiyara pick up tributaries from Manipur, Mizoram,
and Assam. The Kushiyara rejoins with the Surma at Markuli in Ajmiriganj upazila (Bangladesh)
and flows south upto Bhairab Bazar (Bangladesh) receiving the name Kalni.

Italy. Italy’s worst drought in decades has reduced Lake Garda and has exposed swaths of
previously underwater rocks and warmed the water to temperatures that approach the average
in the Caribbean Sea. To compensate for the loss of Northern Italy, authorities allowed more
water from Lake Garda to flow out to local rivers. With huge amounts of water being diverted to
rivers, the lake recorded its lowest level.

Tunisia. Recently, protests have erupted in Tunisia after a referendum was passed to approve a
new Constitution that would turn the country back into a Presidential System. Protestors have
warned that the new Constitution would erase whatever democratic gains Tunisia has made
since the 2011 Arab Spring (Jasmine) revolution and push the country back into an authoritarian
slide.
Oman. Indian Army and Royal Army of Oman conducted their joint Military Exercise AL NAJAH-
IV from 1st to 13th of August 2022. It was the fourth edition of the exercise. The scope of the
exercise included professional interaction, mutual understanding of drills & procedures,
establishment of joint command & control structures and elimination of terrorist threats.

Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP) is located in Chamoli
district of Uttarakhand State. The project will build a 65-meter diversion dam near Helang village
in Chamoli district to create a small reservoir in the Alaknanda River. The 444-MW VPHEP is
being built by the Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation, a partially Centre-owned
enterprise. The World Bank has agreed to look into environmental damage from this under-
construction dam.

Puga Valley, Ladakh. India’s first Geothermal Energy Project is located in Puga Valley in Ladakh.
Puga Valley is situated in the Changthang Valley in the south-eastern part of Ladakh, about 22
km away from the Salt Lake Valley. ONGC has started drilling its first well for the project and
encountered high-pressure steam at 100 degrees Celsius with a discharge rate of 100 tonne
geothermal energy per hour, considered as a good sign for the project.

Bhitarkanika National Park, Kendrapara, Odisha. Bhitarkanika National Park has the second-
largest mangrove forest in India and is a Ramsar site. It was declared as a Bhitarkanika National
Park in the year of 1988. It is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and
Mahanadi river systems. It is located in Kendrapara district of Odisha. It is one of Odisha’s finest
biodiversity hotspots and is famous for its mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine
crocodiles, and countless creeks.

Garhwal, Uttarakhand. India's first commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Observatory
will be set up in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The observatory will be set up by Digantara,
a Bengaluru-based space sector start-up. It will be strategically positioned to serve global space
traffic management operations. It will assist in tracking any activity in space including that of
space debris and military satellites hovering over the region.

Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of wind energy producing 9,075MW in 2019. It is
found by the National Institute for Wind Energy (based in Chennai) that western states have
larger potential in terms of a stable, steady and a speedy windflow starting from Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Ferghana Valley. Currently, Ferghana Valley continues to be a site of struggle and frequent
violent outbursts, with the location consisting primarily of Tajiks, Kyrgyz, and Uzbeks, who have
historically shared common sociological specificities, economic activities, and religious practices.

Democratic Republic of Congo. Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola
haemorrhagic fever, is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human
population through human-to-human transmission. Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near
the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Beijing. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental
international organisation was created in 2001. It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military
organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region. The SCO Secretariat
is located in Beijing.

South Sudan. There are four countries along with India that are not part of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty that includes Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, and South Sudan.

Karnataka. The state of Karnataka is rich in minerals and ores; particularly iron ore. There are 266
mines in the state, of which 134 are located in forest areas. Ballari district in Karnataka alone has
148 mines spread over an area of 10,598 hectares of land. The Indian Bureau of Mines estimated
iron ore reserves to be about 1,148 million tons. The Ballari mines took off in 1999 when
independent parties were encouraged to take up iron ore mining as per the 1993 National
Mineral Policy.

Hanle, Ladakh. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has
announced the setting up of India’s first Dark Sky Reserve in Hanle, Ladakh. A Dark Sky Reserve
is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region
has minimal artificial light interference.

New Delhi. Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that India is hosting the
G-20 (Group of 20) leaders’ summit in New Delhi next year 2023. The 17th G20 Heads of State
and Government Summit will happen in November 2022 in Indonesia, after which India will
assume the presidency of G20 from December 2022.

Arunachal Pradesh. Dibang Hydroelectric Project is a flood control cum hydroelectric power
project planned to be developed on the Dibang River, a tributary of Brahmaputra River, in
Arunachal Pradesh. The Dam site is located about 1.5 km upstream of the confluence of Ashu
Pani and Dibang rivers and about 43 km from Roing, District Headquarter.

Thamirabarani river. The Thamirabarani is the only perennial (continuous flow of water) river in
Tamil Nadu. This is the shortest river in the state, the Thamirabarani starts in Pothigai hills of the
Western Ghats in the Ambasamudram taluk, flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts
and empties at Korkai into the Gulf of Mannar (Bay of Bengal). It thus originates and ends in the
same state.

Burkina Faso, West Africa. Despite Damiba’s promises to improve the security situation in the
country, the crisis worsened under Paul-Henri Damiba (President of Burkina Faso) government. A
former French colony, Burkina Faso has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence
in 1960, including several coups. Since 2015, the country has been fighting an Islamist
insurgency that spilled over from neighbouring Mali. This has fuelled anger in the military and
damaged the once important tourist industry.
North Korea. North Korea flew 12 warplanes near its border with South Korea, prompting the
latter to scramble 30 military aircraft in response. The root of the conflict lies in the Japanese
occupation of Korea between 1910-1945. When Japan was defeated in the Second World War,
the Allied forces agreed to establish a “four-power trusteeship over Korea” at the Yalta
Conference (1945). However, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) invaded Korea and
took control of the north while the south remained under the rest of the allies, mainly the USA.
The division of the two regions was along the 38th parallel north, which still continues to be the
official border dividing the two Koreas

Japan. In Japan, Nihonshu is regarded as a special and valuable beverage made from fermenting
rice. People traditionally drink nihonshu on special occasions, such as festivals, weddings or
funerals, but it is also consumed on a daily basis. Thus, it is an integral part of the lifestyle and
culture in Japan. The sake market (almost all are nihonshu) is the second largest brewed liquor
(such as beer) market in Japan. This is the first time a product from Japan has filed for a tag at
the Geographical Indication Registry.’

Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos islands are protected from an otherwise warming Pacific
Ocean by a cold, eastward equatorial ocean current. The equatorial undercurrent in the Pacific
Ocean is bound to the equator by the force of the planet’s rotation. Under the ocean’s surface, a
swift circulation of cold, nutrient-rich water flows from west to east. The Galapagos Islands,
spread over almost 60,000 sq km, are a part of Ecuador. These are located in the Pacific Ocean
around 1,000 km away from the South American continent.

Myanmar. Myanmar, which was already on the Grey List of FATF, has been moved to the “black
list” due to actions by the military leadership after the 2021 coup. FATF is the global money
laundering and terrorist financing watchdog set up in 1989 out of a G-7 meeting of developed
nations in Paris.

Lakshadweep. The Blue Flag certification has been accorded to Minicoy Thundi Beach and
Kadmat Beach of Lakshadweep. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the
world. It is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and
hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development
of the area. It is accorded by the international jury composed of eminent members – UNEP, UN
World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Denmark-based NGO Foundation for Environmental
Education (FEE) and IUCN.

Odisha. Sukapaika is one of the several distributaries of the mighty Mahanadi River in Odisha. It
branches away from the Mahanadi at Ayatpur village in Cuttack district and flows for about 40
kilometres (km) before rejoining its parent river at Tarapur in the same district. Sukapaika river is
an important system of the Mahanadi to control floodwater and maintain the flow in the river as
well as the Bay of Bengal.
Lothal, Gujarat. Recently, the Prime Minister has reviewed the construction of the National
Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) site at Gujarat’s Lothal. Lothal was one of the southernmost
sites of the Indus Valley civilization (IVC), located in the Bhal region of what is now the state of
Gujarat. The port city is believed to have been built in 2,200 BC. Lothal was a thriving trade
center in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems and ornaments reaching West Asia and
Africa.

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Mahakal Maharaj Mandir Parisar Vistar Yojna is a plan for the
expansion, beautification, and decongestion of the Mahakaleshwar temple and its adjoining area
in Ujjain district. Under the plan, the Mahakaleshwar temple premises of around 2.82 hectares is
being increased to 47 hectares, which will be developed in two phases by the Ujjain district
administration. This will include the 17 hectares of Rudrasagar lake. The project is expected to
increase annual footfall in the city from the current 1.50 crore to nearly three crores.

Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand. Pakhro tiger safari will be spread over an area of 106
hectares, when completed, it would have been the State’s first tiger safari that would have tigers
in enclosures to ensure "100% sighting". Corbett Tiger Reserve is located in the Nainital district
of Uttarakhand. The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (first National
Park of India), which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve. The national park was established in 1936
as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is named after Jim Corbett
who played a key role in its establishment.

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Recently the United Nations (UN) has decided to set up a satellite-based
monitoring system “MARS: Methane Alert and Response System” for tracking methane
emissions and alerting governments and corporations to respond. The MARS was launched at
the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Panama. India has proposed to protect the Red-Crowned Roofed turtle at the 19th Conference
of the Parties to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in Panama.

Indonesia. The 17th annual summit of G-20 was hosted by the Indonesia. This summit happened
in Bali with the theme ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’.

Mount Kilimanjaro. According to recent research by the World Meteorological Organization

(WMO), climate change may cause the African mountain glacier Mount Kilimanjaro to vanish by
2040.

Black Sea. The sinking of the warship Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, is a
serious setback for Russia. The Black Sea Fleet has a long history, and is considered to have been
founded back in 1783.
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). The Forest Department is coming up with a comprehensive
strategy to deal with the spread of the invasive species like Senna spectabilis which continues to
spread rapidly in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Nilgiris hill district.

National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary. The only place in India with a sizable population of
the species of Red Crowned Roofed Turtle is the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary, but
even this Protected Area and habitat are under threat. Located on the Chambal River near the
tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, it was first declared as a protected
area in Madhya Pradesh in 1978 and now constitutes a long narrow eco-reserve co-
administered by the three states.

Vellar River estuary. A new species of estuarine crab has just been discovered in the mangroves
of Parangipettai, close to the Vellar River estuary (the place where the river meets the ocean), in
the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The species has been named ‘Pseudohelice Annamalai’ in
recognition of Annamalai University’s 100 years of service in education and research.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Recently, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has filed an application,
seeking the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Nicobari Hodi craft.

Tripura. Tripura will soon have India’s first Buddhist-run university named Dhamma Dipa
International Buddhist University (DDIBU) which will offer education in the faith while also
running courses in other disciplines of modern education. It will be established at Manu Bankul
in Sabroom of South Tripura district.

Gulf of Oman. Recently, the United Arab Emirates and Iran’s military have started their annual
Drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The strait is
located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and is crucial to global energy supplies, with about a
fifth of all oil traded at sea passing through it. The waterway separates Iran and Oman, linking
the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Armenia. After recent clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijan troops, India signed an order
for the arms export through a government-to-government route, through which the two nations
inked contracts for the supply of arms and ammunition to Armenia. India will also export
indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers. Pinaka has been developed by the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by indigenous private
sector firms.

Montreal, Canada. The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological
Diversity was chaired by China and hosted by Canada; COP 15 resulted in the adoption of the
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) on the last day of negotiations. The GBF
aims to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. The plan
includes concrete measures to halt and reverse nature loss, including putting 30 per cent of the
planet and 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030.
Australia. It is the world’s most extensive and spectacular coral reef ecosystem composed of
over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. The reef is located in the Coral Sea (North-East
Coast), off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

West Bengal. Under Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) initiative, farmers
have taken up cultivation of shrimp at 30 hectares in Sundarbans (West Bengal). Additionally,
they are restoring mangroves. Started in 2019, the community-based initiative of sustainable
shrimp cultivation is being conceived by NGOs- Nature Environment and Wildlife Society
(NEWS) and Global Nature Fund (GNF), Naturland, Bangladesh Environment and Development
Society (BEDS).

Goa. Recently, the year-end-review of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under
the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) & Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen (SBM -
G) for the year 2022 was released under which Goa becomes the First ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Certified
State.

Manipur. Recently, a tripartite agreement has been signed by the Centre (Home Ministry),
Manipur govt. and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF). ZUF is a Naga armed group operating
mostly in Manipur and has been demanding a separate State for the Zeliangrong Naga tribe
(Mongolian race) for more than a decade. A tripartite agreement is a legal document that
involves three parties. It is a type of contract that establishes rights, duties, and obligations for
all three parties involved.

Jammu and Kashmir. The new laws replaced “J&K Land Grants Rules 1960”, which had liberal
lease policy such as 99-year lease period and extendable. Most hotels at famous tourist places in
the Valley and prime commercial structures in twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar are on lease
land.

Modhera, Gujarat. The Sun Temple at Modhera is located on the left bank of the river
Pushpavati, a tributary of river Rupan in Becharaji taluka of Mehsana district. The temple
description states that it is built in Maru-gurjara architectural style, consists of the main temple
shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or
rangamandapa) and a sacred pool (Surya Kunda), which is now called Ramakunda.

Sudan and South Sudan, India recently deployed an all-woman platoon of peacekeepers as part
of a battalion to the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (on the border between
South Sudan and Sudan). This was India’s largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a U.N.
mission since the deployment of the first-ever all-women’s contingent in Liberia in 2007. India is
one of the largest troop-contributing nations to the U.N. peacekeeping missions.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), After 4 months and 55 deaths, the latest Ebola epidemic
in Uganda (worst in 2 decades) was declared over by the WHO. The outbreak was caused by the
Sudan strain of the virus. Ebola virus disease is a hemorrhagic fever that is transmitted through
body contact with sick or dead people or animals (a “viral hemorrhagic fever” is a condition that
damages the overall cardiovascular system and reduces the body's ability to function on its
own). Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).

Sweden, Recently, Sweden’s state-owned mining company LKAB discovered Europe’s largest
deposit of rare earth metals. Currently, no rare earths are mined in Europe, and it mostly imports
them from other regions. Rare earth metals are important in the technologies of consumer
electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation,
healthcare, environmental mitigation, and national defence, among others.

France, Recently, the 21st edition of the bilateral naval exercise VARUNA between India and
France began on the western seaboard. While the bilateral exercise between the two navies was
initiated in 1993, it was adopted as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001. Other Indo-French Joint Exercises are
Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Garuda (Air Force).

Japan, The inaugural edition of the bilateral air exercise 'Veer Guardian 2023' between the Indian
Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) concluded recently in Japan. This is
Indo-Japan’s maiden bilateral air exercise. The other exercises that India conducts with Japan
include – Dharma Guardian (Military), JIMEX (naval), SHINYUU Maitri (air force) and Malabar
(along with Australia and the US).

Parasnath Hill, The Jain community was recently protesting over demands related to two holy
sites — Sammed Shikhar on Parasnath hill in Jharkhand and Shatrunjaya hill in Palitana of
Gujarat. Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in Giridih district of Jharkhand. It is one of the
most important pilgrimage centre for Jains. They call it Sammed Sikhar. The hill is named after
Parasnath, the 23rd Tirthankara. 20 out of 24 of Jain Tirthankaras attained salvation on this hill
and for each of them there is a shrine (gumti or tuk) on the hill.

Brahmagiri-Nilgiris Landscape, The Western Ghats is known for its spectacular assemblage of
larger mammals, including 25% of the global population of Asian Elephants. There are four
major landscapes in the Western Ghats: (1) UttaraKannada, (2) Brahmagiri-Nilgiris, (3) Anamalai-
Nelliyampathy-High Range, and (4) Periyar-Agasthyamalai. The second landscape (Brahmagiri-
Nilgiris) with over 50% of the Ghats’ elephant population, along with its contiguity to the Eastern
Ghats elephant landscape, forms the single largest global population of Asian Elephants.
Tripura, The state government of Tripura, in an effort to encourage social and emotional
learning, introduced a special education programme - ‘Saharsh’. Launched in pilot mode in Aug
2022 in 40 schools, now it will be extended to all govt. and aided schools of the state. It aimed at
empowering children to learn with happiness. Tripura currently ranks in the Grade-I category in
the Performance Grading Index.

Deepor Beel, Recently, the Assam Forest Department conducted the Bird Species Count Exercise
in Deepor Beel Wetland, the only Ramsar Site in Assam. Deepor Beel is one of the largest
freshwater lakes in Assam and an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. It was designated
as a Ramsar Site in November, 2002. It is located towards the southwest of Guwahati city, Assam
and is the erstwhile water channel of River Brahmaputra.

Varanasi, Recently, the Prime Minister of India flagged off the world’s longest river cruise, MV
Ganga Vilas in Varanasi. The cruise will be managed by private operators, the Inland Waterways
Authority of India (IWAI) (under the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways (MoPSW)). It will
explore forty historic sites on the banks of the river Ganga including, Mahabodhi temple,
Hazarduari Palace, Katra Masjid, Bodh Gaya, Chandanagar church, Char Bangla Temple and
more

France, The UNSC was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the 6 principal organs
of the United Nations. UNSC has 15 members: 5 permanent members (P5) and 10 non-
permanent members elected for 2-year terms. The 5 permanent members are: United States,
Russian Federation, France, China and the United Kingdom.

Kenya, India recently handed over 100 nautical charts to Kenya, the result of a collaborative
survey between the navies of both countries of the coastal area near the Lamu Archipelago.
Kenya is located in East Africa; its terrain rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to
mountains and plateaus at its centre. The UN-Habitat maintains its headquarters at the United
Nations Office at Nairobi, Kenya.

United Arab Emirates (UAE), UAE is the second largest export destination of India (after the US)
with an amount of over US$ 28 billion for the year 2021-22. For the UAE, India is the second
largest trading partner for the year 2021 with an amount of around USD 45 billion (non-oil
trade). ‘Desert Eagle II’, is a joint air combat exercise, between air forces of India and UAE.
Recently, UAE also agreed to form a trilateral partnership with India and France to work together
in the fields of nuclear and solar energy, as well as in tackling climate change and preserving
biodiversity.

Baltic Sea, The Nord Stream pipeline is a natural gas pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea,
connecting Russia and Germany. The pipeline was built with the aim of transporting natural gas
from Russia to Europe, bypassing traditional transit countries such as Ukraine. The first line of
the Nord Stream pipeline was completed in 2011 and the second in 2012, and it has since
become a major source of natural gas for Europe.
Turkey, India, under ‘Operation Dost’ sent its planes carrying National Disaster Response Force
(NDRF) personnel, essentials, and medical equipment for the earthquake-hit Turkey. India has
also sent a transport aircraft with medical supplies to Syria. The earthquake of magnitude 7.7 on
the Richter scale recently hit the two countries followed by a series of aftershocks causing huge
devastation. Operation Dost symbolises that India is a friend of Turkey and the two must deepen
their relations.

Dholavira (Gujarat), For the first G20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Rann of Kutch in
Feb 2023, India’s rural tourism and archaeological tourism potential was projected to the world.
In keeping with this, delegates were taken on an excursion to Dholavira, the southern centre of
the Harappan Civilisation. Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021, Dholavira is
believed to have been occupied around 3500 BC (pre-Harappan) till around 1800 BC (late-
Harappan period). It is the fifth largest of eight major Harappan sites, including Harappa,
Mohenjo-daro, Ganeriwala, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan, Rupnagar and Lothal.

Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)

Sunderbans (West Bengal) , The Sundarbans ecoregion is located in the tidally active lower
deltaic plain of the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna (GBM) basin. It hosts the largest contiguous
mangrove forest and the only mangrove tiger habitat in the world. Recently, 145 different bird
species were sighted during the first Sundarban Bird Festival.

Nagpur (Maharashtra) , Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways laid the
Foundation Stone of the world's largest and unique Divyang Park - Anubhuti Inclusive Park in
Nagpur, Maharashtra. This is the world's first inclusive disabled park that is made by the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment.