The falling ground water level in North states is a major concern for the Agriculture Scientists, economists and environmentalists. It may also lead to social problems in form of conflicts due to distribution of resources.
The following report has some point on this issue. The issue as such also demands attention as it qualifies to be a topic for Mains Oct 2009 as well as the Prelims 2010.
The Link to be studied
The Hindu : Front Page : Groundwater vanishing in North India, says NASA
Bhuvan, ISRO's new eye in the sky-Ahmedabad-Cities-The Times of India
Bhuvan will be a portal of ISRO which will show the earth images upto 10 m. It is similar to Google Earth and Wikimapia.
The Times of India Report is a complete note in itself. It is valid upto March 2009. After that, the portal will be launched and then more information can be added.
High Probable Rate: Both Prelims 2009 and Mains 2009.
The Associated Press: Quake in Iran kills 4, sends tremors across GulfIt is latest news coming up. The quake is 6 in magnitude. It has epicenter about 850 miles south of the capital Tehran in the province of Hormozgan.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the initial quake's strength at magnitude 6.1.
In February 2005, a magnitude 6.4 quake in southern Iran killed 612 people. A magnitude 6.6 quake flattened the historic city of Bam in the same region in December 2003, killing 26,000 people.
General Information
UPSC has taken initiative to display Last Year Question Papers of CS, CDS, NDA, CMS, Engineering Service on its site. Check them out at www.upsc.gov.in. The files are PDF.
go to www.upsc.gov.in and check what is new.
