Category: Human Interest

Human Interest

Delhi’s Air Quality Plunges to ‘Very Poor’ at 311 Amid Health Crisis and Political Blame Game

allycaralgoa

By Allycaral Desk

Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog on November 6, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to 311, placing it in the “very poor” category. In some residential pockets, personal monitors recorded PM2.5 levels above 600 — far exceeding WHO’s safe limits.

Hospitals across the city, including AIIMS and Safdarjung, have reported a nearly 60% rise in cases of respiratory distress, asthma, bronchitis, and eye irritation. Pediatric wards and maternity units are particularly overwhelmed as children and pregnant women face the worst of the toxic air.

Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to such pollution levels can cause irreversible lung damage and cardiovascular risks. “The air quality is equivalent to smoking multiple cigarettes a day,” said Dr. R.K. Sharma, a pulmonologist at AIIMS.

Environmentalists blame multiple factors, including stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution. Satellite data from SAFAR India shows over 1,800 active fire spots in northern states contributing to Delhi’s haze.

Amid the crisis, political parties — Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — have accused each other of data manipulation and failure to implement pollution control measures.
While Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has called for “cooperative federal solutions,” BJP leaders have slammed the government’s “ineffective” odd-even scheme and delayed action plans.

In response, citizen groups and climate activists have announced a protest at India Gate on November 9, demanding stricter enforcement of emission norms and emergency public health interventions.

Despite air purifiers and “clean zones,” experts stress that systemic reform — not temporary measures — is the need of the hour.

“Delhi’s fight for clean air must go beyond politics. It’s about survival,” said environmental researcher Meera Menon.

As the national capital struggles to breathe, one thing is clear — the crisis is both an environmental and human emergency.

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Human Interest

November 2025 Skywatching Guide: Meteor Showers, Planet Highlights & a Moon–Star Dance

Tanisha Cardozo

November 2025 promises a month of spectacular sights for anyone looking up at the night sky. The month begins on November 5 with the waxing Beaver Moon rising in the evening, its warm glow lighting up early November skies and offering a perfect preview of the month’s celestial treats.

The next day, November 6, the Moon drifts past the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. This cluster of delicate blue-white stars appears close to the bright Moon in the early morning hours. Although the Moon’s glow may slightly outshine the stars, binoculars can reveal the cluster in all its splendor.

On November 12, the Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks. Known not for quantity but for quality, Taurids produce slow-moving, bright fireballs that linger in the sky, delighting observers with occasional dramatic streaks of light.

The Leonid meteor shower will follow on the night of November 17–18. With little moonlight to interfere, stargazers can expect 10 to 15 meteors per hour under dark skies. While usually moderate in activity, the Leonids have a history of impressive storms, offering graceful streaks across the night.

November 21 brings a dual celestial spectacle. Uranus reaches opposition, its closest and brightest appearance of the year, visible through binoculars or a small telescope as a tiny pale-blue disk. On the same night, the Alpha Monocerotid meteor shower may surprise observers with sudden, short-lived bursts of meteors, making it a wild-card shower to watch.

November 2025 is a reminder to pause and marvel at the night sky. From the early Beaver Moon to meteor showers, planetary highlights, and the Moon’s dance with the Pleiades, each evening offers the chance to witness the beauty and mystery of the cosmos unfold.

Human Interest

North Goa District Honoured as Best Performing District under Dharti Aabha Janbhagidari Abhiyan

Tanisha Cardozo

North Goa District has achieved a significant milestone by being recognized as the Best Performing District under the Dharti Aabha Janbhagidari Abhiyan. The district was awarded a Certificate of Recognition for its outstanding performance and exemplary contribution to the initiative. The certificate was conferred by the Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, as part of the national effort to acknowledge and promote effective community participation in developmental programs.

The Dharti Aabha Janbhagidari Abhiyan emphasizes participatory governance and tribal empowerment through local engagement, transparency, and inclusivity. North Goa’s achievement under this initiative reflects the district administration’s proactive approach in implementing community-oriented schemes and ensuring that tribal welfare programs reach their intended beneficiaries effectively. This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of the district’s administrative team, community leaders, and local stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to ensure meaningful participation and tangible impact at the grassroots level.

Receiving this national recognition highlights North Goa’s dedication to good governance, innovation in public service delivery, and a people-first approach to development. It also reinforces the district’s ongoing commitment to building a sustainable and inclusive future for all communities under its jurisdiction. The acknowledgment from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs serves as an inspiration for other districts to adopt participatory models that strengthen democracy at the grassroots and empower citizens to play an active role in shaping their own development journey.

Human Interest

Vishwa Konkani Centre Honours 2025 Jeevan Siddi Samman Awardee Pundalik N. Naik at His Goa Residence

Tanisha Cardozo

The Vishwa Konkani Vimala V Pai Jeevan Siddi Samman 2025 was conferred upon acclaimed Konkani writer and cultural icon Shri Pundalik N. Naik at a special felicitation ceremony held at his residence in Goa. The intimate gathering celebrated Naik’s outstanding contribution to the preservation, promotion, and enrichment of Konkani literature and culture, honouring a lifetime dedicated to creative excellence and linguistic pride.

The event was attended by leading figures from the Konkani literary community, including Dr. Kiran Budkuley, Vice President of the Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan (KBASP). The felicitation reflected the collective admiration and respect of the Konkani fraternity for Shri Naik’s immense body of work, which has inspired generations of readers, writers, and cultural enthusiasts.

Special thanks were extended to Harekal Pundalik Pai (Annu, Mangalore), whose efforts and coordination made the meeting and felicitation possible. The Board of Trustees of KBASP and the World Konkani Centre, Mangalore, expressed deep appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the event meaningful and memorable.

Through this recognition, the Vishwa Konkani Centre reaffirms its commitment to celebrating stalwarts who have shaped the linguistic and cultural identity of the Konkani-speaking world. Shri Pundalik N. Naik’s literary journey stands as a testament to the enduring power of language, storytelling, and cultural heritage — values that continue to inspire the global Konkani community.

Human Interest

Dr. Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan Wins Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

The prestigious Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025 has been conferred upon Dr. Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, Associate Professor of Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Dr. Gopalakrishnan, who leads a pioneering research group in computational materials science, was chosen for his outstanding contributions to advancing material discovery through computational methods and his commitment to mentoring young scientists.

This marks the third edition of the Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award, a unique initiative by the Government of Goa to encourage young scientific talent across India. The award aims to inspire innovation and scientific excellence that benefit humanity on a large scale. For the 2025 edition, a total of 50 applications were received from leading research institutions across the country. After an extensive evaluation process, 10 candidates were shortlisted for personal interviews. The final selection was made following rigorous scrutiny by an Expert Committee chaired by eminent scientist Dr. Anil Kakodkar.

Carrying a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a citation, the Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award currently stands as the highest-value science and technology award in India. It celebrates not only individual achievement but also the spirit of scientific inquiry and national progress envisioned by the late Manohar Parrikar.

The award will be formally presented during the Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav, to be held at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa in December 2025.