The Junior Age

Category: Education

Plastic Pollution: Everything You Need To Know About Plastic Facts And Figures

Plastic pollution threatens the survival of marine life, endangers wildlife, contributes to climate change, and poses a health risk to humans. Plastic materials are a part of our oceans, soil, and air, impacting both wildlife and human health. Even though plastic is convenient to use, the use of plastic comes at a high environmental cost. The plastic pollution crisis is very serious. Plastic is non-biodegradable and can take up to a thousand years to decompose. This means that the plastic waste that is generated today, if left untreated, will be there for generations to come.

Also read, Is Plastic Recycling A Fraud?

  • Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are two of the world’s biggest known plastic polluters.
  • A plastic straw used for just a few minutes takes almost 200 years to decompose.
  • A plastic bag, which may be used for an average of 15 minutes, can take 20 years to break down.
  • Polyethylene Terephthalate is a plastic that is used in plastic packaging for foods and beverages, takes around 500 years to break down.
  • The world produces around 400 million metric tonnes of plastic waste every year.
  • 50% of that is for single-use purposes utilised for just a few moments, but on the planet for at least several hundred years. A plastic bag, which may be used for an average of 15 minutes, can take 20 years to break down. When plastic items are discarded, they do not biodegrade: instead, they slowly fragment into smaller pieces, known as microplastics. These microplastics are less than 5mm in diameter and become almost impossible to deal with. Plastic in this form can remain in the environment for centuries, infiltrating ecosystems and causing harm to wildlife and humans.
  • The world produces around 400 million metric tonnes of plastic waste every year.
  • 50% of that is for single-use purposes utilised for just a few moments, but on the planet for at least several hundred years.
  • India has the best plastic recycling rate in the world, reportedly re-cycling as much as 60% of its plastic waste.
  • China is the world’s largest plastic-producing country.
  • 90% of plastic is made from fossil fuels.
  • 5 trillion pieces of plastic are estimated to be floating in the world’s seas.
  • Only 9% of all plastic gets recycled.
  • 1 million marine animals are killed by plastic pollution every year.
  • 90% of seabirds mistakenly eat plastic rubbish.
  • 1 in 3 fish caught for human consumption now has plastic.
  • More than 700 species, including endangered ones, have been affected by plastic pollution.
  • 10 million tons of plastic is dumped in the oceans every year.

Watch full video on, #COP28 Historic Moment : COP28 Deal Agrees To ‘Transition Away’ From Fossil Fuel

Understanding Heat Waves : Everything You Need To Know

Many parts of India are currently experiencing heat waves. Heatwaves usually occur in North-Western parts of India, typically between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July, The temperature in some places in India has already crossed 40° C. Indians are being warned to be careful. Heat waves are also becoming very common across the world. Some experts believe that climate change is responsible for this.

Also read about, Chandrayaan-3 Landing Point Is Now Officially “Shiv Shakti”

What Is Heat Waves?

According to the World Meteorological Organization, an agency of the United Nations, a heat wave is a period of unusually not weather over a region persisting for at least two consecutive days during the hot period of the year”

The Indian Meteorological Department has laid down the following criteria for heat waves: 40° C in the plains, 37 ° C in the coastal regions, and 30° C in the mountains.

What Causes Heat Waves?

According to the Asian Development Bank, “A heat wave occurs when there is high pressure in the atmosphere that forces hot air downward and traps it near the ground. This high-pressure system acts like a lock that prevents the hot air from rising. Consequently, rain cannot form and the hot air gets hotter”.

Consequences Of Heat Waves

Heat waves not only affect humans and wildlife, but can adversely impact the environment, as well. The following are some of the consequences of the heat waves: 

  1. Droughts
  2. Scarcity of water
  3. Heat stroke
  4. Power outages & blackouts
  5. Exhaustion & dehydration
  6. Increase in air pollution and dust

8 heat wave safety tips to keep children safe:

There are various ways to stay safe in a heat wave. The following can be done in order to stay safe:

  1. Stay Indoors Between 12-4 Pm.
  2. Stay Hydrated
  3. Eat High Water Content Food
  4. Look After You Pets
  5. Avoid Sugary & Fizzy Drinks
  6. Use An Umbrella While Going Out
  7. Wear Light & Cool Clothing
  8. Avoid Extreme Physical Activity In The Sun

Did You Know? 

According to the World Health Organisation and Red Cross, a person on average should drink approximately 3-3.5 litres of liquids per day to stay hydrated.

Watch Full Video on, Interesting Facts About Blue Whale

Everything You Need To Know About Indian Parliament

What Is A Parliament?

A Parliament is an important aspect of any democratic country. Parliament is the lawmaking body of a government. The Indian Parliament is responsible for making laws, overseeing the administration, passing the budget, and discussing issues of national and international importance. The members of the Indian Parliament are either elected or appointed.

Get Know more about India, Buy This Exploring India Flashcards.

The Indian Parliament 

The Indian Parliament is the highest legislative body of India.

The President Of India

The head of the Indian Parliament

The Two Houses

  1. Rajya Sabha – 250 seats (Current = 245)
  2. Lok Sabha – 550 seats (Current = 545)

What Is Rajya Sabha?

According to the Constitution of India, the Rajya Sabha or the Upper House of the Indian Parliament consists of the representatives of the States and the Union Territories and persons nominated by the President of India. Rajya Sabha is a permanent body and cannot be dissolved. However, one third of the members retire every second year, and are replaced by newly elected members. Each member is elected for a term of six years.

What Is Lok Sabha?

Universal Adult Suffrage. According to the Constitution of India, Lok Sabha can have a maximum of 550 members in the House. However, presently the Lok Sabha consists of 545 seats out of which 543 seats are filled by elected representatives. The remaining two seats are filled by nomination of representatives of the Anglo-Indian Community if the President feels that this community has not been represented adequately.

Term Of The Lok Sabha

The term of the Lok Sabha, unless dissolved earlier, is five years from the date: appointed for its first meeting. But in case of any emergency, this period may be extended by Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India.

Who Can Contest The Lok Sabha Polls?

  1. The contestant must be a citizen of India.
  2. Must be 25 years of age.
  3. Should be enrolled as a current voter in any parliamentary constituency of India.
  4. Must possess other qualifications as prescribed by or under any law made by the Parliament of India.

Who Can Vote?

The Universal Adult Suffrage means that all Indian citizens above the age of 18 have the right to vote, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, gender or ethnicity.

How Is The Government Of India Formed?

For a political party to form the government in India, it should have at least half the number of the Lok Sabha members or more i.e. 272 (50% of 543). When a political party wins 272 seats or more in the Lok Sabha elections, it is called winning with an absolute majority.

If no single party wins with an absolute majority, the leading parties will try to form a coalition with smaller parties. These alliances and coalitions between political parties could be formed either before or after the Lok Sabha elections.

After the election results are declared, the President of India will ask the party with an absolute majority or the party with maximum number of seats or any coalition of parties (in case no single party has absolute majority) to form the government.

The party with absolute majority or the coalition of political parties will nominate one of its members to be the Prime Minister. In turn, the Prime Minister will select the council of Ministers to assume the responsibilities of the different departments in the cabinet.

Interesting Facts About The Lok Sabha Elections

The total elective membership of the Lok Sabha is distributed among the Indian states in such a way that the ratio between the number of seats allotted to each State and population of the State is, as far as practicable, the same for all states.

For the first time in the history of India, certain people can vote from home in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Senior citizens who are above 85 years and persons with disabilities can opt for postal ballots and cast their votes from homes. 

The first general elections in India were held in 1951-1952.

NOTA, short for None of the Above, was introduced in 2013 to allow voters to declare that they reject all the candidates fielded by every contesting party.

The Election Commission of India enforces the Model Code of Conduct once the elections are announced. This code of conduct is implemented to ensure free and fair elections. It is a set of guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections.

The Following States Have The Most Number Of Lok Sabha Seats:
  1. Uttar Pradesh – 80
  2. Maharashtra – 48
  3. West Bengal – 42
  4. Bihar – 40
  5. Tamil Nadu – 39

Watch full video on, Interesting Facts About The Drafting of the Constitution of India | History of Indian Constitution

Festival of colors: Children’s Books on Holi

Holi, the festival of colours, is a vibrant celebration observed by millions of people around the world, particularly in India. Holi is a time for families and communities to come together in a spirit of love and unity. Introducing children to the magic of Holi through colourful stories can be a wonderful way to teach them about the cultural significance and traditions of this festive occasion. 

Also read, Everything You Need To Know About Holi

Here is the list of Best 12 Holi Books for Kids-

1. Amma, Tell Me About Holi!

by Bhakti Mathur

Reading age : 2 to 5 years

2. Let’s Celebrate Holi!

by Vivek Kumar Ajanta Chakraborty Janelle Diller (Author)

Reading age : 3 to 7 years

3. Festival of Colors 

by Surishtha Sehgal (Author), Kabir Sehgal (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator) 

Reading age : 2 to 8 years

4. Holi Hai! 

by Chitra Soundar (Author), Darshika Varma

Reading age : 4 to 7 years

5. Holi Colors

by Deven Jatkar (Illustrator, Author)

Reading age : 8 to 12 years

6. My Holi: Colors of Cheer

by Priya Kumari (Author), Komal Garg (Author), Abhilasha Khatri (Illustrator)

Reading age : 3 to 7 years

7. Rani Celebrates Holi (Little Princess Rani and the Palace Adventures)

by Anita Badhwar (Author)

Reading age : 3 to 7 years

8. Celebrate Holi With Me!

by Abira Das (Illustrator), Shoumi Sen (Author)

Reading age : 6 to 9 years

9. Kahaani Rangeeli

by Pridhee Anu Sehgal (Author)

Reading age : 3 to 7 years

10. Dev and Ollie Color Carnival

by Shweta Aggarwal (Author), Somnath Chatterjee (Illustrator)

Reading age : 4 to 7 years

11. Holi Tales

by Mariam KA (Author)

Reading age : 5 to 12 years

12.Amma Tell Me How Krishna Defeated Kansa!

by Bhakti Mathur (Author), Maulshree Somani (Illustrator)

Reading age : 3 to 8 years

These 12 colorful children’s books on Holi offer delightful stories, captivating illustrations, and valuable insights into the traditions and significance of this vibrant festival. Whether through legends, rituals, or personal experiences, these books provide engaging ways for children to learn about and celebrate Holi, fostering appreciation for Indian culture and traditions along the way. Incorporate these enchanting tales into your Holi festivities to inspire young minds and create lasting memories for years to come.

Watch video on, Historic Consecration Ceremony of Ram Mandir

Origins Of International Women’s Day : March 8

International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women in politics, science, sports, and economics etc.

The origins of International Women’s Day can be traced back to 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. The first National Woman’s Day was observed in the US on February 28, 1909. 

Also read, Let The Games Begin The History Of Olympic Day

Clara Zetkin, communist activist and advocate for women’s rights, was the first to suggest the idea that this day should be made inter- national. She suggested this in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 women there, from 17 countries, and they agreed to her suggestion unanimously. Pursuant to the decision taken at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women’s Day was first celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19.

The UN commemorated the first International Women’s Day on March 8, 1975. In 1977, the UN General Assembly declared March 8 as Inter- national Women’s Day in support of women’s rights and global peace.

Do you know why International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th? On February 23, 1917, women in St. Petersburg, Russia, staged a strike to protest against food shortages, poor living conditions, and World War I. This strike for “Bread and Peace” helped give rise to the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the abdication of Nicholas II. In 1921, the date of the International Women’s Day was officially changed to March 8. The date when the women’s strike commenced on the Julian calendar, which was then in use in Russia, was February 23. This day in the Gregorian calendar was March 8- and that’s when it’s celebrated today.

Did You Know?

International Men’s Day is celebrated on November 19. It has only been marked since the 1990s and isn’t recognised by the UN. People celebrate it in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the UK.

Watch Full video on, Everything you need to know about the construction of the Ram Mandir

Open chat
Hello 👋
Can we help you?