·       It forms the only entrance to the Persian Gulf from the Indian Ocean.

·       The Gulf connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then empties into the Persian Gulf.

·       The major international shipping ports that are situated in the Gulf of Oman include Port Sultan Qaboos Muttrah in Muscat, Oman; Chabahar Port in Iran; the Port of Fujairah; and Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in the UAE.

·       Muscat, the capital of Oman, is located on the coast of the gulf.

·       It is about 320 km wide at its widest point between Cape al-Hadd in Oman and the Gwadar Bay on the Iran-Pakistan border. It narrows to 35 miles (56 km) at the Strait of Hormuz.

·       Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Pakistan and Iran in the north; by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the west; and by Oman in the south.

·       Some of the significant islands that are located in the Gulf of Oman include Sheytan Island, Al Fahal Island, Dimaniyat Islands, and the Sawadi Islands.

·       It typically contains more carbon, less ash, and less moisture than thermal coal, which is used for electricity generation.

·       It is a bituminous coal with a suitable quality that allows the production of metallurgical coke, or simply named coke.

·       Coke is the main product of the high-temperature carbonisation of coking coal.

·       It is a technology to eliminate sulphur compounds from exhaust emissions.

·       Flue gas is the emitted material produced when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas, or wood are burned for heat or power.

FGD Process:

·       FGD is done through the addition of absorbents, which can remove up to 95% of the sulphur dioxide from the flue gas.

·       Substances such as ammonia or sodium sulphite are used as absorbents; however, the use of lime or limestone slurry (wet limestone scrubbing) is also widespread.

·       The uncleaned flue gas is sprayed in a scrubber tower (absorber tower) with a mixture of water and limestone (scrubbing slurry), whereby most of the sulphur dioxide is bonded by chemical reaction.

·       It is a tiny island that’s part of the Paracel Islands chain located in the South China Sea.

·       It covers a tiny area of about 1.2 square kilometers and is situated southwest of the main islands in the group.

·       The island is approximately 4,000 feet long by 2,000 feet wide and, until recently, was completely uninhabited.

·       The Paracel Islands are claimed by multiple countries, primarily China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, as part of their territorial waters, making the region politically sensitive.

·       Although Triton Island is uninhabited, it plays a strategic role due to its location in the South China Sea, an area known for its rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves.

·       It is also interesting to note that the word ‘Sohrai’ comes from soro – translating to ‘to drive with a stick’.

·       This art form dates back to the Meso-chalcolithic period (9000-5000 BC).

·       Theme: It is usually based on natural elements of the universe, this includes forests, rivers, animals amongst others.

·       These ancient paintings are made by tribal (Adivasi) women with the use of natural substances like charcoal, clay, or soil.

·       The very primitive form of Sohrai art was in the form of cave paintings.

·       It is practiced by indigenous communities, particularly in the States of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal.

·       The region of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand that has received the GI tag for this art form.

·       Sohrai paintings are distinctive for their vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and symbolic motifs;

·       There is a Sohrai festival held every year, marking the harvesting season and the arrival of winter.