Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), a rare shorebird, was recently spotted at Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary in Tirupur city, Tamil Nadu, for the first time. It is unusual for this bird to make a stopover in an inland water body. This marks the 192nd bird species recorded in the sanctuary. The species is found in boreal and tundra ecosystems across the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.

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Researchers discovered a new flowering plant species Impatiens selvasinghii in Kudremukh range of the Western Ghats, Karnataka. It was found at 1,630 meters altitude during field exploration. The species is named after Prof. P Selva Singh Richard of Madras Christian College for his contribution to botany. It is one of the smallest flowered balsams in the Western Ghats, with unique lobed wing petals. Small insects depend on this plant for survival. India has over 280 taxa of Impatiens, with 210 endemic, 130 in the Western Ghats, and 80% of them endangered.

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Continuous heavy rains in Kalaburagi, Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra have caused a sharp rise in Bhima River water levels, triggering flooding in several villages. Bhima River, also called Chandrabagha River, is the largest tributary of Krishna River. It originates near Bhimashankar Temple in Bhimashankar hills, Western Ghats, Pune District, Maharashtra. It flows southeast through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana and merges into Krishna River at Raichur, Karnataka.

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Researchers recently discovered two new antlion species – Indophanes keralaensis and Indophanes sahyadriensis – from the family Myrmeleontidae under the order Neuroptera. The first species, Indophanes keralaensis, was found in Sairandhri, Siruvani (Palakkad) and Pampadum Shola National Park (Idukki). The second species, Indophanes sahyadriensis, was recorded in Siruvani (Palakkad), Pakshipathalam, Thirunelly (Wayanad), and Ranipuram (Kasaragod). The genus Indophanes now has 11 species worldwide and five in India, with three in Kerala. Kerala now records 12 antlion species, and India has 110 species.

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At the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 held in Abu Dhabi, Union Minister of State for Environment launched India’s National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030. The roadmap is a national initiative to create an integrated Red List assessment system for identifying, classifying, and conserving India’s threatened species. It aligns with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) global standards. The initiative is implemented by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI), in collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival (CSS), India.

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has for the first time evaluated the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) separately. It is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf found in the Indian subcontinent and Southwest Asia. The Indian wolf is primarily found in India and Pakistan, historically confined south of the Himalayas. Its current range spans 16 Indian states, with major populations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. It is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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The Government of Tuvalu has become the 90th State Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Tuvalu, formerly the Ellice Islands, is a small island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It is the 4th smallest country in the world, covering 26 sq.km, located between Australia and Hawaii. Tuvalu consists of small islands and atolls made of coral reefs and volcanic rock, with no point above 4.5 meters, making it vulnerable to sea-level rise. The capital is Funafuti.

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Recently, the rare fungus Hygrocybe pellucida was seen for the first time in Telangana’s Kawal Tiger Reserve. It belongs to the Hygrophoraceae family and is known for its bright, waxy, and colourful fruiting bodies. These fungi are usually found in grasslands, mossy forest floors, and nutrient-poor habitats. They are commonly called wax cups because of their shiny texture. Hygrocybe pellucida was first identified as a new species in Kerala in 2024. The Hygrocybe genus has around 350 species distributed worldwide. Its discovery marks an important biodiversity record for Telangana.

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A rare bird White-cheeked Partridge (Arborophila atrogularis) was recently rescued near Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam. It belongs to the Phasianidae family, which includes pheasants and partridges. It inhabits dense undergrowth of evergreen forests, along with scrub, bamboo, and grassland areas. In India, it is found below 750 meters altitude, and up to 1,220 meters in Southeast Asia. It is found mainly in Northeast India. Its IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status is Near Threatened.

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have recently discovered a new species of slender gecko named Hemiphyllodactylus venkatadri. It was found in the Tirumala hill ranges within the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. The species is named after the sacred Venkatadri Hills. It belongs to the genus Hemiphyllodactylus and is the second slender gecko species recorded from Andhra Pradesh, after Hemiphyllodactylus arakuensis. The Venkatadri slender gecko is small, growing just over 2 inches long. It has short limbs and distinctive “spurs” at the base of its tail.