Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Flamingo Festival recently attracted many families to Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, which is located near Sullurpeta in Andhra Pradesh. It is located close to Pulicat Lake, the second-largest salt lake in India. The sanctuary is an important breeding site for the spot-billed pelican. It has rich vegetation, including Barringtonia swamp forests and southern dry evergreen scrub.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change chaired a meeting of NIRANTAR, the National Institute for Research & Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience. NIRANTAR is a collaborative platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) aimed at strengthening coordination and cooperation. The platform is organised into four verticals that focus on research, assessment, and utilisation of natural resources, with special emphasis on bioresources. NIRANTAR seeks to promote sustainable use of bioresources to support development while ensuring ecological balance.

Notes:
A recent faunal survey in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary has greatly increased biodiversity records of Kerala’s youngest protected area. The sanctuary is located in Malappuram district of Kerala on the western slopes of the Nilgiris. Its name comes from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of the Chaliyar River. The forest forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) and the Nilambur Elephant Reserve (ER). It borders Mukurthi National Park (Tamil Nadu) and Silent Valley National Park (Kerala).

Notes:
Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new flowering plant species named Dicliptera pakhalica. The discovery was made in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary located in Warangal district of Telangana. The sanctuary is dominated by mixed deciduous forest vegetation. The area has rich plant diversity including bamboo and teak trees.

Notes:
The Rajasthan Forest and Environment Minister stated that villagers in Dholpur–Karauli Tiger Reserve will not be relocated without their consent. Dholpur–Karauli Tiger Reserve is located in eastern Rajasthan across Dholpur and Karauli districts. It shares ecological continuity with Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve towards the west. The reserve lies close to the Chambal River in the east, which acts as a natural boundary and water source. It was officially notified in 2023 as Rajasthan’s fifth tiger reserve.

Notes:
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary recorded over five lakh birds of about 200 species in the latest census, showing a 21% rise from 4.12 lakh birds in 2024. The increase is mainly due to no boating, reduced tourist movement, and very low noise pollution over the last two years. It is located around 64 kilometres west of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. “Nal Sarovar” means Tap Lake and it is a natural shallow lake with muddy lagoons and 36 small islets.

Notes:
Iran has used cloud seeding by spraying chemicals over the Urmia Lake basin to induce rainfall amid the worst drought in decades. Lake Urmia, also called Lake Oromeeh, is located in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran. It is the largest lake in the Middle East. The lake is a terminal lake, meaning it has no outlet and is highly saline. It receives water mainly from the Talkheh River in the northeast.

Notes:
The Jharkhand Tourism Minister launched a jungle safari and laid the foundation for 30 eco-cottages at Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is located in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. It lies around the Dalma Hills on the Chotanagpur Plateau. The sanctuary is named after “Dalma Mai,” a local goddess worshipped by nearby communities. Its forests fall within the catchment of the Subarnarekha River and Dimna Lake near Jamshedpur.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new tiny crab species named Galathea balasubramaniani from coral reefs of Agatti in Lakshadweep Islands. It belongs to genus Galathea, a group of small reef-dwelling anomuran crabs called squat lobsters. These crabs look like tiny lobsters and hide in coral and rocky crevices. It measures only about 3 millimetres, making it one of the smallest reef crabs in the region. It plays a key ecological role by recycling organic matter and serving as food for fish and other marine life.

Notes:
Gentoo penguins became first bird species confirmed with H5 avian influenza in an Australian territory. It is closely related to Adélie penguin and Chinstrap penguin. It is found along Antarctic Peninsula, sub-Antarctic islands and Falkland Islands in Southern Hemisphere between 45° and 65° south latitude. It lives near shorelines for easy food access and nesting. It is fastest underwater swimmer among penguins. It is diurnal, social and breeds in colonies. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status is Least Concern.