Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Kashmir’s first Chrysanthemum garden has recently been opened for tourists. Chrysanthemum is a genus of about 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Asia and northeastern Europe and blooms in autumn. The plant grows 50–150 cm tall with deeply lobed leaves and large flowerheads in white, yellow, or pink. It thrives in subtropical and temperate areas with tropical and subtropical climate.

Notes:
The Bombay High Court has formed a high-powered committee to protect and preserve Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) from encroachments. The committee is led by a former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court (HC). SGNP is a protected forest and national park located in Maharashtra. It is one of the few national parks located inside a metropolitan city in the world. The park acts as a crucial ecological buffer for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Notes:
A new fish species named Pseudorhombus bahudaensis was recently discovered by researchers from the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India. It was found in the Bahuda estuary located in Odisha. This species belongs to the flounder fish group under the order Pleuronectiformes. It closely resembles Pseudorhombus arsius, also known as the Gangetic largetooth flounder. They usually live in inshore waters up to 50 metres deep and can move between saltwater and freshwater environments.

Notes:
Recently, scientists in Brazil launched the AmazonFACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment) project near Manaus. The project aims to study how the Amazon rainforest will respond to future atmospheric CO₂ levels. It seeks to simulate future atmospheric conditions and observe forest adaptation to rising CO₂, temperature, and humidity. The main focus is to understand the forest’s carbon uptake capacity, photosynthesis rate, and resilience to climate change. The system enables continuous monitoring every 10 minutes to measure CO₂ absorption and ecosystem responses in real time.

Notes:
Continuous floods at the Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna River have forced the closure of Bhavani Island and suspension of boat services, affecting tourism revenue. Bhavani Island, located near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, is one of India’s largest river islands. The Krishna River, 1,400 km long, originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and flows through Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before entering the Bay of Bengal. Its basin covers about 2.59 lakh sq. km, the second largest in peninsular India after the Godavari.

Notes:
Civil society groups and conservationists in Assam have urged declaring the Roumari-Donduwa Wetland Complex within Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary as a Ramsar Site due to its rich avian biodiversity. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon District, Assam. The sanctuary forms part of the Laokhowa–Burachapori ecosystem and serves as a buffer zone of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. It is situated within the Brahmaputra Valley and is surrounded by human settlements except to the north.

Notes:
The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change recently launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30. The initiative was first announced at the G20 Leaders Summit 2024 as a multilateral effort among countries and global organisations. It aims to fund research and actions that promote truthful and reliable information on climate issues. A Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change has also been launched. The Declaration states that climate misinformation has become a climate crisis. It defines climate misinformation as false or misleading content about climate change, its causes, impacts, or solutions

Notes:
No registered breeders or authorised pet shops exist in India for African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), yet they are widely sold in pet markets. Forest departments confirmed through Right to Information (RTI) replies that no breeder has registered with them. The species is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), requiring special permits and CITES certificates for domestic and international trade. African grey parrot is a medium-sized dusty grey bird, scientifically called Psittacus erithacus, and known as one of the most talented talking/mimicking birds. It has a lifespan of over 50 years and is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted after 10,000 years, sending a massive ash cloud towards northern India. It is located in Ethiopia’s Afar region, northeast of Addis Ababa and close to the Eritrean border. It is a shield volcano situated in the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most remote places on Earth. Hayli Gubbi is the southernmost volcano in the Erta Ale range. The Erta Ale range is famous for persistent lava lakes and mainly consists of shield volcanoes. Hayli Gubbi has no previously recorded eruptions in modern history, making this event significant.

Notes:
Government will set up National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a cost of ₹120 crore. It will be the nodal and monitoring agency for coral reef research across India. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is responsible for establishing the National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI). NCRRI will focus on coral reef research, conservation, and management. Coral reefs protect coasts from storms and strong waves, saving lives and property. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) museum will introduce QR code-based digital access to species information.