Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A new species of beetle called Spathaspina noohi was recently discovered in the biodiverse forests of Meghalaya, India. It was found in the Umran area of Ri Bhoi district at an altitude of 781 metres. This beetle belongs to the weevil family, scientifically known as Curculionidae, which has over 60,000 species worldwide. Unlike some weevils that harm crops, Spathaspina noohi helps maintain ecological balance by controlling invasive plants.

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A new freshwater fish species named Barilius imphalensis was recently discovered in the Imphal River, Manipur. It is locally called “Ngawa” in the Meitei language. The fish belongs to the Danionidae family and Chedrinae subfamily, known for vibrant patterns and ecological value. It is endemic to the Imphal River and differs from similar species in India and Southeast Asia. It lives in clear, shallow waters 3 to 5 feet deep, with gravel beds and riverbank plants.

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A vibrant Monkey Puzzle butterfly was recently spotted in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Madhya Pradesh. The Monkey Puzzle butterfly’s scientific name is Rathinda amor. It belongs to the lycaenid family, commonly called blue butterflies. It is a small-sized butterfly. It is endemic to South Asia, including India’s Western Ghats, southern Indian plains, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

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Recently, the Karnataka government violated the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Supreme Court orders by approving a proposal to reduce Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary without proper compensation. The National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) failed to ensure that the denotification of 300 sq km of sanctuary land is properly compensated. Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Shimoga District, Karnataka.

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Recently, a new spider species named Piratula acuminata was discovered by researchers from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata on Sagar Island in the Sundarbans. This is the first recorded presence of the genus Piratula in India, a group of wolf spiders mainly found in Asia, with few in Europe and North America. The spider belongs to the Lycosidae family, known for ground-dwelling, ambush-hunting behavior rather than web-building. The discovery emphasizes the biodiversity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sundarbans, and calls for stronger conservation efforts.

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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the first-ever grassland bird census in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, during the 124th episode of his radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The census identified 43 bird species, including many rare and endangered ones. The census used the Acoustic Monitoring Technique to study rare and threatened bird species. Sound recording devices were installed and analysed on computers to identify bird species by their calls without disturbing them. The initiative shows how technology and human effort can support biodiversity conservation.

Notes:
In a historic move, National Waterway-57 (River Kopili) was recently made operational to boost Assam’s river trade and sustainable logistics. River Kopili is a major south bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It originates from Saipong Reserve Forest in North Cachar Hills, Meghalaya, at 1525 meters altitude in the Borail Range. It is an interstate river flowing through Meghalaya and Assam. It passes through North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, and Morigaon districts of Assam.

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The Indian Carbon Market is set to launch in 2026, with carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal technologies like biochar playing a key role. Biochar is a carbon-rich charcoal made from agricultural residue and organic municipal solid waste. It is produced by heating crop residue at 400°C to 600°C in a kiln without oxygen. Biochar can store carbon in soil for 100-1,000 years, acting as a long-term carbon sink. In agriculture, it improves water retention, restores degraded soils, and reduces nitrous oxide emissions by 30-50%. In industries, modified biochar can capture CO₂ from exhaust gases, though efficiency is lower than conventional methods.

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A Kerala tourist miraculously survived an elephant attack in Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) after being pushed down and pinned under the tusker’s foot. Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) is located in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts of Karnataka at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats and was once a hunting ground of Mysore rulers. It forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Two new damselfly species, Konkan Shadowdamsel and Crimson Shadowdamsel, have been discovered in the Western Ghats. Konkan Shadowdamsel was found in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, and Crimson Shadowdamsel in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. They belong to the ‘Shadowdamsels’ group, thriving in shaded forest habitats and pristine small streams. Crimson Shadowdamsel has a reddish body, while Konkan Shadowdamsel shows coffee-brown colouration. Shadowdamsels are microendemics of Western Ghats and act as pollution indicators, reflecting forest health. Damselflies are predatory insects of order Odonata, smaller and weaker fliers than dragonflies, found near freshwater habitats.