Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, researchers from Karnataka and Odisha discovered two new species of army ants, Aenictus chittoorensis and Aenictus lankamallensis, in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Army ants are nomadic ant species that do not build permanent nests and belong to the subfamily Dorylinae. They are highly aggressive predators primarily found in tropical ecosystems. Instead of constructing fixed nests, they form temporary living structures called bivouacs, which are made entirely from the interlinked bodies of worker ants. Army ants are social insects that live in massive colonies and carry out highly coordinated group raids, preying on insects and small animals.

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Researchers discovered a new Cobra Lily species named Arisaema siahaense in Siaha District of Mizoram, Northeast India. It is an evergreen herb growing up to 1.08 metre (about 3.5 feet) tall. Cobra Lilies are known for spathe shaped like a cobra hood. This species has an exceptionally long spadix appendix up to 21 centimetre with brownish-green hair-like bristles. It grows from a rounded tuber, not creeping rootstock, and has exactly three leaf segments.

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The south division of Palamu Tiger Reserve launched ‘Vanjeevi Didi’ in 17 villages to train educated women as reserve ambassadors. The objective of initiative is to prevent forest destruction and illegal wildlife activities by fostering local, women-led conservation efforts. It is located on the Chhotanagpur Plateau in Jharkhand. It is part of Betla National Park. It was among the first nine tiger reserves under Project Tiger.

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Recently, the Forest Owlet was spotted in Kuno National Park after 113 years. It belongs to the owl family Strigidae. It is endemic to central India and found in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, including Melghat Tiger Reserve. It lives in tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, dense and open dry deciduous teak forests. It has an unspotted crown, full throat collar, thickly feathered legs, and heavily banded wings and tail. It is diurnal and hunts during the day.

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Scientists in West Bengal have discovered a new estuarine fish species named Butis bargabhimae in the Rupnarayan River, a tributary of the Hooghly River near Tamluk, West Bengal. Butis bargabhimae belongs to the butid family, commonly known as gudgeon goby, which usually live in brackish water where rivers meet the sea. The species is unique because it has interorbital scales (scales between the eyes), unlike most related fish which have smooth areas there. It also has additional auxiliary scales across its body, making it structurally distinct. The fish shows clear light and dark bands on its pectoral fins, which are absent in similar species.

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New research by University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Stop Methane Project (SPM) using satellite data from Carbon Mapper found Turkmenistan has 15 of the top 25 methane-emitting oil and gas sites (2025), with 4,400+ methane plumes across 2,489 sites globally. Other major emission hotspots include Iran, Venezuela, Texas (USA) and Sindh (Pakistan), with emission rates ranging 3.7–10.5 tonnes/hour. In India, Ghazipur landfill in Delhi is a major super-emitter, with a peak leak of 400 tonnes/hour (2022) due to anaerobic decomposition of organic waste.

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The Assam Government is planning to create a new Reserved Forest adjacent to Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur district, Assam, to strengthen conservation efforts. Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, Assam and is part of the Laokhowa–Burhachapori ecosystem. It lies strategically between Kaziranga National Park (east), Orang National Park (west), and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (south). The region experiences a sub-tropical monsoon climate, supporting rich biodiversity.

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Pakistan ranked as the most polluted country in 2025 as per IQAir report. PM2.5 levels were about 13 times higher than limits set by World Health Organization. Only 13 countries met the WHO safe limit (<5 µg/m³), up from 7 in 2024. 130 out of 143 countries failed to meet WHO air quality standards. Bangladesh and Tajikistan ranked second and third most polluted. Only 14% of global cities met WHO standards, down from 17% in 2024.

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A new frog species named Nyctibatrachus kali (Kali Night Frog) has been discovered. It is found in Kali Tiger Reserve. The name comes from the nearby Kali River, after which the reserve is also named. It is a cryptic species, meaning it looks very similar to other frogs. It resembles the Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara) discovered in 2014. Its sound is unique and similar to wood-chopping noise in forests. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed a plea against the Musi Riverfront Development Project, clearing a key legal hurdle. The project aims to rejuvenate the polluted Musi River and develop it into an ecological, mobility, heritage, and economic corridor. The Musi River (also called Muchukunda) is a left-bank tributary of the Krishna River. It originates from Anantagiri Hills near Vikarabad and is formed by the confluence of Musa and Esi streams.