Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, a survey in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary reported the first record of spider species Araneus nox in India. It is an orb-weaving spider belonging to the Araneidae family. It is also known as the Leathery Garden Orb-weaver. It was first documented in 1877 by French arachnologist Eugène Simon from Basilan in the Philippines. It is known for spinning near-perfect, vertically oriented circular webs on vegetation and tree branches. Its habitat includes gardens, forests, and backyards. Its distribution covers Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Notes:
Recently, the Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals was adopted at the first ARISE Cities Forum 2025 held on October 8–9 in New Delhi. The forum was co-hosted by ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) South Asia and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). It aimed to strengthen multilevel cooperation and accelerate urban climate action ahead of COP30 under UNFCCC. More than 200 delegates from 60 cities and 25 countries participated, representing governments, private sector, and civil society. It affirms the leadership of cities in achieving the Paris Agreement goals and highlights the Global South’s voice in climate governance.

Notes:
An international bird-watching programme was recently held in the Rakchham area of the Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh. The sanctuary is located in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, covering 30.98 sq.km and situated at an altitude of 3200–5486 meters in the Western Himalayan range. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, green valleys, and rivers, and includes trekking routes like the Lamkhanga Pass connecting Kinnaur to Gangotri in Uttarakhand. The sanctuary is in a dry zone and does not experience monsoons.

Notes:
Chhattisgarh’s Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary successfully revived the blackbuck population nearly 50 years after local extinction. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department launched a five-year reintroduction programme (2021–2026) to restore blackbucks to their natural habitat. 77 blackbucks were translocated: 50 from National Zoological Park, Delhi and 27 from Kanan Pendari Zoological Garden, Bilaspur. From zero population in the 1970s, Barnawapara now has around 190 blackbucks, marking a major success in wildlife conservation.

Notes:
Researchers recently discovered a new plant species named Tetrataenium manilalianum, adding to the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. It belongs to the carrot family (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae). The species was found in Eravikulam National Park, located in Idukki district of Kerala. It was named in honour of Prof. K.S. Manilal, founder president of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy. The plant grows in grasslands bordering shola forests at high altitudes. It is the first of its kind identified globally and the 48th species in the carrot family. It bears white flowers, has underground rhizomes, and blooms during the monsoon.

Notes:
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister announced development of a nature trail and angling spot in Kamlang Tiger Reserve to promote tourism and empower local communities. Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the southeastern part of Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot. The reserve is named after the Kamlang River, which flows into the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by Namdapha National Park in the south, Lang River in the north, Lati River in the west, and Tawe River in the east.

Notes:
A forest department team recently arrested four people for illegally cutting khair trees in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh. Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. It stretches along the northern banks of the River Ganga and covers parts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor districts. It lies near the ancient town of Hastinapur, known for its cultural and mythological significance.

Notes:
Lahore, Pakistan, was ranked the world’s most polluted city with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 312, reaching hazardous levels, according to Swiss tech firm IQAir. The PM2.5 concentration was 190.5 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 25 times higher than World Health Organisation (WHO) safety limits. Lahore surpassed Delhi (AQI 220) and Kolkata (AQI 170) in global pollution charts. Smog caused by vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and crop residue burning has worsened between October and February.

Notes:
Scientists recently spotted the rare ginkgo-toothed beaked whales (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) for the first time in the wild near Baja California, Mexico. This species is one of 24 beaked whale species, the second most diverse cetacean group after dolphins. It lives in tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It has a robust body, small pointed flippers and two unique ginkgo-shaped teeth on the lower jaw. These whales are the deepest-diving mammals, surfacing only briefly and staying far from coastlines.

Notes:
A 9-day wildlife census has recently started in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Chandigarh near Sukhna Lake at the foothills of the Shivalik range. The sanctuary developed through afforestation for soil conservation around the lake. The region is geographically unstable and faces high soil erosion during rains due to surface runoff. The soil is mainly sandy Shivalik soil with patches of clay.