Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has for the first time evaluated the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) separately. It is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf found in the Indian subcontinent and Southwest Asia. The Indian wolf is primarily found in India and Pakistan, historically confined south of the Himalayas. Its current range spans 16 Indian states, with major populations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. It is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) is set to become India’s first fully solar-powered zoo. The zoo will run entirely on renewable energy generated within the park. A 1 MW captive solar plant has been set up to meet BBP’s power needs. Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) is part of Bannerghatta National Park, which spans 731.8 hectares. The park includes an animal rescue centre, butterfly park, safari zone, and the zoo. This initiative marks a first-of-its-kind move towards sustainability in Indian zoos.

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A team from the Botanical Survey of India recently discovered a new species of balsam flower named Impatiens rajibiana. It was found in the natural forests of Shergaon in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. The plant grows in moist and shaded forest areas at an elevation of over 2,000 meters. It belongs to the family Balsaminaceae, commonly called balsams. Many balsam species are endemic, existing only in small regions. India has around 230 known balsam species, including Impatiens balsamina or touch-me-not. Between 2013 and 2017, over 16 new balsam species were discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

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The Shi-Yomi district administration in Arunachal Pradesh will hold an environmental public hearing on November 12 for the 1,000 MW Naying Hydroelectric Project at Yapik community hall. The project is a run-of-the-river hydropower project on the Siyom (Yomgo) River in Arunachal Pradesh, to be implemented by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO). It includes a concrete dam, underground powerhouse, and tunnels, with construction likely to begin in 2028 and commissioning by 2032. The project will produce 4,966.77 GWh of electricity annually. The Siyom River, a right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra, flows through Arunachal Pradesh, with Mouling National Park on its east bank.

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The Supreme Court recently allowed limited use of green crackers approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in Delhi-NCR this Diwali. NEERI is a research institute created and funded by the Government of India. It works in the field of environmental science and engineering to promote sustainable development and pollution control. It functions under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology. Its headquarters is in Nagpur, with five zonal labs in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

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Recently, environmentalists, wildlife activists, and locals urged the Union Environment Ministry to act against the illegal discharge of toxic leachate into the Aravalli hills. Leachate is a highly toxic liquid formed in municipal landfills. It collects at the bottom of landfills through waste decomposition, water infiltration, and chemical reactions. Its composition depends on waste type, landfill age, rainfall, and temperature. It contains organic pollutants, inorganic compounds, heavy metals, and microbes. Leachate can pollute soil, groundwater, and ecosystems, posing serious health risks. Proper leachate collection and disposal are essential under strict environmental regulations to prevent contamination.

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A rare bird White-cheeked Partridge (Arborophila atrogularis) was recently rescued near Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam. It belongs to the Phasianidae family, which includes pheasants and partridges. It inhabits dense undergrowth of evergreen forests, along with scrub, bamboo, and grassland areas. In India, it is found below 750 meters altitude, and up to 1,220 meters in Southeast Asia. It is found mainly in Northeast India. Its IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status is Near Threatened.

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A butterfly and moth survey will soon be held at Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary in Mulugu. It is located in Telangana. Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1952. The Godavari River flows through the sanctuary. A stream named Dayyam Vagu divides the sanctuary into two parts. The terrain includes steep and gentle slopes, giving it rich biodiversity.

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A rare Indian Mouse Deer was recently spotted at Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vasai, Maharashtra. The Indian Mouse Deer, also called the Indian Spotted Chevrotain, is a small even-toed ungulate of the family Tragulidae. Its scientific name is Moschiola indica. It is the smallest deer species in India and is very shy and elusive. It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Sri Lanka hosts a separate species called Moschiola meminna. In India, it lives in forests of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats up to Odisha, and Central India.

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The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, has come alive with thousands of migratory birds marking the start of the season. It is one of the oldest bird-protected areas in India and Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary is a freshwater wetland protected by local communities. It is recognized internationally as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) on the Coromandel Coast.