Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, conflict between humans and Himalayan brown bears has been rising across the Himalayas. The Himalayan brown bear is also called Himalayan red bear, isabelline bear, or Dzu-Teh and is a subspecies of the brown bear. It is mainly found in northwestern and central Himalayas in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. In India, it is found in small, isolated populations in alpine and subalpine habitats of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation status is Critically Endangered.

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A recent wildlife survey in Arunachal Pradesh recorded first-ever photographic evidence of the elusive Pallas’s cat. It was first described in 1776 by Peter Simon Pallas, based on specimens near Lake Baikal, Russia. It is mainly found in Central Asia, with its range extending to western Iran, Mongolia, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It inhabits rocky montane grasslands and shrublands with snow cover below 15–20 cm. It preys mainly on lagomorphs (hares, pikas) and rodents. This finding is a major addition to Arunachal Pradesh’s wildlife records.

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Kashmir Fisheries Department plans to reintroduce Brown trout (Salmo trutta) into the Valley for game. Brown trout is a salmonid ray-finned fish and the most widely distributed species of the genus Salmo. It is globally introduced as a game fish and is one of the world’s worst invasive species outside its native range. It is a cold-water fish preferring cool, well-oxygenated freshwater and lives in crevices between stream boulders. It is native to northern Norway, White Sea tributaries in Russia, to Atlas Mountains in North Africa; Iceland in the west, Aral Sea tributaries in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east.

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A Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) was recorded for the first time inside Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR), Rajasthan. The sighting was captured during routine tiger monitoring using camera traps in Ramgarh Range, Bundi. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) previously hosted four small cat species: Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), Asiatic Wildcat (Felis lybica ornata), and Caracal (Caracal caracal). With the Fishing Cat, the reserve now supports five small cat species, enhancing its carnivore diversity. Fishing Cat is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and prefers wetlands.

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A Dragonfly survey at Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Delhi recently recorded Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer (Potamarcha congener) for the first time. It is a species of dragonfly and belongs to the family Libellulidae. It is also called common chaser or swampwatcher. It is found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, including India, Indonesia, China, Australia, and Vietnam. It is classified as Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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During Wildlife Week 2025 at Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, the Union Environment Minister launched five major conservation projects and four national-level wildlife monitoring programmes. Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR) Project is a new national initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). TOTR will be implemented from 2025–2028 with a budget of ₹88.7 crore, coordinated by NTCA and executed through state forest departments. The project aims to reduce human–tiger conflicts in non-reserve areas and ensure safe coexistence.

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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.

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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.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister recently launched the ‘Gomti Rejuvenation Mission’ to ensure uninterrupted flow of the river. The mission aims to intercept 95% of urban sewage entering the river. Gomti River is a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River, flowing entirely through Uttar Pradesh. It is also known as Gumti or Gomati. The river originates from Gomat Taal, also called Fulhaar Jheel, in Pilibhit District, Uttar Pradesh. It drains the area between the Ramganga and Sharda Rivers. Gomti flows southwards through Lucknow, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Faizabad, and Jaunpur districts. It ultimately joins the River Ganga.

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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.