Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Kashmir is experiencing its harshest winter, known as “Chillai Kalan,” starting from December 21, 2024. Chillai Kalan lasts for 40 days, from December 21 to January 29, and is the coldest period of winter in Kashmir. During Chillai Kalan, temperatures drop below freezing, causing daily life disruptions. People use the traditional Kashmiri dress “Pheran” and a firing pot called “Kanger.” Tap water pipes freeze, and Dal Lake also freezes during this period.

Notes:
Researchers have identified Stellaria bengalensis, an annual herb, in Kalimpong, West Bengal. It grows at altitudes of 2,245-2,450 meters in muddy soil slopes, similar to Stellaria mcclintockiae found in Kerala earlier this year. Stellaria bengalensis is an annual herb, 8-10.5 cm tall, with white flowers, no bracts, and sharp, pointed seeds. India has about 22 Stellaria species, mostly in the Himalayas, and the new species is currently assessed as ‘data deficient’ by IUCN.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has amended the rules for selecting experts for the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). GEAC is a statutory committee under the 1989 rules for hazardous and genetically engineered organisms framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It was renamed from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee in 2010. GEAC operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Notes:
India’s first organic fisheries cluster was launched in Sikkim’s Soreng District, promoting sustainable fish farming without harmful chemicals. The cluster focuses on sustainable fish farming, avoiding harmful chemicals and pesticides. It aims to protect aquatic ecosystems and cater to the rising demand for organic fish products in domestic and international markets. The project is part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Notes:
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife approved oil and gas exploration in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in Jorhat district, Assam. It is the only sanctuary in India named after gibbons and has the densest gibbon population in Assam. The sanctuary’s terrain slopes from southeast to northwest, with the Bhogdoi River creating a waterlogged region.

Notes:
Australian scientists discovered a larger, more venomous Sydney funnel-web spider species, named Atrax christenseni. The new species, called “Big Boy,” is 9 cm (3.54 inches) long and was first found in the early 2000s near Newcastle. It is dark brown to black with finger-like spinnerets at the abdomen’s end. Its venom glands are bigger, and its fangs are longer. Only male funnel-web spiders cause human deaths due to their stronger venom. Found in bushy suburban areas, forests, and shady gullies. Funnel-web spiders are among the most dangerous, with venom containing 40 toxic proteins.

Notes:
Nepal’s Yala Glacier, a key glacier in the Langtang Valley, is projected to disappear by the 2040s. It is part of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and is extensively studied in the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) database. Yala Glacier is the only Himalayan glacier on the Global Glacier Casualty List. Globally, there are over 275,000 glaciers, covering 700,000 sq km and storing 70% of Earth’s fresh water, including ice sheets. Yala Glacier is crucial for studying the cryosphere and understanding climate impacts on Himalayan glaciers.

Notes:
The UN declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. March 21 will be celebrated annually as World Day for Glaciers, starting in 2025. UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will co-facilitate the initiative. The goal is to raise awareness about glaciers’ role in the climate system, water cycle, and their economic, social, and environmental impacts. Glaciers cover over 700,000 sq. km globally, comprising 275,000 glaciers, and hold about 70% of the world’s freshwater.

Notes:
Mount Taranaki in New Zealand was granted legal personhood, becoming the second natural feature to receive this status. The mountain’s legal identity, Te Kāhui Tupua, includes Taranaki and surrounding land. The recognition acknowledges the historical theft of land from the Māori people after colonization. A newly created entity, with members from Māori tribes and the Conservation Minister, will represent the mountain. This law aims to protect the mountain’s health, cultural significance, and traditional practices. New Zealand previously granted personhood to Te Urewera and the Whanganui River.

Notes:
A deep-sea fishing expedition by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) discovered highly productive, unexplored fishing grounds in the Arabian Sea. FSI operates under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. It is responsible for surveying and assessing fishery resources in India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Established in 1946 as the Deep Sea Fishing Station, it became a survey institute in 1974. It was upgraded to a national institute in 1983 and recognized as a Science & Technology Institute in 1988.