Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Semeru Volcano on Indonesia’s main island of Java erupted recently, sending ash and gas kilometres into the sky and prompting officials to raise the alert to the highest level. It is located in East Java, Indonesia, and is one of the country’s most active volcanoes. At 3,676 metres (12,060 feet), it is the highest peak on Java and part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. The volcano lies at the southern end of a volcanic massif extending north to the Tengger caldera. Its summit shifts from northwest to southeast, creating complex topography.

Notes:
The Hawfinch was recently recorded at Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and East Asia. Its scientific name is Coccothraustes coccothraustes. It lives in forests, orchards, parks, and near streams. It is about 18 centimetres long with a wingspan of 29 to 33 centimetres. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.

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Bioremediation means “restoring life through biology” using microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants to clean polluted land and water. These organisms break oil, pesticides, plastics, and heavy metals into safer products like water and carbon dioxide. In situ bioremediation treats pollution at the site, while Ex situ bioremediation treats removed soil or water in a facility. India needs it due to severe river, soil, and industrial pollution and the high cost of traditional cleanup methods. It is cheap, eco-friendly, job-creating, but needs strict safety rules for genetically modified (GM) microbes.

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Russia has joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 19th member, strengthening India-led global efforts to protect endangered big cats. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. It is a treaty-based inter-governmental organisation focused on conserving seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance aims to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise for global big cat protection.

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A tigress will be airlifted from Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR), Rajasthan, marking the state’s first inter-state tiger translocation. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) is located in Bundi district, Rajasthan. It acts as a wildlife corridor between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve. Mez River, a tributary of Chambal River, flows through the reserve.

Notes:
Rare migratory Pallas’s Gull (Great Black-headed Gull) was spotted again in Udhwa Bird Sanctuary, Jharkhand after nearly 10 years. It is the world’s largest black-headed gull and the third-largest gull species globally. It breeds in marshes and islands from southern Russia to Mongolia. It migrates in winter to the Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and India. It prefers wetlands, salt lakes, lagoons, and slow-flowing rivers as its habitat. It is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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India’s resolution on “Strengthening the Global Management of Wildfires” was adopted at the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya. The resolution received wide support from UN Member States, emphasizing global recognition of wildfire threats. India highlighted that wildfires are a pressing global environmental challenge, increasing in number, scale, and intensity beyond seasonal patterns. The resolution aims to enhance international cooperation and coordinated action for wildfire management. India referenced UNEP’s report “Spreading Like Wildfire”, warning wildfires could rise by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by 2100 if trends continue.

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The Moei River, known as the Tonge Yin River in Myanmar, is an important river in northern Thailand and has recently been in the news as young men from Gujarat were lured across it into alleged cyber-fraud compounds in Myanmar. It is a tributary of the Salween River, joining it after flowing along the Thailand–Myanmar border. The river originates in the Tenasserim Hills, located in the Myanmar–Thailand border region. The Moei River acts as a natural international boundary between Thailand and Myanmar for a significant part of its course.

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Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) reported a global crackdown on illegal wildlife and forestry trade in 2025. The operation ran from 15 September to 15 October 2025 across 134 countries. Police, customs, border security, forestry and wildlife agencies worked together. A total of 4,640 seizures were made in one month. More than 30,000 live animals, protected plants, timber and spices were seized. The crackdown was called Operation Thunder 2025 and was led by Interpol with the World Customs Organization. Authorities seized ivory, rhino horns, pangolin scales, reptiles, birds, insects, plants and illegal timber. Interpol warned that wildlife crime is worth up to 20 billion US dollars yearly and linked to other serious crimes.

Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change approved the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II Hydropower Project. The approval was given by the Expert Appraisal Committee on hydel projects during its 45th meeting, enabling floating construction tenders for the project, estimated to cost over Rs 3,200 crore. The project is proposed on the Chenab River in Kishtwar District, Jammu and Kashmir. It is an extension of the existing 390-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-I Hydroelectric Project (Dulhasti Power Station).