Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The Dolphin Ambulance initiative was launched by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to protect Ganga Dolphins, India’s national aquatic animal. The project, with a budget of Rs 1 crore, focuses on rescuing dolphins and raising awareness about their conservation. It aims to train communities to handle dolphin emergencies and restore the Ganga’s ecological balance. The initiative supports biodiversity preservation and aquatic life conservation through innovative measures to protect the Ganga’s ecosystem.

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The African penguin is the first penguin species listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. They are the only penguin species found in Africa and are among the smallest penguin species. Males are slightly larger than females and have a pink gland above their eyes to cope with heat. They communicate through vocalizations and body language, such as gaping, pointing bills, pecking, and bill-jabbing. Their diet primarily includes pelagic schooling fish like sardines and anchovies.

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Experts link Santa Ana winds and climate change to wildfires in Malibu, California. Named after Santa Ana Canyon, these winds are dry and warm, blowing from the deserts of the Great Basin. They occur when high pressure forms over the Great Basin and low pressure develops along California’s coast. The pressure difference drives strong winds westward over the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean. As winds descend, they heat up and lose humidity—sometimes dropping below 10%, drying vegetation and increasing fire risk. Santa Ana winds usually occur between October and January, driven by winter weather patterns.

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The first Ganges River Dolphin was tagged today in Assam, marking a historic step in wildlife conservation. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change with execution by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Assam Forest Department, and Aaranyak. Lightweight tags compatible with Argos satellite systems minimize interference with dolphin movement. The project is funded by the National CAMPA Authority under Project Dolphin. Ganges River Dolphin found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. It is listed as Endangered by IUCN, Appendix I under CITES, and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary in Assam has seen a 72% decline in avian species over 27 years. The decline is linked to human activities like fishing, poaching, egg collection, and land-use changes. Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary is a freshwater lake spanning 11.25 sq. km in Assam, located between Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts. The sanctuary experiences a moist tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm. Its vegetation is dominated by flooded valley grasslands and wetland ecosystems.

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Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore became India’s first zero-waste airport with a new 3000 sq ft Material Recovery Facility. The facility uses a waste management system to segregate and recycle waste from the airport and aircraft. Wet waste will be converted into fertilizer, following the 4R principle: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore. Indore Airport’s passenger capacity will increase from 40 lakh to 90 lakh annually within 3 years.

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The Alappuzha district administration will launch a plastic-cleaning drive for the Vembanad Lake rejuvenation project in January. The campaign aims to make Vembanad plastic-free and is part of ongoing conservation efforts for the lake, a Ramsar site and India’s second-largest wetland. Vembanad Lake, a Ramsar site and the second-largest wetland system in India, is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest in India. The lake is fed by four rivers: Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa, and Manimala. Vembanad is separated from the Arabian Sea by a barrier island and hosts the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

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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).

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Major Wall Street banks have exited the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a prominent group in global finance. The Alliance, led by banks and convened by the UN, commits members to align lending, investments, and capital activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) convenes the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). It is governed by a Steering Group, including member banks, UNEP FI Secretariat, and the UN. Banks in the alliance commit to transitioning GHG emissions in their portfolios and setting 2030 and 2050 targets with updates every five years. Members must annually publish emissions data. No Indian bank is currently part of this alliance.

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A male tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, traveled 500 km to Solapur, an unusual journey. Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. It is called as the “Green Oasis” of southern Maharashtra. It is irrigated by rivers like Purna, Krishna, Bhima, and Tapti, providing abundant water. The sanctuary lies in a basalt region formed by ancient lava activity.