Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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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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Tamil Nadu launched a conservation initiative to protect the smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the Cauvery River delta due to habitat loss and rising human–wildlife conflict. The programme will estimate population, map habitats, study threats like pollution, dams and pesticides, and restore habitats through reeds planting and fish ladders. Otters live in bevvies of 4–12, communicate with whistles and chirps, and control freshwater ecosystems by feeding on fish. Their numbers fell due to dams, contaminated water, plastic pollution, and loss of prey. It is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) will prepare a district-wise report on hills qualifying as part of the Aravalli Range for mining purposes. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is the apex national body for forestry research and education in India. It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. Its mission is to generate and share scientific knowledge for ecological security, livelihoods, and sustainable forest use. The headquarters of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

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A forest fire has been raging for five days in the Valley of Flowers, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, prompting Uttarakhand authorities to seek Indian Air Force (IAF) assistance. The Valley of Flowers National Park is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and covers about 87 square kilometres. It was discovered in 1931 by British mountaineers led by Frank S. Smythe. The park is a core zone of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve along with Nanda Devi National Park. It forms a transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalayan ranges. The area is famous for alpine meadows, rich biodiversity, scenic beauty, and snow-covered Himalayan peaks.

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Scientists have confirmed India’s first case of freshwater pufferfish poisoning, highlighting a new public health concern. Pufferfish belong to the order Tetraodontiformes and are also called toadfish, patkafish, balloonfish, and fugu. They are omnivorous and benthic, meaning they live and feed near the river bottom. In India, they are mainly found in the Western Ghats and river basins like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Mahanadi. Freshwater pufferfish species in India are often endemic and indicate healthy river ecosystems. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), pufferfish are listed as Vulnerable.

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A new species of ginger named Parakaempferia alba has been discovered in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae, which is the ginger family of flowering plants. The species was found in the Miglung area of East Siang District. It grows at an altitude ranging from 150 to 400 metres above sea level. The plant thrives along shaded streambanks. It prefers humid conditions with sandy soil, which support its growth. This discovery highlights the rich plant biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayan region.

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Two tourists from Kerala drowned recently after the frozen surface of Sela Lake in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district cracked beneath them while they were on it. Sela Lake, also called Paradise Lake, is a glacial lake located near Sela Pass in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Sela Pass is an important mountain pass connecting the Tawang region with the rest of Arunachal Pradesh. Due to extremely cold temperatures below zero, the lake remains frozen throughout winter. The high altitude results in very limited vegetation around the lake.

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Researchers have discovered a new mushroom species named Hemileccinum indicum in the temperate forests of the Indian Himalayas. The species was found growing under oak (Quercus) trees in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand. This discovery marks the first-ever record of the genus Hemileccinum in India. The identification was confirmed using multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis, which maps evolutionary relationships through genetic data.

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A new plant species named Hoya nagaensis was discovered in the high-altitude forests of Nagaland. It belongs to the wax plant family and the Hoya genus, known for ornamental plants. The species was found in the Kavunhou Community Reserved Forest in Phek district. It is currently known from only one location, making it highly vulnerable. The plant grows in a little-explored temperate forest ecosystem. It shows unique leaf shapes and distinctive star-shaped flowers.

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The Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Nuapada district, Odisha was declared Maoist-free in January 2026, enabling improved wildlife monitoring and conservation activities. In the All-India Tiger Estimation exercise (data yet to be officially released), authorities estimate over 70 leopards, with 90% camera traps capturing leopard images. Nuapada district regularly reports human–leopard conflict, supporting evidence of a strong leopard presence. Reduced Maoist activity enabled camera trap installation across all sanctuary sectors for the first time.