Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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A new species of cave-dwelling fish named Schistura densiclava was discovered by Gauhati University’s Department of Zoology in Meghalaya. It was found in Krem Mawjymbuina, a limestone cave near Mawjymbuin village in East Khasi Hills district. The cave is deep, seasonally accessible, surrounded by dense forest, and untouched by tourism, keeping it pristine. This discovery raises the number of known cave-associated fish in Meghalaya to six. Unlike typical cave fish, Schistura densiclava has working eyes and bright body colours, showing it is a troglophile, meaning it can live inside and outside caves. It belongs to the loach family called Nemacheilidae and thrives in cool, low-light cave streams.

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The Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh recently put on hold its order that imposed a user charge on visitors to the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirmaur district. Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. It lies in the Shivalik range of the Himalayas and was established in 1985. The sanctuary covers an area of 56 square kilometres and surrounds the Churdhar Peak, also known as Choordhar. Churdhar Peak is the highest peak in the outer Himalayas. From the peak, one can view the wild Gangetic plains and Satluj River in the south and Badrinath in the north. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at the peak gives the sanctuary spiritual importance.

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Recently, researchers discovered a new plant species named Pedicularis rajeshiana in the high-altitude region of Rohtang Pass in the western Himalayas. It belongs to a group of plants called “Louseworts,” which are hemiparasitic and take some nutrients from other plants while also doing photosynthesis. The plant has unique floral traits and a distinct pollen structure that sets it apart from other species. Compared to its close relatives Pedicularis porrecta and Pedicularis heydei, this new species is smaller in size with fewer flowers and leaflets.

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A new species of jumping spider named Spartaeus karigiri was recently discovered by researchers in southern India. It belongs to the Spartaeinae subfamily and was found for the first time in India, previously known only from Southeast Asia and Africa. The spider is named after Karigiri (Elephant Hill) in Devarayanadurga, Karnataka, where it was first seen. It is known for its smart hunting skills and web-invasion tactics by tricking other spiders. These spiders have excellent eyesight and mimic prey to catch food.

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A new flowering plant species named Portulaca bharat was recently discovered in the Aravali hills near Jaipur. It is endemic to India and currently known only from the Galtaji hills. Its limited distribution and specific habitat make it highly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. The plant has unique features like opposite and slightly concave leaves, pale-yellow flowers that turn creamish-white at the tip, thick roots, and glandular hairs on stamen filaments. This rare discovery highlights the ecological importance of the Aravali region.

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Recently, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary gained attention after seven gharials were released into its Girwa River for conservation. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Upper Gangetic plain, Uttar Pradesh. Gharials are fish-eating reptiles with long, thin snouts and sharp teeth, making them skilled hunters in rivers. They are mainly found in Chambal and Girwa rivers in India and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.

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Recently, a tigress and her four cubs were found dead in Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is connected to Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. The forests here are mainly dry deciduous, with some moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen and shola forests at different heights.

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Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment approved funding for a pilot scheme called ‘Tigers Outside of Tiger Reserves’ to reduce human-tiger conflicts. The scheme aims to improve protection, monitoring, and conflict management in areas where tigers live outside protected tiger reserves. It is supported by the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which gave in-principle approval for one year of pilot implementation. The scheme has a total budget of ₹88 crore until 2026–27. It is based on data showing that around 30% of India’s tiger population lives outside official reserves.

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Recently, Kerala has secured the top spot in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest for 2020–2025. Kerala scored 76.22% in the very good category. Eravikulam National Park in Kerala and Dachigam National Park in Jammu and Kashmir topped protected areas with an MEE score of 92.97%. Mathikettan Shola National Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary ranked fifth and sixth among the top 10. Chandigarh topped among Union Territories with 85.16%.

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The Odisha High Court recently sent a notice to the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Baripada, over a ban stopping Munda tribals of Jamunagarh village from performing rituals at Jayara, a sacred site inside Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). Similipal Tiger Reserve is located in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. It was recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Biosphere Reserve in 2009.