Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve is located in Bundi district, Rajasthan. It was notified as India’s 52nd Tiger Reserve in May 2022. The reserve serves as an important wildlife corridor between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve. It is home to species such as the tiger, leopard, Indian wolf, and striped hyena. It is one of Rajasthan’s five tiger reserves, along with Sariska, Ranthambore, Mukundara Hills, and Dholpur-Karauli. As of July 2026, Rajasthan’s tiger population increased to 149, up from 135 in 2025.

Notes:
In a major conservation milestone, the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) was photographed for the first time in the Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Snow Leopard, known as the “Ghost of the Mountains,” is an endangered species. Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. It is home to wildlife such as Himalayan black bear, leopard, musk deer, and rare pheasants. The discovery highlights the sanctuary’s rich Himalayan biodiversity.

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new catfish species named Pseudecheneis likimroensis in Nagaland. The species is named after the Likimro River in Kiphire district, where it was first found. The discovery was published in the Journal of Ichthyology. The fish has special adaptations to survive in fast-flowing mountain streams. Nagaland is a freshwater biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Myanmar region.

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Ladakh has approved India’s first-ever guided high-altitude wildlife safari. The safari will cover Hemis National Park, Changthang, and Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary. It will focus on snow leopard sightings and bird-watching trails during the winter season. The safari will be operated by trained local youth to promote sustainable ecotourism. The initiative aims to conserve and showcase Ladakh’s rich high-altitude biodiversity, including around 340 bird species.

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Ujani Reservoir in Maharashtra is facing an ecological crisis due to invasive alien fish such as suckermouth catfish, tilapia and African catfish. The suckermouth catfish, native to South America’s Amazon River, entered India mainly through the aquarium trade. It is also known as “helicopter fish” because of its appearance and can damage ecosystems by feeding on fish eggs, competing with native bottom-feeders and burrowing into riverbanks. Around 97% of the fish catch in Ujani is now made up of alien species, while native fish account for only about 3%; suckermouth catfish alone represents roughly 30–40% of the total fish population.

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India hosted the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, preceded by the BRICS Senior Officers’ Meeting. The meeting was held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” India has identified four priority areas: Sustainable Lifestyles; Afforestation, Forest Fire Management and Disaster Resilience; Circular Economy; and Adaptation. The meeting aims to strengthen environmental cooperation, consensus-building and collective action among BRICS countries.

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The Goa–Karnataka Mahadayi River water dispute remains unresolved in August 2026, with Goa opposing any out-of-court settlement. The Mahadayi River, also known as Mandovi or Mhadei, is a rain-fed river shared by Karnataka and Goa for their water needs. It originates from Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, flows briefly through Maharashtra, and then enters Goa, where it empties into the Arabian Sea at Panaji.

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A new Himalayan flowering plant has been formally named Impatiens nimspurjai in honour of legendary Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja. The plant was discovered in Myagdi district of Nepal at an altitude of around 2,800–2,900 metres. It belongs to the genus Impatiens and the family Balsaminaceae. The naming recognises Purja’s contribution to mountaineering and high-altitude environmental conservation, including the Big Mountain Cleanup initiative. Purja famously climbed all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres in six months and six days in 2019.

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Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam recorded the first-ever sighting of the rare migratory Smew (Mergellus albellus). Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary covers about 70.13 sq km and is located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon district, Assam. It forms part of the Laokhowa–Burhachapori ecosystem and is a notified buffer of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The sanctuary supports more than 225 bird species and diverse wildlife, including the greater one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.

Notes:
216 rescued Indian Star Tortoises from Mumbai and Thane were successfully rehabilitated and released into the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), Maharashtra. The initiative marks the launch of Project STRIPES — Star Tortoise Repatriation Initiative Protecting Endangered Species. The Indian Star Tortoise is a medium-sized terrestrial tortoise, named after the distinctive star-like patterns on its shell, which also provide camouflage. The IUCN Red List status is Vulnerable.