Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, the Assam Forest Department began DNA profiling of rhino horns to add them to the Rhino DNA Index System (RhoDIS) India database. RhoDIS India was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), forest departments of Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India. RhoDIS is a wildlife forensic tool designed to help in solving wildlife crime cases. It creates a unique genetic signature for each rhino using DNA indexing.

Notes:
Lantana camara, an invasive alien species, now infests about 3,25,282 hectares of forest land in Himachal Pradesh, threatening native biodiversity. It was introduced in India in the early 18th century as an ornamental plant and is native to Central and South America. Lantana camara releases allelochemicals, suppressing native plants and reducing biodiversity by forming dense bushy layers. It is spreading from lower to higher altitudes, worsening its ecological impact. Its biomass can be reused for furniture, fuelwood, compost, and vermicompost, promoting organic farming and reducing reliance on inorganic manure.

Notes:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the first-ever grassland bird census in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, during the 124th episode of his radio show ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The census identified 43 bird species, including many rare and endangered ones. The census used the Acoustic Monitoring Technique to study rare and threatened bird species. Sound recording devices were installed and analysed on computers to identify bird species by their calls without disturbing them. The initiative shows how technology and human effort can support biodiversity conservation.

Notes:
Recently, the ‘Matri Van’ initiative was launched by the Union Ministers for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Housing and Urban Affairs. It is part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ programme of the Government of India. Matri Van is a theme-based urban forest to be developed over 750 acres in the Aravalli Hill area. It aims to promote biodiversity, public well-being, and urban sustainability through mother-nature-inspired efforts. It includes removal of invasive Kabuli Kikar (Prosopis juliflora) and plantation of native Dhak and Amaltash trees.

Notes:
Recently, red panda cubs were born at Himalayan Zoological Park near Gangtok, Sikkim after a gap of 7 years under a conservation programme. Red panda is also called the lesser panda. It is a shy, solitary, herbivorous and tree-dwelling (arboreal) animal. It uses its long bushy tail for balance and warmth during winter. It is an indicator species that signals ecological changes. It is mainly found in mountain forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. It is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand, the last stronghold of Gaur (Bos gaurus) in the state, is witnessing a sharp population decline. It lies on the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand and is part of Betla National Park. Gaur, also called Indian Bison, is the largest wild cattle species in the Bovidae family. They are native to South and Southeast Asia.

Notes:
Recently, a faunal survey at Thettekad Bird Sanctuary, Ernakulam, Kerala, added nine new species to its biodiversity checklist. It is the first bird sanctuary in Kerala, located on the banks of the Periyar River. Also called Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, it was notified in 1983 on the recommendation of Dr. Salim Ali. The sanctuary lies at the foothills of the Western Ghats.

Notes:
A recent report by the North American Environmental Commission criticised Mexico for failing to protect the endangered vaquita porpoise, with only 10 left. Vaquita is the smallest member of the porpoise family and the most endangered marine mammal in the world. It lives only in the northern part of the Gulf of California, with the smallest range of any whale, dolphin, or porpoise. It is usually found in shallow waters up to 50 metres deep. It is classified as Critically Endangered under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
Only 17.2% of India’s suitable habitat for Dalbergia latifolia (Indian rosewood) lies within protected areas, according to the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru. The species is native to Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris, Anamalai, and Parambikulam ranges. Field studies across 12 States (2019–2025) show Tamil Nadu has the lowest rosewood density at 2.85 trees per 0.1 hectare. Karnataka showed a higher density of 6.19 trees per 0.1 hectare, and Kerala had 5.38 trees per 0.1 hectare. Indian rosewood improves soil fertility, acts as a carbon sink, and is a keystone ecological species. Economically, it is called “Ivory of the Forests,” used in furniture, musical instruments, and handicrafts.

Notes:
A recent wildlife survey in Arunachal Pradesh recorded first-ever photographic evidence of the elusive Pallas’s cat. It was first described in 1776 by Peter Simon Pallas, based on specimens near Lake Baikal, Russia. It is mainly found in Central Asia, with its range extending to western Iran, Mongolia, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It inhabits rocky montane grasslands and shrublands with snow cover below 15–20 cm. It preys mainly on lagomorphs (hares, pikas) and rodents. This finding is a major addition to Arunachal Pradesh’s wildlife records.