Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Rajasthan High Court set aside a decision of the National Board for Wildlife regarding clearance near Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is located in the Aravalli Range near Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is named after the historic Nahargarh Fort built by Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century. The sanctuary has ecological connectivity with forest regions like Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

Notes:
Scientists discovered two new firefly species named Diaphanes meghalayanus and Diaphanes mawlynnong. They were found in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. This marks the first formal documentation of firefly species from the state. The name meghalayanus reflects its regional distribution, while mawlynnong is named after Mawlynnong. The naming also acknowledges the local Khasi community. Both species thrive in dark, humid environments with minimal human disturbance. The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India.

Notes:
The Maharashtra Forest Department has reviewed a proposal to increase the annual ticket rates for Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located near Borivali, Maharashtra, spanning Thane and Mumbai Suburban districts. Initially called Krishnagiri National Park, it was renamed Borivali National Park in 1974 and later Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 1981. It covers about 103 square kilometres, forming nearly 20% of Mumbai’s total geographical area. The Kanheri Caves (9th century Before Common Era to 1st century Before Common Era) are ancient Buddhist rock-cut structures.

Notes:
Suru River recently came into news after the mortal remains of a six-year-old boy from Ladakh were retrieved from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) more than a month after he drowned in the river. The Suru River is an important tributary of the Indus River located in the Kargil district of Ladakh. It originates from the Panzella Glacier near Pensi La Pass and Drang Drung Glacier in the Zanskar region. The river forms the Suru Valley, surrounded by the famous Nun-Kun peaks, and flows through towns such as Kargil, Tongul, Goma, and Kharul before entering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Notes:
White-bellied heron is a rare bird species found in the wetlands and free-flowing river habitats of the eastern Himalayan foothills in northeast India, Bhutan, and northern Myanmar. The proposal for Arunachal Pradesh’s Kalai-II hydel project has raised concerns because it does not mention the habitat of this critically endangered bird. The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis), also called the imperial heron, is the second-largest living heron species in the world. The bird mainly feeds on fish in river rapids and is considered an indicator of healthy rivers, fish populations, and good water quality. It is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Notes:
Recently, a tiger was sighted in D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary after nearly two decades, highlighting its ecological importance. The sanctuary is located in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It lies along the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the floodplains of the Siang River and its tributaries. Earlier, it was known as Lali Wildlife Sanctuary after the declaration of Lali Reserve Forest as a sanctuary. In 1986, it was renamed D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary experiences a tropical climate and receives both north-east and south-west monsoon rainfall.

Notes:
Scientists from ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources discovered a new freshwater fish species, Labeo kaage, from the Shivanasamudra stretch of the Cauvery River basin in Karnataka. The name “kaage” comes from the Kannada word for crow, referring to the fish’s dark body colour. Locally, it is known as “kaage meenu” in Karnataka. It is among the newly discovered dark-coloured Labeo species from the Western Ghats region. In 2025, scientists also discovered Labeo chekida from Kerala’s Chalakkudy River and Labeo uru from the Chandragiri River.

Notes:
Euphrates River is the longest river in Western Asia and one of the world’s oldest historically significant rivers. The river originates in the Armenian Highlands of Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq before joining the Tigris River and draining into the Persian Gulf. Together with the Tigris, it forms the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Ancient Mesopotamia and major civilizations such as Babylon developed along the Euphrates in the Fertile Crescent region. The river mainly depends on winter rainfall and mountain snowfall for its water supply. The Euphrates is now facing severe decline due to environmental and water-related pressures.

Notes:
India released its first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve on 15 May 2026. The species, scientifically known as Nilssonia gangetica, is a freshwater turtle belonging to the Trionychidae family. It is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The turtle was released into the Brahmaputra River after fitting a satellite transmitter under veterinary supervision. Satellite tagging helps scientists study movement patterns, habitat use, and seasonal behaviour of the species.

Notes:
The rare Kashmir Flycatcher was recently spotted in the wetlands of Chemmattamavayal wetlands, Kerala. It is a small passerine bird belonging to the Muscicapidae flycatcher family. The species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and mainly breeds in the Kashmir region of the northwest Himalayas. It is a migratory bird that winters in the high-altitude Nilgiris of the Western Ghats and also in Sri Lanka. Due to habitat loss and declining population, the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The sighting highlights the ecological importance of Kerala’s wetlands for migratory birds.