Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Pteris madhusoodananii, a newly discovered fern species, was found in the Kolli Hills of Tamil Nadu’s Eastern Ghats. Due to its extremely restricted distribution, it has been classified as Critically Endangered. The species was identified using morphological study, scanning electron microscopy and DNA sequencing. It is currently known from only two sites covering about 8 sq km. Major threats include road construction, logging and conversion of forests into farmland. It was named after botanist Dr P. V. Madhusoodanan.

Notes:
Scientists in Tamil Nadu have discovered a new coastal herb species named Leucas droupadiae. The species was discovered on the coastal sand dunes of Cuddalore along the Coromandel Coast. The species has been named in honour of Droupadi Murmu, the 15th President of India. The herb grows to around 15 cm and has distinctive unbranched stems. Its oblong nutlets are brilliant golden-yellow with irregular dark-brown spots, making them a notable identifying feature. The plant faces threats from cattle grazing and the expansion of eucalyptus plantations.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
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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The National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi organised the 2nd edition of ‘Tree Walk @ NZP’ along with its 11th Sunday Bird Walk. The programme was conducted under the Zoo’s Citizen Science Initiative. The initiative aims to encourage public participation in biodiversity documentation, monitoring and conservation awareness. 25 participants took part, including students, nature enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, researchers, interns and volunteers.

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Recently, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹5.68 crore under the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) mechanism arising from the utilisation of biological resources. The funds were distributed mainly to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) and a national research institution. The disbursement primarily relates to Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). The largest ABS component was for Okra, for which ₹3.51 crore was released to 32 SBBs and UTBCs. Gujarat received the highest State/UT allocation of ₹88.79 lakh, followed by West Bengal (₹78.08 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (₹64.90 lakh) and Odisha (₹59.01 lakh).

Notes:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with ICAR-CMFRI and international experts, discovered a new deep-sea skate species, Dipturus dhritiae, in the southeastern Arabian Sea. The species, named Arabian Skate, was collected at depths of 400–600 metres off Kerala and the Wadge Bank during the Deep Ocean Mission. It had remained unidentified for over 40 years and was earlier misidentified as Dipturus springeri. The species can grow up to 131.5 cm and has five distinct rows of thorns along its tail. Genetic analysis showed 3.8–4.7% divergence from its closest known relative, the Travancore Skate. It is named after Dhriti Banerjee, ZSI’s first woman Director.

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Botanists Birina Bhuyan and Selim Mehmud have discovered a new perennial herb species named Ophiorrhiza assamensis in Kamrup Metropolitan district, Assam. The plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, commonly known as the coffee family, and the Ophiorrhiza genus. It is a small shade-loving herb with large ribbed leaves and clusters of small white flowers. Species of the Ophiorrhiza genus are known for producing camptothecin, a compound used in anti-cancer medicines. Ophiorrhiza assamensis has been provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN guidelines because of its highly localised population and threats from local development.

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The MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Ludhiana and Chandigarh Tourism Department launched a three-day pilot marketplace at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh. The initiative was held from September 3–5, 2026, providing stalls to five PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries. Sukhna Lake, an artificial lake in Chandigarh, was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe stream from the Shivalik Hills. The lake covers around 3 sq. km, is 1.52 km long and 1.49 km wide, and is recognized as a National Wetland.

Notes:
Scientists discovered a new subterranean, legless amphibian species named Gegeneophis chandgadi in Buzawade village of Chandgad, Maharashtra. It belongs to the amphibian group called caecilians, which are legless and adapted to a burrowing lifestyle. The species has a slender, flesh-coloured body with specialised rings called annuli. It was found beneath leaf litter and woodpiles in a backyard, highlighting its secretive underground habitat. The species was identified using DNA barcoding and detailed morphological examination.