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:
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.

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.

Notes:
Dimna Lake of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, was among 25 lakes across India after which spectator galleries were named during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. The reservoir was constructed by Tata Steel under the Dimna Nala Water Supply Scheme to meet Jamshedpur’s growing water requirements. It has a storage capacity of approximately 7,500 million gallons. It is located at the foothills of the Dalma Hills, Jharkhand. Dimna Lake is both an important water-security and ecological asset. It is also a popular destination for tourists, nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.

Notes:
In August 2026, the Supreme Court, in a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, imposed interim spatial restrictions along Rajasthan’s Jojari River to address industrial pollution, construction and floodplain encroachment until scientific demarcation is completed. The Jojari River is a right-bank tributary of the Luni River in western Rajasthan. Unlike several other Luni tributaries that originate in the Aravalli Hills, the Jojari originates in the plains near Pondlu village in Nagaur district and flows through Jodhpur before joining the Luni.

Notes:
The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with The Serenity Trust and the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, provided essential field gear and equipment to frontline staff of Kamlang Tiger Reserve. Kamlang Tiger Reserve is located in the southeastern part of Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh. It is part of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hot Spot. The reserve is named after the Kamlang River, which flows into the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by Namdapha National Park in the south, Lang River in the north, Lati River in the west, and Tawe River in the east.

Notes:
Karnataka Forest Department data shows that Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Sanctuary accounts for nearly half of the illegal arms and poaching cases recorded in the Chamarajanagar Forest Circle over 16 years. The Sanctuary is located in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats. It was notified as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2013 and is ecologically connected with BRT Tiger Reserve, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.

Notes:
Two Przewalski’s horse foals were born at a reintroduction centre in the grasslands of central Kazakhstan. They are reportedly the first wild horses born on Kazakh soil in more than 200 years. Przewalski’s horse is considered the only living wild relative of the domestic horse. It inhabits open steppes, semi-deserts and grassy plains, including harsh winter environments. Historically, it occurred across the steppe grasslands of Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northern China. The IUCN Red List status of Przewalski’s horse is Endangered.

Notes:
A 12-year study (2010–2022) found that Kawal tiger reserve had no resident tigers. Researchers found increasing populations of spotted deer, while sambar, nilgai and chousingha remained relatively stable. Since 2015, only 15 transient tigers from Maharashtra were recorded entering Kawal. Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) is located in northern Telangana, near the Godavari River. It is dominated by teak and bamboo forests and has a rich prey base. Geographically, Kawal acts as an important link between major tiger landscapes. It connects Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) in the west with Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh) in the east.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered a rare leafless orchid species, Gastrodia keyiensis, in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh. The species was discovered in a remote gorge along the Keyi River at an altitude of around 1,000 metres. Only five flowering individuals were recorded at the type locality during the survey. Gastrodia keyiensis belongs to the genus Gastrodia, known for orchids that lack leaves and chlorophyll. It grows in deep shade and decaying leaf litter, particularly in bamboo groves along the Keyi River. The orchid can grow up to 35 cm and produces one to three flowers. In the Nyishi language, it is locally called “Oram Opuh”, meaning “Ghost Flower”.