Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Central Government facilitated talks between Odisha and Chhattisgarh for an amicable settlement of the Mahanadi Water Dispute. The Mahanadi is a major east-flowing peninsular river. It originates from the Sihawa Range in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh. The river flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It enters Odisha near Cuttack. It drains into the Bay of Bengal near Paradip. Major tributaries include Seonath, Hasdeo, Ib, Ong, Mand, Tel and Jonk. The river is known for its high silt deposition capacity.

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:
Researchers discovered a new freshwater catfish species, named Pseudolaguvia khairii, from the Budhabalanga River in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The species has been named in honour of Khairi, the legendary orphaned Royal Bengal tigress. Khairi was rescued from the Similipal forests in the 1970s and raised by conservationist Saroj Raj Choudhury and Nihar Nalini Swain. The new fish belongs to the genus Pseudolaguvia, a group of small hillstream catfishes. It is distinguished by a unique fleshy protuberance at the base of its dorsal fin. The discovery highlights the rich but underexplored freshwater biodiversity of India.

Notes:
Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site. It is the first Ramsar Site in Arunachal Pradesh. Glaw Lake is located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas. It is a pristine freshwater lake fed by perennial mountain streams. The wetland is a biodiversity hotspot with over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species. India’s Ramsar Sites have increased from 26 in 2014 to 101 in 2026.

Notes:
Kenya has launched an investigation after 15 elephants died in Amboseli National Park, with preliminary tests indicating a possible toxic substance. Amboseli National Park is located in southern Kenya, near the Tanzania border. It covers an area of about 392 sq. km. The park forms part of the larger Kenya–Tanzania transboundary ecosystem around Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, provides the park’s iconic backdrop.

Notes:
Prakriti Gyan Dham, a first-of-its-kind eco-educational hub, was inaugurated at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre, Banthra, Lucknow. It was developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI). The hub aims to connect scientific research with society through biodiversity conservation, environmental education and experiential learning.

Notes:
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) recently disbursed nearly ₹3.79 crore under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism. Madhya Pradesh received the highest state-wise allocation of ₹46.93 lakh. West Bengal received the second-highest amount of ₹44.76 lakh, followed by Odisha with ₹44.08 lakh. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is a statutory body established in 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The NBA works for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biological resources, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.

Notes:
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:
A recent biodiversity survey in Dehing Patkai National Park, Assam, recorded 165 butterfly species, highlighting the rich biodiversity of its rainforest ecosystem. Dehing Patkai National Park is located in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. It spread over approximately 234.26 sq km. It forms an important part of the Dehing Patkai rainforest landscape. The park was officially declared a National Park in June 2021. It is dominated by tropical wet evergreen forests and supports diverse flora and fauna, including hoolock gibbon and the endangered white-winged wood duck.

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.