Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Northern Goshawk, locally known as Baaz or Baaj, has recently attracted attention in Punjab after alleged sightings near prominent political leaders ahead of the Assembly elections. The Northern Goshawk is the state bird of Punjab, but wildlife authorities have struggled for years to physically locate and confirm its presence within the State. It is a powerful bird of prey belonging to the hawk family (Accipitridae) and is known for its agility, speed and hunting ability. The bird holds deep religious and cultural significance in Sikh history as it is traditionally associated with Guru Gobind Singh.

Notes:
Melghat and Pench Tiger Reserves in Maharashtra have emerged as successful sites for reintroducing captive-bred vultures. 29 vultures released between December 2025 and January 2026 recorded survival rates of up to 78%. The findings highlight the potential of releasing captive-bred vultures in prey-rich and inviolate tiger habitats. The success provides a boost to efforts to conserve and restore India’s declining vulture populations.

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.

Notes:
Spatial mapping and field verification of military installations will be undertaken in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Ladakh. The exercise will use GPS, GIS mapping, geo-referencing and satellite imagery. Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Ladakh. It is a cold desert wildlife sanctuary situated in the high-altitude Changthang region. The sanctuary contains ecologically sensitive areas, traditional grazing lands and human habitations. It provides habitat for wildlife adapted to the cold desert ecosystem.

Notes:
Maharashtra has shifted a young tigress from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal district. The tigress, identified as T163-SAF2, is the third tiger added to the population being established in Painganga. The sanctuary is located in the Painganga River landscape, Maharashtra, which forms an important ecological zone in the region. It contains dry deciduous forests, providing suitable habitat for wildlife including tigers and other carnivores. The sanctuary is part of

Notes:
A new species of Begonia, named Begonia neelamorum, has been discovered in Keyi Panyor district, Arunachal Pradesh. It was found along the Keyi River at around 1,000 metres elevation, growing on steep, moist walls. The species is named after the Neelam clan of the Nyishi community, acknowledging their assistance during the expedition. It is currently known from a very limited area of about 3 sq km. With this discovery, the number of Begonia species recorded from Northeast India has increased to 54.

Notes:
Botanists have discovered a new plant species, Didymocarpus nautiyalii, from Shi-Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh. The species belongs to the Gesneriaceae family. The plant is a small herb, growing to around 8 cm, with leathery leaves and bluish-purple flowers. It grows mainly on moist rock surfaces, roadside walls and near waterfalls in subtropical evergreen forests above 1,000 metres. The species was named in honour of Prof. Sunil Nautiyal, former Director of the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment.

Notes:
The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), India’s national bird, has been officially recorded for the first time in Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve. Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve is located in Assam, on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River. The area is mainly characterised by grasslands, wetlands and riverine forests, making it an important habitat for wildlife. It was given Tiger Reserve status in 2016.

Notes:
The Galaxy Frog (Melanobatrachus indicus) recently came into the spotlight after Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, shared new images of the species. It is a rare amphibian found in the southern Western Ghats of India. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, with records mainly from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It generally inhabits wet evergreen and other moist forests at elevations of around 1,000–1,500 metres. The species was first described in 1878 from the Anamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and was rediscovered in 1997. The IUCN classifies the Galaxy Frog as Vulnerable.