Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Ophiopogon japonicus is a small grass-like herb recorded in India for the first time. It was found in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, at an elevation of 2,185 m. It is commonly known as dwarf lilyturf or mondo grass. It is an evergreen perennial with narrow, grass-like leaves, white to pale-purple flowers and blue fruits. The species is native to East Asia and occurs in China, Japan, Korea and Nepal. Its tuberous roots are traditionally used in Chinese medicine. It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. The discovery extends the known distribution of the species into the Eastern Himalaya.

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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.

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Recently, Nameri Tiger Reserve in Assam received CA|TS Approved status, giving it global recognition for tiger conservation and protected-area management. CA|TS stands for Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards. It is a globally recognised framework for assessing the effectiveness of tiger reserve management. The assessment covers areas such as wildlife protection, habitat management, monitoring, administration and community participation. Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve is located in the northern part of Sonitpur district, Assam. The reserve covers a total area of 464 sq km, including a core area of 200 sq km.

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Botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new plant species named Ceropegia tamilnaduensis in Tamil Nadu. The species was found on the hill slopes of Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Western Ghats. It grows at an elevation of approximately 380 metres above sea level. The plant produces distinctive deep brownish-purple flowers and unusually large seeds measuring up to 14 mm in length. Researchers observed more than 50 flowering individuals during the discovery. The species was provisionally classified as Data Deficient (DD) under IUCN guidelines because further studies are required to determine its population size and geographical distribution.

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Recently, the Junnar Forest Division in Pune district, Maharashtra, launched India’s first scientific study to control leopard fertility through immunocontraception. Two female leopards have received the vaccine and were safely released into the wild. Immunocontraception is a non-lethal, reversible method that temporarily prevents pregnancy. The project was approved by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Between 2000 and 2025, leopard attacks killed 56 people in Junnar. RESQ Charitable Trust and the Indian Council of Medical Research are supporting the study to assess its safety and effectiveness in reducing human–leopard conflict.

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Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI) highlighted Kufri Jamunia, a nutrient-rich purple potato variety developed to improve nutritional security. Kufri Jamunia was officially released in 2024 and contains higher levels of Vitamin C, anthocyanins and carotenoids than Kufri Manik and Kufri Neelkanth. It is a biofortified crop, meaning its nutritional value is enhanced through plant breeding rather than by adding nutrients during food processing. Kufri Jamunia has potential to improve dietary diversity, support farmers and strengthen India’s efforts towards long-term nutritional security.

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Two new plant species, Ophiorrhiza shidiensis and Ophiorrhiza pemae, have been discovered in Vijoynagar in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Both newly identified species belong to the Rubiaceae family. The species Ophiorrhiza pemae was named after Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The discovery highlights Arunachal Pradesh’s rich floral diversity and enhances scientific understanding of its ecologically significant regions.

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Veeranam Lake is a major freshwater reservoir located in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. The lake was constructed during the 10th-century Chola dynasty by Prince Rajaditya, according to the supplied information. It serves as an important source of drinking water for Chennai. The lake recently attracted ecological attention due to rare inland sightings of Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus). Greater Flamingos are migratory waterbirds that typically inhabit coastal mudflats, lagoons and salt pans. These sediments created suitable temporary feeding grounds for flamingos away from their usual coastal habitats. The sightings highlight the ecological importance of inland wetlands and the influence of changing hydrological conditions on bird habitats.

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recognised India’s Ganges River Dolphin recovery programme as one of the 35 UN World Restoration Flagships in its report titled Nature’s Comeback – Scaling Ecosystem Restoration for People and Planet. The programme has been recognised for promoting river ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and employment generation. The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is India’s National Aquatic Animal. India has launched a Comprehensive Action Plan for 2022–2047 to guide the long-term conservation and recovery of river dolphins. The UNEP report was published midway through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). The report assesses global progress in ecosystem restoration and highlights efforts to restore degraded terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems.

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Researchers discovered a new microscopic land snail species named Dicharax tilariensis in the Tilari region of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. The newly discovered species is currently known only from the Tilari region, making it endemic to the area. It inhabits semi-evergreen forests and occupies microhabitats among forest litter, decaying organic matter and moist soil. Its distinctive shell pattern and the structure of the inner side of its shell-closing lid helped researchers identify it as a separate species. It is the second known species of the genus Dicharax endemic to the northern Western Ghats.