Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary: Ten years after it was notified as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), a committee of monks recently demanded scrapping of this conservation status for the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary that houses 54 lions so that all religious activities can be organized freely. It is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. It spans the […]
Category: Environment Current Affairs
Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling
Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling: The Ministry of Mines has approved 58 companies under the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling as eligible for participation. It is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which is aimed at building the domestic capacity of and supply chain resilience in critical […]
India’s 1st Green Methanol Production Plant
India’s 1st Green Methanol Production Plant: The invasive shrub Prosopis juliflora, which has long threatened biodiversity in Kutch’s Banni Grasslands, is set to be used as feedstock for India’s first green methanol production plant. The plant at Deendayal Port Authority, Gujarat, will have an initial capacity of 5 tonnes per day and use gasification technology […]
Platypus : New Fossils
Platypus : New Fossils New fossils from South Australia reveal a new species of ancient platypus that still had teeth – something modern platypuses lost long ago. The platypus is a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia. Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus Platypuses occur in freshwater systems from tropical rainforest lowlands and plateaus of far […]
New Species of Fireflies
New Species of Fireflies: Scientists recently discovered two previously unknown species of fireflies named Diaphanes meghalayanus and Diaphanes mawlynnong in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, marking the first formal documentation of such insects from the state. They are two new species of fireflies. They were discovered in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills. Meghalayanus has been named after […]
India Introduces Underground Coal Gasification
India Introduces Underground Coal Gasification: The Ministry of Coal signed Coal Mine/Block Production and Development Agreements (CMDPAs) with successful bidders for four coal mines, marking the first-ever inclusion of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) provisions in India’s commercial coal mining framework. UCG is an in-situ technology that converts coal into synthetic gas (syngas) underground within the […]
Eyespots in Marine Animals
Eyespots in Marine Animals: A recent study published in the journal Nature explains the evolutionary reasons behind the presence of “eyespots” in marine animals like skates and rays, used as a defence against predators. Eyespots are conspicuous, eye-like circular markings found on some animals that act as a visual defence mechanism by confusing, intimidating, or […]
Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary: Forest officials recently arrested four suspected poachers from the Baliguda forest division of the Kotgarh wildlife sanctuary in Kandhamal. Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary It is located in the Kandhamal district of Odisha. It’s classified as a moist deciduous forest in the Eastern Highlands. The sanctuary is home to some tribal settlements, including Kutia […]
Sacred Groves
Sacred Groves: The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) recently initiated a pilot restoration programme for sacred groves in collaboration with the local Biodiversity Management Committees. A sacred grove comprises patches of natural vegetation – from a few trees to several acres – that are dedicated to local deities or tree spirits. These spaces are protected […]
Peacock Tarantula
Peacock Tarantula: A scientific survey to assess the Peacock Tarantula has begun Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the rarest and most visually striking spiders in the world, famous for its metallic blue coloration. It is also known as the Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula, named after the region where it […]
