India’s Climate Ambitions: India is preparing to submit its next round of climate commitments (NDCs) for the 2035 horizon even as experts call for a clearer, economy-wide transition plan. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are each country’s self-defined climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, updated every five years (Article 4).They include targets for emissions reduction, renewable […]
Category: Environment Current Affairs
Chaprala wildlife sanctuary
Chaprala wildlife sanctuary: A rare striated grassbird was recently recorded in Chaprala wildlife sanctuary in Gadchiroli district, marking a major range extension for the species in Maharashtra. It is located in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The Markhanda and Pedigundam hills flank the sanctuary from northeast and south, and the Pranhita River flows along its […]
Rock Eagle Owl
Rock Eagle Owl: A Rock Eagle Owl nest prompted the Telangana forest department to halt quarrying operations for over a month. It is also called Indian eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis) or Bengal eagle-owl. It is a large-horned owl species native to hilly scrub forests in India. It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian […]
Opium Poppy Cultivation
Opium Poppy Cultivation: A new UNODC report shows that Myanmar’s opium poppy cultivation has surged 17%, reaching the highest level in a decade at 53,100 hectares, driven by conflict, economic distress, and rising opium prices.Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a flowering plant cultivated for the latex-rich capsules that produce opium and its derivatives. It is […]
Sariska Tiger Reserve : Adopting New Technology To Monitor
Sariska Tiger Reserve : Adopting New Technology To Monitor The administration of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in eastern Rajasthan is adopting new technology like drones to monitor its steadily increasing tiger population. It is located in the Alwar district, Rajasthan. It is a part of the Aravali Range and the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests eco-region. […]
Protosticta sooryaprakashi
Protosticta sooryaprakashi: A new species of damselfly named, Protosticta sooryaprakashi, sporting vibrant sky-blue markings, has been recently discovered in the biodiversity hotspots of India’s Western Ghats. It is a new species of damselfly. Named the Kodagu Shadowdamsel, it was discovered in Karnataka’s Kodagu district. The species has been named in honour of the late Dr. […]
Bamboo Shrimp
Bamboo Shrimp: A team of researchers rediscovered Indian populations of the bamboo shrimp in Karnataka and Odisha after 72 years. Bamboo Shrimp is a freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia. Common names: Wood Shrimp, Flower Shrimp, Singapore Wood, Marble Shrimp and Asian Fan Shrimp. Characteristics of Bamboo Shrimp: They have the ability to camouflage themselves […]
India’s Disaster Risk Financing
India’s Disaster Risk Financing: The Union Government recently sanctioned only Rs 260 crore in disaster relief to Kerala following the devastating Wayanad landslides of July 2024, against the State’s estimated losses of Rs 2,200 crore. This glaring disparity has reignited debates around the weakening of cooperative federalism and the increasing centralisation of disaster-risk finance in […]
Uranium Contamination in Delhi
Uranium Contamination in Delhi: New groundwater testing by the Central Ground Water Board shows rising uranium levels in Delhi, with 13–15% of samples showing elevated contamination.Uranium contamination refers to the presence of uranium— a naturally occurring radioactive heavy metal— in groundwater at levels above permissible limits for safe drinking water. World Health Organization (WHO) guideline […]
Great Nicobar Crake
Great Nicobar Crake: A newly photographed Great Nicobar Crake, possibly a new species of the Rallina genus, has been reported from Great Nicobar Island—only the third photographic record in over a decade.The Great Nicobar Crake is a medium-sized, potentially new Water Crake species (Genus: Rallina) found only in Great Nicobar Island. It may be endemic […]
