Category: Environment Current Affairs

Owlflies : Rare Flies A rare species of owlfly species Glyptobasis dentifera has been rediscovered after 75 years from Kerala by researchers. Owlflies come under Order Neuroptera, which includes holometabolous insects while the dragonflies come under Order Odonata, which includes hemimetabolous insects. These are misidentified as dragonflies by non-taxonomists because of their morphological resemblance. During […]

Gastrodia indica : Discovery A unique orchid species- Gastrodia indica was recently discovered in Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim. Gastrodia indica is the first orchid from India that never opens its flower. The orchid was found at an elevation of 1,950–2,100 metres above sea level. This is the first cleistogamous species of the genus Gastrodia discovered […]

Geneva Conventions : 75 years August 12 marked 75 years since the adoption of the Geneva Conventions in 1949. Geneva Conventions are a set of four treaties which include more than 400 articles, setting out detailed rules for the treatment of prisoners, protecting hospitals and medical staff, allowing humanitarian aid and prohibiting torture, rape and […]

New Ramsar Sites: The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that three more wetlands from India have been added to the list of Ramsar sites. New Ramsar sites: Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary It is situated along the north-eastern region of Uthukuli Taluk of Tiruppur District in Tamil Nadu. The lake falls under two […]

Galathea Bay – Great Nicobar Island: A wildlife sanctuary in Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island, was denotified to clear the way for a transhipment port project.The area, a significant nesting site for endangered species like the giant leatherback turtle, was originally classified as a CRZ-1A zone, where large construction projects are prohibited.  

FloodWatch India 2.0: The Union Minister for Jal Shakti launched Version 2.0 of the ‘FloodWatch India’ mobile application developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) FloodWatch India gives information related to the flood situation and forecasts for up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public. The in-house developed user-friendly app has readable […]

Corbett Tiger Reserve : Awareness Campaign The Corbett Tiger Reserve recently ran an awareness campaign to celebrate World Elephant Day. Corbett Tiger Reserve is located on the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, spread over three districts, viz., Pauri, Nainital and Almora. It is the first National Park in India, established in 1936. It was […]

Neelakurinji Declared As a Threatened Species: Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), a flowering shrub that blooms once every 12 years, is now classified as Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) on the IUCN Red List. The species was not previously evaluated under IUCN standards due to its unique blooming cycle and ecological challenges. Strobilanthes kunthiana is an endemic shrub of […]

Nagaland’s DRTPS Initiative: Nagaland became the first state in India to adopt a Disaster Risk Transfer Parametric Insurance Solution (DRTPS) by signing an MoU with SBI General Insurance. The insurance aims to protect critical infrastructure and reduce economic losses from extreme weather events over a three-year period (2024-2027). Parametric insurance provides a predefined payout when […]

Model Solar Village: The Scheme Guidelines for implementation of ‘Model Solar Village’ under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana have been notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Model Solar Village aims to create one Model Solar Village per district across India. Goal is to promote solar energy adoption and enable village communities to […]