Category: Environment Current Affairs

Guggal Plant: A Kutch-based non-profit is planting Khara and Mitha Guggal across five villages to restore native medicinal heritage and biodiversity on community grazing lands. Guggal Plant is a spiny shrub or small tree belongs to Burseraceae family. It is native to India, Arabia and Pakistan. In India, it is found in the arid, rocky […]

Doronicum sanctum: Researchers from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) have announced the discovery of a new plant species and named it as Doronicum sanctum. Doronicum sanctum was discovered in the high-altitude wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh. It is the new plant species belonging to the sunflower family. It is the first time a member […]

India’s First Non-GMO High-Expansion Popcorn Maize Hybrid Seed: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched India’s first non-GMO, high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed at Musunuru in Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh.It is an indigenously developed hybrid maize seed specifically designed for producing high-expansion popcorn, launched in association with Gourmet Popcornica. It is non-GMO, meaning its desired characteristics have […]

Periyar Cow: The ICAR National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources registered Periyar Cow as an indigenous cattle breed. Periyar Cow is also locally known as ‘Periyar Kullan’ (Periyar dwarf), is only the second native cattle breed from Keralam to receive national recognition. First was Vechur cow, which was recognised in 1996. It is locally known […]

What is Narwhal? Scientists recently discovered that a narwhal’s uniquely straight tusk grows strong because opposing twists in its inner and outer collagen fibril layers create internal tension that keeps it straight. Narwhal is a medium-sized toothed whale that belongs to the family Monodontidae. The only other member of this family is the beluga whale. […]

Long Tailed Marmot: Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra brings thousands of pilgrims into a fragile Himalayan ecosystem where long‑tailed marmots live. Long Tailed Marmot is a rodent of the high-altitude areas of the Kashmir Himalaya. It is also known as the golden marmot and is a member of the Sciuridae family. It has vibrant golden fur […]

What is Smew? Assam’s Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary recently recorded the Smew (Mergellus albellus), a rare migratory waterbird, for the first time. Smew is a medium-sized duck belonging to the family Anatidae. It was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. Scientific Name: Mergellus albellus The smew species breed in the northern taiga […]

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: Researchers warned that climate change is destabilising Western Ghats’ forest ecosystems in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is located in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats. It encompasses parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. It was the first biosphere reserve in India, established in 1986. Protected areas within this […]

216 rescued Indian Star Tortoises: 216 rescued Indian Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans) were successfully rehabilitated in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) from Mumbai and Thane.It is a medium-sized terrestrial tortoise.Their name comes from the star-like pattern on their shell.These patterns act as camouflage by helping to break up the shell outline so that it more […]