Current Affair Category: Environment & Ecology

Context & Background: Addressing the Eastern Zonal Agriculture Conference 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare highlighted contemporary challenges in Indian agriculture, geopolitical disruptions to inputs, and the strategic policy pivot required for long-term sustainability. Geopolitical Disrupted Supply Chains & Fertilizer Autonomy: International Procurement Constraints: Global geopolitical tensions have severely […]

The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is India’s only ape species and belongs to the family Hylobatidae, which includes the lesser apes or gibbons. It is classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, giving it the […]

Saranda Forest: Location: West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. Significance: One of India’s largest Sal (Shorea robusta) forest landscapes; crucial biodiversity hotspot and a critical elephant habitat/corridor. The Crisis: Rampant deforestation and iron ore mining have fragmented the habitat, triggering intense Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) and forcing elephant herds to migrate to neighboring states (Odisha/West Bengal). Mineral Wealth: […]

At Asola Bhatti, Delhi’s primary wildlife sanctuary, the most significant threat to the ecosystem is paradoxically “green.” A recently drafted 10-year management plan by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) reveals that the sanctuary is battling a severe invasion of non-native flora and various anthropogenic pressures that threaten the stability of the Aravalli habitat. The […]

National Coal Gasification Scheme: Towards Aatmanirbharta Core Objective & Targets: Mission: To convert India’s vast coal and lignite reserves into Synthesis Gas (Syngas) for use in fertilizers, chemicals, and fuel. Key Target: Gasification of 75 million tonnes (MT) of coal/lignite under this scheme, contributing to the national goal of 100 MT by 2030. Energy Resource: […]

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026: The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is currently making headlines because India is hosting the first-ever IBCA Summit in New Delhi on June 1-2, 2026. This is a landmark moment in India’s “Eco-Diplomacy,” positioning the country as a global leader in wildlife conservation. Key Points : The focus […]

Relevance for Civil Services (UPSC/UPPCS): GS Paper II: Use this for questions on Federalism, Statutory Rules, and Decentralisation (73rd/74th Amendments). GS Paper III: Essential for topics on Environmental Pollution and Waste Management. Key Terms: Subsidiarity, Circular Economy, Knowledge Problem, Legacy Dumpsites, Mandatory vs. Underfunded Mandates. Waste management in India has escalated from a local urban […]

1st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026: Context: Website and logo launched by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi (May 2026). Theme: ‘Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem’ About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): Establishment: Launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2023. Status: An inter-governmental international organization headquartered in India. Objective: […]

Why in the News? A recent report from Lebanon accused Israel of committing “ecocide” during its 2023-24 military actions in southern Lebanon, citing the reshaping of its physical and ecological landscape. Definition & Origin: Definition: “Ecocide” refers to the most severe forms of environmental harm caused by human activities on a major scale or affecting […]

Why in News? The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, in the case of Udasa & Others vs. Union of India (2026), quashed a government order that rejected the forest claims of the Tharu tribe in Lakhimpur Kheri. The Court ruled that administrative bodies cannot use outdated judicial orders to bypass modern social justice […]