Current Affair Category: Environment & Ecology

State of India’s Bats (2024-25) This report represents a landmark study conducted over two years by 36 experts from 27 institutions. It highlights a critical “data dark spot” and significant neglect regarding the conservation of bats in India. Key Statistics: Total Species: India is home to approximately 135 bat species. Endemic Species: 16 species are […]

Why in news ? India is advancing its climate goals by introducing the third phase of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms, effective April 1, 2027. This transition introduces a market-based approach to emissions regulation, involving carbon credit trading and a more active role for the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).  Understanding CAFE-III Norms Unlike […]

This report highlights the persistent and worsening pollution of waterbodies and air in the district, identifying it as a district-wide challenge that transcends individual political constituencies. The Water Crisis: Lifelines Under Threat: The district relies on three primary water sources that have undergone severe degradation: The Cauvery River: Flows for 84 km through the district. […]

The Renewables 2025 Global Status Report (GSR 2025) is the 20th edition of the world’s most comprehensive annual overview of the renewable energy sector. Published by REN21 (a global multi-stakeholder network), it serves as the benchmark for measuring global progress in the transition to a renewables-based economy. Key Findings & Statistics Top Performers: Brazil, China, […]

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach where the producer’s responsibility for a product is extended to the post-consumer stage of its life cycle. It shifts the physical and financial burden of waste management from the government and taxpayers to the producers. The Triple Foundation of EPR: Polluter Pays Principle: […]

The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) has been in the news recently primarily due to its status as one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world and ongoing legal and regulatory battles regarding its habitat protection. Why is it in the News? Discovery & Taxonomy: Until 2021, it was thought to be a subspecies […]

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere compared to CO2 (reference = 1) over a specific time period. What is GWP? Definition: It is a standardized scale used to compare the warming impact of different gases. Reference Point: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as […]

Microplastic Pollution: The Chennai Coast Case Study and Beyond Why in News? Recent research by V.O. Chidambaram College (Thoothukudi) on the Chennai coastline has highlighted a paradigm shift in environmental monitoring. The study warns that low abundance does not equate to low risk, specifically identifying nylon fibres as a high-risk pollutant even when found in […]

WHY IN NEWS? Official Submission: India officially submitted its First National Report (NR1) to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on February 27, 2026. Compliance: This fulfills India’s obligation under Article 29 of the Nagoya Protocol, which requires member nations to monitor and report on their progress. Strategic Alignment: The report documents […]

Why in the News? Record Arctic Winter: The Arctic is currently experiencing one of its worst winters on record in terms of ice stability and thickness. Accelerated Melting: New data from 2023–2025 (ESSD & IMBIE) reveals that the rate of ice loss in Greenland is 5 times higher and in Antarctica 25% higher than in […]