Current Affair Category: Environment & Ecology

Why in news? Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav called for a global shift from reactive drought response to proactive resilience at the UNCCD CoP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Core Vision and Philosophy: Redefining Drought: Drought is no longer an occasional event but a defining development challenge impacting water security, food systems, biodiversity, and economic stability. […]

Why in News? On 17 August, the Supreme Court directed the Union government to conduct a fresh nationwide survey of elephant corridors while hearing a case related to human–elephant conflict. The Court observed that elephant corridors cannot be blocked merely because elephants cause crop damage, as elephant herds naturally travel long distances. What are Elephant Corridors? Elephant corridors are natural routes used by […]

Why in News? The Assam Government has proposed replacing the existing default 10-km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve with a site-specific ESZ of 1–3 km. The proposal has triggered a debate over balancing wildlife conservation, local livelihoods and development needs around protected areas. What is an Eco-Sensitive Zone? Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are areas around protected areas where certain human activities are regulated to minimise ecological […]

Why in News? The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Centre on a petition challenging a recent Ministry of Jal Shakti amendment related to the definition and protection of the Ganga floodplain. The petition argues that the amendment may weaken earlier restrictions on construction and change the basis for identifying the active floodplain. 1. What is a Floodplain: […]

Regulatory Framework & Noise Pollution Rules, 2000: Subordinate Legislation: Framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Harmful concentrations of noise are legally treated as an air pollutant under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Zone-Specific & Time-Based Limits: Permissible ambient noise standards vary across residential, commercial, industrial, and silence zones, with stricter […]

Why in News?: Supreme Court has urged Gen Z and Gen Alpha to educate their elders’ careless garbage generation, citing that a tiny number of sanitary workers cannot manage the 1.4 billion kg of waste generated daily. Court’s View: “I am entitled to generate but not to cooperate and control the impact of solid waste […]

What is E20? E20 means petrol blended with 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. Ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane, maize, rice and molasses. India has rapidly expanded its ethanol production capacity to support the blending target. Why is India promoting E20? Reduce crude oil imports and dependence on imported fossil fuels. Save foreign exchange. Provide an additional market for farmers and […]

Why in news?: The Ujani reservoir is facing a severe ecological crisis due to invasive foreign fish species—such as the suckermouth catfish, Tilapia, and African catfish—which have collapsed local fish populations and threatened fishermen’s livelihoods, prompting the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) to launch India’s first community-driven removal and native-restocking programme. Key Points: Ecological Crisis […]

Why in News? Date: August 4, 2026 (International Clouded Leopard Day). Major Announcement: India officially launched the Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP) during the 91st Standing Committee meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) held in Coimbatore. Core Message: Recognized as an “indicator of healthy forests,” urging immediate, targeted nationwide conservation.  About the […]

  Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav announced on August 3, 2026, that Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh has been designated as the country’s 101st Ramsar Site. Marking a historic achievement, this is the very first time Arunachal Pradesh has received a Ramsar Site designation. Glaw Lake: Arunachal Pradesh’s First Ramsar […]