Current Affair Category: Environment & Ecology

Why in News?  Scientists discovered “plastic ice,” a strange form of ice that exists under extreme heat and pressure. Found inside icy moons and exoplanets, it’s soft, moldable, and may allow nutrients to flow between ocean layers. What is Plastic Ice? Plastic ice is a unique form of ice that forms under extreme conditions of […]

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched its Biomass mission as part of the Earth Explorer Programme, aimed at tracking the world’s forests and monitoring changes in their biomass. Announced on April 13, 2025, by Alind Chauhan in The Indian Express, this mission seeks to measure carbon storage and assess how forests are affected by […]

Why in News? The 6 civil society organizations (CSOs) of Kuki Zo community have warned to the Meitei community against climbing hills ( Thangjing Hill) across a buffer zone during the annual Cheiraoba festival. Importance for UPSC Prelims & Mains: Prelims Qns  can be asked  fron diffrernt communities & their festivals/  like Kuki-Zo /Meitei / […]

Why in news?  The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ) has recently made headlines due to a significant shift in its role as a carbon sink, as highlighted in a study published in Nature Climate Change. About the Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ): The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ) is a vast circumpolar region spanning approximately 26 million square […]

Why in News? An American biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, has claimed to have successfully recreated a genetically modified version of the extinct dire wolf through the process of de-extinction. This has raised debates about the ethics, feasibility, and implications of bringing extinct species back to life. Key Points from the Article: About the Dire Wolf: […]

Why in News ? The issue has gained attention due to an upcoming Supreme Court hearing on the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, scheduled around early April 2025. Researchers and campaigners have raised alarms that the government may not have adequately reviewed rejected claims under the FRA, potentially jeopardizing the rights of millions of tribal […]

Why in News ?  The news was published in an artcle of The Hindu News paper. It highlights the issues & challenges  related to air pollution. Why this topic is Important for UPSC Prelims & Mains? Prelims (GS Paper I & III) Air Pollution as an Environmental Issue – Key facts about PM2.5, PM10, and […]

The Odisha government has revised the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) norms to include new projects, improve fund utilization, and extend coverage areas. Key Highlights: Expansion of Affected Areas: The definition of “directly-affected” areas has been expanded to include regions within a 15 km radius of mines (previously 10 km). “Indirectly-affected” areas now encompass regions within […]

Why in News? The Ningaloo Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site off Australia’s western coast, has experienced an “unprecedented” mass bleaching event due to prolonged marine heatwaves. This alarming event has raised concerns about the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems. Key Points: Mass Bleaching Event: The Ningaloo Reef is undergoing its worst mass […]

What’s Happening? Glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate due to global warming. According to the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica have lost over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice since 1975, equivalent to the size of Germany. Between 2000 and 2016, the global mass loss of glaciers was 133 billion […]