Environment & Ecology Current Affairs Updates for UPSC IAS Prelims 2025 Examination

News: AviList, the first-ever unified global checklist of bird species, became live on June 12, 2025, after four years of work by the Working Group on Avian Checklists. AviList: First-ever unified global checklist of bird species. About AviList: First-ever unified global checklist of bird species It is the first-ever unified global checklist of bird species.… Continue reading AviList: First-ever unified global checklist of bird species

News: Recently, Brazil and France launched Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge initiative at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action. Blue NDC Challenge. About Blue NDC Challenge It is a global initiative launched by Brazil and France on June 9, 2025, at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.… Continue reading Blue NDC Challenge

News: Power Minister says that the Central Pollution Control Board will decide on future of flue gas desulphurisation units. Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) About Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Flue-gas desulfurization(FGD) is a set of technologies used to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases of fossil-fuel power plants and from the emissions of other… Continue reading Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD)

News: A new study has made the controversial concept of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) more technically and economically feasible by suggesting the use of modified existing aircraft instead of waiting for expensive high-altitude planes. Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI). About Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) It is a proposed climate engineering technique that involves spraying tiny reflective… Continue reading Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI)

News: Security forces have recovered the bodies of five Maoist cadres during the ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the Indravati National Park area of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh. Indravati National Park. About Indravati National Park Location: It is a national park located in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh state of India. Naming: The park derives its name… Continue reading Indravati National Park

News: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India has released the 8th issue of the publication titled “EnviStats India 2025: Environment Statistics”. About EnviStats India 2025 Released by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) It is the 8th issue of the publication titled “EnviStats India 2025: Environment Statistics” during the… Continue reading EnviStats India 2025

News: Tamil Nadu has officially declared the establishment of the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi, aiming to preserve a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds. Greater Flamingo  About Greater Flamingo  It is the largest among flamingo species. They are commonly found in warm, aquatic habitats across multiple… Continue reading Greater Flamingo 

News: Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur have been designated as Ramsar sites. Kichan and Menar Wetlands About Kichan and Menar Wetlands Menar Wetland Location: It is located in the Menar and Kheroda villages in Vallabhnagar taluka, Udaipur District of Rajasthan. The Menar Wetland Complex is a freshwater monsoon wetland complex formed by three… Continue reading Kichan and Menar Wetlands

News: A report flags tiger-human conflict risk as prey base (ungulates) shrinks in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. About Ungulates Ungulates are hoofed mammals that walk on their toes. The word ungulate comes from the Latin word “unguis” which means nail, claw or hoof. Division: They are divided into two classes: Even-toed ungulates such as deer,… Continue reading Ungulates

News: Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy erupted recently creating a spectacular display while sending a massive cloud of smoke and ash several kilometers into the sky. About Mount Etna Mount Etna is a volcano located in Sicily, Italy. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Mount Etna is located on an… Continue reading Mount Etna

News: Recently, a massive portion of the Birch Glacier broke off, causing extensive destruction to an Alpine village in Switzerland. About Birch Glacier Birch Glacier is situated in the Lotschental Valley in northern Switzerland. The glacier lies within the Alpine region, known for its extensive glacial coverage. The collapse of Birch Glacier led to the… Continue reading Birch Glacier

News: The Delhi power minister inaugurated a 20-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) at Kilokari, said to be the “largest” in South Asia. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) About Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be… Continue reading Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

News: Several bags of tiny plastic pellets (nurdles) from the Liberian container ship that sank off the Kochi coast, were washed ashore. Plastic pellets (nurdles) About Plastic pellets (nurdles) Definition: The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) defines pellets in ISO 472:2013 as “small pre-formed masses of moulding material that have relatively uniform dimensions within a… Continue reading Plastic pellets (nurdles)

News: PKM1, a variety of Moringa oleifera has made a significant global impact, particularly in African countries like Senegal, Rwanda, and Madagascar for its nutrient-rich leaves that help combat malnutrition. Moringa About Moringa Moringa is a nutrient-rich deciduous tree native to North India. It is also a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree native to the southern foothills… Continue reading Moringa

News: The state government has launched safety and cleanup operations after a cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, sank off the coast near Thottappally in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. About oil spills An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment—especially the marine ecosystem—due to human activities and it is… Continue reading Key technologies & Framework on Oil Spills

News: Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat in Tripura has garnered national attention for its proactive step under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban by introducing compostable PBAT bags as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic. PBAT plastic  About PBAT plastic  PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) is a biodegradable, compostable polymer. It is synthetic but behaves like natural biodegradable materials. It… Continue reading PBAT plastic 

News: Indian Coast Guard’s ‘Operation Olivia’ protects 6.98 lakh Olive ridley turtles in Odisha. Operation Olivia About Operation Olivia It is a vital initiative by the Indian Coast Guard aimed at ensuring safe nesting grounds for Olive Ridley turtles. It is conducted annually from November to May. Focus areas: The operation is conducted at the… Continue reading Operation Olivia

News: The 2025 Shirui Lily festival is being held in the backdrop of ongoing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities that began in May 2023. Shirui Lily Festival. About the Shirui Lily Festival The Shirui Lily Festival is a state-organised tourism festival held annually in Ukhrul district, Manipur. It is organised by the… Continue reading Shirui Lily Festival

News– Tulare Lake in California, which had vanished over a century ago, made a comeback in 2023 due to a series of intense atmospheric river events that swept across the state. Tulare Lake. Key Facts about Tulare Lake: Location: Situated in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. It was once recognized as the largest freshwater lake located west of… Continue reading Tulare Lake

News: The Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve was recently notified by the Himachal Pradesh government. Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve. About Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve It is located in the remote and high-altitude region of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It was officially notified on May 7, 2025, under Section 36A(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,… Continue reading Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve

News: A recent study has found that the use of geotube technology in the offshore breakwater system along the Poonthura coastal stretch has led to significant improvements in the coastal landscape behind the structure. Geotube (Geobag) Technology  About Geotube (Geobag) Technology Geotubes, also referred to as geobags, are large permeable containers used extensively for sludge… Continue reading Geotube (Geobag) Technology 

News: Scientists from four ICAR institutions have successfully assembled the first chromosome-level genome of the Indian yak (Bos grunniens). Yak Genomics  About Yak Genomics  Yak Genomics involves sequencing and analyzing the genome of the domestic yak (Bos grunniens) to gain insights into its high-altitude adaptations and to enhance its productivity and overall health. Technology Used:… Continue reading Yak Genomics 

News: Recently, a woman was killed in an incident of human-wildlife conflict that occurred in the buffer zone of the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). About Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve It lies in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. It is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest National Park. The total area of the tiger reserve is 1,727 Sq.km, which… Continue reading Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

News: India actively participated in the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20), held at the UN Headquarters in New York from May 5 to 9, 2025. United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). About the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is a functional commission… Continue reading United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)

News:  Recent findings show that palaeofires played an important role in shaping Earth’s history. Scientists have found evidence of these fires from about 250 million years ago in the Godavari Basin, India. Palaeofires. About Palaeofires Palaeofires refer to wildfires that occurred in ancient geological times, significantly impacting vegetation, climate, and coal formation processes. These fires… Continue reading Palaeofires