GS Paper III · Environment
Biodiversity Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper III)
From the syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why it matters: Questions center on habitat fragmentation, invasive species management, and ecosystem restoration initiatives designed to protect native flora and fauna across fragile landscapes.
In the news
October 2026
12 Oct 2026
Global warming triggers widespread sex reversal in frog populationsRecent ecological studies reveal that rising global temperatures are driving sex reversal in various frog populations, creating skewed sex ratios. This phenomenon threatens reproductive success and significantly increases extinction...
09 Oct 2026
India Must Rethink Great Indian Bustard Conservation EffortsExperts have called for a major policy shift in India's bustard conservation program, arguing that current efforts must go beyond mere symbolism to yield real ecological results. The Great Indian Bustard faces severe threats from...
08 Oct 2026
Cheetahs Introduced in Madhya Pradesh Tiger ReserveTwo cheetahs have been released into a tiger reserve in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, marking their third habitat in the state after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. This expansion is part of the...
06 Oct 2026
Tiger Reintroduction Initiatives in West Bengal Buxa Tiger ReserveEcological experts have highlighted the importance of active tiger reintroduction and habitat restoration in West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve. Moving beyond symbolic releases, the initiative aims to halt ecological degradation, control...
06 Oct 2026
Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released in RajasthanUnder a dedicated conservation program, two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) have been successfully released into the wild in Rajasthan. This marks a significant milestone in India's efforts over the last decade to save this...
01 Oct 2026
Studies Document Zoopharmacognosy and Self-Medication in African ElephantsBehavioral researchers confirmed that African elephants intentionally consume specific bitter and astringent plants to purge parasites and alleviate bodily ailments, exhibiting zoopharmacognosy. Many of the plant species selected by...
September 2026
30 Sep 2026
Karnataka Opposes Implementation of Kasturirangan ReportThe Karnataka government has reiterated its opposition to the Union environment ministry's draft notification implementing the Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats. The report suggests designating large areas of the...
29 Sep 2026
Debate Resurfaces Over Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats ProtectionRenewed discussions have emerged between environmental conservation efforts and state developmental priorities regarding the Kasturirangan Committee recommendations on the Western Ghats. Several state governments, including Karnataka,...
27 Sep 2026
Centenary of Nikolai Vavilov's Agri-Biodiversity ScienceThe scientific legacy of Russian botanist Nikolai Vavilov, who published a foundational paper in 1926 on the origins of cultivated crops, remains highly relevant to global food security. Vavilov identified specific geographical "centres...
27 Sep 2026
Resighting of Eurasian Whimbrel on Keralam CoastA ringed Eurasian whimbrel has been resighted on the Kerala coast after six years, alongside a marked Tibetan sand-plover. This long-term monitoring of marked migratory shorebirds provides vital data on their multi-thousand-kilometer...
25 Sep 2026
New Begonia Species Discovered in Arunachal PradeshBotanists have described a new plant species, Begonia neelamorum, discovered in the Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh. Named in honour of the local Nyishi community's Neelam clan, it marks the 54th recorded Begonia species from...
24 Sep 2026
Guwahati students create real-time climate resilience databaseSchool students in Guwahati documented 1,517 species during a month-long citizen-science biodiversity survey to build a permanent, real-time climate resilience database. This initiative highlights the potential of citizen science in...
21 Sep 2026
Pygmy Hog Conservation and Ecosystem RestorationThe conservation programme for the critically endangered pygmy hog in Assam highlights the essential link between species survival and habitat restoration. As the world's smallest wild pig, the pygmy hog relies on healthy tall grassland...
19 Sep 2026
Balancing Deep-Sea Exploration and Ecological StewardshipIndia is actively scaling up its deep-sea exploration technologies while simultaneously establishing frameworks for ecological governance. Experts emphasize that the exploration of polymetallic nodules must not compromise the fragile...
18 Sep 2026
Discovery of New Feline Species 'Tilcayo' in BoliviaResearchers have identified a distinct new wild cat species named 'Tilcayo' in Bolivia using genetic analysis. Evolutionary data shows the lineage separated from other tiger cats roughly 1.4 million years ago, representing the first new...
14 Sep 2026
Endangered Pygmy Hog Population Shows Recovery in AssamThe population of the endangered pygmy hog, the world's smallest wild pig, has increased from six individuals in 1996 to 194 today in Assam. The recovery is the result of a dedicated captive breeding and reintroduction project managed...
13 Sep 2026
New Species of Legless Amphibian Discovered in Maharashtra Western GhatsResearchers discovered a new species of caecilian, named Gegeneophis chandgadi, in the Chandgad region of Kolhapur in the northern Western Ghats. Caecilians are limbless, burrowing amphibians that play an important role as soil...
09 Sep 2026
Ecological Importance of Dragonflies as Environmental BioindicatorsResearchers highlighted the crucial role of dragonflies and damselflies as bioindicators or bellwethers of freshwater ecosystems. Because their larval and adult stages depend heavily on water quality and aquatic vegetation, variations...
08 Sep 2026
Rescue of Non-Native Orangutans Highlights Exotic Wildlife SmugglingForest officials in Odisha rescued five young orangutans, an ape species native exclusively to Southeast Asia, pointing to transnational smuggling routes for exotic pets. India has steadily tightened regulatory norms for possessing...
03 Sep 2026
Power Transmission Grids Pose Rising Threat to Endangered VulturesThe rapid expansion of high-voltage transmission networks across open landscapes has emerged as a major cause of electrocution and collision for critically endangered vulture populations. Wildlife experts recommend underground cabling...
03 Sep 2026
Linear Infrastructure and Power Lines Pose Hazard to WildlifeRecent electrocution incidents involving wild elephants and continuing mortality among endangered vulture species have highlighted the ecological toll of expanding transmission grids. High-tension power lines passing through protected...
02 Sep 2026
Power Infrastructure Threatens Vulture Conservation EffortsRapid expansion of overhead power lines and energy infrastructure has emerged as a major cause of accidental mortality among vultures in India. While veterinary bans on diclofenac helped stabilize populations, high-voltage lines cause...
August 2026
29 Aug 2026
Carcass Dump Relocation Proves Effective in Reducing Vulture ElectrocutionA long-term conservation study near Dehradun demonstrated that moving livestock carcass dumps just 2.4 kilometers away from high-voltage power lines substantially reduced vulture mortality. Power lines pose a lethal hazard to large...
29 Aug 2026
Assam Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Marks 25 YearsThe Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park in Assam has completed 25 years of conservation operations. Established jointly by the Assam Forest Department and wildlife conservation...
27 Aug 2026
Spoon-tailed duskhawker discovered in Namdapha Tiger ReserveA new dragonfly species named the spoon-tailed duskhawker was recorded along the remote Miao-Vijaynagar Road inside the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. This discovery highlights the rich bio-geographic...
Show 22 older stories
August 2026
23 Aug 2026
Climate Instability Threatens Forest Ecosystems in Nilgiri Biosphere ReserveResearchers have raised alarms over increasing climate instability destabilizing forest ecosystems within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve across the Western Ghats. Temperature fluctuations and altered rainfall patterns are impacting...
21 Aug 2026
Wildlife Import Protocols Face Review Following Private Zoo OverhaulThe giant Vantara wildlife facility announced a structural reset of its animal acquisition operations following widespread scrutiny regarding exotic species imports. Questions had been raised about adherence to international protocols...
18 Aug 2026
Supreme Court Bans Blocking of Elephant CorridorsThe Supreme Court ruled that no state can block traditional migration routes of elephants, emphasizing that impeding corridors is not a valid solution to human-animal conflicts. The Court directed the Centre to conduct a national survey...
17 Aug 2026
Persian Gulf Oil Spill Threatens Hara Mangrove ForestsA major oil spill in the Persian Gulf has endangered the delicate ecosystem of the Hara mangrove forests. The region is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and serves as an indispensable nursery for marine organisms and regional...
16 Aug 2026
Extreme Weather Acts as Evolutionary Driver in SpeciesA scientific study on wild lizard populations has shown that two severe hurricanes occurring just 14 days apart forced rapid genetic and skeletal adaptations. The extreme weather events acted as powerful agents of natural selection,...
02 Aug 2026
Balancing Science and Dialogue in Western Ghats ConservationThe ongoing debates surrounding the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) status for the Western Ghats highlight the need for a balanced approach. Experts suggest integrating robust scientific evidence with inclusive community dialogues to...
01 Aug 2026
Pygmy Hog Recommended for Critically Endangered ListThe Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has recommended adding the pygmy hog to the list of critically endangered species. This move aims to provide the highest level of legal protection and dedicated...
July 2026
31 Jul 2026
Eco-Restoration Project Boosts Nilgiri Tahr Population in KeralaThe Nilgiri tahr population in the Varayattumudy hills of Idukki has surged from 50 in 2022 to nearly 150. This recovery is attributed to a successful 22.5-hectare eco-restoration project executed by the state Forest Department to...
29 Jul 2026
Centre reissues draft notification for Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive ZoneThe Union Government has reissued a draft notification to declare over 56,000 square kilometers across six states in the Western Ghats as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). This move aims to protect the biodiversity hotspot while navigating...
27 Jul 2026
Zoopharmacognosy: Scientific Study of Self-Medication in AnimalsBiologists are intensifying research into zoopharmacognosy, the behavior where wild animals self-medicate by selecting and ingesting specific plants, soils, or insects. Observations show primates consuming bitter plants to purge...
26 Jul 2026
Decline in global migratory bird speciesA new scientific study has revealed that more than half of the world's migratory bird species are experiencing population declines. The rapid loss of habitats, climate change, and human disturbances along migratory pathways are cited as...
23 Jul 2026
Declining Seasonal Insect Prey Threatens Himalayan Bird PopulationsEcological research indicates that avian species in the Himalayas are grappling with a sharp seasonal drop in insect prey, which is essential for their nutrition and nesting success. Changing climate patterns, shift in monsoon...
19 Jul 2026
Supreme Court Clears India's First Night Safari in KukrailThe Supreme Court has given the final go-ahead for India's first night safari project in the Kukrail forest region of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Designed as an eco-tourism and wildlife preservation hub, the initiative aims to maintain...
18 Jul 2026
Kerala Proposes Helicopter Relocation for Schedule I AnimalsThe Kerala Forest Department has proposed using Indian Air Force helicopters to relocate captured Schedule I animals, such as tigers and leopards, from conflict areas to secure forests. This move has sparked intense debate among...
17 Jul 2026
Digital portal to map India's diverse tree wealthA new digital resource titled "India Trees and Vegetation Types" has been launched to integrate nationwide knowledge on tree species into a single platform. Developed by experts including researchers from the Indian Institute of Science...
16 Jul 2026
Kuppam's Transition From Granite Hub to Peacock SanctuaryKuppam, a prominent granite quarrying hub in Andhra Pradesh, is emerging as an unexpected refuge for peacocks. The transformation is driven by favorable microclimatic changes, local farmers actively protecting the birds, and the...
15 Jul 2026
New Zealand Records First Ever Case of H5 Bird FluNew Zealand has detected its first-ever case of the highly pathogenic H5 bird flu in a brown skua, an ocean-going seabird found on Petone Beach in Wellington. This biosecurity alert has put wildlife authorities on high vigilance due to...
11 Jul 2026
Invasive Plants Threaten Grasslands in Manas Tiger ReserveData from the Forest Department of Assam's Bodoland Territorial Council indicates that Manas Tiger Reserve has lost 43.59 percent of its grassland cover over the last 30 years. The primary driver of this ecological loss is the rapid...
10 Jul 2026
Humpback dolphin death in Kerala highlights growing threat of ghost netsThe necropsy of an endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin that washed ashore on Kozhikode beach in Kerala revealed fatal ingestion of plastic fishing nets. This incident, documented by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute...
10 Jul 2026
Great Indian Bustard population stable but restricted to small Thar pocketA new report indicates that the population of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) remains stable but is now surviving in only 16 percent of its original habitat in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. The species faces severe...
09 Jul 2026
Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) Identified for the First Time in IndiaResearchers have identified the parrot bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) in captive birds in India for the first time. This virus, which can cause neurological issues in birds, poses a significant threat to aviculture and the conservation of...
04 Jul 2026
Comprehensive Butterfly Documentation in Bodoland Territorial RegionA major ecological study in Assam has documented 346 butterfly species in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), covering a forest landscape of over 3,653 square kilometers. Managed by an autonomous council under the Sixth Schedule of...
Practise Biodiversity
10 of our latest questions on this topic (out of 59).
Question 1 of 10
Rising global temperatures are causing ecological concerns by triggering sex reversal in which animal group, threatening their survival?
Mains practice
India's pursuit of high economic growth, driven by industrial initiatives and international trade agreements, must be reconciled with the critical demands of ecological conservation and resource sustainability. Analyze this statement in the light of current challenges in groundwater depletion, energy security, and ecological conservation of fragile habitats like the Western Ghats.
15 marks
Achieving sustainable development in the 21st century requires reconciling economic aspirations, public health imperatives, and ecological conservation. Analyze this statement in light of India's current challenges in deep-sea mining, environmental pollution, and biodiversity conservation. Recommend policy pathways for holistic ecological governance.
15 marks
Building socio-economic resilience in India demands the convergence of modern technology, ecological protection, and inclusive governance. Discuss how recent policy initiatives and technological interventions in disaster management, rural financial inclusion, and environmental conservation support this objective.
15 marks
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.