Environment & Ecology Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Where was the Conference of Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tiger Range States and Field Directors of Tiger Reserves inaugurated on 7 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Alwar
Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the two-day conference in Alwar, Rajasthan.
According to Bhupender Yadav on 7 February 2026, from which country is a new batch of cheetahs expected around the end of February?
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Correct answer: A — Botswana
He said a new batch of cheetahs from Botswana is expected to arrive around the end of February.
Consider the following statements made at the Alwar tiger conference of 7 February 2026: 1. The NTCA has held 28 meetings so far, and their decisions are to be reviewed. 2. The International Big Cat Alliance has 24 member countries. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as stated by the Environment Minister.
The digital portal launched by the National Biodiversity Authority in February 2026 issues Certificates of Origin for what?
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Correct answer: B — Cultivated medicinal plants
The portal issues Certificates of Origin to those seeking Access and Benefit Sharing exemptions for cultivated medicinal plants.
Consider the following about the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023: 1. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 25 July 2023 and by the Rajya Sabha on 1 August 2023. 2. The rules providing for electronic Certificates of Origin were notified before the Act was passed. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The Environment Ministry notified the Biological Diversity Rules in 2024 and 2025, after the 2023 amendment.
The illegal coal mine explosion of 5 February 2026 took place in which district of Meghalaya?
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Correct answer: B — East Jaintia Hills
The blast occurred in the Mynsngat–Thangsko area of East Jaintia Hills district.
Consider the following: 1. The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya by an order dated 17 April 2014. 2. The ex-gratia announced by the Prime Minister for victims of the East Jaintia Hills blast was paid from the National Disaster Response Fund. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The ex-gratia (₹2 lakh per deceased, ₹50,000 per injured) was announced from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), not the NDRF.
Consider the following about the 43rd Central Zoo Authority meeting (3 February 2026): 1. It directed completion of the second round of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of zoos. 2. It set up a sub-committee on CSR contributions for zoos. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Environment Ministry release.
From which swamp inside Kaziranga National Park did BSIP scientists extract the sediment core for their palaeoecological study (February 2026)?
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Correct answer: D — Sohola swamp
The sediment core was taken from the Sohola swamp inside Kaziranga National Park.
What was the theme of World Wetlands Day 2026, as marked by the Environment Ministry?
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Correct answer: C — Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage
The 2026 theme was 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage'.
Where did the Environment Ministry hold its World Wetlands Day event on 2 February 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
The event was organised at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi.
Patna Bird Sanctuary, declared a Ramsar site in January 2026, is located in which district?
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Correct answer: B — Etah, Uttar Pradesh
PIB: Patna Bird Sanctuary is in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh (not Patna in Bihar).
Chhari-Dhand, added to the Ramsar list on 31 January 2026, is in which district of Gujarat?
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Correct answer: D — Kutch
Chhari-Dhand is in Kutch district of Gujarat, as announced by the Environment Minister on 31 January 2026.
After the two additions announced on 31 January 2026, how many Ramsar sites did India have?
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Correct answer: D — 98
PIB: India's Ramsar network grew from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites at present.
Consider the following statements about the Ramsar Convention: 1. It was signed at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. 2. India became a signatory to it on 1 February 1982. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB: The Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, and India became a signatory on 1 February 1982.
In January 2026 the National Biodiversity Authority disbursed ₹17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee of BMC Mumbai under the ABS mechanism. The benefit came from commercial use of which biological resource?
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Correct answer: A — Bacillus soil micro-organisms
PIB: The disbursement stems from commercial utilisation of soil micro-organisms of the Bacillus genus for probiotic products.
Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, waste must be segregated at source into four streams. Which of the following is NOT one of these four streams?
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Correct answer: A — Construction and demolition waste
PIB: the four streams are wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and special care waste.
Consider the following statements about the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026: 1. They have been notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and supersede the SWM Rules, 2016. 2. An entity generating 100 kg or more of solid waste per day is a Bulk Waste Generator. 3. Environmental compensation will be levied by the Central Pollution Control Board directly. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB: notified under EP Act 1986, superseding 2016 rules; 100 kg/day is one Bulk Waste Generator threshold. CPCB prepares guidelines but SPCBs/PCCs levy the compensation, so statement 3 is wrong.
From which date will the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 come into full effect?
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Correct answer: B — 1 April 2026
PIB: the rules will come into full effect from April 1, 2026.
A January 2026 study found that dust storms from western India carry airborne pathogens to Eastern Himalayan hilltops. Which institute carried out this study?
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Correct answer: B — Bose Institute
PIB (DST): researchers from Bose Institute, an autonomous institute of DST, conducted the study, published in Science of the Total Environment.
In January 2026 the Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved ₹390 crore over five years for buffer-zone development in how many tiger reserves of the state?
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Correct answer: D — Nine
ANI (via LatestLY) and NDTV: ₹390 crore for buffer zones of the state's nine tiger reserves from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on 27 January 2026 excluded about 396 hectares of town land from which protected area, declaring it Revenue Nazul?
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Correct answer: B — Pachmarhi Sanctuary
ANI and NDTV: 395.939 ha of Pachmarhi town's Nazul land under SADA was excluded from the Pachmarhi Sanctuary and declared Revenue Nazul.
Chatergala Pass, where BRO carried out a snow rescue in January 2026, lies on which axis in Jammu region?
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Correct answer: D — Bhaderwah–Chatergala
PIB (Defence): Chatergala Pass at 10,500 ft on the Bhaderwah–Chatergala axis in Jammu region.
Under which BRO project was the Chatergala Pass rescue and road restoration carried out?
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Correct answer: C — Project Sampark
PIB (Defence): the operation was carried out under Project Sampark.
CSIR-CRRI signed an MoA with which steel plant in January 2026 for the first Steel Slag Road implementation in Tamil Nadu?
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Correct answer: D — JSW Steel, Salem Works
PIB (S&T): CSIR-CRRI and JSW Steel Limited, Salem Works, entered into the partnership on 24 January 2026.
The 'Steel Slag Road' technology mentioned in the January 2026 CSIR–JSW agreement was developed by:
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Correct answer: A — CSIR-Central Road Research Institute
PIB: the DG, CSIR highlighted CSIR-CRRI's Steel Slag Road technology, already implemented in several states under CSIR-CRRI's guidance.
Consider the following about the CSIR-CRRI–JSW Steel project of January 2026: 1. It covers EOF and LRF steel slag. 2. The processed slag is meant for bituminous road construction. 3. A demonstration road section will be built near Chennai. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB: the project converts EOF and LRF steel slag into aggregates for bituminous roads; the demonstration road section will be near Salem, not Chennai.
Which institution was selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026 in the institutional category?
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Correct answer: D — Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority
PIB (MHA): the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (institutional) and Lt Col Seeta Ashok Shelke (individual) were selected for 2026.
Lt Col Seeta Ashok Shelke, winner of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026, supervised construction of a 190-foot Bailey bridge at which place?
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Correct answer: A — Chooralmala, Wayanad
PIB (MHA): during the 2024 Wayanad floods and landslides, she supervised the swift construction of a 190-foot Bailey bridge at Chooralmala.
Consider the following about the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar: 1. It is announced every year on 23 January. 2. 271 nominations were received for the 2026 award. 3. It is given only to individuals. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MHA): the award is announced every year on 23 January and 271 nominations were received for 2026; it has both institutional and individual categories.
After the January 2026 notification, how many obligated entities are covered under the compliance mechanism of the Indian Carbon Market?
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Correct answer: C — 490
PIB (MoEFCC): with 208 new entities added to the 282 notified in October 2025, the compliance mechanism now covers 490 obligated entities.
Which of the following sectors was brought under GHG emission intensity targets by the January 2026 notification?
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Correct answer: C — Petroleum Refineries
PIB: the January 2026 notification covers Petroleum Refineries, Petrochemicals, Textiles and Secondary Aluminium; Cement, Chlor-Alkali and Pulp & Paper were covered in October 2025.
Consider the following about India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS): 1. It was notified in 2023. 2. It operates through a Compliance Mechanism and an Offset Mechanism. 3. Entities that outperform their targets receive Carbon Credit Certificates. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB: the CCTS was notified in 2023, works through Compliance and Offset Mechanisms, and entities beating their GEI targets get tradable Carbon Credit Certificates.
Under which plan did CAQM revoke Stage III restrictions across Delhi-NCR on 22 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Graded Response Action Plan
PIB (MoEFCC): the CAQM Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) revoked all Stage III actions.
What was Delhi's average AQI on 22 January 2026, when GRAP Stage III was revoked?
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Correct answer: B — 322
PIB (MoEFCC): Delhi's AQI was recorded as 322 on 22 January 2026, down from 378 on 20 January.
Which city became the first in Uttar Pradesh to achieve 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste, as announced in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Lucknow
PIB (MoHUA): Lucknow became UP's first 'zero fresh waste dump' city.
What is the processing capacity of Lucknow's newly commissioned Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant?
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Correct answer: C — 700 TPD
PIB (MoHUA): the Shivari plant can process 700 metric tonnes per day.
NITI Aayog's January 2026 decarbonisation reports covered which three sectors?
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Correct answer: B — Cement, aluminium and MSMEs
PIB (NITI Aayog): the three reports are decarbonisation roadmaps for the cement, aluminium and MSME sectors.
According to NITI Aayog's cement roadmap, India's cement production in 2070 is projected to be roughly how many times its 2023 level of 391 million tonnes?
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Correct answer: C — Sevenfold
PIB (NITI Aayog): production is likely to rise sevenfold to about 2,100 million tonnes in 2070 from 391 million tonnes in 2023.
When had the CAQM sub-committee invoked GRAP Stage IV in Delhi-NCR before revoking it on 20 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 17 January 2026
PIB (MoEFCC): Stage IV was invoked on 17 January 2026 and revoked on 20 January 2026.
After CAQM revoked GRAP Stage IV on 20 January 2026, which stages remained in force across NCR?
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Correct answer: D — Stages I, II and III
PIB (MoEFCC): all actions under GRAP Stages I, II and III remained in force.
Under which section of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 is the National Committee on Dam Safety constituted?
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Correct answer: D — Section 5
PIB (Jal Shakti): the NCDS is constituted under Section 5 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021; its functions are in the First Schedule.
Who chaired the 11th meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Chairman, Central Water Commission
PIB (Jal Shakti): the meeting was chaired by Anupam Prasad, Chairman of the Central Water Commission and Chairman of the NCDS.
How many proposals did the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife consider at its 88th meeting in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 70
PIB (MoEFCC): the Standing Committee considered 70 proposals, including 17 defence-related ones.
The 17 defence-related proposals considered at the 88th NBWL Standing Committee meeting were located mainly in:
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Correct answer: D — Ladakh and Sikkim
PIB (MoEFCC): the 17 defence proposals were primarily located in the UT of Ladakh and the State of Sikkim.
Proposals in and around protected areas are considered by the NBWL Standing Committee under which Act?
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Correct answer: C — Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
PIB (MoEFCC): the proposals were considered in accordance with the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The Raising Day of which force is observed on 19 January?
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Correct answer: B — National Disaster Response Force
PIB (MHA, PMO): greetings were extended to NDRF personnel on the force's Raising Day, 19 January 2026.
The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, whose Bhoomi Pujan was performed in January 2026, involves 4-laning of a section of which National Highway?
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Correct answer: A — NH-715
PIB (PMO): the project is the 4-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715.
What is the approximate cost of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project?
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Correct answer: A — Over ₹6,950 crore
PIB (PMO): the project is worth over ₹6,950 crore.
At the Kaziranga corridor event, the PM recalled that which warrior strategised from Kaliabor to drive out the Mughal army?
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Correct answer: A — Lachit Borphukan
PIB (Ports, Shipping and Waterways): the PM recalled that it was from Kaliabor that Lachit Borphukan strategised to drive out the Mughal invaders.
From which place did the second range-wide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins in India begin in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
PIB (Environment): the estimation started from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.
Which institution is coordinating the second range-wide dolphin estimation under Project Dolphin?
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Correct answer: A — Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
PIB (Environment): the estimation is coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
About how many riverine dolphins were estimated in India's previous range-wide survey (2021–23)?
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Correct answer: C — 6,327
PIB (Environment): the previous estimation (2021–23) recorded about 6,327 riverine dolphins.
GRAP Stage IV, invoked across Delhi-NCR on 17 January 2026, corresponds to which AQI category?
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Correct answer: D — 'Severe+' (AQI above 450)
PIB (Environment): Stage IV of GRAP is 'Severe+', AQI above 450.
To which meteorological factors did CAQM attribute the rise in Delhi's AQI on 17 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — A Western Disturbance and calm winds
PIB (Environment): CAQM cited a Western Disturbance and calm winds.
Which of the following trucks remained allowed to enter Delhi under the GRAP Stage IV measures invoked on 17 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — BS-VI trucks
PIB (Environment): entry of BS-IV trucks was stopped, while LNG, CNG, electric and BS-VI trucks were allowed.
GRAP Stage III, invoked across Delhi-NCR on 16 January 2026, corresponds to which AQI range?
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Correct answer: C — 401–450
PIB (Environment): Stage III of GRAP is 'Severe' air quality, AQI range 401–450.
In which AQI category was Delhi's AQI of 354, recorded at 4 PM on 16 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Very Poor
PIB (Environment): an AQI of 354 falls in the 'Very Poor' category (301–400).
Which of the following cities is NOT among the four metros where IMD will install 50 Automatic Weather Stations each in 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Kolkata
PIB (Earth Sciences): the four cities are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune. Kolkata is not among them.
Which Foundation Day did the India Meteorological Department celebrate on 15 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 151st
PIB (Earth Sciences): IMD celebrated its 151st Foundation Day.
Kondagai Lake, from which a 4,500-year climate record was reconstructed in a study released in January 2026, lies near which archaeological site?
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Correct answer: A — Keeladi
PIB (Science & Technology): Kondagai Lake lies close to Keeladi, near Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu.
Which institute carried out the Kondagai Lake palaeoclimate study?
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Correct answer: D — Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow
PIB (Science & Technology): researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, an autonomous institution of DST, carried out the study.
Which of the following climatic phases was identified in the Kondagai Lake study published in the journal Holocene?
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Correct answer: C — Roman Warm Period
PIB (Science & Technology): the study documented the 4.2 ka arid event, the 3.2 ka dry phase and the Roman Warm Period.
Under the Aravalli Green Wall Project, how much degraded land in the Aravalli region has been identified, as stated in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 6.45 million hectares
PIB (Environment): 6.45 million hectares has been identified, with greening started on 2.7 million hectares. 26 million hectares is India's overall UNCCD target.
India's commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land, linked to the Aravalli Green Wall Project, is made under which international convention?
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Correct answer: C — UNCCD
PIB (Environment): the project is part of India's commitment under the UNCCD to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land.
About 97 sq km of degraded Aravalli revenue land declared a Protected Forest, as noted in January 2026, stretches from Naurangpur to which place?
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Correct answer: A — Nuh
PIB (Environment): around 97 sq km of Aravalli revenue land from Naurangpur to Nuh in Haryana has been declared a Protected Forest.
Where was the 'Aqua Life Conservation Monitoring Centre for Ganga and Other Rivers' inaugurated in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
PIB (Jal Shakti): the centre was inaugurated at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
Which rescue vehicle did the Jal Shakti Minister launch under the Namami Gange Mission at WII Dehradun on 14 January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Dolphin Rescue Ambulance
PIB (Jal Shakti): a Dolphin Rescue Ambulance was launched along with the monitoring centre and conservation projects.