Environment & Ecology Current Affairs Quiz — Last 3 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
How many knowledge compendiums were launched at the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting on 18 August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Four
Four knowledge compendiums prepared by the BRICS Environment Working Group were unveiled.
Consider the following statements about the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting: 1. It was held in Pune. 2. The Joint Ministerial Statement was adopted by a majority vote, with India abstaining. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. The meeting was held in New Delhi, and the Joint Ministerial Statement was adopted by consensus under India's chairship.
Where did India launch its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems on 17 August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar
The guide was launched at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Which institution organised the publication of India's Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems and its launch event at UNCCD COP17?
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Correct answer: A — Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
The publication and the side event were organised by ATREE in collaboration with IUCN, CoE-SLM, ICFRE and ISRO's Space Applications Centre, under MoEF&CC guidance.
The temple town of Tarapith, where a hotel fire killed nine people on 17 August 2026, is in which district of West Bengal?
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Correct answer: D — Birbhum
Tarapith is in Birbhum district; the fire at Hotel Bideshini killed nine people, five of them from one Meghalaya family.
The Ashok Dham temple, where a stampede on 17 August 2026 killed at least seven devotees, is located in which district?
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Correct answer: A — Lakhisarai, Bihar
The stampede took place near the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai district, Bihar, on the third Monday of Shravan.
The 10 MW Hovukhu Solar Power Plant, commissioned on 15 August 2026, is located in which district of Nagaland?
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Correct answer: A — Niuland
The plant is at Hovukhu village in Niuland district and covers 50 acres.
The Hovukhu Solar Power Plant in Nagaland was funded under the State plan and which central scheme?
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Correct answer: B — Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)
The ₹69.26 crore plant was built under SASCI and the State plan.
In July 2026 the Assam Cabinet approved two proposed reserve forests for notification as reserve forests. In which district are they located?
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Correct answer: C — Goalpara
Both proposed reserve forests notified as reserve forests are in Goalpara district.
Under the Assam Compressed Biogas Policy 2026, what is the maximum capital subsidy per project?
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Correct answer: C — Rs 20 crore
The capital subsidy is Rs 0.50 crore per TPD of installed capacity, subject to a ceiling of Rs 20 crore per project.
In July 2026 the Union Jal Shakti Minister met the Chief Ministers of which two states to facilitate settlement of the Mahanadi water dispute?
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Correct answer: B — Chhattisgarh and Odisha
C. R. Paatil chaired a meeting with the CMs of Chhattisgarh (Vishnu Deo Sai) and Odisha (Mohan Charan Majhi).
The Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in which year under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956?
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Correct answer: C — 2018
The Government of India constituted the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal on 12 March 2018 at Odisha's request.
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission transport pilots awarded as of July 2026, how many hydrogen-powered vehicles are to be deployed?
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Correct answer: C — 70
12 pilot projects cover 70 hydrogen-powered vehicles – 27 buses and 43 trucks – with 16 refuelling stations on 21 routes.
Consider the following statements about the NGHM transport pilot projects: 1. They include both Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine vehicles. 2. Trucks outnumber buses among the vehicles. 3. They will set up 21 Hydrogen Refuelling Stations. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
The 70 vehicles (43 trucks, 27 buses) include FCEVs and H2-ICE vehicles. There are 16 refuelling stations; 21 is the number of routes.
According to the Union Environment Minister on Global Tiger Day 2026, how many tiger reserves does India have?
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Correct answer: C — 58
Bhupender Yadav said the number of tigers (3,682) and tiger reserves (58) has increased remarkably.
What tiger population figure did the Union Environment Minister cite on Global Tiger Day 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 3,682
The Minister cited 3,682 tigers along with 58 tiger reserves.
Which digital platform was launched by the NTCA on Global Tiger Day 2026?
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Correct answer: A — An eco-tourism webpage linking all tiger reserves
The NTCA Eco-tourism webpage brings information on all tiger reserves together with direct links to their official websites for safari and accommodation bookings.
In July 2026 Haryana approved a 100% motor vehicle tax exemption for new electric vehicles up to what ex-showroom price?
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Correct answer: C — Rs 30 lakh
EVs up to Rs 30 lakh get 100% exemption; those above Rs 30 lakh get 50%. Rs 20 lakh is the ceiling for the 1% rebate on women-owned vehicles.
Consider the following statements about Haryana's July 2026 motor vehicle tax decisions: 1. Electric vehicles costing above Rs 30 lakh get a 50% exemption. 2. The earlier 20% rebate for CNG vehicles has been withdrawn. 3. A 1% rebate applies to vehicles registered in the name of women. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
EVs above Rs 30 lakh get 50% exemption and women-owned vehicles get a 1% rebate. The 20% rebate for CNG vehicles continues.
Under the Meghalaya Electric Vehicle Policy 2026 approved in July 2026, what purchase incentive will EV buyers get?
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Correct answer: C — ₹25,000
Buyers get an incentive of ₹25,000 along with a complete waiver of registration charges.
Consider the following statements about Meghalaya's EV Policy 2026: 1. It fully waives vehicle registration fees for EV buyers. 2. Additional incentives are linked to a vehicle-scrapping certificate. 3. It is Meghalaya's first-ever EV policy. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Meghalaya adopted its first EV policy in 2021 for five years, and the 2026 policy succeeds it.
'Mission Jal Raksha', highlighted by the Jal Shakti Ministry in July 2026 for groundwater recharge, belongs to which district?
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Correct answer: A — Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh
Mission Jal Raksha is an initiative of Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh under the Catch the Rain campaign.
Consider the following outcomes reported for Rajnandgaon's Mission Jal Raksha (July 2026): 1. Over 60,000 water conservation and recharge structures in 662 villages. 2. An average groundwater-level rise of about 2.04 m. 3. Complete ban on summer paddy cultivation in the district. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. There was no ban; nearly 70% of summer paddy area voluntarily shifted to less water-intensive crops.
How many persons did the Indian Coast Guard rescue in flood relief operations in Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and South Gujarat, as reported on 25 July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 170
The Coast Guard rescued 170 persons through 11 operations since midnight of 22 July 2026; 60 of them were from the Welspun Industrial Area.
Which body hosted the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi on 24 July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
The NDMA, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, hosted the meeting under India's BRICS Chairship 2026.
Who chaired the 3rd BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction held in New Delhi in July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Nityanand Rai
The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.
Consider the following statements about BRICS cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): 1. The BRICS Joint Statement on DRR adopted in July 2026 seeks to accelerate the BRICS DRR Work Plan (2025–2028). 2. The Udaipur Declaration on DRR dates to 2016. 3. The Kazan Declaration dates to 2024. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct as stated by MoS Nityanand Rai at the meeting, per the MHA release.
On 24 July 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reviewed the air pollution action plan of which State with its Chief Minister?
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Correct answer: A — Haryana
He reviewed Haryana's measures for Delhi-NCR air quality with CM Nayab Singh Saini.
In July 2026, which district became the second in Nagaland, after Mon, to have Intra-Circle Roaming activated by DoT amid heavy rain and landslides?
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Correct answer: C — Longleng
Longleng became the second district in Nagaland after Mon to have ICR activated.
'AAROH', released by the Ministry of Coal in July 2026, is India's first report on:
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Correct answer: A — Scientific mine closure and repurposing
AAROH – Annual Report on Mine Closure documents scientific mine closure and repurposing practices.
How many scientifically closed coal mines are documented in the AAROH report?
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Correct answer: C — 42
AAROH documents the transformation journey of 42 scientifically closed coal mines.
Under which mechanism did the National Biodiversity Authority release ₹6.67 crore to 11 cotton-growing States in July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Access and Benefit Sharing
The money was released under the Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act.
The ₹7.62 crore benefit-sharing amount used for the NBA's July 2026 release to cotton-growing States came from research on how many cotton varieties?
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Correct answer: C — 25,431
The amount was realised from Bayer Science & Innovation for research involving 25,431 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) varieties.
What was India's installed wind power capacity as on 30 June 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 57,443 MW
Installed wind capacity was 57,443 MW as on 30 June 2026.
According to the GWEC Report 2026 cited by MNRE, what is India's global rank in wind energy installation (till 31 December 2025)?
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Correct answer: D — 4th
India ranked 4th globally in wind energy installation as per the GWEC Report 2026.
As per the Railways Ministry (July 2026), about what share of Indian Railways' broad gauge network has been electrified?
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Correct answer: C — 99.6%
About 99.6% of the broad gauge network has been electrified.
According to the UIC report of June 2025 cited by the Railways Ministry, India is second only to which country in railway electrification?
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Correct answer: A — Switzerland
India is second only to Switzerland in railway electrification.
What was India's installed renewable energy capacity as on 30 June 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 288.58 GW
Renewable capacity was 288.58 GW; 297.36 GW is total non-fossil capacity including nuclear.
Consider the following statements about India's renewable energy capacity as on 30 June 2026: 1. Solar power is the largest component. 2. Wind power installed capacity is higher than hydro power installed capacity. 3. The 288.58 GW figure includes nuclear power capacity. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct (solar 162.15 GW; wind 57.44 GW vs hydro 57.24 GW). Statement 3 is wrong: nuclear (8.78 GW) is counted separately in the 297.36 GW non-fossil total.
Allographa, of which five new species were described from the Western Ghats in July 2026, is a genus of:
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Correct answer: C — Lichen-forming fungi
Allographa is a genus of script lichens (lichen-forming fungi) in the family Graphidaceae.
Researchers of which institute described the five new Allographa species from the Western Ghats?
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Correct answer: B — MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune
The team was from MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, an autonomous institute of DST.
What ex-gratia did the Prime Minister announce from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each person killed in the Namchi (Sikkim) tunnel collapse in July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — ₹2 lakh
₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased; ₹50,000 for the injured.
Which project, inaugurated on 19 July 2026, is Bihar's first river-linking project?
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Correct answer: A — Belwa–Minapur Link Channel
The Belwa–Minapur Link Channel in Sheohar is Bihar's first river-linking project.
The Belwa–Minapur Link Channel diverts surplus water between which two rivers?
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Correct answer: C — Bagmati and Burhi Gandak
The channel diverts surplus Bagmati water to the Burhi Gandak during floods.
What is the length of the Belwa–Minapur Link Channel inaugurated in Bihar in July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 68.80 km
The channel is 68.80 km long and cost ₹130.88 crore.
At what cost was the new headquarters of the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, inaugurated in July 2026, built?
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Correct answer: C — Over ₹200 crore
The UPSDMA headquarters was built at a cost of over ₹200 crore.
In which city was the new UPSDMA headquarters inaugurated on 19 July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Lucknow
CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the new UPSDMA headquarters in Lucknow.
Which categories of projects got a limited exemption from ALMM List-II (solar PV cells) till 31 December 2026, as decided by MNRE on 18 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Net-metering and open-access RE projects
MNRE gave the limited window only to net-metering projects and open-access renewable energy projects; there is no blanket extension.
Consider the following statements about MNRE's 18 July 2026 decision on ALMM List-II: 1. ALMM List-II relates to solar PV cells. 2. The earlier exemption for net-metering and open-access projects ran till 31 May 2026. 3. MNRE granted a blanket extension of ALMM List-II applicability for all solar projects. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: MNRE said there will be no blanket extension.
What ex-gratia from PMNRF did the PM announce for the next of kin of each person killed in the July 2026 fireworks factory mishap in Ahmedabad?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2 lakh
The PM announced ₹2 lakh per deceased and ₹50,000 per injured from PMNRF.
Who chaired the 12th meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety held on 17 July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Chairman, Central Water Commission
The 12th NCDS meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Chairman, Central Water Commission.
The PARIVARTAN Scheme, whose guidelines were approved on 16 July 2026, aims to replace old trucks and buses in which region?
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Correct answer: D — National Capital Region
PARIVARTAN targets replacement of older, highly polluting trucks and buses in the National Capital Region.
Which ministry will implement the PARIVARTAN Scheme?
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Correct answer: C — Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
MoHUA approved the guidelines, but the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the implementing ministry, with funding through NCRPB.
What is the total outlay of the PARIVARTAN Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on 3 June 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹9,585 crore
The scheme's total outlay is ₹9,585 crore, including ₹5,041 crore of central budgetary support.
What is the target of the Railways' 'Reform Express' initiative announced by Ashwini Vaishnaw?
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Correct answer: A — 52 reforms in 52 weeks
The Ministry's target is 52 reforms in 52 weeks; after 14 July 2026 the total stood at 17.
After the eight reforms announced on 14 July 2026, how many reforms had been implemented under 'Reform Express'?
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Correct answer: C — 17
Eight new reforms took the total under Reform Express to 17.
According to the Railways, about what share of India's annual fly ash generation did Indian Railways transport in 2025-26?
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Correct answer: D — About 4%
Railways moved about 13 million tonnes of the roughly 340 million tonnes generated, nearly 4%.