Environment & Ecology Current Affairs Quiz — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
At its 129th Enforcement Task Force meeting on 17 April 2026, CAQM reviewed how many inspections carried out by its flying squads during the 15-day reporting period?
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Correct answer: D — 162
162 inspections were carried out between 27 March and 10 April 2026, finding 64 violations.
In the CAQM inspections reviewed in April 2026, which category accounted for the largest number of inspections and violations?
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Correct answer: C — Diesel generator sets
DG sets accounted for 109 of 162 inspections and 42 of 64 violations.
GRAP Stage-I was invoked across the NCR on 16 April 2026 when Delhi's daily average AQI was recorded at:
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Correct answer: B — 226
Delhi's AQI was 226, in the 'Poor' category (201–300).
Consider the following statements about the GRAP action of April 2026: 1. The AQI range for the 'Poor' category, as cited by CAQM, is 201–300. 2. Stage-I was applied only to Delhi and not to the rest of the NCR. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Stage-I actions were invoked across the entire NCR.
What ex-gratia did the Prime Minister announce from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each worker killed in the Sakti power plant explosion of 14 April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹2 lakh
The PM announced ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF per deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured; ₹5 lakh was the Chhattisgarh government's assistance.
Consider the following statements about the power plant explosion in Chhattisgarh on 14 April 2026: 1. The explosion occurred at Vedanta's power plant at Singhitarai in Sakti district. 2. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister announced ₹5 lakh for the families of each deceased worker. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct as reported by The Hindu.
According to IMD's first-stage forecast of April 2026, the 2026 southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall over India is expected to be what percentage of the Long Period Average?
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Correct answer: D — 92%
IMD forecast 92% of the LPA with a model error of ±5%, which falls in the below-normal category.
The Long Period Average of India's southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall used by IMD in 2026 is:
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Correct answer: A — 87 cm, based on 1971–2020
IMD states the LPA of seasonal rainfall over the country, based on 1971–2020, is 87 cm.
Consider the following statements from IMD's April 2026 monsoon forecast: 1. The Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System suggests El Niño conditions may develop during the southwest monsoon season. 2. Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are currently neutral, and positive IOD conditions are likely to develop towards the end of the season. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct as per IMD.
In April 2026, an Indian-born female cheetah gave birth to four cubs in the wild at which national park?
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Correct answer: C — Kuno National Park
The cubs were born in the wild at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
The Indian-born female cheetah KGP12, which gave birth in the wild in April 2026, is a cub of which cheetah?
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Correct answer: D — Gamini
KGP12 is the second cub of Gamini's first litter.
Consider the following statements about the April 2026 cheetah births at Kuno: 1. It is the first recorded birth in the wild since cheetah reintroduction in India began in 2022. 2. The mother was brought to India from Namibia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the mother, KGP12, is an Indian-born cheetah.
The NHAI-WII report on wildlife use of animal underpasses on the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor, released in April 2026, is titled:
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Correct answer: C — Landscapes Reconnected
The report is titled 'Landscapes Reconnected'.
The NHAI-WII wildlife study on the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor was conducted along which stretch?
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Correct answer: B — Ganeshpur–Asharodi
The study covered an 18 km stretch between Ganeshpur and Asharodi.
Under the Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023, coal-based thermal plants must use what blend of biomass pellets or briquettes with coal?
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Correct answer: B — 5%
The Rules mandate a 5% blend of biomass pellets or briquettes with coal, with a minimum threshold of 3% prescribed for FY 2024-25.
Which thermal power plant faced the largest Environmental Compensation (about ₹33.02 crore) in CAQM's April 2026 action on biomass co-firing?
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Correct answer: C — Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, Mansa
CAQM listed about ₹33.02 crore on Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (Mansa, Punjab), the highest of the six; Harduaganj had the lowest at about ₹2.74 crore.
Consider the following statements about CAQM's action of April 2026: 1. It covers thermal power plants located within 500 km of Delhi. 2. The minimum co-firing threshold prescribed for FY 2024-25 was 5%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: the six plants are within 300 km of Delhi, and the minimum threshold for FY 2024-25 was 3% (5% is the mandated blend).
According to IRENA's Renewable Energy Statistics 2026, India moved ahead of which country to rank third in installed renewable energy capacity?
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Correct answer: B — Brazil
Pralhad Joshi said India moved ahead of Brazil; IRENA lists India at 250.52 GW and Brazil at 228.20 GW, behind China and the USA.
What was India's total installed non-fossil fuel capacity as on 31 March 2026, according to MNRE?
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Correct answer: D — 283.46 GW
MNRE put non-fossil capacity at 283.46 GW on 31 March 2026: 274.68 GW renewable (incl. large hydro) plus 8.78 GW nuclear. 250.52 GW is IRENA's renewable figure as of December 2025.
Consider the following statements: 1. India reached 50% of its cumulative installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources in June 2025, five years ahead of its 2030 NDC target. 2. Wind capacity additions of 6.05 GW in 2025-26 were the highest ever in a single year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per MNRE: the 50% milestone came in June 2025, and 6.05 GW of wind in 2025-26 was the highest ever (4.15 GW the year before).
Under which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 has the Centre designated repositories such as CMLRE's Referral Centre Bhavasagara?
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Correct answer: C — Section 39
The Environment Ministry said the institutions were notified as designated repositories under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Consider the following statements about the repositories notified in April 2026: 1. The Referral Centre Bhavasagara at CMLRE, Kochi, is dedicated to deep-sea biodiversity. 2. The National Fungal Culture Collection of India is housed at CMLRE, Kochi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the National Fungal Culture Collection is at the Agharkar Research Institute, Pune.
Which Union Minister took cognisance of crop damage from hailstorms and heavy rainfall in several states on 5 April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Shivraj Singh Chouhan
The Agriculture Ministry said Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took cognisance.
Consider the following statements about the Agriculture Minister's response on 5 April 2026: 1. He directed ministry officials to review crop damage caused by hailstorms and heavy rain. 2. He said he would discuss the damage with the agriculture ministers of the affected states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Agriculture Ministry release.