Environment & Ecology Current Affairs Quiz
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Which shipbuilder designed and built the Ocean Research Vessel 'Sagar Manthan', launched on 9 September 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
GRSE built ORV Sagar Manthan for NCPOR; it was launched at the Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata.
ORV Sagar Manthan was built for which institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences?
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Correct answer: C — National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
The vessel was built for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
Consider the following about ORV Sagar Manthan: 1. It was built under the Deep Ocean Mission at a cost of about ₹840 crore. 2. It has a projected service life of 30 years and can operate in the Southern Ocean. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. It was built under Vertical-4 of the Deep Ocean Mission for about ₹840 crore and is designed for extreme environments including the Southern Ocean, with a 30-year life.
On 8 September 2026, CAQM reviewed which State's pollution control board over non-compliance on C&D site video monitoring?
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Correct answer: D — Haryana
CAQM held the review with the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).
Under CAQM's statutory directions, construction and demolition projects above what plot area must register on the State portal and install video monitoring?
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Correct answer: A — 500 sq m
The directions cover all C&D projects with a plot area of 500 sq m or more.
Consider the following statements about the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): 1. It is a statutory body under an Act of Parliament that received presidential assent in August 2021. 2. The Act dissolved the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) for the NCR. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The CAQM Act, 2021 received assent on 12 August 2021 and dissolved EPCA, set up in 1998.
The 7th India–Japan Joint Working Group on Forests, held in Bengaluru on 8 September 2026, endorsed a roadmap for which period?
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Correct answer: B — 2027–2031
Both sides endorsed the Roadmap for 2027–2031 under the 2015 Memorandum of Cooperation.
PACT, launched at the 5th e-FAST India Summit on 7 September 2026, stands for what?
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Correct answer: D — Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport
PACT is the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport, launched by NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba.
e-FAST India, under which PACT was launched to support zero-emission trucks, is an initiative of which body?
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Correct answer: A — NITI Aayog
PIB describes e-FAST India as an initiative of NITI Aayog.
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed on which date?
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Correct answer: B — 7 September
The day is observed every year on 7 September; the UN General Assembly designated it in 2019.
What is 'PRANA' in the context of India's air quality management?
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Correct answer: A — A portal for monitoring implementation of the National Clean Air Programme
PRANA, the Portal for Regulation of Air-Pollution in Non-Attainment cities, tracks the physical and financial progress of NCAP city action plans. SAMEER is the AQI app.
Consider the following statements about the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): 1. It was launched in 2019 and covers 130 cities. 2. Cities receive NCAP funds as performance-linked grants based on air quality. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: NCAP was launched in 2019 in 130 cities, and ₹16,423.55 crore was given as air-quality performance-linked grants from 2019-20 to 2025-26.
Which body organised the 16th National Meet of State Biodiversity Boards and UT Biodiversity Councils at Chandigarh in September 2026?
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Correct answer: C — National Biodiversity Authority
The meet was organised by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
Where is the headquarters of the National Biodiversity Authority, as provided under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002?
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Correct answer: D — Chennai
The Act provides that the head office of the NBA shall be at Chennai.
Consider the following statements about the institutional structure under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002: 1. Biodiversity Management Committees function at the local body level. 2. State Biodiversity Boards are set up by the Central Government. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. BMCs work at the local level; SBBs are established by the respective State Governments under Section 22 of the Act.
International Vulture Awareness Day 2026 was celebrated on 6 September 2026 at which place?
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Correct answer: A — Panchkula, Haryana
The national celebration was held at Panchkula, Haryana, led by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore is a collaborative initiative of the Haryana Forest Department and which organisation?
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Correct answer: D — Bombay Natural History Society
JCBC Pinjore is a collaborative initiative of the Haryana Forest Department and BNHS.
What was the theme of the national workshop held on International Vulture Awareness Day 2026?
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Correct answer: B — From Crisis to Recovery – Conserving India's Vultures
The workshop theme was 'From Crisis to Recovery – Conserving India's Vultures'.
The National Biodiversity Authority's cumulative Access and Benefit-Sharing disbursements crossed which mark in September 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹200 crore
The NBA said cumulative ABS disbursements have exceeded ₹200 crore.
The ₹8.23 crore ABS tranche sanctioned by the NBA in September 2026 arose from the use of which crop group?
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Correct answer: D — Bitter gourd, okra, chilli and onion
The proceeds came from seed companies' access to bitter gourd, okra, chilli and onion.
Since the biological resources could not be traced to specific farmers or communities, on what basis did the NBA distribute the September 2026 ABS proceeds among States and UTs?
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Correct answer: C — Area under cultivation of the crops in each State/UT
As recommended by an Expert Committee, the share was distributed according to area under cultivation published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Consider the following statements about the NBA's September 2026 ABS tranche: 1. It was sanctioned to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 5 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. 2. Maharashtra is the largest cumulative recipient across the four crops. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Madhya Pradesh is the largest recipient, followed by Maharashtra.
In CAQM's special industrial inspection drive in Nuh on 3 September 2026, how many of the 35 units inspected were found non-compliant?
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Correct answer: C — 17
17 units were non-compliant, 11 were compliant and 7 were closed or non-operational.
Which pollution control devices were found defective or poorly maintained at several units during CAQM's Nuh inspection drive?
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Correct answer: A — Wet scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators
Defective wet scrubbers and non-functional or poorly maintained electrostatic precipitators were observed, along with inadequate stack heights.
Which of the following was NOT among the Himalayan States/UTs whose GLOF and avalanche preparedness was reviewed by the Union Home Secretary on 3 September 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Meghalaya
The States/UT were Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
In disaster management, what does the abbreviation GLOF stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Glacial Lake Outburst Flood
GLOF stands for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, the hazard reviewed by the MHA along with snow avalanches.
Which three major ports presented progress on Green Fuel Bunkering Hubs during Sarbananda Sonowal's review at TERI on 3 September 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Deendayal, Paradip and V.O. Chidambaranar
Deendayal, Paradip and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authorities presented progress on Green Fuel Bunkering Hubs; Kamarajar Port reported separately.
Where is the National Centre of Excellence for Green Ports and Shipping (NCoEGPS) that briefed Sarbananda Sonowal in September 2026 based?
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Correct answer: B — TERI Gwal Pahari campus, Gurugram
Sonowal was briefed by NCoEGPS during his visit to TERI's Gwal Pahari campus in Gurugram.
Which project won first prize in the 'Plantation in Land Parcels' category of NHAI's Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Jamtha Clover Leaf Oxygen Bird Park, NH-44 (Nagpur)
The Jamtha Clover Leaf Oxygen Bird Park on NH-44 under RO Nagpur won first prize in the land parcels category.