15 May 2026 Introduction: Thirteen major reservoirs in India fell below 50% of normal storage capacity by 14 May 2026, and the Central Water Commission monitored 166 reservoirs across the country. The total live storage in these reservoirs declined from 71.082 billion cubic metres on 30 April 2026 to 63.232 billion cubic metres on 14 […]

15 May 2026 Introduction: India released its first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam on 15 May 2026. The release took place on Endangered Species Day, which is observed on 15 May each year. The species is Nilssonia gangetica, a freshwater turtle found in river systems of the […]

15 May 2026. Introduction: Karnataka has started drafting individual climate action plans for 5,994 gram panchayats and 340 urban local bodies. The initiative is linked to the revised State Action Plan on Climate Change Version 2, which was updated in 2024 and aligned with India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. Gram Panchayat-Level Climate Planning The […]

 February 25, 2026  Introduction: Food safety authorities in Thiruvananthapuram are investigating a suspected case of marine neurotoxin poisoning after multiple people fell critically ill following consumption of seafood at a restaurant in Vizhinjam. Three members of a six-member family developed severe symptoms on the night of February 16, and two died within hours. Subsequently, six […]

 February 25, 2026  Introduction: In a major entomological breakthrough, scientists from the ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (ICAR-DFR), Pune, have identified a new species of blossom midge infesting jasmine flower buds in India. The species, named “Contarinia icardiflores” sp. nov., has been discovered attacking “Jasminum sambac”, a commercially important ornamental crop. The discovery highlights emerging pest […]

 February 24, 2026  Introduction: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to restore the Suav’s classification from a “nullah” (drain) to a “river” in official revenue records and gazette notifications. The order came in response to a petition challenging the downgrading of the Suav, a key tributary of the Rapti river in Balrampur district. The […]

February 23, 2026 Introduction: The Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand has launched the ‘Vanjeevi Didi’ initiative, a community-driven conservation programme aimed at empowering women to protect forests and wildlife. Rolled out by the south division of PTR, the project seeks to build grassroots awareness and strengthen local participation in safeguarding biodiversity. Women as Forest Ambassadors Under the initiative, 18 […]

February 20, 2026  Introduction; Researchers have identified a new species of tiny crab measuring just three millimetres from the coral reefs of Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands. The discovery was made by a team from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Kochi, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The species has been named “Galathea […]

 February 19, 2026  Introduction: Kerala has declared tidal flooding along its coastline a State-specific disaster, enabling victims to receive financial assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The decision marks the first time in India that tidal flooding has been officially recognised as a disaster category by a State. The move follows repeated instances […]

 February 19, 2026  Introduction: Researchers from the School of Industrial Fisheries at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have identified a new species of pistol shrimp in the Kochi backwaters. The species, named Alpheus madhusoodanai, belongs to the family Alpheidae and marks the first alpheid shrimp recorded from an estuary in this region. The […]