General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - February 2024

Feb 2024

Dec 24, 2025

Indian Coast Guard inducts first Pollution Control Vessel

The Indian Coast Guard inducted its first indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel, Samudra Pratap, at Goa Shipyard Limited. The vessel is equipped with a 30 mm gun, two 12.7 mm stabilised guns, and integrated fire-control systems, along with a pollution response boat and high-capacity external firefighting capabilities. It will bolster marine pollution control, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and protection of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The ceremony was attended by senior navy officials and officials from the shipyard, marking a significant step in domestic defence manufacturing and environmental protection at sea.

Samudra Pratap indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel inducted.
Equipped with 30 mm and 12.7 mm guns; advanced fire-control.
Includes pollution response boat and external firefighting systems.
Supports pollution control, SAR, and EEZ protection.
Significant milestone for domestic defence and environment.

Dec 22, 2025

Tamil Nadu Launches Smooth-Coated Otter Conservation Initiative

Tamil Nadu launched a focused conservation initiative to protect the smooth-coated otter in the Cauvery Delta. The species is the largest otter in Asia and a key indicator of wetland health. Otter groups, called bevvies, hunt cooperatively and help regulate fish populations. The programme aims to reduce human–wildlife conflict and protect freshwater habitats, with fieldwork in river canals, tributaries, and mangrove edges where otters shelter in holts along riverbanks.

Conservation initiative for smooth-coated otters in Cauvery Delta
Otters are key wetland indicators
Otter groups called bevvies used for hunting
Program targets habitat protection and conflict reduction
Habitat includes river canals and mangrove edges

Dec 18, 2025

Green School Award 2025 goes to Gandhinagar govt primary school

A government primary school in Jivraj Na Muvada village, Gandhinagar, has won the Green School Award 2025 under the Green Your School programme. The school ranked first among 720 schools nationwide and receives Rs 3 lakh. It was recognised for implementing 11 green ideas, including home-made compost, paper recycling, mood painting, earthen pot air conditioning, portable biogas, plastic-free initiatives, smart energy auditing, grey-water systems, a solar pump, a kindness wall, and digital data management. The campus features about 1,200 trees and seeks to promote sustainable practices and environmental education across schools.

Gandhinagar government primary school wins Green School Award 2025.
Rs 3 lakh prize; 11 green ideas implemented.
Campus hosts about 1,200 trees.
Initiatives include composting, recycling, grey-water systems.

Delhi implements No PUC, No Fuel under GRAP-4 from Dec 18

From 18 December 2025, Delhi enforces the No PUC, No Fuel regulation under GRAP Stage IV to curb hazardous air pollution. Vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates cannot refuel at stations. The government has deployed 580 police personnel and 37 Prakhar enforcement vans at 126 checkpoints, with ANPR cameras and the VAHAN database monitoring compliance. BS-III and BS-IV vehicles registered outside Delhi are banned from entering the capital; only BS-VI, CNG, and electric vehicles are permitted. The measure forms part of a broader, enforceable set of anti-pollution actions in the NCR region.

GRAP-4 No PUC, No Fuel enforced from 18 Dec 2025.
580 police personnel and 37 enforcement vans deployed.
126 checkpoints; ANPR and VAHAN used for verification.
BS-III/BS-IV outside Delhi banned; BS-VI/CNG/EV allowed.

Dec 17, 2025

Miyana railway station receives National Energy Conservation Award 2025

Miyana Railway Station in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, was honoured with the National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) 2025. The award recognises energy efficiency and sustainable operations at railway stations. The National Energy Conservation Award is conferred by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power. The recognition underscores the contribution of Indian Railways to energy savings, cost efficiency, and environmental stewardship. The award highlights best practices in energy management, operations, and infrastructure improvements across major rail nodes, supporting national goals for energy efficiency.

Miyana Railway Station awarded NECA 2025.
Award presented by the President; BEE involvement.
Recognises energy efficiency in railway operations.
Supports India’s energy conservation and sustainability goals.
Spotlight on railway stations as energy managers.

NHAI unveils wildlife-safe road on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) debuted India’s first wildlife-safe road feature on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh. The stretch includes table-top red road markings designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions as the route passes through Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The 11.96-kilometre section between Hiran and Sindoor lies about 60 kilometres from Jabalpur and traverses dense forest habitats. The initiative demonstrates a balance between road development and conservation, offering a potential model for wildlife-friendly infrastructure across India and encouraging drivers to slow down in ecologically sensitive zones.

Table-top red road markings deployed on NH-45, MP.
Aims to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions near protected areas.
Passes through Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
11.96 km stretch between Hiran and Sindoor; ~60 km from Jabalpur.
Represents wildlife-friendly infrastructure in India.

Dec 16, 2025

New Tiny Pumpkin Toadlet Species Discovered in Brazil

Scientists have identified a new tiny toadlet species from Brazil’s cloud forests, part of the Brachycephalus group. Measuring about 8.9 to 13.4 millimetres, the pumpkin toadlet ranks among the smallest four-legged animals on Earth. Notable for deafness to its own calls, the species relies on visual cues for communication. The discovery highlights biodiversity richness and underscores ongoing conservation challenges in fragile montane habitats. Researchers aim to advance understanding of evolutionary processes and inform regional biodiversity protection strategies in South American cloud forests.

New Brachycephalus pumpkin toadlet discovered in Brazil.
Size: 8.9–13.4 mm; among world’s smallest vertebrates.
Species uses visual signals; not responsive to its calls.
Implications for biodiversity and habitat conservation.

India Resolution on Global Wildfire Management Adopted at UNEA-7

India’s resolution on strengthening global wildfire management was adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2025. The ministry stated that wildfires pose rising global threats, underscoring the need for proactive prevention, planning, early warning, and risk reduction. The resolution referenced UNEP’s report Spreading Like Wildfire, which projects significant increases in wildfire activity by 2030, 2050, and 2100 if trends persist. The government emphasised international cooperation and investment in capacity-building to protect vulnerable regions and ecosystems from wildfire risks.

India-led wildfire management resolution adopted at UNEA-7 (Dec 2025).
Focus on proactive prevention, planning, and early warning.
Cites UNEP report predicting rising wildfire risk through 2100.
Calls for international cooperation and capacity-building.

MP Tiger Reserve to House Cheetahs as New Habitat

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will become a cheetah habitat, following successful translocations to Kuno National Park. The cabinet gave in-principle approval to develop the reserve, located in Nauradehi, Sagar district, as the state’s third cheetah habitat. This follows Kuno's 2022 introduction and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary’s 2025 addition. Officials expect ecological benefits and potential eco-tourism growth. The plan will require environmental clearances and community consultations to balance conservation with local livelihoods and land use.

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve to host cheetahs.
Third cheetah habitat in Madhya Pradesh; cabinet approved plan.
Follows translocations to Kuno (2022) and Gandhi Sagar (2025).
Requires environmental clearances and community input.

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