UPSC environment notes

World Environment Day 2026: BACKGROUND, THEME, SIGNIFICANCE

The United Nations Environment Programme drives World Environment Day on June 5, 2026. Azerbaijan hosts the global event under the theme Inspired by Nature, For Climate, For Our Future, championing nature-based solutions to immediately combat the escalating triple planetary crisis.

RARE YELLOW PUFFBALL MUSHROOM DISCOVERED IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Researchers discovered a rare Yellow Puffball Mushroom (Bovista colorata) in Arunachal Pradesh. These unique fungi lack traditional gills, producing internal spores. They serve as vital decomposers, breaking down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and maintaining the Eastern Himalayan ecosystem.

SAMBHAR LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS: ECOLOGY, THREATS & CONSERVATION

STATE OF INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT 2026: ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND STATE-LEVEL PERFORMANCE

Released by CSE, the State of India's Environment 2026 report warns of seven breached planetary boundaries, extreme weather on 99% of days, escalating human-wildlife conflicts, and massive air-quality monitoring blind spots, urging immediate policy interventions for sustainable development.

AIR POLLUTION & FOETAL HEALTH: AIIMS STUDY

Urban air pollution (PM2.5) breaches the placental barrier, causing inflammation and inhibiting the crucial IGFBP3 growth protein. This leads to restricted foetal development, low birth weight, and lifelong neurological risks, highlighting a severe maternal-foetal health crisis.

INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE (IBCA) SUMMIT POSTPONED

India established the International Big Cat Alliance to protect seven global big cat species. Despite postponing its first summit due to Ebola, IBCA serves as a vital platform for wildlife conservation, transboundary cooperation, and climate resilience.

HIMALAYAN HAPPY-FACE SPIDER DISCOVERED IN INDIA

Scientists recently discovered the Himalayan Happy-Face Spider (Theridion himalayana) in Uttarakhand. Displaying thirty-two distinct polymorphic color patterns, this species highlights independent parallel evolution and emphasizes the need to protect fragile Himalayan ecosystems from land-use changes.

DISCOVERY OF OXYTATE INDOSINICA: NEW CRAB SPIDER IN INDIA

Researchers discovered a new crab spider, Oxytate indosinica, in Manipur and China, highlighting the Indo-Burma hotspot's rich biodiversity. This corrects past misidentifications and underscores the ecological importance of spiders as pest regulators and environmental bioindicators.

SHEKHA JHEEL: INDIA’S 99TH RAMSAR SITE

Shekha Jheel, a perennial freshwater wetland in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was designated as India's 99th Ramsar Site in 2026. Formed by the Upper Ganges Canal, it supports 249 bird species along the Central Asian Flyway.

MORCHELLA (GUCCHI) MUSHROOM

Morchella, or morels, are prized edible mushrooms. They feature a distinctive honeycomb-like cap with deep pits and ridges. Highly valued in cuisine, these wild-foraged delicacies are famous for their savory, nutty flavor and a hollow interior.

SUNDARBANS ECOLOGICAL THREAT: IMPACTS, CHALLENGES, AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

The Sundarbans faces an existential threat as resilience declines due to cyclones and salinity. This degradation risks turning the forest into a carbon source. Recovery requires implementing the MISHTI scheme, transboundary cooperation, and community-led stewardship to prevent collapse.

SLOTH BEAR: LOCATION, HABITAT, IUCN STATUS

The Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) is a shaggy, myrmecophagous (insect-eating) mammal endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, it is classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss.