UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

World EV Day is observed every year on 9 September to promote awareness about electric vehicles (EVs), clean mobility and the transition away from fossil-fuel-dependent transport. 

Lucknow has secured the first position among million-plus cities in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026.

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is being observed on 7 September 2026 worldwide. 

Scientists have discovered a new species of legless, worm-like amphibian named Gegeneophis chandgadi from Maharashtra.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has clarified that the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 does not contain any provision specifically requiring the consent of the Gram Sabha for obtaining Stage-II Forest Clearance.

Recently, scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new flowering plant species named Osbeckia ulotricha in the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats.

An Early Warning System (EWS) is scheduled to be installed at Ghepan Lake in September 2026. The system is expected to continuously monitor conditions around the lake and provide timely alerts in case indicators point towards a possible GLOF.

India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India on 17 August 2026 during the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

A major oil-spill incident in the Persian Gulf is threatening the ecologically important Hara mangrove forests around Qeshm Island, Iran.

Recently, Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland calved a 76.4 km² ice island, marking its largest ice loss since 2012 and the largest Arctic calving event since 2020. The event was identified through satellite monitoring by an international team of researchers led in part by the University of Ottawa.