Conservation Laws & Bodies (Environment & Ecology).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change; Mains GS3
CITES for UPSC: origin, Appendices I, II and III, permits, CoPs, India's Wildlife Protection Act 2022 changes, WCCB, TRAFFIC and wildlife trade…
National parks for UPSC: Wildlife Protection Act rules, park vs sanctuary, first and largest parks, key parks by State, tiger reserves and…
EIA for UPSC: what an EIA is, Category A and B projects, screening to appraisal steps, public hearing, post-facto clearance debate, Draft…
India has begun a national Red List assessment of its 1,211 regularly occurring bird species using the IUCN framework. By 19 October 2026, a preliminary review of 107 species was complete, with the Great Indian Bustard proposed as Critically Endangered and the Indian Roller as Vulnerable. A final assessment is expected towards the end of 2027.
UPSC angle: Prelims: IUCN categories, species and their proposed status, lead institutions. · Mains GS-III: biodiversity conservation and data gaps.
20 Oct 2026
On 9 October 2026 the Tribal Affairs Ministry held the second regional review of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in Kolkata with eight States. Nationally, over 54 lakh claims have been filed, about 25 lakh titles given, about 11 lakh are pending and over 18 lakh rejected. The focus is quick disposal, record updating, CFR rights and PVTG habitat rights.
UPSC angle: Prelims: FRA provisions, PVTG habitat rights. · Mains GS-II: welfare of STs; GS-III: forest governance.
10 Oct 2026
NHAI released a document on wildlife mitigation measures during National Wildlife Week (2-8 October 2026). It records over 2,150 wildlife crossing structures built or proposed on national highways and about ₹19,700 crore spent in five years on such measures, from animal underpasses and overpasses to viaducts, tunnels and canopy crossings.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Wildlife Week, types of crossings. · Mains GS-III: conservation and infrastructure.
8 Oct 2026
On 29 September 2026 the Environment Minister handed over the first PRAMAAN certificates under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme. Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation got one for 33,000 hectares of plantations, and an Odisha bamboo farmer got another. IIFM Bhopal runs the scheme, launched in December 2023.
UPSC angle: Prelims: operating agency of IFWCS.
29 Sep 2026
At the 28th session of the FAO Committee on Forestry in Rome (28 September to 2 October 2026), India said its forest and tree cover is 82.74 million hectares, or 25.17 per cent of its area. FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 ranks India 9th in forest area and 3rd in net annual forest gain.
UPSC angle: Prelims: forest cover %, FRA ranks. · Mains: Quality vs quantity of forest cover.
28 Sep 2026
On 15 September 2026, seven flying squads of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) inspected 22 industrial units in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. Sixteen broke norms and statutory directions, and 12 show cause notices were issued. The UP Pollution Control Board sealed two units, one burning hazardous sludge in a wood-fired pit furnace.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CAQM's statutory basis.
16 Sep 2026