Current affairs
News for UPSC, SSC and defence exams, with the reason it matters.
September 2026
New flowering plant Begonia neelamorum described from Arunachal Pradesh
- In September 2026, scientists described a new Begonia species from Keyi Panyor district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Begonia neelamorum is named after the Neelam clan of the Nyishi community.
- It is the 54th Begonia species recorded from Northeast India.
Why it matters
[First] The Eastern Himalaya is a biodiversity hotspot. New species keep turning up there. Local communities helped find this one, a common theme in new-species stories.
India’s cheetah population reaches 52, four years after reintroduction
- India now has 52 cheetahs, four years after Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022.
- 32 cubs have been born in India since the reintroduction.
- 49 cheetahs live in Kuno National Park and 3 in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.
Why it matters
[Environment] Project Cheetah is a frequent exam topic. Know the two sites in Madhya Pradesh and the three source countries.
Gujarat completes mangrove planting on 27,000 hectares in Kutch under MISHTI
- Gujarat has planted mangroves on 27,000 hectares in Kutch under the MISHTI scheme.
- Its target under the scheme is 29,000 hectares.
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav visited a nursery at Jakhau that raises mangrove and seaweed species.
Why it matters
[Environment] MISHTI stands for Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes. Mangroves protect coasts from storms and erosion.
New legless amphibian, Gegeneophis chandgadi, found in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats
- In September 2026, scientists described a new caecilian, Gegeneophis chandgadi, from Chandgad in Kolhapur district.
- Caecilians are legless, burrowing amphibians often mistaken for earthworms or snakes.
- The team was led by the Zoological Survey of India and other research institutes.
Why it matters
[First] The species was found in farms and village land, not inside a protected forest. It shows rare species live outside reserves too. Western Ghats endemism is a common exam theme.
UK lists India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme as a qualifying carbon price under its CBAM
- The UK has listed India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying carbon pricing scheme under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
- Indian exporters can claim relief in the UK for carbon prices already paid in India. This avoids paying twice for the same emissions.
- UK CBAM goods include steel, aluminium, fertiliser and cement. The UK CBAM starts in 2027.
Why it matters
[Environment] CCTS was notified in June 2023 and is run by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. A CBAM taxes the carbon in imported goods.
Melghat and Pench tiger reserves emerge as India’s most successful vulture release sites
- BNHS released 29 captive-bred vultures in Melghat and Pench tiger reserves, Maharashtra.
- The releases took place between December 2025 and January 2026.
- Survival rates reached up to 78%.
Why it matters
[Environment] India's vulture numbers crashed in the 1990s because of the cattle drug diclofenac. It was banned for veterinary use in 2006.