Category: Geography & Environment

Kaveh Madani has been awarded the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize, regarded as the world’s most prestigious honour in water-related fields. He is the youngest laureate and the first UN official to receive this recognition. He has been honoured for bridging water science with policy, diplomacy and public outreach, contributing to sustainable water management and global … Continue reading Kaveh Madani — Stockholm Water Prize 2026

Agapetes wardii, a rare epiphytic shrub species, has been recorded for the first time in India from Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier, the species was known only from Myanmar, making this discovery a significant expansion of its geographical range. As an epiphytic plant, it grows on other plants without deriving nutrients from them, reflecting … Continue reading Agapetes wardii — New Addition to India’s Flora

Henckelia monophylla, a rare plant species endemic to Arunachal Pradesh, has been rediscovered after nearly 189 years in the Lohit district by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). The rediscovery highlights the remarkable floral biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas and underscores the ecological richness of Arunachal Pradesh. Such findings contribute to global botanical knowledge and … Continue reading Henckelia monophylla — Rare Plant Rediscovered

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised a two-day workshop to address the growing issue of elephant deaths caused by train collisions across India. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination between forest and railway authorities to protect elephant populations. During the deliberations, 77 critical railway stretches passing through elephant habitats were identified … Continue reading Elephant–Train Collisions — MoEFCC Workshop Initiative

The Indian Orchid Festival 2026 was held in Pakyong district of Sikkim, organised by the ICAR–National Research Centre for Orchids. The three-day annual event showcases the rich diversity of orchid species found in the Eastern Himalayan region. The festival attracts large numbers of visitors, including researchers, horticulturists and tourists. It serves as a platform to … Continue reading Indian Orchid Festival 2026 — Sikkim

A recent study published in the journal Climate Dynamics has examined moist heatwaves occurring during the Southwest Monsoon in several parts of India. The research finds that these events are closely linked to the active and break phases of the monsoon system. Scientists suggest that improved climate modelling can help predict such heatwaves two to … Continue reading Moist Heatwaves — Monsoon Climate Phenomenon

Scientists have identified two new freshwater fish species — Glyptothorax sentimereni and Oreichthys elianae. The species were named after the son and daughter of the late Nagaland-based assistant professor Limakum, who had closely collaborated with the researchers. Naming the species after his children fulfilled one of his final wishes and serves as a tribute to … Continue reading New Fish Species Discovery — Tribute to a Naga Scholar

World Wildlife Day was observed on 3 March 2026 with the theme “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” The theme highlights the ecological and economic importance of medicinal plant species in traditional healthcare systems and sustainable livelihoods. India plays a major role in the global herbal medicine sector and is the second-largest … Continue reading World Wildlife Day 2026 — Medicinal Plants Conservation

Three satellite-tagged Amur falcons, among the world’s longest-distance migratory birds, released from Manipur’s Tamenglong district last November, have successfully completed their transcontinental migration and are now wintering in different parts of Africa. The birds — Apapang (adult male), Ahu and Alang (females) — are being tracked to study migration routes and strengthen conservation efforts. The … Continue reading Amur Falcons Migration Tracking — Wildlife Conservation

The North East Festival of Rice, themed “Grains of Heritage,” was held at the Agri Expo site in Chumoukedima, celebrating the deep cultural and agricultural importance of rice in the region. The event showcased traditional varieties, indigenous farming knowledge and the strong link between food, identity and community life in Northeast India. The region is … Continue reading North East Festival of Rice – Grains of Heritage

Severe forest fires have been spreading across parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for over a week, prompting high-altitude aerial firefighting operations by the Indian Air Force. Efforts are focused on ecologically sensitive regions such as the Lohit Valley and Dzukou Valley, where helicopters are conducting water-dropping missions to contain the blaze and protect fragile … Continue reading Forest Fires in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland

The Meghalaya Governor has appointed Justice (Retd.) R. S. Chauhan to head a judicial inquiry into the Thangsko tragedy under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952. The Commission will investigate the circumstances leading to the incident on February 5 and submit a fact-finding report within six months. The inquiry will also examine the underlying causes … Continue reading Judicial Inquiry into Thangsko Tragedy in Meghalaya

The Union Environment Minister announced the inclusion of two new wetlands—Patna Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh) and Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve (Gujarat)—in the Ramsar List ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026. With this addition, India’s total number of Ramsar sites has risen to 98, marking a 276% increase since 2014 and highlighting growing emphasis on wetland … Continue reading Increase in India’s Ramsar Sites

Project Vault is a public–private programme in the United States aimed at purchasing, storing, and managing critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for strategic civilian and defence industries, similar in concept to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Announced under former President Donald Trump, the initiative is funded through a combination of private investment and support … Continue reading Project Vault: US Critical Minerals Stockpiling Initiative

The Union Budget 2026–27 has proposed developing ‘turtle trails’ along major Olive Ridley turtle nesting sites to promote eco-tourism and conservation. Turtle trails are regulated eco-tourism pathways and guided visitor experiences near nesting beaches, designed to balance wildlife protection with sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. The initiative will cover key nesting areas in Odisha—Rushikulya … Continue reading Turtle Trails for Olive Ridley Conservation

The apex body of the Sangtam Naga community in Nagaland has passed a resolution to safeguard pangolins within its jurisdiction. The Sangtams, mainly residing in Kiphire and Tuensang districts near the India–Myanmar border, follow strong customary governance systems that influence local conservation practices. Given the region’s vulnerability to wildlife trafficking, the decision highlights the growing … Continue reading Sangtam Community Resolution to Protect Pangolins

Researchers at Nagaland University have conducted a GIS-based study analysing how geo-ecological conditions and human activities affect runoff and river flow in the Northeastern Himalayan region, an area marked by data gaps. The research examines the hydrological impact of land use change on river discharge, floods, and environmental degradation, aiming to resolve ongoing scientific debates … Continue reading GIS-Based Hydrological Study in NE Himalayas

A Stanford-led study has identified 459 rare earthquakes originating deep within the continental mantle, marking the first global mapping of such events. Unlike typical crustal earthquakes, these occur more than 80 km below the Mohorovičić discontinuity, within high-pressure mantle conditions where brittle failure is uncommon. The events are concentrated in tectonically active regions, notably the … Continue reading Continental Mantle Earthquakes: Global Mapping

Yaral Pat, a prominent wetland in Imphal East district, has witnessed a steady rise in migratory bird activity following its ecological development. The wetland was restored by the Manipur State Environment and Climate Change Department with support from local bodies, improving its water regime and habitat quality. Over the past five years, migratory waterfowls such … Continue reading Yaral Pat Emerges as Migratory Bird Habitat

Box-cutting, an illegal mining method involving deep vertical shafts followed by horizontal tunnelling, led to one of the worst coal mining tragedies in Meghalaya, killing 18 people at Thangsko in East Jaintia Hills district. The miners had descended several hundred feet into the shaft and were extracting coal with rudimentary tools when explosives were reportedly … Continue reading Box-Cutting Coal Mine Tragedy

COP30, held at Belém, was branded around the idea of the Global Mutirão, signifying a collective effort to address climate change. The Global Mutirão Framework introduced at COP30 shifted the emphasis from strictly binding, state-led obligations to voluntary, people-driven, and multi-stakeholder cooperation. It promoted participation by civil society, youth, indigenous communities, local governments, and the … Continue reading Global Mutirão at COP30

Eighteen people were confirmed dead in one of the worst illegal coal mining accidents in Meghalaya, at Thangsko in East Jaintia Hills district. The incident occurred inside an illegal “box-cutting” coal mine, where miners descend deep vertical shafts and dig horizontally using rudimentary tools. Reports indicate that explosives were used to blast coal seams, a … Continue reading Illegal Coal Mining Tragedy in Meghalaya

A landslide at a major coltan mining site in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has caused the collapse of several mines, killing at least 200 people. Coltan is a critical ore containing tantalum, an essential metal used in smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines, making Congo strategically important in global supply chains. According to the … Continue reading Coltan Mining Tragedy in Congo

The Indian bison, locally known as Lamsan, has been photographed for the first time through camera traps in Kamjong district of Manipur. The rare record was made at Nongman village, where camera traps installed by ENFOGAL successfully captured images of the species. The Indian bison, the world’s largest wild bovine, is listed as Vulnerable on … Continue reading Indian Bison Camera-Trapped in Kamjong

The Centre is planning to construct underground railway tracks along a 40-km stretch of the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor in West Bengal. The move aims to strengthen rail connectivity between the Northeast and the rest of India while addressing long-standing security and vulnerability concerns of this narrow passage. By shifting critical rail infrastructure underground, the … Continue reading Underground Rail Plan for Siliguri Corridor

Special Care Waste such as paint cans, bulbs, and expired medicines has been formally identified under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, with disposal mandated through designated collection points. Notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the new rules will replace the 2016 framework and come into full effect from April 1, … Continue reading Special Care Waste under SWM Rules, 2026

Environment / Biodiversity & Taxonomy Hoya nagaensis is a newly described flowering plant species belonging to the genus Hoya, known for its ornamental, waxy flowers. The species was identified through detailed taxonomic research. It has been recorded from the Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest in Phek district of Nagaland, part of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. … Continue reading New Plant Species: Hoya nagaensis

Environment / Biodiversity & Flora A new plant species, Strobilanthes riteshii, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, has been recorded during floristic surveys at Chayangtajo in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery was made by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India’s Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre in collaboration with the Agharkar Research Institute. The … Continue reading New Plant Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Environment / Water Security The idea of “Day Zero” has returned to global attention following UN warnings that climate change, over-extraction of groundwater and weak water governance could drive many cities, including in India, towards severe water crises. “Day Zero” denotes the stage at which a city’s usable water supply drops below a critical limit, … Continue reading “Day Zero” and Urban Water Collapse

Environment & Culture / Community Conservation Hally War of Siej village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills has been selected for the Padma Shri Award 2026 in the category of social work. The honour recognises his lifelong commitment to conserving the region’s iconic living root bridges. For decades, War has been involved in nurturing and maintaining … Continue reading Padma Shri 2026 for Living Root Bridge Conservator

Environment / Wildlife Conservation The Asiatic wild dog, or dhole (Cuon alpinus), has been camera-trapped for the first time in Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, signalling improved habitat quality and prey availability. Separately, a Wildlife Institute of India study has confirmed the reappearance of the dhole in the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Landscape, where it was earlier … Continue reading Return of the Dhole in Indian Landscapes

Society / Demography India’s demographic dividend is narrowing, with projections indicating a population of 1.59 billion by 2051 and a widening regional divide between an ageing South and a youthful North. This transition will reshape labour markets, political representation and federal dynamics. In this context, the Northeast shows steady demographic expansion. Its population rose from … Continue reading Northeast India and the Shifting Demographic Dividend