94TH GRAND MASTER OF INDIA

* MAYANK CHAKRABORTY BECAME THE FIRST NORTH EAST INDIAN (ASSAM) TOE BECAME THE 94TH GRAND MASTER OF INDIA 

FIRST CHAIRMAN OF ODISHA UNIFORMED SERVICES STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION

* FORMER JAMMU & KASHMIR DGP RASHMI RANJAN SWAIN HAS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF ODISHA UNIFORMED SERVICES STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION. ( OUSSSC) 

RESEARCHERS FROM BSI HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW FUNGAL SPECIES

* RESEARCHERS FROM BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (BSI) HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW FUNGAL SPECIES IN PUSHPAGIRI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, KARNATAKA. 

* SPECIES NAME - VAGINATISPORA BHARATENSIS. ( NAMED AFTER BHARAT ( INDIA) 

A NEW PLANT SPECIES NAMED AFTER LATE ZUBEEN GARG

* RESEARCHERS  FROM GUWAHATI UNIVERSITY HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW SPECIES ( FLOWER) IN GRASSLAND OF MANAS NATIONAL PARK 

* SPECIES NAME - OSBECKIA ZUBEENGARGIANA 

* FAMILY BELONGS TO MELASTOMATACEAE 

FIRST WOMAN OFFICER TO JOIN TERRITORIAL ARMY

* LT COLONEL NASREEN FATIMA BECAME THE FIRST INDIAN WOMAN TOE JOIN TERRITORIAL ARMY OFFICER.

JANUARY TO FEBRUARY WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT CA IN 2026

JANUARY - 

* Assam Reports Zero Rhino Poaching In 2025. 

* India Loses 165 Tigers in 2025

MADHYA PRADESH - 55 

MAHARASHTRA - 28 

KARNATAKA - 22 

UTTARAKHAND - 18 

ASSAM - 12 

RAJASTHAN -11 

* 

FIRST SIGHT - 

*  Karnataka Records Its First' Sandalwood Leopard 

CROCODILE CENSUS - 

* A Total Of 1858 Salt Water Crocodile Counted in Odisha 

- 531 Hatchling (28.58%)

- 442 Yearlings ( 23.79%)

- 365 Juvenile ( 19.64%)

- 167 Sub Adults - ( 8.99%(

- 353 Adults ( 19%)

NEW SPECIES = 

* * CALAMARIA MIZORAMENSIS, A NEW REED SNAKE SPECIES DISCOVERD IN MIZORAM.

* IT IS BASED ON DNA 

* THIS IS THE NON - VENOMOUS REED SNAKE 

* 

NEW PL\ANT SPECIES - 

'* * HEPTAPLEURUM ANAMUDIANUM, AMRUTH, ROBI & SUJANA, A NEW SPECIES OF ARALIACEAE HAS DISCOVERD IN ANAMUDI HILLS, IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA.

* THIS SPECIES DISTINGUISH BY ITS LEAF TAXONOMY.

* 

* RESEARCHERS FROM NAGALAND UNIVERSITY HAVE FOUND A NEW PLANT SPECIES IN PHEK.

* NEW SPECIES - HOYA NAGAENSIS ( NAGAENSIS FROM NAGALAND) & NAGA COMMUNITY 

( FAMILY - APOCYNACEAE) 

* SUB FAMILY - ASCLEPIADOIDEAE 

* THE SPECIES DISCOVERD IN PHEK DISTRICT FOREST IN NAGALAND 

* 

TWO NEW FROG SPECIES - 

* RESEARCHERS FROM DELHI AND HARVARD UNIVERSITY HAVE DISCOVERED TWO NEW FROG SPECIES IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH. ( HERPETOLOGIST DR S D BIJU FROM DELHI UNIVERSITY) 

* LEPTOBRACHIUM SOMANI ( SOMAN'S SLENDER ARMED FROG) 

* LEPTOBRACHIUM MECHUKA ( MECHUKA SLENDER ARMED FROG) 

* THESE TWO SPECIES HAVE DISCOVERED IN LOWER DIBANG VALLEY AND SHI - YOMI DISTRICT 

* 

TWO NEW SNAIL SPECIES - 

* RESEARCHERS FROM EUROPE HAS DISCOVERD THREE NEW GENERA OF SMALL  LAND SNAIL SPECIES FROM HIMALAYA AND MIZORAM. 

* Chamalycaeus Ganeshaiahi 

* Cycloryx Rohiniae ( From Blue Mountain, Mizoram) 

* Dicharax  Umashaankeri, From Blue Mountain, Mizoram 

* NEWLY DISCOVERED SPECIES NAMED IN HONOUR TO TRUSTEE OF ATREE - Rohini Nilekani, R Uma Shaanker, K N Ganeshaiah 

* * RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED THREE NEW SPECIES OF MUSICAL KATYDIDS IN KASHMIR.

* CONOCEPHALUS USMANII ( Named After Professor Mohd Kamil Usmani) 

* CONOCEPHALUS NAGARIENSIS ( Budagam District) 

* CONOCEPHALUS GANDERBALI ( Named After Ganderbal District) 

* THE TEAM WAS LEAD BY MUZAMIL SYED SHAH FROM ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY, 

* A SMALL CRUSTACEAN HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN KVARATTI LAGOON IN LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS 

* A NEW GENUS AND NEW SPECIES 

* FAMILY - LAOPHONTIDAE ( CLASS - COPEPODA) 

* THE SPECIES CRUSTACEAN NAMED - INDIAPHONTE BIJOYI 

* SPECIES NAMED AFTER - A BIJOY NANDAN, Dean Of Faculty Marine Science, Cochin University of Science & Technology ( CUST) 

* A NEW SPECIES OF WORM LIKE CAECILIAN HAS DISCOVERD IN WESTERN GHATS 

* SPECIES NAME - GEGENEOPHIS VALMIKI 

( NAMED AFTER MAHARISHI VALMIKI MANDIR, IN SATARA DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA) 

* 

* A NEW SPECIES OF GINGER HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN SIANG VALLEY OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH 

* SPECIES NAME - PARAKAEMPFERIA ALBA 

* RESERCHERS FROM KERALA & TAMILNADU HAVE DISCOVERED TWO NEW SPECIES OF RARE ANT FLIES - FROM DELHI & TAMILNADU.

* TWO NEW SPECIES ARE 

- METADON GHORPADEI ( Picture 1) 

- METADON REEMERI ( Picture 2) 

- SUB FAMILY -  MICRODONTINAE ( Syrphidae) 

* Rare Ghost Orchid REDISCOVERED After 175 Years In Meghalaya.

* A NEW PLANT SPECIES HAS DISCOVERD IN EAST KAMENG DISTRICT IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH ( INDIAN HIMALAYA) 

* SPECIES NAME - STROBILANTHES RITESHII K 

* FAMILY BELONGS TO - ACANTHACEAE) 

* 

* A NEW SPECIES OF WILDFLOWER SPECIES (YELLOW COLOUR) DISCOVERED IN RATNAGIRI DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA.

* PLANT NAME - LEPIDAGATHIS KONKANENSIS ( KONKON REGION) 

* A GROUP OF BOTANIST FROM PARULEKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS, COMMENCE, SCIENCE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE SCIENCES, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, AND LOCAL COLLEGE OF MAHARSHTRA DISCOVERED 

* THIS SPECIES IS BRIGHT YELLOW COLOUR, TWO LIPPED BLOSSOM AND VERY SHORT, DENSE FLOWERING HEAD ( MEASURES ABOUT 2 CENTIMETRES)

 

* 

STATE FLOWER - 

* CHANDIGARH DECLARES THE STRIPED TIGER BUTTERFLY AS STATE FLOWER 

* DANAUS GENUTIA ( SPECIES NAME) 

ENVIRONMENT - 

* The Tamilnadu Forest Has Denied Permission To NTPC Tamilnadu Energy Corporation Limited To Conduct Test At The Proposed Upper Bhavani Pumped Storage HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT At Mukhurti National Park 

* Tamilnadu Has Registered A Historic Milestone With The Notification Of 100 New Reserve Forests, Nearly 13,500 Hectares 

*  Madhya Pradesh To Rename The Ratapani Tiger Reserve After Padmashri Archaeologist Dr. Vishnu Sridhar.

* Crocodile Census Held in Odisha ( Similpal) 

84 in 2026 ( 81 in 2025) 

AWARDS - 

* Dr Nobin Raja, A Researchers At ATREE Has Been Awarded With Hasmukh Shah Memorial Award For Ecological Studies 2025.

* * AMERICAN MYCOLOGIST TOBY KIERS WINS THE 2026 TYLER PRIZE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT.

* HER WORK ON MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI 

* 

* G Rajkumar, An Eminent ENVIRONMENTALIST Of Kerala Passed Away.

( KNOWN AS KURINJI RAJKUMAR) 

* WHO Led The Role In The Estsblishment Of Kurinjimala Sanctuary 2006) 

( to protect The Rare Neelakurinji Flower In Western Ghat) 

( Meitei Nganu Or Eshing Nganu - The Manipuri Duck Has Been Registered As a Distinct Indigenous Breed In Assam. (By ICAR) 

FIRST MAGH BIHU CENSUS - 

* First Magh Bihu Census Records 2026 

- 111 Bird Species In Chandubi Beel 

* UNION Environment And Climate MINISTER Has Announced The Notification Declaring The Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary As Eco Sensitive Zone 

* The Russian Federation Has Formally Joined As The International Big Cat Alliance 

* Hesarghatta Grassland, In Bengaluru Received The Conservation Reserve Tag.

* Tamilnadu Forest Department Will Conduct A State Wide Raptor Assessment To Map Distribution Of Birds Of Prey.

* Bacillus Subtilis Declared State Microbe Of Kerala.

* Two Days Asian Water Bird Census 2026 To Conduct At Pobitora 

* A 63.5 Lakh Tonne Reserves Of Rare Earth Elements Discovered In Karnataka.

BOOKS - 

*  SHRUBS AND CLIMBERS IN INDIA: A Field Guide Book Author - The Kodaikanal Based Environmentalist PIPA MUKHERJEE 

NEW RAMSAR SITES ADDED - 

* * MINISTRY OF FOREST, CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT HAS ANNOUNCED TO ADD TWO NEW RAMSAR SITES 

* PATNA BIRD SANCTURY IN ETAH, UTTAR PRADESH 

* CHHARI - DHAND IN KUTCH, GUJARAT 

* 

FEBRUARY - 

ENVIRONMENT - 

* Madhya Pradesh Forest Department Has Announced The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary As Cheetahs Third Home.

* World Wetlands Day - 2nd February (THEME 2026 - WETLANDS AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE CELEBRATING CULTURAL HERITAGE ) 

* Smooth Coated otters Has Listed As Vulnerable By IUCN.

* The Asiatic Lion Population Has Increases To 891 in 2025 From 674 In 2020 

* Wildlife Institute Of India ( WII) In Collaboration With Forest Department, Tamilnadu Has FOUND 158 Dugongs in Palk Bay & 112 In Gulf Of Mannar 

* Asia Recorded The Largest Area Of Planted Forest In 146 Million Hectares (23% Of World) 

* Two Women Farmers Arika Narasamma And Lalam Jyothi Have Been Selected For A European Agro ECOLOGY Tour Under APCNF Programme.

* RAMSAR Listed Nala Sarovar Recorded 6 .42 Lakh Birds Of 270 Species.

* Mudu malai Elephant Rivaldo Died 

* A Total Of 41 Tigers Died In Maharshtra in 2025.

* Jammu and Kashmir Police Has Unveiled The High Altitude Squad Snow Leopard For Anti Terror Operation.

 * The Tamilnadu Government Has Launched The First Dark Sky Park At The Ariyur Shola Reserve Forests, In Koli Hills.

DOLPHIN CENSUS IN ODISHA - 

* * ODISHA DOLPHIN CENSUS CONDUCTED ( 765 DOLPHINS POPULATION) 

* 493 in BHITARKANIKA 

* 175 IN CHILIKA LAKE 

* 66 in PURI 

* 15 IN BALASORE 

* 13 BERHAMPUR 

* 3 BHADRAK 

AWARDS - 

* * India's Meha Jain Wins The Inaugural ASU ( Science Prize) For Transformational Impact For Uses Of Satellite Data And Artificial Intelligence To Help Farmers To COMBAT With CLIMATE 

* TAMILNADU CHIEF MINISTER M K Stallin Has Laid Foundation Stone of First Sea Turtle Conservation Centre At Guindy, Chennai.

NEW SPECIES - 

* RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW SPINY SPECIES OF ANT IN GARBHANGA RESERVE FOREST IN ASSAM 

* SPECIES NAME - POLYRHACHIS GARBHANGAENSIS 

* INDIA RECORDS 71 SPECIES OF GENUS POLYRHACHIS 

* 

* * RESERCHERS FROM ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ZSI) HAVE DISCOVERED TWO NEW SPECIES OF WORMS ( POLYCHAETES) FROM WEST BENGAL.

* TWO NEW SPECIES ARE 

a) Nereididae ( Annelida Nereididae ) 

b) Second SPECIES NAMED AFTER Dhitri Banarjee ( ZSI Director) 

* This Species Helps In Coastal Health 

** BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (BSI) RESEARCHER TEAM HAVE IDENTIFIED A NEW SPECIES OF FLOWERING PLANT IN PAKHAL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN MAHBUBABAD DISTRICT, IN TELENGANA.

* SPECIES NAME - DICLIPTERA PAKHALICA 

* FAMILY - ACANTHACEAE 

* * RESEARCHERS FROM ASSAM UNIVERSITY, SILCHAR HAVE RECORDED THE FIRST EVER TINY JUMPING SPIDER SPECIES IN ASSAM.

* SPECIES NAME - COLYTTUS BILINEATUS 

* * RESERCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW SPECIES OF DRAGONFLY SPECIES IN KERALA.

* SPECIES NAME - LYRIOTHEMIS KERALAENSIS 

* 

* * A NEW ORCHID SPECIES DISCOVERED IN WESTERN GHATS 

* SPECIES NAME - DIPLOCENTRUM PAPILLOSUM 

* 

* ICAR - NBFGR Discovered A New Species Of Squat Lobster From Lakshadweep.

* * A NEW BRIGHT ORANGE SQUAT LOBSTER SPECIES DISCOVERD IN LAKSHADWEEP.

* SPECIES NAME - LEIOGALATHEA SAMUDRAGIRI 

* 

*  ICAR - CICFR DISCOVERD A New Mahseer Species (TOR  SATTALENSIS) in Uttarkhand.

* * A NEW BRIGHT ORANGE SQUAT LOBSTER SPECIES DISCOVERD IN LAKSHADWEEP.

* SPECIES NAME - LEIOGALATHEA SAMUDRAGIRI 

* 

* * RESEARCHERS FROM KOZHIKODE ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW APIACEAE SPECIES IN ERAVILULAM GRASSLAND IN KERALA.

* SPECIES NAME - TETRATAENIUM PAIKADAE 

* IT IS A PERENNIAL HERB IN APIACEAE FAMILY ( GROWING 30-80 CM TALL THICK) 

* THE SPECIES NAMED AFTER IN HONOUR TO LATE REV FATHER JOSEPH PAIKA, ( PRINCIPAL & MANAGER OF JOSEPH'S COLLEGE) 

* THE PLANTS GROWS IN MARSHY GRASSLAND AT ELEVATION BETWEEN 1000-2500 meter ABOVE SEA LEVEL 

* OIL DUCTS FOUND IN ITS FRUITS 

* 

* * RESEARCHERS FROM BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (BSI) HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW SPECIES OF COBRA LILY IN SIAHA DISTRICT, MIZORAM.

* SPECIES NAME - ARISAEMA SIAHAENSE 

* 

* * RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED TWO NEW ARMY ANT SPECIES FOUND IN EASTERN GHATS. ( ANDHRA PRADESH) 

* AENICTUS CHITTOORENSIS Sp Nov.

* AENICTUS LANKAMALLENSIS Sp nov 

* 

* * RESEARCHERS FROM CUSAT & CSIR NIO Goa HAVE DISCOVERED A NEW SNAPPING SHRIMP SPECIES IN KERALA.

* NAMED - ALPHEUS MADHUSOODANAI in The Cochin Estuary 

* SPECIES NAMED AFTER - BIOLOGIST DR. B MADHUSOODANAI Kurup 

* Union Ministry Of Environment, Forest And Climate Change To Organise HIM - CONNECT On Sideline Of TERI's World Sustainable Development Summit 2026 

 ( The Him - Connect Platform Connects Researchers Working In The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) With Start Up, Investors, Policy Makers) 

( Him - Connect Will Exhibit Field - Validated, Market Ready Solution In Crucial Sectors Including Water Security, Climate Adaption, Waste To Wealth, Sustainable Building, Renewable Energy, And Nature Based Livelihood) 

* * A NEW SPECIES OF BLIND, AQUIFER DWELING FISH DISCOVERD IN GOALPARA DISTRICT, ASSAM 

* SPECIES NAME- GITCHAK NAKANA 

* 

* IT IS A FIRST AQUIFER FISH FROM NORTH EAST INDIA 

* 

* 

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 13TH MARCH 2026

World Kidney Day - 12th March 

Theme 2026 - Kidney Health For All: Caring For People, Protecting The Planet 

1) Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra Has Assumed As Deputy Chief Of Integrated Defence Staff ( Policy Planning & Force development) 

2) Indian Naval Ship INS Trikand, Stealth Frigate Of Indian Navy Called At Port Louis, Mauritius, On Operational Deployment To South West Indian Ocean Region 

3) Meghalaya Textile Designer IIamon Thangkhiew Named Among Global Women In Design At 2026 Heimtextil

4) Coimbatore District Police, Has Launched The Kovai Digi Cop, First It's Kind Of WhatsApp Based CHATBOT To Provide Digital Access.

5) First India Bound Vessel Liberia Flagged Shenlong Suezmax Reached At Mumbai, Via STRAIT OF HORMUZ 

6) President Droupadi MURMU Inaugurated The Global Conference On The Role Of WOMAN In Agri - Food System 2026 

7) The Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative assembly Has Passed The Transfer And Posting Of Employees Of The Education Department Bill 2026 

8) Britain's Parliament Has Approved The Bill To End Hereditary Peers In House Of Lords .

9) Dr Avinash Rout Appointed As The Personal Secretary Of Odisha Chief Minister 

10) INDIAN Footballer Ravinder Singh PASSED AWAY.

11) BEL Has CONFERRED With The Governance Now PSU Leadership Award 

12) Odisha, Goa, Jharkhand, Gujarat And Maharashtra Are The Top 5 States At FISCAL HEALTH Index 2026 Ranking 

13) Tamilnadu Launched The TN - CReST Portal To Track Gauge Cancer Burden In Tamilnadu 

14) South Indian Bank Has Joined With EPFO To Launch EPF Payment Service Through SIBERNet 

15) SMILJAN RADIC (Chile ) Has Win The PRITZKER PRIZE 2026