Forest Rights Act, 2006
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Current affairsBSI Discovers Osbeckia ulotricha in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve: New Plant Species from Western Ghats and India's Biodiversity SignificanceScientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new woolly-haired flowering plant species, Osbeckia ulotricha, in the shola grasslands of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats (Kerala–Tamil Nadu boundary). Published in the international botanical journal Lilloa, the discovery adds to India's documented flora — set against the backdrop of the Western Ghats as one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots. Current affairsMMDR Amendment Bill, 2026: Centre Restricts State Mineral Taxes, MADA Judgment Reversed — Fiscal Federalism Under PressureParliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 — Lok Sabha on August 12 and Rajya Sabha on August 13 — inserting a new Section 9D that prohibits states from levying taxes on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands except as prescribed by the Centre. The Bill directly overrides the Supreme Court's landmark nine-judge MADA judgment (July 2024), which affirmed states' plenary power under Entry 50 of the State List to tax mineral development — raising acute fiscal federalism concerns among mineral-rich states. Current affairsHuman-Wildlife Conflict in India 2026: National Portal Launch, Gaj Gaurav Awards, and PMFBY Coverage — Complete UPSC GuideIndia launched the National Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Portal on July 10, 2026 — a single digital platform for recording incidents and supporting policy decisions — alongside the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on HWC at Coimbatore. World Elephant Day (August 12, 2026) marked conferral of the Gaj Gaurav Awards and reaffirmation of ₹500 crore government support for elephant corridor conservation and early-warning systems. Animal-related crop losses have been included in PMFBY from the kharif 2026 season. Current affairsMines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act 2026: Centre Restricts State Mineral Tax Powers, Voids Pending LeviesParliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill on 13 August 2026, restricting state governments from levying taxes or cesses on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, and voiding all uncollected state mineral levies — a direct legislative response to the Supreme Court's landmark nine-judge bench ruling in the Mineral Area Development Authority v Steel Authority of India case (July 2024). Current affairsNine Anchor Species Could Help India Meet Its 30×30 Biodiversity and Climate Targets, Says Study in Conservation LettersA new study in Conservation Letters (Lamba et al., 2026, DOI: 10.1111/con4.70059) identifies nine wildlife species — including the tiger, sambar deer, and dhole — whose habitat protection could simultaneously conserve over 700 vertebrates and 1.1 gigatonnes of above-ground carbon per species, offering India a species-centred pathway to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's 30×30 target while only 5% of Indian land is currently protected. Current affairsMines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026: Centre Curtails State Mineral Taxes, Unlocks Critical Mineral PotentialThe Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha by Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, proposes to restrict state governments from levying taxes, cess, or other charges on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, remove the 50% cap on captive mine sales, allow multiple minerals in a single lease, and expand the National Mineral Exploration Trust's scope — aimed at bringing certainty and uniformity to India's critical minerals sector. Current affairsWorld Lion Day 2026: India's Asiatic Lion Population Rises to 891 — A Conservation Success StoryWorld Lion Day is observed on 10 August each year to raise awareness about lion conservation globally. On World Lion Day 2026, India highlighted the results of the 16th Asiatic Lion Census (May 2025): the population has risen to 891 from 674 in 2020 — a 32.2% increase in five years — all found exclusively in and around Gir in Gujarat.