30 Geography Topics for UPSC Prelims 2026: Western Disturbances, Sijimali Bauxite, 432 Glacial Lakes Monitored

Sikkim Identifies 40 High-Hazard Glacial Lakes, 16 in Category A at GLOF Risk

Sikkim has identified 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, with 16 in the highest risk category (Category A) for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The state is developing India's first dedicated GLOF Risk Mitigation Protocol, with Shako Chho identified as the most vulnerable lake. This comes after the devastating October 2023 GLOF in Sikkim that killed 60 people and destroyed the Chungthang dam.

Western Ghats ESA: Gadgil and Kasturirangan Reports, 5 Draft Notifications, State Opposition

The Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification has been in limbo since 2010, with two major committee reports (Gadgil and Kasturirangan) offering contrasting approaches. With five draft notifications issued between 2014 and 2026 and states like Karnataka opposing the move, this issue is a classic UPSC case study on balancing conservation with livelihoods, federalism, and scientific decision-making.

India-China Brahmaputra River Dispute: No Water Treaty, Data Sharing Suspended, Medog Dam (60 GW) Threat

India and China have no binding water treaty for the Brahmaputra; only two flood-season memorandums (2002, 2005) that China suspends during tensions. China's Medog mega-dam (60 GW) in a seismic zone threatens Arunachal and Bangladesh. India itself is an upstream withholder (Indus with Pakistan) and lacks a binding framework.

Hurricane Polo Turns Category 5; Strong El Niño May Cause 451,000 Additional Global Heat Deaths

Hurricane Polo has intensified into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds of 270 kmph. This is unfolding against an unusually strong El Niño that the WMO expects to persist through February 2027. El Niño is being watched closely because it can disrupt rainfall worldwide—the Climate Impact Lab projects 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally, including about 15,800 in India.

Monsoon Revival: Rainfall Deficiency Drops to 11.5%, Kharif Sowing Gap Narrows to 2.9%

The monsoon has revived significantly, reducing cumulative rainfall deficiency from 22.8% to 11.5% and narrowing the kharif sowing gap from 20.8% to 2.9%. However, El Niño is strengthening into a 'very strong' event, posing a serious threat to the upcoming rabi season. Proactive supply-side management will be crucial for food security.

160 km Oil Spill from Minoan Pioneer Threatens UNESCO Hara Mangroves in Persian Gulf

A major oil spill from the bulk carrier Minoan Pioneer, after being struck by a projectile, is threatening the Hara mangrove forests in the Persian Gulf. These mangroves are a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, vital for marine nurseries, bird migration, and local livelihoods. The ongoing West Asia conflict is hindering cleanup, risking a catastrophic ecological collapse.

Western Himalaya Warming 7.18°C by 2100, Snow Loss Triple Under High Emissions: Study

A new study reveals that the Western Himalaya is warming faster than the central and eastern parts, with winter temperatures projected to rise by over 7°C by 2100 under high emissions. This will lead to severe snow loss, threatening water security for 1.5 billion people dependent on glacier-fed rivers like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.

Myristica Swamps in Western Ghats: 500-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem at Risk, Only 53 Patches Remain

Myristica swamps, ancient freshwater wetlands in the Western Ghats with 500 million years of genetic history, are down to just 53 patches in Kerala. They are vital for flood control, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity but face extinction from agriculture, logging, and past plywood exploitation. Urgent conservation is needed.