12 MARCH 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

UPSC GS Paper-1: Geography / Culture

⭐ Roopkund Lake

⭐ Why in the News

Roopkund Lake, often referred to as the “Skeleton Lake,” has recently attracted renewed attention due to the large number of human skeletal remains discovered around its frozen waters.

⭐ Nature of the Lake

• Roopkund is a glacial lake located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

• The lake is popularly called Skeleton Lake because hundreds of ancient human skeletons have been found scattered around its surroundings.

⭐ Location

• The lake is situated at the base of Mount Trishul in the Garhwal Himalayas.

UPSC GS Paper-1: Geography

⭐ Devon Island

⭐ Why in the News

Scientists from NASA use Devon Island as a testing site for Mars exploration missions because its extremely cold and barren polar desert landscape closely resembles the surface conditions of Mars.

This environment helps researchers test next-generation rovers and exploration technologies.

⭐ Location

• Devon Island is located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

• It lies within the High Arctic region, characterised by extremely harsh climatic conditions.

⭐ Global Status

• Devon Island is regarded as the largest uninhabited island in the world.

⭐ Surrounding Geographical Features

• Ellesmere Island lies to the north of Devon Island.

• Baffin Bay is situated to the east of the island.

⭐ Haughton Impact Crater

• Devon Island contains the Haughton Impact Crater, which is about 14 miles (approximately 23 km) wide.

• The crater was formed millions of years ago due to a meteorite impact.

• The rocky and barren terrain created by this impact resembles the Martian surface, making the region an ideal location for Mars mission simulations.

GS Paper-3: Environment & Biodiversity

⭐ Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

⭐ Why in the News

The Karnataka High Court recently directed the state government to ensure that no on-ground activities take place within the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone, emphasising the need to protect the fragile ecosystem.

⭐ Location

• The Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary is located in the state of Karnataka.

⭐ Global Significance

• The sanctuary forms part of the Western Ghats, a region recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptional biodiversity.

⭐ Formation of the Sanctuary

• The protected area was established by integrating several existing forest and conservation regions.

• It includes the Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

• The sanctuary also incorporates the Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve.

• Additional adjoining reserve forest blocks were merged into the protected area.

⭐ Boundary

• The south-western boundary of the sanctuary adjoins the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.

⭐ Terrain

• The terrain is highly undulating and rugged.

• The altitude in the region ranges from about 94 metres to 1,102 metres above sea level.

⭐ Vegetation

• The sanctuary is largely covered by tropical evergreen forests.

• Semi-evergreen forests are also widespread in the region.

• Other vegetation types include moist deciduous forests, grasslands, and savanna-like landscapes.

⭐ Flora

• The sanctuary hosts rich plant diversity, including species such as Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, and Nandi.

⭐ Faunal Diversity

• The sanctuary supports a wide variety of wildlife species.

• A key species found here is the endangered lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus).

• Other animals include tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, and mouse deer.