State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 25 Nov 2025

Denwa River in Satpura Tiger Reserve

Why in News?

A rare sighting of a tigress swimming across the Denwa River inside the Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR), Madhya Pradesh, was recorded by forest officials, highlighting rising tiger activity and healthy riverine habitats in the reserve.

• Tigress leisurely swimming in the Denwa River is a behaviour seldom captured on camera due to the elusive nature of tigers.

Key Points

• About Denwa River:
  • The Denwa River is the lifeline of Satpura Tiger Reserve and originates from the southern slopes of the Mahadeo Hills in the Satpura range.
  • It flows northward and joins the Tawa River, forming extensive wetlands inside the reserve, which support rich aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.
  • The river creates natural barriers, riverine islands, and grasslands that act as wildlife corridors for tigers, sloth bears, deer species, and birds.
• About Satpura Tiger Reserve:
  • Satpura Tiger Reserve, located in Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram) district, is part of the Satpura–Maikal landscape in Madhya Pradesh.
    • Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (which includes STR) was the first Biosphere Reserve of Madhya Pradesh (declared in 1999) and was later recognized by UNESCO.
  • It comprises Satpura National Park, Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, making it one of India’s oldest forest reserves.
  • The terrain includes sandstone peaks, deep gorges, ravines, rivers, and dense sal-teak forests, offering ideal tiger habitat.
  • It is known for high densities of tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian bison (gaur), wild dogs (dhole), and rich bird diversity.

Hayli Gubbi Volcano

Why in News?

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia has erupted explosively, sending high-altitude ash plumes thousands of metres up, some of which have drifted into Indian airspace, triggering aviation advisories. 

Key Points

• Hayli Gubbi volcano is located in Afar, northeastern Ethiopia, within the Danakil Depression - one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth.
• The current eruption is significant because the volcano is believed to have erupted after nearly 12,000 years, based on geological evidence from the Afar Rift.
• The Hayli Gubbi eruption highlights the geological volatility of the East African Rift System (EARS) where active volcanism, fissure eruptions, and spreading ridges are common.
  • It is one of the world’s most tectonically active rift systems where the Arabian, Nubian, and Somali plates are diverging.
• The region is characterised by basaltic lava, fissure systems, and frequent seismic activity linked to the continental rifting process.

Volcanic Ash & Aviation Risks

• Volcanic ash is made of tiny, abrasive particles of rock and glass that can melt inside jet engines and cause serious damage.
• Jet engines can stall when ash melts and re-solidifies on turbine blades.