Himalayan bee

A rare solitary Himalayan bee, Colletes bhutanicus, has been recorded for the first time in India from Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The species was recorded during a recent survey in Tawang by ZSI scientists Dibyajyoti Ghosh, K A Subramanian and Dhriti Banerjee.

• Earlier, C. bhutanicus had been recorded from Bhutan and China, including the Xizang region. Its documentation in Arunachal Pradesh adds to the understanding of the distribution and diversity of Himalayan pollinators, they added.

• According to researchers, the bee was found at elevations ranging from 1,500 metres to 3,800 metres and was observed visiting 25 species of flowering plants, including mustard, buckwheat, coriander, beans, chilli and eggplant.

• Unlike honeybees, Colletes bees are solitary and do not live in large colonies. Individual bees generally nest separately and play an important role in pollination by moving between flowers to collect pollen and nectar.

• Earlier taxonomic studies have documented C. bhutanicus from Bhutan and parts of China. A 2014 study published in Zootaxa listed the species among Colletes bees recorded from China.

Glaw Lake

♦ Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav has announced the designation of Glaw Lake in Arunachal Pradesh as India’s 101st Ramsar Site.

♦ The recognition also marks a first for Arunachal Pradesh, which has now joined the list of states with a Ramsar-designated wetland.

♦ Glaw Lake is a pristine freshwater lake located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.

♦ Nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, the lake is fed by perennial mountain streams and is surrounded by dense forests, making it an ecologically rich landscape.

♦ The wetland and its catchment area are home to more than 150 tree species and 49 orchid species, highlighting its importance as a biodiversity hotspot.

♦ A Ramsar Site is a wetland recognised as being of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty adopted in 1971 to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.

♦ The designation recognises wetlands that play a vital role in conserving biodiversity, maintaining water resources, regulating climate and supporting the livelihoods of communities that depend on these ecosystems.

Andhra Pradesh and Australia

♦ The Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Australia have signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Amaravati on 2 August 2026 to strengthen cooperation in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, inclusive education, student mental health and skill development. The agreements were signed in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh and Australia’s Assistant Minister for International Education, Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill.

♦ The first agreement was signed between the State government's Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition (CoEET), the Indian Institute of Technology-Tirupati and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney to establish a Centre of Excellence for Solar Manufacturing at IIT-Tirupati.

♦ The second MoU was signed by the University of New South Wales, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam and Samagra Shiksha, Andhra Pradesh, to strengthen inclusive education. It is intended to improve teachers’ ability to support children with autism and other neurodiverse learning needs.

♦ The third agreement involves a technology-driven pilot project on student mental health and well-being. Under the initiative, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) and Australian organisation Rebound would implement programmes in selected higher educational institutions across the State at no cost to participating institutions.

♦ The fourth MoU was signed between the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Australia's Dynamic Learning Services (DLS). The partnership focuses on vocational education, workforce development, industry-oriented training and creating international employment opportunities for students and young professionals.