Research paper published: 15 April 2026
Prelims - Environment and Biodiversity
Why in the News
The description of a new plant species named Dillenia nagalim from Kamjong district, Manipur, was published in the journal Phytotaxa (volume 751, issue 2) on 15 April 2026. It is a species of the Dilleniaceae family and, according to the paper, is endemic to Manipur.
Key point to remember:
The authors have suggested a provisional category of "Critically Endangered" for it (CR B2ab). This is the authors' preliminary assessment, not a status entered in the official IUCN Red List.
Location
Choro village, Kamjong, Manipur
Altitude
About 250-350 metres
Form
Shrub, 0.6-1.2 metres
Name
nagalim = land of the Naga tribes
Status
Provisional CR B2ab
Original explanatory summary.
Key Points of the Research Paper
According to the abstract, this species resembles D. pentagyna and D. hookeri, but its shrub is 0.6-1.2 metres tall, the leaf stalk is slightly stem-clasping (amplexicaul), the leaf margins are doubly toothed, the flowers are showy, the stamens are many and the carpels number 7-8. The molecular analysis is based on the rbcL gene. The main specimen (holotype) is kept at the Central National Herbarium (CAL), Howrah.
The species was found in open tropical deciduous forest. Flowering and fruiting were recorded between May and June. According to the paper, there is a direct threat from human activity in the area turning the forest into settlement or town. Manipur lies in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
Where Does the Confusion Arise in the Exam?
"New species" does not mean "threatened species listed by the IUCN". Here the CR suggestion is the authors' preliminary assessment. Also, "nagalim" means the land of the Naga tribes; it is not the name of a state.
Direction of Preparation from Previous Questions:
Statement-based questions have appeared in the official General Studies Paper-I of UPSC Prelims 2023. So prepare the location, conservation status and the meaning of the name separately. The questions below are original practice questions, not actual PYQs.
Prelims Style: Practice Questions
1. With reference to Dillenia nagalim, consider the following statements:
Statement 1: It has been described as a new species of the Dilleniaceae family.
Statement 2: It was found near Choro village in Kamjong district of Manipur.
Statement 3: It has already been listed as "Critically Endangered" in the official IUCN Red List.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
See Answer and Reason
Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The CR category has been suggested provisionally by the authors; it is not stated to be listed in the official Red List.
2. What is the meaning of the word "nagalim", according to the research paper?
(a) The state of Nagaland
(b) Land of the Naga tribes
(c) Mountain forest
(d) A shrub with red flowers
See Answer and Reason
Answer: (b). The paper describes it as "land of Naga tribes".
3. According to the research paper, on which gene was the molecular analysis of Dillenia nagalim based?
(a) rbcL
(b) CO1 (COI)
(c) 16S rRNA
(d) ND2
See Answer and Reason
Answer: (a). The abstract mentions an rbcL gene-based analysis.
Sources:
- Phytotaxa 751(2): Dillenia nagalim (Dilleniaceae): a new species from Manipur, Northeast India, 15 April 2026.
- UPSC: Prelims 2023, question format.
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