2014

91. With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands Interna

With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

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  • 1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
  • 2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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The correct answer is B.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Wetlands International is an international non-governmental organization (INGO), not an intergovernmental organization formed by Ramsar signatories. While it is a crucial partner of the Ramsar Convention and works closely with governments and other stakeholders, it is not constituted by countries. Statement 2 is correct. Wetlands International works globally and locally through offices and partners, engaging in research, monitoring, conservation projects, capacity building, and advocacy to promote the wise use and conservation of wetlands.
Wetlands International was founded in 1937 as the International Wildfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau. Its mission is to conserve and restore wetlands for their biodiversity and human livelihoods.

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92. Consider the following pairs : 1. Dampa Tiger Reserve : Mizoram

Consider the following pairs :

1. Dampa Tiger Reserve: Mizoram
2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary: Sikkim
3. Saramati Peak: Nagaland

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct answer is C.
Pair 1: Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in Mizoram. This pair is correctly matched. Pair 2: Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tripura, not Sikkim. This pair is incorrectly matched. Pair 3: Saramati Peak is the highest peak in Nagaland, located on the border with Myanmar. This pair is correctly matched. Therefore, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.
Dampa Tiger Reserve is part of Project Tiger. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is important for its biodiversity, including primates. Saramati Peak is part of the Naga Hills and is known for its snow cover during winter.

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93. Consider the following languages : 1. Gujarati 2. Kannada 3. Telug

Consider the following languages :

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  • 1. Gujarati
  • 2. Kannada
  • 3. Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language/ Languages’ by the Government?

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1 and 2 only
3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct answer is C.
As of the time this question was likely framed (and even currently, prior to any potential future additions), the languages declared as Classical Languages by the Government of India are Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Among the given options, Kannada (2) and Telugu (3) have been declared as Classical Languages. Gujarati (1) has not been declared a Classical Language.
Criteria for declaring a language as classical include high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years, a body of ancient literature/texts considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers, and originality, being distinct from modern language/literature.

94. With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider th

With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statements :

  • 1. ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilizes the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process.
  • 2. Photovoltaics generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
  • 3. India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
None
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The correct answer is A.
Statement 1 correctly distinguishes between Photovoltaics (PV) and Solar Thermal technologies. PV converts sunlight directly into electricity using the photovoltaic effect, whereas Solar Thermal technology concentrates sunlight to heat a fluid, which is then used to generate steam to drive a turbine connected to a generator, thereby producing electricity indirectly. Statement 2 is incorrect; Photovoltaic cells inherently produce Direct Current (DC), which is then converted to Alternating Current (AC) by an inverter if needed for grid connection or AC appliances. Solar Thermal power plants typically use conventional generators which produce Alternating Current (AC). Statement 3 is incorrect; India has a significant manufacturing base for both Photovoltaic modules/cells and various components used in Solar Thermal power plants.
Photovoltaics are commonly used in rooftop solar panels and large solar farms. Solar Thermal systems are less common for small-scale applications but are used in utility-scale Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants.

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95. With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the followin

With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

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It serves as financial mechanism for 'Convention on Biological Diversity' and 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change'
It undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at global level
It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with specific aim to protect their environment
Both (a) and (b)
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The correct answer is A.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) serves as a financial mechanism for several key multilateral environmental agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Statement A correctly identifies its role for the CBD and UNFCCC. Statement B is incorrect; while GEF funds projects that might involve scientific research, its primary role is financing environmental projects, not undertaking the research itself. Statement C is incorrect; the GEF is not an agency under the OECD; it is a partnership of 18 agencies, including UN bodies, multilateral development banks, and national agencies.
The GEF was established in 1992 on the eve of the Rio Earth Summit to help tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental problems. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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96. With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the

With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements:

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  • 1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
  • 2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness.
  • 3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 3 only
2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is an independent non-governmental organization dedicated to nature conservation. It is not an autonomous body *under* any government ministry. It actively works to conserve nature through scientific research, education, and public awareness, including organizing nature trails and camps. Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.
BNHS is one of the oldest and largest conservation NGOs in India, founded in 1883. Its activities span a wide range of biodiversity research, conservation projects, and public education initiatives aimed at promoting nature appreciation and conservation. While it collaborates with government bodies and receives grants, it maintains its independent status.
Statement 1 is false as BNHS is a registered society/trust, not a government entity. Statement 2 accurately describes its core mission. Statement 3 highlights one of its key public engagement activities, well-known to anyone familiar with the organization.

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97. Consider the following pairs : Programme/Project Ministry 1.

Consider the following pairs :

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Programme/ProjectMinistry
1. Drought-Prone Area ProgrammeMinistry of Agriculture
2. Desert Development ProgrammeMinistry of Environment and Forests
3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed AreasMinistry of Rural Development

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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1 and 2 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
None
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None of the given pairs are correctly matched. The Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) were administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (specifically, the Department of Land Resources). The National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) falls under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Administrative responsibilities for various development programs in India are assigned to different Union Ministries. DPAP and DDP historically focused on area development and drought/desert mitigation in specific vulnerable regions, falling under the purview of rural development and land resources. NWDPRA is aimed at improving agricultural productivity in rainfed areas through watershed management, placing it under the agriculture ministry.
Over time, some of these programs or their components may have been restructured or integrated into larger schemes. However, at the time this question was likely framed, the stated ministry pairings were incorrect. For example, DPAP and DDP were later subsumed into the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), which is also under the Ministry of Rural Development.

98. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each oth

Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’?

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Andaman and Nicobar
Nicobar and Sumatra
Maldives and Lakshadweep
Sumatra and Java
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The Ten Degree Channel is a body of water that separates the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south in the Bay of Bengal.
Geographically, this channel lies roughly along the 10° North latitude line. It is a significant geographical feature dividing the two major island groups of India’s Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
Other significant channels in the region include the Eight Degree Channel (separating Minicoy island of Lakshadweep from the Maldives) and the Great Channel (separating Great Nicobar from Sumatra, Indonesia). The Sunda Strait separates the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra.

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99. If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreu

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

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Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference
The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any activity within five kilometres from the edge of the wetland
The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed
It is given the status of 'World Heritage Site'
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The Montreux Record is a list under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands that identifies wetlands of international importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to human interference.
Listing a site on the Montreux Record highlights the specific threats to its ecological character and calls for targeted conservation measures. It serves as a mechanism for monitoring and responding to adverse changes in Ramsar sites.
The Montreux Record is a tool to help identify priority sites for conservation action. It does not automatically impose legal restrictions like prohibiting activity within a specific radius (B), nor does it specifically relate to cultural practices (C), or confer World Heritage status (D).

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100. What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane produc

What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative’?

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  • Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
  • Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
  • There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
  • The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 4 only
2, 3 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
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The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) reduces seed cost by using single-budded setts, facilitates effective drip irrigation due to wider spacing, and increases the scope for intercropping in the wide inter-row spaces. Statement 3 is incorrect as SSI promotes reduced use but doesn’t entirely eliminate chemical fertilizers.
SSI is an agro-ecological approach to sugarcane cultivation that focuses on ‘more with less’ – more cane production using less seed, less water, and less land. Key practices include the use of single-budded setts or seedlings transplanted after raising them in a nursery, wider row spacing, and promotion of drip irrigation and organic manuring.
The advantages listed in statements 1, 2, and 4 are well-documented benefits of the SSI method compared to traditional sugarcane cultivation. Statement 3 is a common misconception or overstatement; SSI encourages integrated nutrient management, which includes organic sources and efficient use of inorganic fertilizers if needed, aiming for significant reduction rather than zero application.

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