Environment and Ecology

11. Which of the following statements is *not* correct as per the Climate

Which of the following statements is *not* correct as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)-2023 ?

India has jumped 2 spots higher in CCPI-2023.
India is placed at the 8th rank in CCPI-2023.
India is amongst the top 5 best performing countries in the world on climate change.
India is placed lower in rank in this index than Norway and United Kingdom.
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UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2023
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The incorrect statement as per the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)-2023 is D) India is placed lower in rank in this index than Norway and United Kingdom.
In the CCPI 2023, India was ranked 8th. The UK was ranked 11th, and Norway was ranked 16th. A lower rank number indicates better performance. Therefore, India (rank 8) is placed *higher* in rank (performing better) than the United Kingdom (rank 11) and Norway (rank 16). Statement D is the inverse of the reality.
Statement A is correct: India jumped 2 spots from its 10th rank in CCPI 2022 to 8th rank in CCPI 2023. Statement B is correct: India is indeed placed at the 8th rank. Statement C is correct: The CCPI report leaves the first three ranks empty, considering no country is performing well enough across all categories. Ranks 4-15 are categorized as “High” performance. India, at rank 8, is well within this “High” performance category and is among the top countries ranked (specifically among the top 5 countries that *actually occupy a rank* from 4 onwards: Denmark (4), Sweden (5), Chile (6), Morocco (7), India (8)).

12. Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme is a five-year joint i

Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme is a five-year joint initiative by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Which are the seven participating states of India in this programme ?

Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and West Bengal
Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Odisha
Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh
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The seven participating states of India in the Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) programme are Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal. This matches option B.
The TOFI program is a joint initiative by USAID and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, aimed at increasing tree cover outside traditional forest areas to enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and livelihoods. It is being implemented in specific states.
The TOFI program focuses on states with low tree cover outside recorded forest areas and high potential for expansion. The identified states are Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal. The program aims to leverage private sector investment and develop resilient tree-based enterprises.

13. Consider the following statements : It was alleged that the river b

Consider the following statements :

  • It was alleged that the river became dead after its mouth was closed restricting its free flow in 1950. The entire river bed was converted into a dumping ground for garbage and solid and liquid waste. The National Green Tribunal has recently directed the State Government to revive the dead river by earmarking dedicated fund for the purpose.

Identify the river :

Vamsadhara river
Sukapaika river
Musi river
Ulhas river
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The description matches the case of the Sukapaika river in Odisha. Sukapaika is a distributary of the Mahanadi river.
In 1950, the mouth of the Sukapaika river was closed to prevent flooding in the region, which subsequently choked the river’s flow, leading to its conversion into a dumping ground and its eventual ‘death’.
Following petitions and environmental concerns, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Odisha government to take steps to revive the Sukapaika river, including clearing obstructions and ensuring water flow. The state government has since initiated a restoration project.

14. In terms of area under forest cover, the top three states in India are

In terms of area under forest cover, the top three states in India are :

Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya
Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra
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According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), which is published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the ranking of states based on the total forest cover area often lists the following states in the top positions (based on ISFR 2021):
1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Chhattisgarh
4. Odisha
5. Maharashtra
Option A correctly lists Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh as the top three states in terms of area under forest cover.
– Forest cover is measured in two ways: total area and percentage of geographical area.
– Different states top the list depending on whether area or percentage is considered.
In terms of percentage of geographical area under forest cover, the top states are often different, with Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland typically having very high percentages. The question specifically asks for area.

15. Landslide caused due to civil construction work in a hilly area is :

Landslide caused due to civil construction work in a hilly area is :

a man-made disaster.
a natural disaster.
None of the above
Both (a) and (b) above
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A landslide caused due to civil construction work in a hilly area is a man-made disaster.
While landslides can occur naturally (triggered by rain, earthquakes, erosion), if the primary cause is human activity such as improper slope cutting for roads, buildings, or other construction, it is classified as a man-made or anthropogenic disaster because the human action directly triggered the event.
It is important to distinguish between natural hazards and disasters. A natural hazard is a natural phenomenon that poses a threat. A disaster occurs when a hazard impacts vulnerable populations or infrastructure, leading to loss. When human activity directly causes the event itself, it becomes a man-made disaster.

16. Recently, the Supreme Court of India ordered the laying of underground

Recently, the Supreme Court of India ordered the laying of underground high-voltage power lines in Gujarat and Rajasthan to save the :

Great Indian Bustard
Great Indian Hornbill
Spot-Billed Pelican.
Sarus Crane.
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The Supreme Court of India ordered the laying of underground high-voltage power lines in priority areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan specifically to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB). These birds, which are large ground-dwelling birds, have poor frontal vision and are highly susceptible to collisions with overhead power lines, which is a major cause of their mortality.
– The Great Indian Bustard is a critically endangered bird species found in arid and semi-arid grasslands of India and Pakistan.
– Overhead power lines are a significant threat to the survival of GIB due to bird collisions.
– The Supreme Court intervened to mandate mitigation measures, including the undergrounding of power lines, in key GIB habitats.
Other avian species like raptors can also be impacted by power lines, but the Supreme Court’s specific directive was primarily aimed at protecting the severely threatened GIB population in these regions. The proposed action affects parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, which are crucial GIB habitats.

17. Which one of the following is known as the life-supporting zone of the

Which one of the following is known as the life-supporting zone of the Earth ?

Ecosystem
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Biome
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The biosphere is the sum of all ecosystems on Earth. It is the narrow layer of the Earth where life exists, encompassing parts of the land (lithosphere), water (hydrosphere), and air (atmosphere).
The biosphere is essentially the life-supporting zone of the Earth because it is the region where living organisms interact with the physical environment.
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment in a specific area. The atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth. A biome is a large area characterized by its climate and the plant and animal communities adapted to that climate (e.g., forest, desert, grassland). While these are all components related to the Earth and its life, the biosphere is the overarching term for the entire zone where life is found.

18. The organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves a

The organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant materials that adds to the fertility of the soil is called :

Humus.
Top soil.
B-horizon.
Mineralization.
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Humus is the stable organic component of soil that results from the decomposition of dead plant and animal matter by microorganisms.
Humus is dark in color, rich in nutrients essential for plant growth, and significantly improves soil structure, water retention, and aeration. It is a key indicator of soil fertility.
Top soil (A-horizon) is the uppermost layer of soil, typically the richest in organic matter (including humus) and biological activity. B-horizon (subsoil) is below the topsoil and generally contains less organic matter but may accumulate minerals leached from the A-horizon. Mineralization is a process of decomposition where organic matter is broken down into inorganic substances, releasing nutrients, but it refers to the process, not the organic component itself.

19. The Chipko Movement is related to which one of the following issues ?

The Chipko Movement is related to which one of the following issues ?

Land rights of tribals
Commercial logging
Atrocities against Dalits
Rights of farmers
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The correct answer is B) Commercial logging. The Chipko Movement, which originated in the Garhwal Himalayas in the early 1970s, was a non-violent social and ecological movement primarily aimed at protecting trees and forests from destruction by commercial loggers. Villagers, particularly women, literally hugged trees (chipko means “to stick” or “to hug”) to prevent contractors from felling them.
– The movement started in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh).
– Key figures associated with the movement include Sunderlal Bahuguna, Gaura Devi, and Chandi Prasad Bhatt.
– The movement was motivated by concerns over ecological damage and the impact of deforestation on the livelihoods of local communities.
While the movement had underlying connections to the rights and livelihoods of local communities (including tribals in some areas), its direct and iconic form of protest and stated objective was against the widespread commercial felling of trees permitted by the government, which was seen as detrimental to the local environment and economy.

20. The idea of Ecological Succession was first formally coined by

The idea of Ecological Succession was first formally coined by

Charles Darwin.
Clements.
Sir A. Tansley.
Emberlin.
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The correct answer is Clements.
Frederic Clements is widely credited with formulating the first comprehensive theory of ecological succession in the early 20th century. He developed the concept of succession as a directional process leading to a stable climax community, influenced by climate. His monograph “Plant Succession: An Analysis of the Development of Vegetation” (1916) was foundational in this field.

A) Charles Darwin’s work focused on evolution by natural selection, not specifically ecological succession.
C) Sir A. Tansley coined the term “ecosystem” but is not primarily credited with coining the idea of ecological succession itself, although he contributed to ecological thought.
D) Emberlin is not a figure widely recognized for coining the initial formal idea of ecological succession compared to Clements.

Clements’ monoclimax theory of succession was later challenged by other ecologists like Henry Gleason (individualistic concept) and Robert Whittaker (polyclimax theory), who proposed more complex and less deterministic views of vegetation change. However, Clements’ work laid the groundwork for the formal study of ecological succession.
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