Environment and Ecology Archives

291. Consider the following statements: 1. Carbon markets are likely to

Consider the following statements:

1. Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tool in the fight against climate change.
2. Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2010

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Both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

– Statement 1: Carbon markets (such as cap-and-trade systems or carbon taxes combined with trading mechanisms) are widely recognized by economists and policymakers as crucial tools for pricing carbon emissions and incentivizing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. They create an economic signal that encourages businesses and individuals to lower their carbon footprint, making them a significant tool in fighting climate change.
– Statement 2: Carbon markets often involve mechanisms like auctioning emission permits (in cap-and-trade) or imposing a direct tax on carbon emissions (carbon tax). In both these common scenarios, resources (money) are transferred from the private sector (companies that emit carbon) to the state (government) in the form of revenue from auctions or taxes. While private entities also trade permits among themselves, the regulatory framework and revenue generation for the state are key features of many carbon market implementations.

– Carbon markets aim to achieve emission reductions at the lowest possible cost by allowing the market to determine the price of carbon.
– Revenue generated from carbon markets can be used by governments for various purposes, including funding green initiatives, providing tax relief, or direct redistribution to citizens.
– The effectiveness and design of carbon markets are subjects of ongoing debate, but they remain a prominent policy tool under consideration and implementation globally to meet climate targets.

292. Directions : Each of the next FIVE (05) items consists of two statemen

Directions : Each of the next FIVE (05) items consists of two statements, one labelled as the Assertion (A) and the other as ‘Reason (R)’. You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the codes given below :
Codes :
Assertion (A) : Import of Chinese toys was recently banned by the Government of India.
Reason (R) : The plastic material used to make the toys are not biodegradable.

[amp_mcq option1=”Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A” option2=”Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A” option3=”A is true but R is false” option4=”A is false but R is true” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Assertion (A) is true, and Reason (R) is true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

– Assertion (A) states that the import of Chinese toys was recently banned by the Government of India. This is a factual statement that aligns with events that occurred around 2009 when India imposed a temporary ban on certain toy imports from China.
– Reason (R) states that the plastic material used to make the toys is not biodegradable. This is generally true; many types of plastic commonly used in toys are not biodegradable.
– However, the primary reason cited by the Government of India for the ban on Chinese toys was not their non-biodegradability, but rather concerns about safety and quality standards, specifically high levels of lead and other toxic chemicals hazardous to children’s health.
– Therefore, while both statements are individually true, the non-biodegradability of the plastic was not the reason for the import ban. R is not the correct explanation for A.

– The temporary ban in 2009 was imposed following tests that found excessive levels of lead and other hazardous chemicals in samples of Chinese toys.
– This highlights how regulatory decisions, especially regarding imports, are often driven by concerns for public health, safety, and adherence to quality standards, rather than environmental factors like biodegradability, although environmental concerns are also important in other policy contexts.

293. The laboratory from where carbon dioxide measurements have been taken

The laboratory from where carbon dioxide measurements have been taken since 1958 A.D., which form the basis of present global warming data base is :

[amp_mcq option1=”Maragheh observatory” option2=”Mauna Loa observatory” option3=”Griffith observatory” option4=”Sydney observatory” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii is the site where continuous measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration began in 1958, forming the basis of the Keeling Curve and a key dataset for understanding global warming.

The Keeling Curve, named after Charles David Keeling, shows the steady increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration since the late 1950s, along with seasonal fluctuations. This is one of the most important pieces of evidence for anthropogenic climate change.

The Mauna Loa Observatory is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Its remote location on a volcanic mountain top minimizes local pollution influences, making it an ideal site for monitoring global atmospheric composition.

294. Which of the following movements address both sociological and ecologi

Which of the following movements address both sociological and ecological issues ?

The Trade Union movements in post-colonial India
Narmada Bachao Andolan
Jai Prakash Narain’s movement for total revolution
Chilka Bachao Andolan

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 3 only” option2=”2 and 4 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Sociological issues relate to society, social structures, rights, inequality, etc. Ecological issues relate to the environment, conservation, sustainability, etc.
1. Trade Union movements: Primarily sociological (workers’ rights, wages).
2. Narmada Bachao Andolan: Protest against dams, addressing displacement (sociological) and environmental impact (ecological).
3. Jai Prakash Narain’s movement: Broad socio-political reform, primarily sociological/political.
4. Chilka Bachao Andolan: Movement to protect Chilka Lake, addressing environmental degradation (ecological) and impacting the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities (sociological).
Therefore, movements 2 and 4 address both sociological and ecological issues.

Environmental movements in India often have strong socio-economic dimensions, linking ecological conservation with the livelihoods and rights of affected communities.

Many movements resisting large development projects in India (dams, mines, industrial plants) highlight both the environmental damage caused and the social costs, such as displacement, loss of livelihoods, and violation of rights, thus demonstrating the intertwined nature of ecological and sociological concerns.

295. Which one of the following statements is not correct about Biosphere R

Which one of the following statements is not correct about Biosphere Reserves ?

[amp_mcq option1=”They are protected areas meant for conservation of Biodiversity” option2=”Each Biosphere reserve has three zones” option3=”There is a network of biosphere reserves world over” option4=”They were first started by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources)” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The statement that Biosphere Reserves were first started by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is not correct.

Biosphere Reserves were initiated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, which was launched in 1971.

A) They are protected areas meant for conservation of Biodiversity: This is correct. Biosphere reserves aim to conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
B) Each Biosphere reserve has three zones: This is correct. The typical zonation includes a core area (strictly protected), a buffer zone (allowing limited activities compatible with conservation), and a transition area (allowing sustainable economic and human activities).
C) There is a network of biosphere reserves world over: This is correct. Biosphere reserves form a global network under the MAB programme.
IUCN is a prominent international organization involved in nature conservation but did not originate the biosphere reserve concept.

296. Which of the following is not true about Giant Panda ?

Which of the following is not true about Giant Panda ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It is a logo of WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature)” option2=”Giant Pandas are naturally found in Tibet and Southwest China” option3=”Giant Pandas are worst invasive species of the world” option4=”Giant Pandas feed on Bamboos” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a well-known symbol of conservation and is the logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (Statement A is true). They are native to a few mountain ranges in central China, primarily Sichuan, but also Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, which is part of Southwest China and historically related to Tibetan areas (Statement B is true). Their diet consists almost exclusively of bamboo (Statement D is true). Giant Pandas are critically endangered or vulnerable (status changes over time due to conservation efforts) native species, not invasive species. Invasive species are non-native species that cause harm to the new environment.

– Giant Pandas are native to China, primarily feeding on bamboo.
– They are the logo of WWF and are a vulnerable/endangered species.
– Giant Pandas are not invasive species; they are native to their habitat and are facing threats, not posing them to a new environment.

Conservation efforts, including habitat protection and breeding programs, have helped improve the status of Giant Pandas from endangered to vulnerable in recent years, although significant threats still remain.

297. Which one of the following is not a World Heritage Site ?

Which one of the following is not a World Heritage Site ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Kaziranga National Park” option2=”Sundarbans National Park” option3=”Kangchendzonga National Park” option4=”Keoladeo National Park” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2009

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Kaziranga National Park (Assam, inscribed 1985), Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal, inscribed 1987), and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan, inscribed 1985) are all recognized UNESCO World Heritage Sites (all Natural sites). Kangchendzonga National Park (now Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Mixed category) much later, in 2016. Therefore, at the time this question was likely framed (based on other questions, likely before 2016), Kangchendzonga was not a World Heritage Site.

– Kaziranga, Sundarbans, and Keoladeo are long-standing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
– Khangchendzonga National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2016.

India has a total of 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2023. These include cultural, natural, and one mixed site (Khangchendzonga).

298. The green plants in a terrestrial eco- system absorbs sunlight that fa

The green plants in a terrestrial eco- system absorbs sunlight that falls on their leaves and convert it into food energy. The percentage of solar radia- tion absorbed by all green plants for the process of photosynthesis is about

[amp_mcq option1=”1%” option2=”5%” option3=”8%” option4=”10%” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2023

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The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by all green plants for the process of photosynthesis is about 1%.

Ecological studies show that only a small fraction of the total solar energy incident on the Earth’s surface is captured by producers (green plants) and converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This efficiency is typically stated as being around 1%. This absorbed energy forms the base of most ecosystems, supporting all subsequent trophic levels.

While plants absorb some portion of the sunlight (especially in the red and blue wavelengths), much of the incident light is reflected or transmitted. Furthermore, not all absorbed energy is converted into biomass; a significant portion is lost as heat or used by the plant for its own metabolic processes (respiration). The 1% value refers to the efficiency of conversion of incident solar energy into net primary production.

299. In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court of India directed that every

In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court of India directed that every protected forest, national park and wildlife sanctuary across the country should have a mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a minimum of

[amp_mcq option1=”1 km starting from their demarcated boundaries” option2=”2 km starting from their demarcated boundaries” option3=”3 km starting from their demarcated boundaries” option4=”5 km starting from their demarcated boundaries” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2022

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In a significant judgment in June 2022, the Supreme Court of India directed that every protected forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary across the country must have a mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a minimum of 1 kilometre starting from their demarcated boundaries. The ruling aimed to regulate development activities in these sensitive areas.

The Supreme Court mandated a minimum 1 km eco-sensitive zone around protected areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries).

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are areas declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) around Protected Areas. The purpose is to create a buffer zone and regulate certain activities to minimize the negative impact on the protected area. While the minimum is 1 km, the ESZ can extend up to 10 km in some cases, and its extent is determined based on specific requirements and consultation, but the Court set a floor of 1 km.

300. Operation Olivia, an initiative to protect Olive Ridley turtles, is un

Operation Olivia, an initiative to protect Olive Ridley turtles, is undertaken by

[amp_mcq option1=”Indian Navy” option2=”Indian Coast Guard” option3=”Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change” option4=”Ministry of Earth Sciences” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2021

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The correct answer is B, Indian Coast Guard. Operation Olivia, an initiative to protect Olive Ridley turtles, is undertaken annually by the Indian Coast Guard.

Operation Olivia is a yearly exercise conducted by the Indian Coast Guard along the coast of Odisha (and sometimes parts of Andhra Pradesh) from November to May. Its purpose is to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles that visit the coastal waters, particularly near nesting sites like Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, for breeding and nesting. The operation involves extensive surveillance to prevent illegal trawling and fishing activities that can harm the turtles.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal ministry for conservation efforts, but the operational implementation of anti-poaching and protection patrols in coastal waters is primarily the responsibility of the Indian Coast Guard. The Indian Navy is primarily responsible for national defence. The Ministry of Earth Sciences focuses on research and related services concerning earth systems.