UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Santorini Island, India State of Forest Report 2023 and more (Week 108)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Indus Waters Treaty, consider the following pairs:

1. Eastern Rivers of the Indus system – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

2. Western Rivers of the Indus system – Sutlej, Beas and Ravi.

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) for the first time, despite having weathered four wars, decades of cross-border terrorism against India by Pakistan, and a long history of animosity between the two countries.

— The IWT was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960, after nine years of talks between India and Pakistan. The Treaty contains 12 Articles and 8 Annexures (from A to H).

— All water from the “Eastern Rivers” of the Indus system — Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — should be available for India’s “unrestricted use” under the Treaty’s stipulations. Pakistan will receive water from the “Western Rivers” (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab). Hence, pairs 1 and 2 are not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Sambhar Lake, consider the following statements:

1. It is India’s largest saline wetland.

2. It has been classified as a Ramsar Site.

3. This site is important for a variety of wintering waterbirds, including large numbers of flamingos.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Sambhar Lake is India’s largest inland saltwater lake at 230 sq km, spread mostly across Jaipur and Nagaur districts and also a part of Ajmer. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It has a catchment area of 5,700 square km, with the water depth fluctuating between 60 cm in the dry season to about 3 metres at the end of the monsoon.

— Every year, from November to February, the lake attracts thousands of migratory birds from northern Asia and Siberia, including tens of thousands of flamingos. When the monsoon arrives in July, the lake erupts with delight, accompanied by the chirping of avian species such as coots, black-winged stilts, sandpipers, and redshanks.

— The habitat is vital for a variety of wintering waterbirds, including many flamingos. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Sambhar Lake has also been classified as a Ramsar Site. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following countries:

1. Denmark

2. Germany

3. France

4. Poland

Which of the countries given above is/are borders the Baltic Sea?

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 3 and 4 only

Explanation

— Leaders in the Baltic Sea reacted cautiously to rumours that Russia may alter the borders of its territorial waters in the region, with Lithuania’s foreign minister calling it an “obvious escalation” that requires an “appropriately firm response.”

— Kaliningrad is located between Lithuania to the north and east, and Poland to the south. It is the home of the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet.

— The Baltic Sea is bordered by Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland, and Sweden.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Santorini Island was recently in the news. It is located in:

(a) Italy

(b) Greece

(c) Myanmar

(d) United States

Explanation

— Thousands of people, both residents and tourists, have fled Greece’s famed tourist destination Santorini following 300 earthquakes.

— The majority of people are seeking protection in Athens, with more safety flights announced, including 15 from Santorini to Athens.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the India State of Forest Report 2023, consider the following statements:

1. The net forest cover decreased between 2021 and 2023.

2. The tree cover has decreased from 2021 to 2023.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the 18th biennial State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023) on December 21 at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun.

— The ISFR is produced biennially and entails mapping the country’s forest cover with satellite data.

— The ISFR uses data derived from wall-to-wall mapping of India’s forest cover using remote sensing techniques to plan and formulate policy in the forest management, forestry, and agroforestry sectors.

— India’s green cover has surpassed the 25% mark, with forest (21.76%) and tree (3.41%) covering 8,27,357 square kilometres (25.17%) of the country. Of this, 4,10,175 square kilometres are designated as thick forests.

— The net forest cover increased by 156.41 sq km between 2021 and 2023, bringing the geographical area under forest cover to 21.76 percent, a mere 0.05 percent increase from the 2021 assessment. With the increased net forest area, the total area under forest cover is currently 7,15,342.61 square kilometres. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Between 2003 and 2013, forest cover rose by 0.61 percentage point, from 20.62% to 21.23%. In the following ten years, it increased by only 0.53 percentage points to 21.76%.

— The tree cover has increased the most dramatically. It grew from 2.91% in 2021 to 3.41% in 2023, resulting in an expansion of 1,285.4 square kilometres. The overall green cover has expanded by 1,445.81 square kilometres since 2021, accounting for 25.17 per cent of the geographical area. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— In the two decades since 2003, India’s dense forests have been completely destroyed, covering 24,651 square kilometres (more than 6.3%). As a single forest unit, it would be roughly half the size of Punjab.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 108)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 107)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 107)

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