UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Konkan Railways, Shirui Lily Festival and more (Week 111)

QUESTION 1

The Shirui Lily Festival is one of the major tourism festivals organised by:

(a) Arunachal Pradesh

(b) Sikkim

(c) Kerala

(d) Manipur

Explanation

— Imphalgram, a popular Instagram handle headquartered in Imphal, posted a video of a “road trip” to the hill station of Ukhrul, which is around 80 miles away. The film depicts the creators going to Ukhrul via gorgeous hill roads, passing by markets and security officers and cars that have become common in the state during the last two years.

— They visit various locations during the Shirui Lily Festival, one of two major tourism events conducted by the Manipur government.

— The Shirui Lily Festival takes place in Ukhrul town and Shirui hamlet in Ukhrul district, where the Tangkhul Naga population is the majority.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to Delhi’s Morphological Ridge, consider the following statements:

1. It is the tail-end of the city’s ancient Vindhyan hill range.

2. It works as a green lung for the capital and a natural barrier against hazards such as desertification and pollution.

3. This region primarily features tropical dry thorn forest characterised by scattered trees, thorny scrubs and drought-resistant plant species.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The Supreme Court issued show cause notices to senior Delhi government officials, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, and a private developer, seeking explanations for alleged violations of its 1996 directive under the M C Mehta vs Union of India case, as well as for proceeding with the construction of a housing society in the “morphological ridge” area, an ecologically sensitive zone in Vasant Kunj.

— The Delhi Ridge is the end of the city’s ancient Aravalli hill range and an ecologically sensitive area. It serves as the capital’s green lung and a natural barrier to threats such as desertification and pollution. This Ridge, which enters Delhi from Gurgaon in the southwest, spans for approximately 35 km from the south of Mahipalpur to the southeast of Tughlakabad, eventually ending in Wazirabad on the western side of the Yamuna River. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct.

— In contrast, the Morphological Ridge is a geologically enlarged Ridge area. It is not formally designated as forest land, but it has received protection under multiple High Court and Supreme Court decisions over the last decade. It has the same rocky outcrop and vegetation cover as the designated Ridge area.

— The region has the same physical and ecological characteristics as the officially defined Ridge, including stony Aravalli outcrops, shallow soil layers, and dry thorn forest vegetation. This land is sometimes referred to as “gair mumkin pahad” (uncultivable rocky hill) in revenue documents.

— The Morphological Ridge area primarily features tropical dry thorn forest characterised by scattered trees, thorny scrubs and drought-resistant plant species. The native species generally exhibit stunted growth. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

What are the reasons for the flooding in Bengaluru every year?

1. Elevation of the city

2. It lacks a major river to channel excess water naturally.

3. Construction on Lake beds

4. Poor drainage system

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The India Meteorological Department (IMD) upgraded its earlier warning to red alert in seven coastal and south interior districts of Karnataka. Meanwhile, Bengaluru, despite consistent rainfall throughout the day, is still under the Orange alert category.

Why is Bengaluru prone to flooding every year?

— The city’s topography may partly explain its flooding woes. Bengaluru is situated on an elevation of about 900 meters and lacks a major river to channel excess water naturally, unlike other metropolitan areas.

— In the year 1800, Bengaluru, then a 740 sq km region, had 1,452 water bodies with a water storage capacity of 35 TMC (thousand million cubic feet), allowing for optimal rainwater harvesting and flood mitigation.

— Bengaluru also has interconnected lake systems, with around 190 lakes currently. The city’s rapid expansion has resulted in widespread encroachment on both lake beds and linking valley zones, in breach of ecological standards.

— Vishwanath S, a water expert and urban planner, explains that locations constructed on lake beds, such as ST Bed Layout and Manyata Tech Park, are naturally prone to urban flooding. He further claimed that the SWD system along Hosur Road in Electronic City had ‘disappeared’ due to increased urbanisation, resulting in heavy waterlogging.

— Environmentalists and water conservationists have also expressed concern over the city’s current drainage system, which they claim is obsolete and inadequate to handle the city’s current population and rainfall intensity.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

What is the correct sequence of the lion population (top to bottom) according to the 2025 Lion census?

1. Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary

2. Gir National Park and surrounding area

3. Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary

4. Savarkundla Wildlife Sanctuary

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1—2—3—4

(b) 2—1—3—4

(c) 2—1—4—3

(d) 1—2—4—3

Explanation

— The most recent population assessment exercise in Gujarat found 891 lions, representing a 32% increase in population since 2020. Lions’ range has grown by 17% over the last five years, from 30,000 to 35,000 square kilometres, and they currently cover 58 talukas (up from 53 in 2020) throughout 11 districts.

— Asiatic lions have recovered dramatically from a population of less than 200 in the 1960s, when their last home in Gir was designated for special protection. For the most part, this progress has been long and steady—the population did not reach 300 until 1995, when the lion broke free from the shelter of the woodlands.

Lion Census data.

— The correct sequence is Gir National Park and surrounding area, Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary and Savarkundla Wildlife Sanctuary.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Konkan Railways (KR), consider the following statements:

1. It was established in 1990 to carry out the difficult task of constructing railway lines through the rocky Western Ghats.

2. The KR spreads over Maharashtra and Goa only.

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

— The Maharashtra government has officially decided to merge the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Indian Railways. Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala have already authorised the merger, and Maharashtra’s vote paves the door for the complete integration of one of India’s most scenic and strategically important railway lines into the wider national network.

— The Konkan Railway (KR) was formed in 1990 as a special purpose vehicle within the Ministry of Railways to undertake the challenging task of building railway lines across the steep Western Ghats. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The project, which formally commenced operations in January 1998, aimed to connect Roha in Maharashtra, Goa, Mangaluru in Karnataka, and coastal Kerala, serving as a lifeline for both goods and passenger transit along the Konkan coastline. The KRCL was established as a joint venture with the Government of India holding a 51% share, Maharashtra 22%, Karnataka 15%, and Goa and Kerala 6% each. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 111)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 111)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 111)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 111)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 110)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 110)

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