UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Elephants in India, Clarion-Clipperton Zone and more (Week 116)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Elephants in India, consider the following statements:

1. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme.

2. In north-eastern India, the elephant’s range extends along the foothills of the Himalayas from the eastern border of Nepal through northern West Bengal to western Assam.

3. Elephants are protected under Schedule II species of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

4. As per the recent elephant census, there are zero elephants in Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore region.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— The Union Environment Ministry held a review of key initiatives under Project Elephant on Thursday at the 21st meeting of the project’s steering committee, chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Phase-I of the synchronised elephant population estimation for the Northeastern states was completed, according to the ministry.

— Project Elephant is a centrally supported plan, and the steering committee oversees its implementation, as well as problems such as elephant conservation and habitat protection. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The last elephant census or estimating exercise was conducted in 2017, and it revealed that the country was home to around 29,964 elephants. Although a report on the next synchronised elephant census titled ‘Status of Elephants in India 2022-23’ was created, The Indian Express reported in October that it was delayed due to a delay in the census in the North-East and because it was an interim report. According to that report, the number of elephants has decreased by 20% over the previous five years.

— The elephant is India’s national heritage animal, classified as a Schedule I species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Elephants in India

— The elephant’s range in north-east India runs along the Himalayan foothills from Nepal’s eastern border to northern West Bengal to western Assam. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Elephant populations in central India are very fragmented, with a few individuals straying into Chhattisgarh from Orissa, Jharkhand, and the southern section of West Bengal.

— In northwestern India, the species is distributed in six scattered populations in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, extending from the Bahraich Forest Department’s Katranighat Wildlife Sanctuary in the east to the Yamuna River in the west.

— Southern India has eight primary clusters that are split from one another: Northern Karnataka, Crystalline of Karnataka—Western Ghats; Bhadra—Malnad; Brahmagiri—Nilgiris—Eastern Ghats; Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore; Anamalai—Parambikulam; Periyar—Srivilliputhur; and Agasthyamalai. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: moef.gov.in)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the ‘tigers outside of tiger reserve’, consider the following statements:

1. The scheme will be implemented by the Chief Wildlife Wardens of state forest departments, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

2. The scheme aims to manage conflicts more effectively through enhanced monitoring and protection.

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

— With frequent human-tiger conflicts in various forest divisions of the country, the Union Environment Ministry has approved funds for a pilot plan called ‘tigers outside of tiger reserve’ to better manage such conflicts through greater surveillance and protection. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— According to official documents, the executive committee of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is part of the Environment Ministry, approved in-principle funding for the scheme on a pilot basis for one year. The scheme will provide funds to 80 forest divisions across ten states that were initially identified based on data from recurring human-tiger conflicts.

— This will be used for technical interventions to preserve and monitor tigers and co-predators, to strengthen forest managers to deal with conflict caused by technology, to collaborate with civil society and professional veterinarians, and to expand the prey base.

— The initiative will be executed on the ground by state forest department Chief Wildlife Wardens, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). When asked about the initial rollout of the pilot, a government official stated that the NTCA was finalising the list of forest and wildlife divisions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the rare earth magnets, consider the following statements:

1. They are a crucial component in electric vehicle motors.

2. Russia controls over 90 per cent of global processing capacity for the magnets.

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

— India stated it had communicated with China on the supply of rare earth magnets, as Beijing has imposed export limits.

— China, which controls more than 90% of worldwide processing capacity for magnets used in autos, clean energy, and home appliances, imposed restrictions in April forcing companies to acquire import permits from Beijing. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— While rare earth magnets are essential components in electric vehicle motors, they are also required in equipment such as power windows and audio speakers found in gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to industry estimates, India’s car sector bought 460 tonnes of rare earth magnets, largely from China, in the fiscal year ending March 31, and plans to import 700 tonnes valued at $30 million this year.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the tiger reserves, consider the following pairs:

1. Palamau Tiger Reserve – Mizoram

2. Sariska Tiger Reserve – Haryana

3. Madhav Tiger Reserve – Assam

How many of the pairs given above are correctly marked?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) All three pairs

(d) None of the pairs

Explanation

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: madhavnationalpark.org)

QUESTION 5

The Banakacherla reservoir project was recently in the news. It is the water dispute between:

(a) Goa and Maharashtra

(b) Odisha and Telangana

(c) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

(d) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Explanation

— Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has challenged former Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Chandrashekar Rao to a discussion in the state Assembly over the contentious Banakacherla reservoir project. It is the most recent water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

— The Banakacherla reservoir project aims to transform Andhra Pradesh’s drought-prone Rayalaseema area into arable land.

— According to the idea, the first phase would be to increase the capacity of the Polavaram Right Main Canal from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs, allowing Godavari water to be transferred to Krishna.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Where is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone found?

(a) In the Antarctic Ocean

(b) In the low Earth orbit (LEO) where astronauts primarily travel

(c) Between troposphere and stratosphere

(d) In the Pacific Ocean

Explanation

— Scientists have been fascinated by the mystery of dark matter for decades, thinking that it uses gravitational attraction to hold galaxies together. Recently, an exciting discovery has shed light on another unseen phenomena: dark oxygen.

— Dark oxygen is found well below the ocean’s surface. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oxygen is released from mineral deposits located 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) below the surface in the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).

— This depth is almost half of Mount Everest’s height.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Consider the following pairs:

1. Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary : Sikkim

2. Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary – Maharashtra

3. Kuno National Park – Madhya Pradesh

4. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary – Kerala

Which of the pairs given above are not correctly matched?

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Only 3

(d) All of the above

Explanation

— The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary renamed on 25 May 2004, formerly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest, is an isolated protected area of evergreen forest located in Jorhat district of Assam, India.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

These migratory birds, locally known as ‘Kahuaipuina,’ arrive in northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, in large numbers during October.

Which birds are being referred to in the above lines?

(a) Amur Falcons

(b) Rosy Pelican

(c) Black-crowned Night Heron

(d) Siberian Cranes

Explanation

Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) – These migratory visitors, locally known as ‘Kahuaipuina,’ arrive in northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, in large numbers during October. They are on their southbound migration from their breeding grounds in northern China, eastern Mongolia, and far eastern Russia. During their stopover, which lasts three to four weeks, the falcons build fat reserves by foraging on termites before continuing their journey to their wintering grounds in South Africa.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 115)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 116)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 116)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 116)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 115)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 115)

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