UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Indian Ocean Dipole, Green Credit Programme and more (Week 117)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), consider the following statements:

1. It is the difference in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) between the eastern and western regions of the Indian Ocean.

2. It has only two phases, i.e positive and negative and does not have a neutral phase.

3. A negative IOD leads to more rainfall.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The southwest monsoon is influenced by two factors: El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole. ENSO is a climate phenomena that affects sea temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, as well as atmospheric oscillations. It has three phases: El Niño, La Niña, and neutral. El Niño reduces the monsoon, whereas La Niña and neutral result in heavier and normal rainfall. In June, ENSO was in its neutral phase.

— IOD, or the differential in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) between the eastern and western areas of the Indian Ocean, has three phases: positive, negative, and neutral. A positive IOD results in more rainfall, whilst a negative phase results in less rainfall. A neutral IOD has minimal influence. In June, IOD was in a neutral state. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statements 2 and 3 are not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), consider the following statements:

1. These are sudden and catastrophic floods caused by the failure of natural dams, usually formed by glacial moraines or ice.

2. Thawing of permafrost decreases the risk of GLOFs.

3. Melting of glaciers increases the risk of GLOFs.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Glacier melting and permafrost thaw also increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Hence, statement 2 is not correct and statement 3 is correct.

— GLOFs are sudden and catastrophic floods caused by the failure of natural dams, usually formed by glacial moraines or ice, which contain glacial lakes. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The report ‘The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 – Mountains and glaciers: Water towers’ noted that these floods “alone have resulted in more than 12,000 deaths in the past 200 years, and have caused severe damage to farmland, homes, bridges, roads, hydropower plants… often prompting further internal displacement”.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) refers to:

(a) a moving system of wind, cloud and pressure that brings rain as it circles around the equator

(b) a periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

(c) a regular variation of the winds in the tropical stratosphere between easterlies and westerlies.

(d) a weather phenomenon in the North Atlantic Ocean characterised by fluctuations in the difference of atmospheric pressure between the Icelandic Low and the Azores High.

Explanation

— The southwest monsoon blanketed the entire country on June 29, nine days earlier than its customary date of July 8. Since 1960, this was only the tenth time the monsoon had completed its national coverage in June.

— This year, the monsoon arrived early as well. It landed in Kerala on May 24, eight days before the scheduled date of June 1. This occurred for a variety of reasons, including the active phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a moving system of wind, clouds, and pressure that brings rain as it circles the equator around mid-May.

— After the onset, the monsoon progress largely remained ahead of its normal schedule over south peninsular, east and northeast India, and near normal over the northwest. However, it was slightly delayed over the central India region.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Albedo effect, consider the following statements:

1. It is the fraction of light that a surface reflects.

2. If it is all reflected, the albedo is equal to 0.

3. Dark colours show higher albedo than the light or pale colours.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The primary cause of increased heat in the Arctic is known as the albedo effect. The Arctic ice cover is melting, exposing more land and water to the sun. Ice traps the least amount of heat and reflects the majority of solar light back. Darker surfaces, such as land or water, absorb solar radiation more efficiently, resulting in greater warmth. Antarctica experiences less ice sheet melting, resulting in less dramatic warming than the Arctic.

— Albedo is the percentage of light that a surface reflects. If everything is reflected, the albedo equals one. If 30% is reflected, the albedo is 0.3. The albedo of the Earth’s surface (atmosphere, ocean, and land) affects how much incoming solar energy, or light, is promptly reflected back into space. This could have an impact on the climate. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

— Albedo refers to how much energy a surface reflects. Dark colours have an albedo near 0, indicating that little or no energy is reflected. Pale colours have an albedo close to 100%, which means that almost all of the energy is reflected. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov)

QUESTION 5

Which of the following terms refers to the growing tendency of companies, organisations or even countries to make dubious or unverifiable claims about their activities, products or services being environment-friendly or climate-friendly?

(a) Sustainability theatre

(b) Greenwashing

(c) Bluewashing

(d) Greenhushing

Explanation

What is greenwashing?

— Although greenwashing as a term has been used in the limited context of advertising in these guidelines, it has a much broader scope. Greenwashing refers to the growing tendency of companies, organisations or even countries to make dubious or unverifiable claims about their activities, products or services being environment-friendly or climate-friendly. Due to heightened sensitivity to climate change, there is rising pressure on corporations and governments to carry out their activities in a way that causes the least damage to the environment. Many of them also have legal commitments, or targets, to adhere to in this regard.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to Forest Rights Act, 2006, consider the following statements:

1. It recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources, on which these communities were dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs.

2. The Gram Sabha is a highly empowered body under the Act, enabling the tribal population to have a decisive say in the determination of local policies and schemes impacting them.

3. It protects forest dwellers from unlawful evictions and also provides for basic development facilities for the community of forest dwellers to access facilities of education, health, nutrition, infrastructure etc. but limits the forest dwellers to access and use the forest resources to protect, conserve and manage forests.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Underlining that forest-dwelling communities were protected from unlawful eviction under the Forest Protection Act, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has directed the states to create an institutional mechanism to ensure compliance with the law and set up a mechanism to address grievances, it is learnt.

— The Ministry has asked the state tribal development and forest departments for a report detailing the name and number of villages situated in tiger reserves; the tribes and forest-dwelling communities in such villages; and all the forest rights claims received, vested, and rejected. It has also sought to know the process of seeking consent and the likely compensation.

— “The provisions under FRA explicitly empower forest-dwelling communities by legally recognising their rights, protecting them from unlawful eviction, and ensuring that any resettlement is carried out with their informed consent and participation,” the Ministry is learnt to have said.

According to tribal.nic.in,

— “The Act further enjoins upon the Gram Sabha and rights holders the responsibility of conservation and protection of bio-diversity, wildlife, forests, adjoining catchment areas, water sources and other ecologically sensitive areas as well as to stop any destructive practices affecting these resources or cultural and natural heritage of the tribals. The Gram Sabha is also a highly empowered body under the Act, enabling the tribal population to have a decisive say in the determination of local policies and schemes impacting them.

— Thus, the Act empowers the forest dwellers to access and use the forest resources in the manner that they were traditionally accustomed, to protect, conserve and manage forests, protect forest dwellers from unlawful evictions and also provides for basic development facilities for the community of forest dwellers to access facilities of education, health, nutrition, infrastructure etc.”

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Which of the following states is implementing three externally aided projects to ensure the protection of forests and the livelihood of forest dwellers?

(a) Arunachal Pradesh

(b) Nagaland

(c) Goa

(d) Tripura

Explanation

— Tripura’s Forest and Environment Minister, Animesh Debbarma, announced that the state government is implementing three externally funded programs to safeguard forests and ensure the livelihoods of forest inhabitants.

— The first project was supported by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the second by the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW bank, and the third by the World Bank for Rs 1,764.94 crore, he added.

— “The projects aimed to generate employment for youths and women through the promotion of forest-based entrepreneurship,” Debbarma said while launching the 76th state-level Vanmahotsava at the Behalabari School playground in Khowai district.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

Consider the following statements with reference to Green Credit Programme (GCP):

1. Non-government organisations selected by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will be the implementing agencies (IA) for tree plantation based Green Credit Programme.

2. Industries, companies, non-government organizations, philanthropists, and individuals are encouraged to participate in the Green Credit Programme.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The Green Credit Programme (GCP) rolled out by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2023 was flagged by the Ministry of Law and Justice before its rollout, over legality of the business model built into it.

— The ambitious government scheme seeks to invite voluntary participation in sectors ranging from plantations to water conservation in exchange of tradable credits.

According to moefcc-gcp.in,

— “Forest Departments/Forest Development Corporations of States and UTs will be the Implementing agency (IA) for tree plantation based Green Credit Programme. IA is responsible for identifying the suitable plantation blocks and further carrying out the plantation activities on the land selected by the entities.”

Therefore, option (b) 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 117)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 117)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 117)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 116)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 116)

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