UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on monsoon in India, Project Cheetah and more (Week 122)

QUESTION 1

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

1. The southwest monsoon refers to the southwesterly wind that brings rainfall to the subcontinent.

2. The northeast monsoon occurs between June to September.

3. The southwest monsoon is the major period of rainfall in the south peninsula.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The southwest monsoon refers to the southwesterly wind that brings rainfall to the subcontinent, typically from June to September. The onset of the 2025 monsoon on Saturday marks the commencement of the season, which brings about 70% of the country’s annual rainfall. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The northeast monsoon, which typically occurs between October and December, begins after the southwest monsoon has withdrawn from northern and central India, as well as the northern parts of the peninsular region. The wind pattern changes from the southwesterly to the northeasterly, hence its name. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— According to the IMD, the Northeast Monsoon is the major period of rainfall in the south peninsula, and is the chief rainy season in Tamil Nadu, accounting for nearly 60 % of annual rainfall in the coastal districts. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Green Credit Programme (GCP), consider the following statements:

1. It was unveiled during the annual United Nations climate conference in Dubai by India and the UAE.

2. The GCP seeks voluntary participation.

3. The credits can also be used by listed companies as part of their environmental, social and governance disclosures under SEBI’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability framework.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, officially unveiled the GCP on December 1, 2023, during the annual United Nations climate conference in Dubai. It was dubbed as a mechanism to incentivise “pro-planet” actions in response to climate change, and one which would promote the Centre’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Sustainable Environment). Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The Union Environment Ministry notified the Green Credit Rules, which spelt out the programme’s objectives and implementation, in October 2023.

— At its core, the GCP seeks voluntary participation (read investments) of individuals, companies, industries, and other entities across seven different activities — such as tree plantation, waste management, and water conservation — that will lead to improvements in the environment. This participation will be incentivised by generating “green credits”, which can then be traded on a domestic market platform to potential buyers looking to meet sustainability targets, or existing legal obligations. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The credits can also be used by listed companies as part of their environmental, social and governance disclosures under SEBI’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability framework, indicating efforts taken by these companies on environmental sustainability. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

A GLOF occurs when

(a) a large mass of water dammed by a glacier or a moraine is released suddenly.

(b) a tectonic activity causes water from glacial lakes to evaporate rapidly.

(c) snowfall exceeds accumulation rate on a glacier causing avalanches.

(d) a glacier melts uniformly due to global warming leading to river overflow.

Explanation

— The breaking of a glacial lake accompanied by heavy rain is suspected by some experts to have caused the flash flood in Dharali village in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.

— According to the NDMA, the retreat of glaciers as a result of climate change that is occurring in most parts of the Hindu Kush Himalayas has given rise to numerous new glacial lakes, breaches in which can cause Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

— A GLOF occurs when a large mass of water dammed by a glacier or a moraine is released suddenly.

— When glaciers melt, the water in these glacial lakes accumulates behind loose naturally-formed “glacial/ moraine dams” made of ice, sand, pebbles, and ice residue. Unlike earthen dams, the weak structure of the moraine dam leads to its abrupt failure, which can release millions of cubic metres of water in a short time, causing catastrophic flooding downstream. Peak flows as high as 15,000 cubic metres per second have been recorded during such events.

— Since glaciers in the Himalayas are in a retreating phase, glacial lakes are growing, and pose a potentially large risk to downstream infrastructure and life.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Perito Moreno, Upsala, and Spegazzini glaciers are located in:

(a) Rocky Mountains

(b) Andes

(c) Himalayas

(d) Alaska range

Explanation

— Argentina’s most famous glacier, the Perito Moreno glacier, is crumbling. Such incidents — known as ice calving events — are not new for the glacier. In fact, as these events are a visual spectacle, they are the primary reason for the fame of the Perito Moreno glacier, making it a major tourist destination.

— The Perito Moreno glacier, also called the ‘White Giant’, is located near the city of El Calafate in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, and comes under the Los Glaciares National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

— Besides the Perito Moreno glacier, other notable glaciers in the Andes include Upsala, Spegazzini, Viedma, and Grey glaciers.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki was recently in the news due to an eruption. It is located in:

(a) Indonesia

(b) New Zealand

(c) Iceland

(d) Philippines

Explanation

— Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted for a second straight day, sending a column of volcanic materials and ash up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the sky. No casualties were immediately reported.

— Lewotobi Laki Laki, a 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano on the remote island of Flores, has been at the highest alert level since it erupted on June 18, and an exclusion zone has been doubled to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius as eruptions became more frequent. The Indonesian government has permanently relocated thousands of residents after a series of eruptions there killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes in November.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Consider the following:

1. Population reduction

2. Restricted Geographical Range

3. Small Population size and decline

4. Very small or restricted population

5. Extinction probability analysis

6. The relational position of a species within an ecosystem

Which of the above given conditions are the criteria used by the IUCN Red List categories to indicate how close a species is to becoming extinct?

(a) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only

(b) 4, 5 and 6 only

(c) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Explanation

According to iucnredlist.org:

— The IUCN Red List Categories indicate how close a species is to becoming extinct. Species are assessed against five criteria (see below) based on population reduction, geographic range, population size, population structure, and probability of extinction. These criteria determine which category is most appropriate for the species.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Which of the following statements about Project Cheetah and associated conservation efforts is/are correct?

1. Blackbuck is considered a suitable prey species to help sustain reintroduced cheetahs.

2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary was discussed as an alternative site for cheetah relocation, moving older cheetahs for purposes such as training and habitat building.

3. All cheetahs in Kuno were born in India as part of a captive breeding program.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— The Cheetah Project Steering Committee highlighted serious concerns about the insufficient prey base—especially low densities of spotted deer and chinkara—at Kuno National Park, the primary site for reintroduced cheetahs.

— This shortfall threatens the sustainability of the cheetah population.

— To strengthen the prey base, officials discussed relocating blackbucks from the Sikandara Monument area in Agra, where they number around 100 and often damage crops, to Kuno.

— The idea involved capturing groups of 10–15 blackbucks as part of a wider prey augmentation plan.

— One proposal suggested moving older cheetahs—those past breeding age—to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary for purposes such as training and habitat building.

— The cheetahs at Kuno were translocated from Namibia and South Africa, not born in India via breeding programs. While cubs have since been born in Kuno, the initial population was imported African cheetahs, not domestically bred .

— Kuno National Park is grappling with prey scarcity critical for sustaining cheetahs.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

What is the aim of the ongoing negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty in Geneva?

(a) To promote voluntary guidelines for plastic packaging industries.

(b) To finalize a global trade agreement on plastic and petrochemical exports.

(c) To create the world’s first legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution.

(d) To create a UN agency focused solely on marine plastic waste.

Explanation

— International negotiations to establish a global plastics treaty resumed on August 5, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.

— These talks are part of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

— The meeting is a continuation of INC-5, which began in Busan, South Korea in December 2024 but ended without final consensus.

— The aim is to create the world’s first legally binding global treaty to combat plastic pollution, including its effects on marine environments.

— The treaty is expected to cover the entire life cycle of plastic, from production to disposal.

— The draft treaty under negotiation currently contains 370 bracketed sections—these represent areas of disagreement between countries.

— Countries remain divided on key issues:

(i) Caps on plastic production

(ii) Phase-out of single-use plastics

(iii) Elimination of hazardous chemicals

(iv) Extended producer responsibility (EPR)

— The Indian delegation is attending the Geneva meeting and is expected to:

(i) Support steps to reduce plastic pollution

(ii) Emphasize the importance of national circumstances

(iii) Push for flexibility in implementation for developing countries

Therefore, option ( c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 120)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 122)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 122)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 122)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 121)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 121)

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