UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment, Geography, Sci-Tech MCQs on Dry ice, Golden langur and more (Week 66)

1. The initiative has been launched by the shipping ministry for both inland and coastal vessels.

2. All states have to make efforts to use green fuels for 50 per cent of inland waterways-based passenger fleets for the next decade, and 100 per cent by 2045.

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:

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell ferry. The vessel, manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), will be deployed for service at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

— In January 2024, the shipping ministry unveiled the Harit Nauka guidelines for inland vessels. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— According to the rules, all states must make attempts to use green fuels for 50% of inland waterways-based passenger fleets over the next decade, and 100% by 2045. This is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways’ ‘Harit Nauka’ (green boat) plan envisions an environmentally friendly transition for inland vessels. In line with this, the ferry can be copied into other parts of the country to provide urban mobility. It is also beneficial to the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer

QUESTION 2

With reference to the High seas treaty, consider the following statements:

1. The treaty aims for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other marine resources in ocean waters.

2. The treaty deals with oceans that are inside and outside the national jurisdiction of any country.

3. The Indian government ratified the High Seas treaty in 2023.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation:

— The Indian government said it would soon sign and ratify the High Seas Treaty, a new international legal architecture for maintaining the ecological health of the oceans. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The treaty aims to reduce pollution while also conserving and promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity and other marine resources in ocean seas. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Because the high seas are outside of any country’s national jurisdiction, the treaty is also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions Agreement (BBNJ). It is properly known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

— The treaty only applies to oceans that are not under the jurisdiction of any country. National authorities typically extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from the coastline, forming exclusive economic zones, or EEZs. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The High Seas Treaty seeks to achieve three substantive objectives:

(i) Conservation and protection of marine ecology;

(ii) Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources; and

(iii) Establishment of the practice of mandatory environmental impact assessments for any activity that is potentially polluting or damaging to the marine ecosystem.

— The treaty also makes it mandatory to carry out a prior environmental impact assessment (EIA) for any activity that is potentially polluting or damaging to marine ecosystems, or to conservation efforts.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the dry ice, consider the following statements:

1. It is liquid carbon dioxide at extremely low temperatures.

2. It serves various purposes across the medical and food sectors.

3. It may result in frostbite or cold burns when it comes into close contact with the skin.

4. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorised dry ice as a lethal substance.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 2, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation:

— In a horrifying incident that recently surfaced, a group of diners at a Gurugram restaurant were mistakenly served dry ice in place of mouth freshener, causing them to vomit blood.

— Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide at extremely low temperatures, approximately -78.5 degrees Celsius (-109.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Because of its sublimation property, which allows it to change directly from a solid to a gas without passing through a liquid phase, it is often employed for freezing and chilling.

— It has a variety of applications in the medical, food & beverage, and research sectors. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— While dry ice is an effective cooling agent, it must be used with caution. When handling carbon dioxide gas and extremely cold temperatures incorrectly, they might cause respiratory problems or skin injuries.

— Its low temperature can cause frostbite or cold burns if it comes into close contact with the skin. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The biggest worry of dry ice is the discharge of carbon dioxide gas. “When dry ice sublimates, it produces carbon dioxide, which can deplete oxygen in enclosed environments. In places with insufficient ventilation, carbon dioxide buildup can cause oxygen deprivation, increasing the danger of asphyxiation.”

— Dry ice is categorised as a lethal substance according to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Hence, statement 4 is correct.

— The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against the use of dry ice with bare hands.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the golden langur, consider the following statements:

1. It is endemic to the Western Ghats.

2. It is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN.

3. They are principally leaf eating primates.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

— Golden langur, also known as “Sonali Bandar” locally, is confined between the Sankosh River in the west, Manas in the east, the Brhmaputra in the south, and the mountains of Bhutan in the north.

— Golden langurs are named after the remarkable golden-orange colour of their fur.

— It is an endangered primate found only in northwestern Assam, India, and southern Bhutan. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are not correct.

— Golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) are members of the colobines (subfamily Colobinae), a big Old World monkey family. Colobines are mostly leaf-eating monkeys with ruminant-like multi chambered stomachs. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Golden langurs are listed as a Schedule-I species in the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

— The population fall can be traced back to the Bodoland movement in the early 1990s, when a number of radicals turned to timber extraction to fund their cause, resulting in widespread deforestation in the langurs’ habitat.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the military exercises in news, consider the following pairs:

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None of the pairs

Explanation:

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 66)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 66)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 65)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 65)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 65)

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