UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 26)

    (Wildlife Sanctuary/Reserves)          (Location)

1. Deepor Beel                                           Arunachal Pradesh

2. Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary             Tamil Nadu

3. Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary      Assam

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 2

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

1. Tiger Reserves are notified by the Central Government.

2. The tiger reserves are notified as per provisions of Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

3. The National Tiger Conservation Authority recommends the proposal to the Central Government.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 3

Consider the following:

1. Gulf of Khambat

2. Palk Bay- Mannar Channel

3. South Haldia & Sunderbans

4. Gulf of Kutch

How many of the places given above have tidal power potential?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

QUESTION 4

With reference to deep sea mining, consider the following statements:

1. It involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed.

2. The high seas and the international ocean floor are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas.

3. The extracted minerals include nickel and cobalt, which are utilised in batteries and computers.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

QUESTION 5

With reference to ethanol, consider the following statements:

1. Ethanol procurement/blending under the EBP programme increased from ESY 2013-14 to ESY 2021-22.

2. CO2 emissions during ethanol blending have increased in last 8 years.

3. Ethanol production capacity increased more than 10 times by 66 per cent in 8 years.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (a)

FYI:

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

2. (a)

FYI:

— The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court directed the Goa government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other sites covered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

— Tiger Reserves are notified by State Governments as per provisions of Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on advise of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The following steps are involved in the notification:

(a) Proposal is obtained from the State.

(b) In-principle approval is communicated from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, soliciting detailed proposals under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

(c) The National Tiger Conservation Authority recommends the proposal to the State after due diligence. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

(d) The State Government notifies the area as a Tiger Reserve.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ntca.gov.in)

3. (d)

FYI:

— Tidal energy refers to energy produced from the movement of ocean tides.

— The Standing Committee on Energy (Chair: Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh) submitted its report on the subject “Tidal Power Development in India”, in August 2021. The Committee noted that there are three main types of ocean energy:

(i) wave

(ii) tidal

(iii) ocean-thermal

— Tidal energy is not included in the 2022 renewable energy target (175 gigawatts) of India. However, the Committee noted the submission by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy that all renewable sources of energy will be eligible for the 2030 target.

— The potential areas with low/medium tidal wave strength are in the Gulf of Khambat, Gulf of Kutch & southern regions in Gujarat, Palk Bay- Mannar Channel in Tamil Nadu, and Hoogly river, South Haldia & Sunderbans in West Bengal. Tidal energy is still in Research & Development (R&D) phase and has not been implemented on a commercial scale in India.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: mnre.gov.in)

4. (c)

FYI:

— Deep Sea Mining involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— There are three types of such mining: taking deposit-rich polymetallic nodules off the ocean floor, mining massive seafloor sulphide deposits and stripping cobalt crusts from rock.

— These nodules, deposits and crusts contain materials, such as nickel, rare earths, cobalt and more, that are needed for batteries and other materials used in tapping renewable energy and also for everyday technology like cellphones and computers. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Countries manage their own maritime territory and exclusive economic zones, while the high seas and the international ocean floor are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It is considered to apply to states regardless of whether or not they have signed or ratified it.

— The seabed and its mineral resources are regarded the “common heritage of mankind” and must be administered in a way that preserves humanity’s interests through the sharing of economic advantages, support for marine scientific research, and protection of marine habitats, according to the treaty.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— Ethanol is basically 99.9% pure alcohol that can be blended with petrol. It is different from the 94% rectified spirit having applications in paints, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other industries, and 96% extra neutral alcohol that goes to make potable liquor.

— Government has decided to advance the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 5 years from 2030 to 2025.

— Ethanol procurement / blending under EBP programme increased from 38 crore litres in ESY 2013-14 to 433.6 crore litres in ESY 2021-22. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Ethanol blending in percentage increased from 1.53% in ESY 2013-14 to 10.0% in ESY 2021-22.

— Ethanol production capacity increased more than 2.5 times and no. of distilleries increased by 66% in 8 years. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Government has allowed use of damaged and surplus food grains for ethanol production.

— CO2 emissions lowered by 318.2 lac ton in last 8 years. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Multimodal transportation of ethanol & ethanol blended petrol by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: mopng.gov.in)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 26)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 26)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 25)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 25)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 25)

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