UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Asiatic Lions, illegal sand mining and more (Week 95)

1. Riverbed degradation

2. Water table depletion

3. Loss of fertile land

4. Poor water quality

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The NGT has requested a response from authorities, notably the district magistrates of north Delhi and Ghaziabad, over alleged illicit sand mining in the River Yamuna floodplain.

— The incident suggests a violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. The news item highlights serious problems with environmental compliance.

— Illegal sand mining causes environmental damage such as riverbed degradation, loss of aquatic habitat, increased turbidity, water table depletion, soil erosion, flooding, infrastructure damage, loss of fertile land, negative impact on local ecosystems, decreased water quality, and a risk to the ecological balance of the riverine regime.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: pib.gov.in)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the progress of India in renewable energies, consider the following statements:

1. As of October 2024, the contribution of renewable energy accounts for more than 60 per cent of the country’s total installed capacity.

2. Solar energy accounts for maximum contribution.

3. India’s total non-fossil fuel capacity has declined in 2024 compared to 2023.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Every year on August 20, Akshay Urja Day is observed to highlight the importance of renewable energy sources and the progress India has achieved in expanding them. In the recent decade, for example, India’s installed renewable energy capacity has expanded by 165%, from 76.38 GW in 2014 to 203.1 GW in 2024.

— India’s total non-fossil fuel capacity increased to 211.36 GW in 2024, from 186.46 GW in 2023. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— India’s total electricity producing capacity has reached 452.69 GW, with renewable energy making up a sizable share of the overall power mix. As of October 2024, renewable energy-based power generation capacity totalled 203.18 GW, accounting for more than 46.3 percent of total installed capacity. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Solar power leads the way with 92.12 GW, a critical component in India’s efforts to capture its abundant sunlight. Wind power follows closely at 47.72 GW, owing to the huge potential of the country’s coastal and inland wind corridors. Hydroelectric power is another significant contributor, with large hydro projects generating 46.93 GW and minor hydro power contributing 5.07 GW, providing a dependable and sustainable source of energy from India’s rivers and waterways. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Biopower, including biomass and biogas energy, contributes an additional 11.32 GW to the renewable energy portfolio. These bioenergy projects are critical for using agricultural waste and other organic materials to generate electricity, diversifying India’s clean energy sources.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: pib.gov.in)

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Marine Fisheries Census, consider the following statements:

1. The Marine Fisheries Census-2025 will be the fifth census conducted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) with the support of the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of India.

2. It is conducted every second year.

3. It includes inland and lake fisheries across the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— The Union Minister of Fisheries launched the 5th Marine Fisheries Census (2025) on the occasion of the World Fisheries Day 2024 celebration organised by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India on November 21st in New Delhi. The census will be conducted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) with the support of the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The census will include 1.2 million households from the coastal region. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Since 2005, ICAR-CMFRI has undertaken a marine fisheries census every five years. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.cmfri.org.in)

QUESTION 4

What are the sources of methane pollution?

1. Organic waste in landfills

2. Wetlands

3. Rice fields

4. Natural gas extraction and transportation operations

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(d) 3 and 4 only

Explanation

— Tropical wetlands emit enormous amounts of methane, jeopardising global attempts to address climate change. According to research, rising temperatures and heavy rains are increasing methane emissions, which were previously underestimated in scientific models and national climate plans.

— Methane, a strong greenhouse gas, traps heat 80 times more effectively than carbon dioxide during a 20-year period. Wetlands emit methane as soil bacteria break down carbon-rich plant matter, a process accelerated by rising temperatures and increased wetland area due to floods.

— Methane in the waste sector is the fastest rising source of anthropogenic methane emissions, resulting mostly from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills, open dumps, and wastewater. It accounts for over 20% of anthropogenic methane emissions.

— Methane waste is primarily generated by the decomposition of organic matter in oxygen-poor environments, most commonly found in landfills where decaying food scraps and other household waste break down under anaerobic conditions, producing methane gas as a byproduct; other significant sources include agricultural activities like livestock manure and rice cultivation, as well as natural gas extraction and transportation operations where leaks can release methane into the atmosphere.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.epa.gov)

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Asiatic Lions, consider the following statements:

1. Gujarat is the only home of the Asiatic Lions.

2. They can hunt prey and protect their area as a group in pride.

3. They are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

4. They are classified as Critically endangered by the IUCN.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— Asiatic Lions, which have a total population of 674 in Gujarat, coexist with humans through mutual adaptation, enforced legal protection, economic incentives, and government recompense for livestock, among other things.

— Gujarat is the Asiatic Lions‘ only home, and calls to partially relocate them beyond the state, including Supreme Court decisions, have not been carried out. Conservationists have advocated for their relocation to nearby Madhya Pradesh to increase genetic interchange in the source population and to serve as a barrier against sickness and widespread infection. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— These large cats may hunt prey and defend their territory as a group in pride. Females carry out the majority of the hunting and cub rearing activities. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Lions can thrive in a variety of settings, including semi-arid deserts, dense shrubbery, dry woods, and floodplains, thanks to their extraordinary adaptability. They prefer open savannas because it allows them to more easily stalk their prey.

— They are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— They are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 95)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 95)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 95)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 95)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 94)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 94)

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