UPSC Essentials daily subject quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs (Week 176)

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 3, and 5 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

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

Relevance: This question is relevant for UPSC Prelims as it tests the geographical distribution and habitat of Asian elephants in India. The topic is useful for understanding human–elephant conflict, habitat fragmentation and wildlife conservation efforts.

Explanation

— On August 17, a Supreme Court bench presided by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed the Union government to conduct a fresh survey of elephant corridors. It said these corridors cannot be blocked fearing crop damage as elephant herds, by nature, travel long distances.

— The bench was hearing an ongoing writ petition on managing human-elephant conflict. The petition, in the past, had also sought to prevent the use of fireballs, spikes and other such materials to drive away elephants. In its August 17 order, the bench asked the Centre to indicate steps taken to prohibit the use of such methods or any other “coercive measure” to divert the natural movement of elephants.

— Asian elephants are highly mobile and social mammals. A male elephant’s average home range — the area it typically uses for food, water and shelter — extends between 50 and 300 square kilometres, but can increase depending on the availability of resources. Elephants can move through their range in herds or individually. These home ranges can also vary depending on habitat type, food availability, water sources, population density and human disturbances.

— Elephant movements are strongly influenced by seasonal and spatial distribution of food, water and habitat, according to studies by the National Centre for Biological Sciences and Wildlife Institute of India. For instance, seasonal migrations into Kerala are common during the dry months as elephants seek water and food in the relatively moist forests of the Western Ghats, said a recent Environment Ministry report on human-elephant conflict in South India.

Elephant corridors of India (red dots) as of 2023. Map reproduced using AI from Environment Ministry report.

— India has four principal elephant population landscapes — the Western Ghats; North-Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra floodplains; Shivalik Hills and Gangetic plains; and Central India and Eastern Ghats. More than 50% of India’s 22,446 elephants are distributed in the Western Ghats across Karnataka (6,013), Tamil Nadu (3,136) and Kerala (2,785).

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Bonn Challenge, consider the following statements:

1. It applies only to countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement and requires them to submit annual restoration reports.

2. Under the Bonn Challenge, India has pledged to restore 13 million hectares by 2020, with an additional eight million hectares by 2030.

3. It is a legally binding agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Relevance: This question is relevant for UPSC Prelims as it tests global environmental initiatives, land restoration and India’s international environmental commitments. The topic is useful for understanding the institutional and legal nature of international environmental initiatives, a common area for Prelims traps.

Explanation

— The Bonn Challenge is a global initiative launched in 2011, under which more than 70 countries have committed to restoring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes by 2020, and an additional target of 350 million hectares by 2030. India has pledged to restore 13 million hectares, with an additional eight million hectares by 2030. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Bonn Challenge is a voluntary worldwide restoration program; it is not limited to countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement, and it does not require annual reporting. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Bonn Challenge is not a legally binding agreement under the UNFCCC. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Which of the following factors are responsible for the changes in the shoreline?

1. Tides

2. Port construction

3. Sand mining

4. Cyclone storms

(a) 2, 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 2, 3, and 4

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 4 only

Relevance: This question is relevant for UPSC Prelims as it tests basic concepts of coastal geomorphology, shoreline dynamics and coastal erosion/accretion. The topic is important in the context of coastal vulnerability, climate change, disaster management and sustainable coastal development.

Explanation

— Shoreline changes refer to the dynamic process where the boundary between land and water shifts over time owing to natural forces like waves, tides, storms, and human activities like port construction, unplanned infrastructure development, and sand mining. Factors like global sea-level rise also contribute to coastal erosion and shoreline change.

— According to a 2021 piece “Shoreline Change Along Odisha Coast” published in the Journal of Earth System Science, coastal structures such as sea walls, breakwaters, and jetties result in modification of the shoreline and beach morphology. The effects are even more significant with hard structures raised for the development of ports and harbours. Besides, natural hazards such as tsunamis and cyclone storms along the India coast, too, result in drastic changes. The paper said that as things stand, Odisha is most prone to cyclones.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following is/are the benefits of floating solar projects?

1. Land conservation

2. Reduced water evaporation

3. Increase in the dissolved oxygen content of reservoir water

4. Improved solar module efficiency

5. Complete prevention of aquatic weed growth

(a) 1, 3 and 5 only

(b) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only

(c) 1 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Relevance: This question is relevant for UPSC Prelims as it tests renewable energy, floating solar technology and its environmental implications. It is useful for assessing the co-benefits and limitations of emerging clean-energy technologies.

Explanation

— India’s installed solar capacity has grown rapidly, from 3 gigawatts (GW) in 2016 to over 160 GW in 2026, mainly through large-scale projects. But finding land for new projects is becoming harder as solar competes with urbanisation and agriculture, while the need for ecological conservation remains a priority. Policymakers, therefore, need to explore ways to expand solar capacity without requiring more land.

— The recent approval of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) clearly signals the Indian government’s intent to promote land-neutral solar applications. The scheme aims to develop 5,000 megawatts (MW) of floating solar projects, with a total outlay of Rs 5,070 crore, making it the first dedicated national initiative to scale up floating solar adoption.

— It also covers co-located energy storage systems with a minimum storage capacity of 2 hours, that is, 10,000 MWh (or megawatt-hour; 1 MWh equals 1 MW of power used or produced continuously for one hour) of cumulative storage capacity, to support grid stability. Although India has already made some strides in large floating solar plants, the scheme could provide the much-needed policy push to accelerate pan-India deployment.

— Floating solar systems comprise solar modules that are mounted on floating platforms over water bodies such as reservoirs and lakes. To maintain their position, the platforms are anchored to the reservoir bed or banks. Inverters and other electrical equipment may be installed on floating platforms or onshore, depending on the system design.

— The biggest advantage floating solar offers in India is land conservation, enabling more efficient land use and delivering economic benefits.

— Other benefits include reduced water evaporation and improved solar module efficiency. Portions of water bodies covered by floating solar systems have lower evaporation rates than uncovered portions. Water savings from reduced evaporation, however, will also depend on the area covered, local climatic conditions, and reservoir characteristics. Further, water under the solar modules keeps them cooler, thereby enhancing their performance and efficiency, especially during hot summer conditions.

— Floating solar does not inherently increase dissolved oxygen in reservoir water and shading may reduce some aquatic plant growth, but it does not completely prevent it.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to Leucas droupadiae, consider the following statements:

1. It is a newly discovered herb which has been named after President Droupadi Murmu.

2. It was found in the Western Ghats.

3. The plant grows sideways.

Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct ?

(a) All three statements are correct.

(b) There are two correct statements, that include statement 1.

(c) There is only one correct statement.

(d) There is no correct statement.

Relevance: This question is relevant for UPSC Prelims as it tests biodiversity, taxonomy and newly discovered plant species, which are recurring areas in current-affairs-based questions. It also links botanical discoveries with geographical distribution and distinctive plant characteristics, requiring careful factual recall.

Explanation

— A newly discovered herb from the coastal dunes of Tamil Nadu has added another species to India’s botanical record. According to Research Matters, the plant has been named Leucas droupadiae after President Droupadi Murmu. Found along the Coromandel Coast in Cuddalore, the discovery underscores the rich and often overlooked biodiversity thriving in ecosystems that may appear barren at first glance. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

— At first glance, Leucas droupadiae may look like a small, ordinary herb. But its physical characteristics set it apart from its relatives. According to Arora, the plant grows upright on a single, unbranched stem about 15 cm long. Its root system is also unusual. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The plant also produces distinctive golden-yellow fruits covered with dark brown spots, another feature that helps distinguish it from other members of the Leucas genus.

— This discovery shows that India’s coastal sand dunes hide unknown life, even in poor, sandy soil. Leucas droupadiae was found on Tamil Nadu’s Coromandel Coast, where it survives in conditions in which relatively few plant species can thrive. Dunes are not empty wastelands, but special homes for unique species found nowhere else. Coastal dunes can also act as natural barriers against coastal hazards and support a range of specialised flora and fauna, making their conservation important beyond the survival of a single plant.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 159)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 176)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 176)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 176)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 176)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 175)

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