Test: Environment and Ecology MCQs (July 2024 Current Affairs) - UPSC MCQ

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. Approximately 31% of MSMEs are in the manufacturing sector, contributing 20%-25% of the country's industrial energy use.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. Over 80% of the energy used by MSMEs is needed for thermal processes such as heating in boilers and furnaces, not for electrical processes.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. Decarbonizing key MSME sectors would lead to an annual reduction of 1,36,581 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Statement 1: Correct. The study mentioned in the text highlights that during the Eocene era, when atmospheric CO2 concentrations exceeded 1000 parts per million by volume (ppmv) near the equator, there was a significant decrease in rainfall. This aligns with the provided information about the impact of high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide on rainfall patterns and vegetation shifts in equatorial regions.

2. Statement 2: Correct. The NGT has indeed expressed concerns about the CPCB's use of environmental funds for road repairs and paving works. The text details the legal scrutiny and potential misuse of funds meant for tackling air pollution, thus validating this statement.

3. Statement 3: Correct. According to UNESCO, by 2050, up to 90% of the planet's soil could be degraded. This alarming prediction was highlighted in the context of global soil health and the urgent need for soil protection and rehabilitation efforts.

All three statements accurately reflect the information provided in the text, making Option D the correct answer.

Approximately 31% of MSMEs are in the manufacturing sector, contributing 20%-25% of the country's industrial energy use. This highlights the significant energy consumption by MSMEs in the manufacturing sector, emphasizing the need for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy solutions to reduce emissions and costs.

The NITI Aayog's goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2070 primarily aims at attaining a balance where the amount of carbon emissions produced is equivalent to the amount removed from the atmosphere. This equilibrium is crucial in combating climate change and ensuring sustainable development. Through methods such as enhancing carbon sinks, utilizing technologies like carbon capture and storage, and focusing on various sectors through sectoral committees, India seeks to reach this net-zero target by 2070.

1. Delhi: 11.5% of annual deaths linked to air pollution - Correct. The study revealed that Delhi exhibited the most severe air pollution, with 11.5% of annual deaths linked to air pollution.

2. Shimla: 12,000 deaths annually due to air pollution - Incorrect. Shimla was noted for having the lowest mortality burden attributable to air pollution, with only 59 deaths annually.

3. Bengaluru: Lowest mortality burden due to air pollution - Incorrect. Shimla, not Bengaluru, had the lowest mortality burden due to air pollution.

4. PM2.5 concentration: Exceeds WHO safe limit on 99.8% of days - Correct. The study found that there was a persistent violation of established air quality standards, with concentrations exceeding the WHO's safe limit on 99.8% of the days analyzed.

Thus, only one pair (Pair 1) is correctly matched.

The recent study highlighted that unprecedented increases in greenhouse gases can lead to decreased rainfall in the equatorial region, subsequently causing shifts in vegetation from evergreen forests to deciduous forests. This emphasizes the significant impact of high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide on rainfall patterns and vegetation in equatorial regions.

1. Environment Protection Charge (EPC): Collected as a charge on diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of 2000 CC or above.
- This is correctly matched. The EPC is indeed collected as a 1% charge on diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of 2000 CC or above in Delhi-NCR, based on a 2016 Supreme Court order.

2. Environment Compensation (EC): Collected from compensation imposed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
- This is incorrectly matched. The Environment Compensation (EC) is collected from compensation imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), not directly by the CPCB.

3. Core or critical tiger habitats: Areas within tiger reserves that are kept untouched to ensure the survival of breeding tiger populations.
- This is correctly matched. Core or critical tiger habitats refer to areas within tiger reserves that are kept undisturbed to support viable tiger breeding populations.

4. Voluntary Village Relocation Program (VVRP): The program aims to empower local communities by providing access to development opportunities and creating inviolate space for tigers.
- This is correctly matched. The VVRP indeed aims to empower local communities by providing development opportunities and creating inviolate spaces for tigers to coexist harmoniously.

Thus, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 3, and 4.

Answer: Option C

1. Capra Himalayensis - Correct. It is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex, found in the trans-Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh.

2. Miniopterus Srinii - Incorrect. This new species of bent-winged bat was found in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, not Assam.

3. Curcuma kakchingense - Correct. This is a new species of turmeric found in Manipur's Kakching.

4. Asystasia Venui - Correct. This flowering plant was discovered in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden at Howrah in West Bengal.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

All three statements are correct.

1. Statement 1: In 2023, India indeed added 641 new species to its fauna database. Invertebrates constituted the majority of these discoveries, with a total of 564 new species.

2. Statement 2: Kerala recorded the highest number of new faunal discoveries in 2023, with 74 completely new species and 27 new records.

3. Statement 3: The Western Ghats and North Eastern Regions were significant contributors to floral discoveries, accounting for 14% of the total discoveries made in 2023.

Hence, the correct answer is Option D

- Statement 1: This is correct. The Lancet study revealed that over 33,000 deaths annually across 10 major cities in India could be attributed to air pollution.

- Statement 2: This is incorrect. Delhi exhibited the highest mortality burden attributable to air pollution among the 10 cities studied, not the lowest.

- Statement 3: This is correct. The study indicated that every 10 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 concentration resulted in a 1.42% rise in mortality across the ten cities.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.