Q1: With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements:
Wild animals are the sole property of the government.
When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside.
Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 does not universally make every wild animal the sole property of the government in all contexts; ownership is vested in the State for purposes of protection, regulation and prosecution where hunting or illegal killing is involved. Statement 2 is correct. Once an animal is declared protected under the Act, it enjoys the same legal protection whether it is inside a notified protected area or outside it. Statement 3 is not correct in its simple form. Section 11(1)(a) permits the Chief Wildlife Warden to authorise hunting of a Schedule I animal only if the animal has become dangerous to human life or is beyond recovery, and even then killing should be a last resort after attempts at capture, tranquillisation or translocation have been considered; the reasons must be recorded in writing. Hence only statement 2 is correct.
Q2: Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi? (a) Ant (b) Cockroach (c) Crab (d) Spider
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Some species of ants, notably leafcutter ants, cultivate fungi by collecting plant material to grow fungal gardens, which they feed on. Other insects such as termites, certain beetles and marsh periwinkles also practise forms of fungal cultivation. Therefore option (a) is correct.
Q3: Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986? (a) Central Water Commission (b) Central Ground Water Board (c) Central Ground Water Authority (d) National Water Development Agency
Solution:
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control groundwater development and management in the country. It has powers derived from the Act to issue directions and take measures specified under section 5, invoke penal provisions (sections 15-21) where necessary, and appoint officers under section 4.
Powers & Functions:
Exercise powers under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for issuing regulatory directions.
Invoke penal provisions contained in sections 15 to 21 of the Act.
Regulate and control management and development of groundwater and issue necessary directions.
Exercise powers under section 4 for appointment of officers.
Q4: Which one of the following best describes the term "greenwashing"? (a) Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound. (b) Non-inclusion of ecological/ environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country. (c) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development. (d) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme.
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or corporate practice so as to appear more environmentally friendly than is actually the case. This term does not refer to accounting omissions, ignoring ecological impacts in planning, or making environmental costs mandatory. Hence option (a) is correct.
Q5: "Climate Action Tracker" which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a: (a) Database created by coalition of research organisations (b) Wing of "International Panel of Climate Change" (c) Committee under "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" (d) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and compares it against the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is produced by a collaboration of research organisations, principally Climate Analytics and the NewClimate Institute.
CAT assesses national targets, policies and actions, aggregates their global effect and uses climate models (such as MAGICC) to estimate likely temperature outcomes. It is not a body of the IPCC, the UNFCCC or an agency financed by UNEP/World Bank. Therefore option (a) is correct.
Q6: "If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys." Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement? (a) The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff subsoil percolation and evaporation. (b) Algae form the nutrient base upon which fish, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, reptiles and mammals thrive. (c) Wetlands play vital role in maintaining sedimentation balance and soil stabilization. (d) Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.
Solution:
Ans: (d)
Explanation: Wetlands perform purification functions analogous to kidneys: aquatic plants and associated microbial processes can absorb, transform and remove pollutants such as heavy metals and excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). These processes help cleanse water through denitrification, detoxification and oxygenation, improving water quality. While the other options describe real wetland functions, option (d) best reflects the 'kidney' analogy.
Q7: In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:
The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 µg/m3 and annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3.
In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.
PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.
Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 1 and 4 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 2 only
Solution:
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct. The World Health Organization's recent air quality guideline values set the 24-hour mean for PM2.5 at 15 µg/m3 and the annual mean at 5 µg/m3.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Ground-level ozone concentrations are typically highest during sunny, warm weather with stagnant air, because sunlight and heat drive the photochemical reactions that form ozone.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Coarse particles (PM10) lodge in the upper and larger airways and do not readily cross the lung-blood barrier; finer particles such as PM2.5 can penetrate deeply into the lungs and some fraction may enter the bloodstream.
Statement 4 is correct. Elevated ground-level ozone is a respiratory irritant and can trigger asthma attacks and other breathing problems.
Therefore, statements 1 and 4 only are correct.
Q8: With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:
It is a fungus.
It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.
It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 3 only (c) 1 and 2 (d) 2 and 3
Solution:
Ans: (c)
Explanation: Guchhi (also spelled Gucchi) is the morel mushroom, a fungus in the family Morchellaceae. It grows wild in Himalayan forest areas such as the foothills of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. It is not amenable to reliable commercial cultivation in India, so statement 3 is incorrect. Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Q9: Which of the following is not a bird? (a) Golden Mahseer (b) Indian Nightjar (c) Spoonbill (d) White Ibis
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
The Golden Mahseer is a fish (a large cyprinid), not a bird. Its name combines mahi (fish) and sher (tiger), reflecting its size and strength. Adult Golden Mahseer show a golden hue dorsally and often reddish-yellow fins; they have large scales, strong lips and barbels. The other three-Indian Nightjar, Spoonbill and White Ibis-are birds. Therefore option (a) is correct.
Q10: Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants?
Alfalfa
Amaranth
Chickpea
Clover
Purslane (Kulfa)
Spinach
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 only (c) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only (d) 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation: Nitrogen fixation in plants is commonly associated with legumes that form symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules. Alfalfa, chickpea and clover are legumes and fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis. Amaranth, purslane (kulfa) and spinach are non-leguminous and do not perform biological nitrogen fixation via Rhizobium symbiosis. Hence option (a) is correct.
Q11: "Biorock technology" is talked about in which one of the following situations? (a) Restoration of damaged coral reefs (b) Development of building materials using plant residue (c) Identification of areas for exploration/extraction of shale gas (d) Providing salt licks for wild animals in forests/protected areas
Solution:
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
Biorock technology, also called Mineral Accretion Technology, uses a low-voltage electric current passed through seawater to precipitate dissolved minerals, causing them to crystallise onto a submerged structure and form a hard, calcareous deposit similar to natural calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
This mineral accretion can be used to restore and strengthen damaged coral reefs and aid coral growth by providing a substrate for coral larvae and improving survivorship. Biorock is therefore associated with coral reef restoration, not with building materials from plant residue, shale gas, or provision of salt licks. Hence option (a) is correct.
Q12: The "Miyawaki method" is well known for the: (a) Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas (b) Development of gardens using genetically modified flora (c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas (d) Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces
Solution:
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
The Miyawaki method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, builds dense native forests quickly by planting a mix of indigenous species very close together. It is widely used to create small, fast-growing 'urban mini-forests' that become self-sustaining after a few years and require minimal maintenance thereafter.
This method focuses on native species and dense planting to suppress weeds, support mutual growth and restore local biodiversity - making option (c) correct.
The document UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2022: Environment is a part of the UPSC Course Environment for UPSC CSE.
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