ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATION

ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES
& BIODIVERSITY
1.

(b)

11.

(c)

Exp.: Municipal bodies shall develop the necessary

infrastructure development for collection,
storage, segregation, transportation,
processing and disposal of municipal solid
waste directly or by engaging agencies or
groups as per the rules.

Exp.: United Nations Environment Programme

(UNEP) has defined POPs, as "chemical
substances that persist in the environment,
bio-accumulate through the food web, and
pose a risk of causing adverse effects to
human health and the environment".

2.

(d)

12.

3.

(a)

Exp.: The Bachat Lamp Yojana under the Clean

Development Mechanism (CDM) of the
United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) was launched
on 28th May, 2008. It is a public-private
partnership programme.

Exp.: They shed their leaves in the dry season.

The common trees are oak, ash, beech, etc.
4.

(c)

Exp.: China is the largest producer of gold in the

world.
5.

(a)

Exp.: Hotspots are not formally recognised or

governed areas. However, the identification
of these areas as hotspots increases the
likelihood of conservation investment. In
addition, other designations for biodiversity
conservation are likely to be present within
these broad areas which may have more
formal management structures. For
example, the average protected area
coverage of hotspots, based on IUCN
protected area categories I-VI, is 10% of their
original extent.
6.

(a)

Exp.: It does not, however, address the movement

of radioactive waste.

13.

(a)

(b)

Exp.: Kaziranga National Park has the largest

number of one horned rhinos in the world
whereas Pabitora National Park has the
highest density of rhinos in the world.
14.

(d)

15.

(d)

16.

(a)

17.

(a)

Exp.: The nation with the highest number of sites

is the United Kingdom at 169; the nation
with the greatest area of listed wetlands is
Canada, with over 130,000 km2.
18.

(b)

19.

(d)

7.

(d)

20.

(d)

8.

(c)

21.

(a)

9.

(c)

22.

(a)

10.

(c)

23.

(b)

24.

(c)

37.

25.

(a)

26.

(c)

Exp.: Currently there are 5 exchanges trading in

carbon allowances:

27.

(d)

28.

(a)

29.

(d)

30.

(c)

31.

(d)

32.

(d)

33.

(c)

2.

NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe

3.

PowerNext

4.

Commodity Exchange Bratislava

5.

The European Energy Exchange

38.

(c)

The European Climate Exchange

Exp.: GRIHA rating system consists of 34 criteria

categorized under various sections such as
Site Selection and Site Planning,
Conservation and Efficient Utilization of
Resources, Building Operation and
Maintenance, and Innovation points.
39.

(a)

34.

40.

(d)

41.

(c)

(a)

SC

Exp.: MFF embraces all coastal ecosystems,

including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons,
wetlands, beaches and sea grass beds.

Exp.: Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design (LEED) is a set of rating systems for
the design, construction, operation, and
maintenance of green buildings, homes and
neighbourhoods.

35.

(a)

GS

Exp.: EIA has now been made mandatory under

the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 for
29 categories of developmental activities
involving investments of Rs. 50 crores and
above.

Exp. The National Afforestation and EcoDevelopment Board (NAEB), set up in

August 1992 is responsible for promoting
afforestation, tree planting, ecological
restoration and eco-development activities
in the country, with special attention to the
degraded forest areas and lands adjoining
the forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries
and other protected areas as well as the
ecologically fragile areas like the Western
Himalayas, Aravallis, Western Ghats, etc.
36.

(d)

Exp.: As at September 2011 there were 34 nations

participating in CMS Agreements or MoU
that are not yet Parties to the Convention
including China, USA, and Russia.
2

1.

OR

Exp.: The Ganges shark is largely restricted to the

rivers of eastern and northeastern India,
particularly the Hooghly River of West
Bengal, and the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and
Mahanadi in Bihar, Assam, and Odisha,
respectively. It is typically found in the
middle to lower reaches of a river.

(d)

Exp.: The National Green Tribunal has been

established on 18.10.2010 under the
National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for
effective and expeditious disposal of cases
relating to environmental protection and
conservation of forests and other natural
resources including enforcement of any legal
right relating to environment and giving
relief and compensation for damages to
persons and property and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
It is a specialized body equipped with the
necessary expertise to handle environmental
disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
The Tribunal shall not be bound by the
procedure laid down under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided
by principles of natural justice.
42.

(d)

43.

(a)

Exp.: Minus 4 C (25 F) is a physiological

temperature limit of mangrove survival.
ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES & BIODIVERSITY

44.

(d)

59.

(d)

45.

(a)

60.

(a)

Exp.: Tropical Andes is a hotspot. There are some

countries which are situated in the tropical
region; they possess a large number of the
world's species diversity.
(d)

47.

(c)

61.

(d)

Exp.: Biomes are climatically and geographically

defined as contiguous areas with similar
climatic conditions on the Earth.

62.

(d)

48.

(a)

64.

49.

(a)

65.

50.

(d)

51.

(d)

52.

(c)

53.

(b)

54.

(c)

(b)

56.

(c)

(d)
(c)

(b)

OR

SC

Exp.: Rights to all activities like hunting, grazing,

etc. in reserved forests are banned unless
specific orders are issued otherwise. The first
Reserve Forest Of India was Satpura
National Park.
55.

63.

46.

Exp.: The trees found in the western section are

broad-leaved oak, brown oak, walnut,
rhododendron, etc. The forests in the
northern region are denser than in the
South.

GS

Exp.: The properties are:

66.

(d)

67.

(a)

Exp.: Thorium is more abundant in nature than

uranium. It is fertile rather than fissile, and
can only be used as a fuel in conjunction
with a fissile material such as recycled
plutonium. Two-thirds of monazite is found
in heavy mineral sands deposits on the south
and east coasts of India.
68.

(a)

69.

(c)

70.

(d)

71.

(d)

72.

(c)
(d)

Water insoluble and relatively resistant to

hydrolytic degradation.

Good oxygen permeability.

73.

Good ultra-violet resistance but poor

resistance to acids and bases.

Soluble in chloroform and other chlorinated

hydrocarbons.

Exp.: There are various factors which affects the

size, location, and character of a biome.
Important factors are as follow:

Nontoxic.

Less 'sticky' when melted, making it a

potentially good material for clothing in the
future.

57.

(b)

58.

(a)

Exp.: CGWB has prepared a Master Plan for

artificial recharge to ground water in the
Country. National Water Mission has been
set up with the objective of, inter-alia,
conservation of water resources.
ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES & BIODIVERSITY

(i)

Length of day light and darkness. This is

mainly responsible for duration of
photosynthesis.

(ii)

Mean temperature as well as difference in

temperature. Differences (both diurnal and
annual) to find out extreme conditions.

(iii)

Length of growing season.

(iv)

Precipitation which includes total amount,

variations over time and intensity.

(v)

Wind flow that include speed, direction,

duration and frequency.
3

(vi)

Soil types

78.

(vii)

Slope

Exp.: The objectives of the mission are:

(ix)

Other plant and animal species.

74.

(d)

To increase forest cover on 5 million

hectares (ha) of forest/non-forest land.

To improve the quality of forest cover on

another 5 million hectare.

To enhance annual CO2 sequestration.

To improve the livelihoods of about 3 million

households living in and around forest
areas.

To respond to climate change by a

combination of adaptation and mitigation
measures.

Exp.: The changes are:

(i)

Majority of the grasslands have been

converted into agricultural lands which
have now become famous 'granaries of the
world'
Pastoralism or domestication of animals.

(iii)

Large scale hunting of animals has resulted

into extinction of some animals.

(iv)

The introduction of new animal and plant

species has altogether changed the
composition of native vegetation.

75.

(c)

OR

(ii)

(d)

77.

(a)

SC

Exp.: Green House effect leads to acidification of

oceans. It also reduces the transport of
nutrients from deeper layers to the surface
by vertical circulation.
76.

Exp.: Monitorable targets for the 12th Plan:

(viii) Drainage

(a)

To increase forest and tree cover by 5

percentage points.

b)

To reclaim wetlands/inland lakes /ponds

by 2017.

c)

To identify, assess and remediate

contaminated sites (hazardous chemicals
and wastes) with potential for ground water
contamination.

d)

To improve forest production and maintain

biodiversity.

e)

To establish continuous on-line monitoring

systems using GIS & GPS for air and water
pollution.

f)

To create Common Infrastructure for

Environment Protection viz; CETP, TSDF,
etc.

g)

To clean all critically polluted rivers by 2020.

h)

To reduce 20-25 percent energy use per unit

of GDP by 2020.

i)

Epidemiological studies to assess

improvement in health status due to better
management of Environment and ecology.

GS

a)

To improve entire ecosystem and increase

forest-based livelihood income for 30 lakh
forest dependent households.

79.

(b)

Exp.: Climate Risk Index data related to climate

change:
a)

The countries affected most in 2012 were

Haiti, the Philippines and Pakistan. For the
period from 1993 to 2012 Honduras,
Myanmar and Haiti ranked highest.

b)

From the ten most affected countries (19932012) eight were developing countries in the
low-income or lower-middle income country
group, while two belong to the uppermiddle income countries.

c)

Altogether more than 530,000 people died

as a direct result of approx. 15,000 extreme
weather events, and losses between 1993
and 2012 amounted to more than 2.5 trillion
USD (in PPP;1 USD 1.75 trillion overall
losses in original values).

d)

The 2012 droughts and floods in large areas

of the Balkan, eastern Europe and southern
Russia in the aftermath of the unparalleled
2010 wildfires. This should serve as a wakeup call for the region to ramp up its
domestic and international climate policy
positions.

e)

India was ranked 46 in the Climate Risk

Index (CRI) table for 2012, a position
definitely better than 18, the rank that it
had in the period between 1993 and
2012.
ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES & BIODIVERSITY

80.

Transportation & Service Corridors,

Biological Resource Use, Human Intrusions
&
Disturbance,
Natural
System
Modifications(Threats from actions that
convert or degrade habitat in service of
"managing" natural or semi-natural systems,
often to improve human welfare),Invasive
& Other Problematic Species & Genes,
Pollution, Geological Events, Climate
Change & Severe Weather.

(c)

Exp.: The advantages of crop rotation are:

Crop rotation helps to create a biodiversity

soil which reduces the chance of soil bound
organisms to get a pest and reducing the
use of pesticides.

Crop rotation helps to minimise the growth

of weeds that needs to be eradicated and so
reducing the use of pesticides

Crop rotation helps getting a good soil

structure (alternatively shallow and deep
rooting roots), high organic matter, good
water provision, especially in combination
with conservation tillage, resulting in a
higher yield

86.

Crop rotation, especially performed with

nitrogen-fixating rotation crops, will reduce
the input of fertilizers and so reduce the
pollution by nitrogen; a high nitrogensupply will even contribute to soil organic
matter depletion.

88.

(d)

89.

(b)

Crop rotation, especially combined with

conservation tillage, will lead to higher soilcarbon content and so contribute to
combating climate change.

81.

(b)

82.

(c)

(a)

GS

Exp.: Enhances germination, plant growth, and

crop yield.
83.

E
(a)

Exp.: The Convention includes regulations aimed

at preventing and minimizing pollution from
ships - both accidental pollution and that
from routine operations.

OR

SC

87.

(a)

Exp. Interspecific competition, in ecology, is a

form of competition in which individuals of
different species compete for the same
resource in an ecosystem (e.g. food or living
space). The other form of competition is
intraspecific competition, which involves
organisms of the same species.
90.

(b)

Exp.: The blue carbon denotes the carbon captured

by living organisms in oceans stored in the
form of biomass and sediments.
91.

(d)

92.

(b)

Exp.: The areas of Western Ghats and Sri Lanka;

Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma region
are considered as Biodiversity hotspots in
India.

Exp.: Heat islands occur on the surface and in

the atmosphere. The temperature difference
between the urban heat island and its
surroundings is usually larger at night than
during the day.

84.

93.

(a)

(c)

Exp.: The reasons for low productivity are (i)

minimum sunlight and insolation (ii)
absence or scarcity of nutrients such as
nitrogen and phosphorous in the soils, (iii)
poorly developed soils (iv) scarcity of
moisture in the soils, (v) permanently frozen
ground and (vi) very short growing period.

Exp.: Sasan- Gir or Gir National Park is only home

of pure Asiatic Lion Panthera leon persica.
These lions were once found across northern
Africa, south west Asia and northern
Greece.

85.

Afforestation in lands outside forest areas.

Increasing the number of trees in India.

Promoting the participation of institutions

and people in the field of growing of trees.

(a)

Exp.: IUCN classification- Residential &

Commercial Development, Agriculture &
Aquaculture, Energy Production & Mining,
ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES & BIODIVERSITY

94.

(a)

Exp.: The objectives of the programme are:

Increasing the yield of timber and other nontimber forest produce like fruit, firewood,
fodder, etc to ensure easy supply to people.
Putting less fertile and unproductive land
to productive use

Augmenting the income of people by tree

planting.

Increasing the employment opportunities of

rural poor.
(d)

96.

(b)

97.

(c)

98.

(b)

Exp.: In a collaborative effort World Wide Fund

for Nature (WWF)-India and the Uttar
Pradesh forest department with the support
of HSBC Bank held a programme "My
Ganga, My Dolphin" to count the number
of river dolphins in the Ganges River in and
around Uttar Pradesh.
100.

(b)

Exp.: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also

known as the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch
and the Pacific Trash Vortex, lies in a highpressure area between the U.S. states of
Hawaii and California. A similar garbage
patch exists in the Atlantic Ocean, in the
North Atlantic Gyre.

OR

95.

(a)

99.

SC

Exp.: Carbon monoxide releases due to incomplete

combustion of the fuel in car engines.

GS

ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES & BIODIVERSITY