1. Which of the following regions of our country is known as a “HotSpot of Biodiversity”?
A. Thar Desert
B. Western Ghats
C. Eastern Ghats
D. Deccan Plateau
Solution
The correct answer is the Western Ghats.
Key Points
- There are 4 biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region, and the Sundaland.
- These hotspots have numerous endemic species.
- The Western Ghats are present along the western edge of peninsular India and cover most of the deciduous forests and rain forests.
- This region consists of 6000 plant species of which 3000 are endemic.
- The vegetation in this region was spread over 190,000 km2 but has been now reduced to 43,000 km2.
- The region is also known for 450 species of birds, 140 mammals, 260 reptiles, and 175 amphibians.
Additional Information
- The Sundaland hotspot is located in South-East India (south of West Bengal, Bangladesh).
- In the year 2013, the Sundaland was declared as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.
- This region is famous for its rich terrestrial and marine ecosystem.
- It is one of the biologically richest hotspots in the world which comprises 25,000 species of vascular plants, of which 15,000 are found only in this region.
- The Himalayas comprises North-East India, Bhutan, Central and Eastern parts of Nepal.
- This region holds a record of having 163 endangered species which includes the Wild Asian Water Buffalo, One-horned Rhino, and as many as 10,000 plant species, of which 3160 are endemic.
- This mountain range covers nearly 750,000 km2.
- The Indo-Burma Region is stretched over a distance of 2,373,000 km², this region spans over the North-eastern states, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and the southern part of China.
- In the last 12 years, 6 large mammal species have been discovered in this region: the Large-antlered Muntjac, the Annamite Muntjac, the Grey-shanked Douc, the Annamite Striped Rabbit, the Leaf Deer, and the Saola.
- Endangered Animal Species in India: The Royal Bengal Tiger, The Great Asiatic Lion, The Snow Leopard, The Pig Nosed Frog, The Pink Headed Duck..
2. Where is India’s first National Centre of marine biodiversity located?
A. Jamnagar
B. Bhavnagar
C. Mumbai
D. Puducherry
Solution
The correct answer is Jamnagar.
Key Points
- The National Centre for Marine Biodiversity is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
- Jamnagar is close to India’s only Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch.
- This project is part of a Public-Private Partnership with the Reliance industry.
- The centre is a part of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project launched recently by the Ministry with World Bank assistance through the Society for Integrated Coastal Management, to be managed in the State by the Gujarat Ecology Commission.
- The National Center for Marine Biodiversity has a goal for the Protection of the Marine Biodiversity which is located around the coast of India so that the coast could have better marine biodiversity.
- Objective
- safeguarding the biodiversity of the coastal areas.
3. Kishtwar National Park is located in:
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Uttrakhand
D. Jharkhand
Solution
Option 1 is correct, i.e. Jammu and Kashmir.
- List of National Parks in Jammu and Kashmir:-
| National Parks | Year of Establishment |
| Dachigam NP | 1981 |
| Kishtwar NP | 1981 |
| Salim Ali NP | 1992 |
- Know about Jammu and Kashmir:
- Capital: Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter).
- Official Language: Urdu
- Regional Festivals:
- Hemis festival – a Buddhist festival of Ladakh.
- Urs also is known as Ziarats – a Kashmiri Muslim festival.
- Sindhu (Indus) Darshan, Amarnath Yatra.
- Art Forms: Basohli paintings, Kasida embroidery.
- Music: Sufiana Kalam, Hafiz Nagma, Ladishah, Chakri.
- Dance: Kud, Dumhal, Rouf, Bandh Pather.
- Geographical indications: Kashmiri Pashmina, Kashmiri Sozzani Craft, Kani Shawl, Kashmir Paper Mache, Kashmiri Walnut Carving, Khatamband, and Kashmiri Hand-Knotted Carpet, Kashmir Saffron.
4. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
| National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary | River flowing through the Park |
| 1. Kanha National Park | Narmada |
| 2. Rajaji National Park | Ganges |
| 3. Nagarhole National Park | Kabini |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
A. 1 and 3
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3
D. 3 only
Solution
The correct answer is 2 and 3.
Key Points
- Kanha National Park:-
- Location:- It stretches over an area of 940 square km in the two districts – Mandla and Balaghat – of Madhya Pradesh.
- History: The present-day Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and Banjar. Kanha National Park was created in 1955 and in 1973 was made the Kanha Tiger Reserve.
- Kanha National Park is the largest National Park in Central India.
- Kanha tiger reserve is based on two main river valleys i.e. Hallon river valley and Banjar river valley. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
- Rajaji National Park;-
- Location: Haridwar (Uttarakhand), along the foothills of the Shivalik range, spans 820 square kilometres
- Background: Three sanctuaries in the Uttarakhand i.e. Rajaji, Motichur, and Chila were amalgamated into a large protected area and named Rajaji National Park in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter C. Rajgopalachari; popularly known as “Rajaji”.
- This area is the North-Western Limit of the habitat of Asian elephants.
- It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015.
- It is home to the Van Gujjars in the winter.
- The Holy river Ganges flows through the National Park for a distance of 24km, besides the innumerable streams and WILD BROOK s making it rich and diverse. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
- Nagarhole National Park:-
- It is also known as ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Park’.
- It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and was upgraded into a national park in 1988.
- It was declared as the 37th Tiger reserve under Project Tiger in 1999.
- The Park lies in the Western Ghats and is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- The Nagarahole River flows through the park, which joins the Kabini River which also is a boundary between Nagarahole and Bandipur National Park.
- Its water sources include the Lakshmmantirtha river, Sarati Hole, Nagar Hole, Balle Halla, Kabini River, four perennial streams. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.
5. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in __________ state.
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Kerala
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Maharashtra
Solution
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala state.
- Some other famous National Parks and Sanctuaries in Kerala are:-
- Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, and Silent Valley National Park.
- Some facts about Kerala:-
- Formed on 1st November 1956.
- Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
- CM – Pinarayi Vijayan
- Governor – Arif Mohammad Khan
- Anamudi is the highest peak of Western Ghats and is situated in Kerala.
- Kerala ranks first among all states in the Human Development Index (HDI).
- It also has the highest life expectancy at birth among all Indian states.
- Kerala also has the highest literacy rate among Indian states according to 2011 census.
- Recently in 2017, Kerala adopted Jackfruit as its state fruit.
6. Among the following, which one of the biosphere reserves is in Chhattisgarh State?
A. Achanakmar
B. Agasthyamalai
C. Pachmarhi
D. Simlipal
Solution
The correct answer is Achanakmar.
Key Points
- The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is the most dramatic and ecologically diverse landscape in the Chhattisgarh
and Madhya Pradesh states of India. - It is one of the less developed and least disturbed areas in both states.
- It encompasses most of the original natural and cultural features.
- The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is located at the junction of hill ranges, with topography ranging from high mountains, shallow valleys and plains.
- It had been established in 1975, under the provisions of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- It was declared a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger, in 2009
Additional Information
- Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve is in Kerala.
- Pachmarhi biosphere reserve is in Madhya Pradesh.
- Simlipal biosphere reserve is in the Indian state of Odisha.
- Biosphere reserve
- Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of
- biodiversity with its sustainable use.
- They are internationally recognized, nominated by national governments, and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the
- states where they are located.
- They often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves, along with buffer zones that are open to some economic uses.
- Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit
- these regions, and their ways of life.
- There are 18 Biosphere reserves in India.
- First Biosphere Reserve: Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Est. 1986)
- Largest Biosphere Reserve: Gulf of Mannar
- Smallest Biosphere Reserve: Panna
7. Which of the following is the first Biosphere Reserve (reserve area) of India?
A. Nilgiri
B. Nanda Devi
C. Sundarban
D. Gulf of Mannar
Solution
The correct answer is Nilgiri.
Important Points
- Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science.
- The program of Biosphere Reserve was initiated by UNESCO in 1971.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- It was the first and Oldest biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986.
- It is located in the Western Ghats and includes 2 of the 10 biogeographical provinces of India.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve falls under the biogeographic region of the Malabar rainforest.
- The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley are the protected areas present within this reserve.
Hence, option 1 is the correct answer.
8. Which of the following is not an environmental problem?
A. Genetic modification of food
B. Afforestation
C. Acid Rain
D. Loss of Biodiversity
Solution
The correct answer is Afforestation.
Key Points
- Afforestation:
- Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stands of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover.
- Many government and non-governmental organizations directly engage in programs of afforestation to create forests, increase carbon capture.
- It enables investors to plant the kind of trees according to demand, advancing the quick propagation of particular sorts of trees.
Important Points
- Five Major Environment problems:
- Genetic modification of food
- Water (Acid Rain)
- Loss of Biodiversity
- Deforestation
- Climate change
9. __________ is the process of overgrowth of plants and algae in lakes.
A. Photosynthesis
B. Eutrophication
C. Reproduction
D. Transpiration
Solution
The correct answer is Eutrophication.
Key Points
- Eutrophication occurs when excessive nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, enter a water body. Hence, option 2 is correct.
- These nutrients promote the rapid growth of plants and algae, leading to:
- Algal blooms, which can deplete oxygen in the water.
- Decreased biodiversity as aquatic life struggles to survive due to low oxygen levels (hypoxia).
- Water quality degradation, impacting ecosystems and human uses.
- Eutrophication can occur naturally over time but is often accelerated by human activities, such as agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, and industrial effluents.
10. Which of the following states of India became the first carbon free state ?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Chhattisgarh
C. Himachal Pradesh
D. Gujarat
Solution
The correct answer is Himachal Pradesh.
Key Points
- Himachal Pradesh, which has mandated all government departments to begin environment audit, is on its way to becoming the country’s first and the world’s second carbon-free state.
- Residents are expected to undergo a lifestyle change, according to the master plan ‘Policy and Strategy on climate change and harnessing carbon credits’.
Additional Information
- As per the International Energy Emissions Agency, 2018 report-
- The USA is the largest emitter of carbon contributing 14% of total world
- India’s per capita emissions were about 40% of the global average
Important Points
- Nationally Determined Contributions of India as per Paris Climate Agreement-
- To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 levels.
- To produce 40% of total power production by means of non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
