IAS prelims 2016 Solutions – Environment and Ecology

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  • Twenty one questions from environment and ecology portion <Trend is of about 20 questions – as per trend>
  • Not a single question from fundamentals of ecology – which I told you was very important
  • But a lot of questions from climate change and other agreements which I covered in short environment series and titbits and solved papers
  • Current affairs questions can be solved by CD
  • 16/21 very doable
  • Not a single wahiyaat question this year

1. With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
  2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

  • Covered in primer on environmental issues very recently
  • Originated in Rio 1992
  • https://www.civilsdaily.com/primer-to-environmental-issues/

2. The term Intended Nationally Determined Contribution is sometimes seen in the news in the context of:

a) Pledge made by the European countries to rehabilitate refuges from the war-affected Middle East.

b) Plain of nation outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate changes.

c) Capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

d) Plain of action outlined by the countries of the regarding Sustainable Developments Goals.

  • Very easy
  • Nescards/ titbits/ explains
  • INDC towards the goal of preventing climate change/ sustainable development

Roadmap For Paris Climate Talks: Part III

3. In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?

a) Sand deserts of northwest India

b) Higher Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir

c) Salt marshes of western Gujarat

d) Western Ghats

https://www.civilsdaily.com/35th-national-games-kerala-who-was-the-mascot/

if it’s the statebird of Kerala, must be found there i.e western ghats

4. Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?

  1. River basin is the unit of planning and management.
  2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
  3. One of the Chief Ministers of the State through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

  • CD explains
  • Chaired by PM
  • Eliminate 3

Look at question o. 27, statement 3

UPSC Prelims : Environment and Ecology Analysis part 2

[E&B Bodies #8] National Ganga River Basin Authority

5. The FAO accords the status of ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)’ to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative?

  1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity
  2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities
  3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such indentified GIAHS

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Eliminate 3 by tikdam
  • Providing GI status to all varieties of crops is not possible
  • Eliminate 3, reach the answer
  1. Consider the following pairs:

Terms sometimes seen in the news Their origin

  1. Annex-I Countries : Cartagena Protocol
  2. Certified Emissions Reductions : Nagoya Protocol
  3. Clean Development Mechanism : Kyoto Protocol

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Covered in environment series/ ecology titbits
  • Annex 1 – Kyoto
  • CER – Kyoto
  • CDM – Kyoto
  • https://www.civilsdaily.com/unfcc-paris-via-kyoto/

7. Which of the following best describe the aim of ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India?

  1. Incorporating environment benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the ‘green accounting’.
  2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agriculture output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future.
  3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 Only

(c) 3 Only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

8. With reference to pre-packaged items in India, it is mandatory to the manufacturer to put which of the following information on the main label, as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011?

  1. List of ingredients including additives
  2. Nutrition information
  3. Recommendations, if any made by the medical profession about the possibility of any allergic reactions
  4. Vegetarian/non-vegetarian
  • Select the correct answer using the code given below
  1. a) 1, 2 and 3
  2. b) 2, 3 and 4
  3. c) 1, 2 and 4
  4. d) 1 and 4 Only
  • Kitte product se kitti duniya allergic, kya kya likhoge
  • Veg/ Non Veg to likhna hi hoga
  • Exclude 3, include 4

10. ‘Net metering’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the

a) production and use of solar energy by the households/consumers

b) use of piped natural gas in the kitchens of households

c) installation of CNG kits in motor- cars

d) installation of water meters in urban households

  • Net metering – solar rooftop
  • So excess electricity transferred to grid, bill would be of net metered consumption
  • https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/solar-energy-the-emerging-sector/

11. With reference to an initiative called ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. It is initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.
  2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.
  3. It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.
  • Select the correct answer using the code given below
  1. a) 1 and 2 only
  2. b) 3 Only
  3. c) 2 and 3 only
  4. d) 1, 2 and 3
  • Difficult
  • 2 and 3 can be done by logic
  • But even 1 seems correct if we go by the flow
  • 1 is actually incorrect. No role of IMF

12.‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to

(a) Constitutional reforms

(b) Ganga Action Plan

(c) Linking of rivers

(d) Protection of Western Ghats

  • Was in news longtime back
  • Very very easy – western ghats
  • https://www.civilsdaily.com/states-stand-will-feature-in-the-final-notification-on-kasturirangan-report/

13. Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to

  1. Protection of biodiversity
  2. Resilience of forest ecosystems
  3. Poverty reduction
  • Select the correct answer using the code given below
  1. a) 1 and 2 only
  2. b) 3 Only
  3. c) 2 and 3 only
  4. d) 1, 2 and 3
  • REDD plus covered in environment series
  • Reduction of forest loss plus their rejuvenation
  • 1 and 2 obviously true
  • Poor get livelihood from forest produce – helps in poverty reduction

14. What is ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol?

a) It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions

b) It is an initiative of the United Nations to offer financial incentives to developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt eco-friendly technologies

c) It is an inter-governments agreement ratified by all the member countries of the United Nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to specified levels by the year 2022

d) It is one of the multilateral REDD-initiatives hosted by the World Bank

  • Difficult
  • But 2 and 3 can be easily eliminated
  • 1 is correct

15.  On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label?

  1.    Ceiling fans
  2.    Electric geysers
  3.    Tubular fluorescent lamps

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)    1 and 2 only

(b)    3 only

(c)    2 and 3 only

(d)    1, 2 and 3

  • Difficult to remember everything
  1.  Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following State has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?

(a)    Arunachal Pradesh

(b)    Himachal Pradesh

(c)    Karnataka

(d)    Maharashtra

  • June 2015 NEWS
  • CD missed this. They were just finding their feets then
  • Maharashtra – Blue Mormon
  • Sorry guys

17. In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index?

  1.    Carbon dioxide
  2.    Carbon monoxide
  3.    Nitrogen dioxide
  4.    Sulphur Dioxide
  5.    Methane
  • Select the correct answer using the code given below
  1. a)    1, 2 and 3 only
  2. b)    2, 3 and 4 Only
  3. c)    1, 4 and 5 Only
  4. d)    1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
  • Simple
  • Newscards/explains/titbits
  • Said umpteen times, CO2 not part
  • Remove co2

18.  Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practicing drip irrigation?

  1.    Reduction in weed
  2.    Reduction in soil salinity
  3.    Reduction in soil erosion

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)    1 and 2 only

(b)    3 only

(c)    1 and 3 only

(d)    None of the above is an advantage of practicing drip irrigation

  • simple/ logical
  • Weed reduction as no water logging
  • Soil erosion loss as water in limited quantity only at subsurface level

19.  Consider the following statements:

  1.    The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
  2.    The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)    1 only

(b)    2 only

(c)    Both 1 and 2

(d)    Neither 1 nor 2

  • CD  nescards/ explains
  • Not All but only tropical countries

20. Consider the following statements:

  1.    The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’.
  2.    The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)    1 only

(b)    2 only

(c)    Both 1 and 2

(d)    Neither 1 nor 2

  • Very simple/ Covered in primer to environmental issues / CD explains/ Newscards
  • Were proposed in 2012 rio plus 20

21. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1.    The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
  2.    The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 20C or even 1.50C above pre-industrial levels.
  3.    Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate S 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a)    1 and 3 only

(b)    2 only

(c)    2 and 3 only

(d)    1, 2 and 3

  • 1000b$ bahut jyada ho gya, it’s a trillion dollar, itta to kabhi nhi milne wala
  • Fir 1t$ hi likh dete <it’s actually 100b$>
  • Eliminate3, reach the answer
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By Dr V

Doctor by Training | AIIMSONIAN | Factually correct, Politically not so much | Opinionated? Yes!

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