Q6easy
The term 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
(a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
(b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
(c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals
Answer: (b)
Q13easyPartial Truth
What is/are the importance/importances of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?
1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 2 is a clever trap. UNCCD does focus on Africa (not 'South Asia and North Africa' as a pair). The specific pairing of South Asia with North Africa and the claim about financial resource allocation is fabricated.
Q22easy
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
Answer: (d)
Q23easyCommon Misconception
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 States 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
Answer: (a)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 3 is the trap. NGRBA was chaired by the Prime Minister, not by Chief Ministers on rotation. This tests whether students confuse federal governance structures.
Q27moderateAbsolute Qualifier
The FAO accords the status of 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (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 identified 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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Absolute Qualifier
Statement 1 sounds positive but contradicts GIAHS's purpose -- it aims to preserve TRADITIONAL practices, not replace them with modern technology. Statement 3 conflates GIAHS with GI tags which are unrelated.
Q30moderate
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
Answer: (c)
Q33moderateSimilar Sounding
Which of the following best describes/describe the aim of 'Green India Mission' of the Government of India?
1. Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the 'green accounting'
2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural 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
Answer: (c)
Trap: Similar Sounding
Statement 1 sounds like 'green accounting' which seems related to Green India Mission but is a completely different concept. Statement 2 about 'green revolution' exploits the word 'green' but is about agriculture, not forestry.
Q44easyCommon Misconception
What is/are unique about 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India?
1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 3 claims Kharai camels cannot be domesticated. This is false -- they are bred and maintained by the Jat and Rabari communities of Kutch, Gujarat. They ARE domesticated.
Q45hardDistractor Pairing
Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
(a) Andaman Islands
(b) Anaimalai Forests
(c) Maikala Hills
(d) Tropical rain forests of northeast
Answer: (d)
Trap: Distractor Pairing
Andaman Islands and Western Ghats (Anaimalai) are also biodiversity hotspots where new species are frequently discovered. But this specific banana species (Musa markkuana) was found in Northeast India.
Q52easyPartial Truth
With reference to an initiative called 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an 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.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 1 is partially true -- TEEB is hosted by UNEP, but NOT by IMF and World Economic Forum. Adding these prestigious institutions makes it sound plausible but is factually incorrect.
Q53moderatePartial Truth
With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India.
2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India.
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
Answer: (a)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 2 says Red Sanders is in 'tropical rain forests'. Red Sanders grows in dry deciduous forests of Andhra Pradesh (Seshachalam hills), NOT tropical rain forests. The tree IS in South India but the forest type is wrong.
Q54moderateAbsolute Qualifier
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
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.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Trap: Absolute Qualifier
Students may think REDD+ is only about carbon/forests and not about poverty reduction. But REDD+ provides payments to forest communities, contributing to poverty reduction as a co-benefit. All three are correct.
Q55moderate
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-governmental 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
Answer: (a)
Q57moderateCommon Misconception
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
Answer: (a)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 2 falsely attributes Agenda 21 to the 2002 Johannesburg Summit. Agenda 21 originated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED). Students often confuse Rio 1992 with Johannesburg 2002.
Q68easy
'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
Answer: (d)
Q81easyAbsolute Qualifier
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
Answer: (a)
Trap: Absolute Qualifier
Statement 2 claims ISA includes ALL UN member countries. ISA was initially limited to countries between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. It does NOT include all UN members.
Q86moderateCommon Misconception
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. Sulfur dioxide
5. Methane
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (b)
Trap: Common Misconception
CO2 and Methane are greenhouse gases but are NOT included in India's AQI calculation. Students often confuse greenhouse gases with air pollutants used in AQI. AQI uses PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, Pb.
Q90hardDistractor Pairing
Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as 'State Butterfly'?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Karnataka
(d) Maharashtra
Answer: (d)
Trap: Distractor Pairing
Karnataka (Western Ghats biodiversity) and Arunachal Pradesh (Northeast biodiversity) are strong distractors for butterfly-related questions. But Maharashtra was the first state to declare a State Butterfly (Blue Mormon).
Q97moderatePartial Truth
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 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 1 is partially true (adopted by all countries but came into effect in 2016, not 2017). Statement 3 inflates the amount -- the commitment was $100 billion/year (not $1000 billion). Statement 2 accurately describes the temperature goal.
Q98moderateSimilar Sounding
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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Similar Sounding
Statement 1 cleverly mixes two facts: Club of Rome published 'Limits to Growth' in 1972, and SDGs exist. But SDGs were adopted in 2015 at the UN, not proposed by Club of Rome in 1972. The temporal and organizational links are fabricated.