DAY – 19 (InstaTest-19): Insta 70 Days Revision Plan-2021: Topic – ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY, Subject-wise Test 15 , Textbook-wise Tests 19 , October 2020 CA

Solution: D

Madhya Pradesh and Andaman Nicobar has highest number of national parks in India

The Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 provided for the declaration of certain areas by the State Government as wildlife sanctuaries if the area was thought to be of adequate ecological, geomorphological and natural significance.

National Park (NP)

The Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA) of 1972 provided for the declaration of National Parks by the State Government in addition to the declaration of wildlife sanctuaries.

National Parks are declared in areas that are considered to be of adequate ecological, geomorphological and natural significance although within the law, the difference in conservation value of a National Park from that of a sanctuary is not specified in the WPA 1972.

Solution: B

The Kashmir stag (Cervus canadensis hanglu), also called hangul, is a subspecies of elk native to Kashmir. It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of the Kashmir Valley and northern Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it is found in the Dachigam National Park where it receives protection but elsewhere it is more at risk.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/forays-of-the-kashmir-stag/article25854218.ece

Solution: B

Mukurthi National Park (MNP) is a 78.46 km2 (30.3 sq mi) protected area located in the western corner of the Nilgiris Plateau west of Ootacamund hill station in the northwest corner of Tamil Nadu state in the Western Ghats mountain range of South India. The park was created to protect its keystone species, the Nilgiri tahr.

The park is characterised by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas in a high altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds. It is home to an array of endangered wildlife, including royal Bengal tiger and Asian elephant, but its main mammal attraction is the Nilgiri tahr. The park was previously known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park.

The park is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012.

It doesn’t share the border with Karnataka.

Solution: D

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory Board constituted in 2003 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

It is the apex body tasked with according permissions for forest land diversions for industrial development. The NBWL is a 47 member body, chaired by the Prime Minister, of which 19 members are ex-officio members.

Functions

• No construction of commercial lodges, hotel etc. shall be undertaken except with the prior approval of the National Board.
• No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park except on a recommendation of the National Board.
• No destruction, removal of wildlife or forest produce from a National Park or diversion of habitat unless
• State Government in consultation with the National Board authorizes the issue of such permit.
• Ensure Tiger Reserves and areas linking one protected area with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses except in public interest and with the approval of the National Board.
• No alteration or de-notification of Tiger Reserves without the approval of the National Board for Wildlife.

Solution: B

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in Morigaon district in Assam, India. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect and statement 2 is incorrect.

It was declared in 1987 and covers 38.85 km², providing grassland and wetland habitat for the Indian rhinoceros. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Solution: B

Solution: B

Deciduous forests are the forests which shed their leaves to withstand the drought. The natural vegetation of these forests depends on the amount of precipitation. These forests are more open and less luxuriant than the equatorial evergreen forests. Most of these forests yield valuable timber. These biomes are endowed with durable hardwood.

Tropical Deciduous Forests of Southern India supports a good population of endangered and vulnerable species like Indian elephants, gaurs, tigers, sloth bears, muggers, Indian rock pythons, four-horned antelopes, jackals and dholes.

Solution: D

BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit organization that protects animals and the places they call home. Founded in 1969, IFAW has provided almost 50 years of global leadership, innovation and hands-on assistance to animals and communities in need. Our holistic conservation approach includes reducing the demand and exploitation of wildlife at the source; working together with communities and enforcers to shut down poaching networks; pioneering first-ever successes in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orphan animals back into the wild; activating where needed most in the wake of global disasters; and advocating through expert research and solutions to the greatest threats to our planet’s populations and habitats.

Wetlands International is a global organisation that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity. It is an independent, not-for-profit, global organisation, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world.

Solution: B

When the elephant was declared as the National Heritage Animal of India in 2010, there was jubilation and anticipation for better treatment for the creature — depicted in Indian mythology and folklore as Ganesha — both in the wild and in captivity.

The Gajah report published in 2010 laid down elaborate recommendations for improving management of wild and captive elephants in India. However, 10 years down the road, it seems we have a long way to go to ensure the best possible treatment for elephants living freely and in captivity.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/wildlife-biodiversity/world-elephant-day-the-trials-of-india-s-national-heritage-animal-72775

Solution: A

Papikonda National Park is located near Rajamahendravaram in the Papi Hills in East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, and covers an area of 1,012.86 km². It is an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area and home to some endangered species of flora and fauna

Silent Valley National Park, is a national park in Kerala, India. It is located in the Nilgiri hills, has a core area of 89.52 km², which is surrounded by a buffer zone of 148 km².

Bandipur National Park, an 874-sq.-km forested reserve in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is known for its small population of tigers.

Solution: B

Solution: C

Torres strait separates Papua Guinea and Australia.

Strait of Florida separates Cuba and the Florida state of USA

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, 550 mi stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. As the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.

Solution: D

Revenue Expenditure is expenditure incurred for purposes other than the creation of physical or financial assets of the central government. It relates to those expenses incurred for the normal functioning of the government departments and various services, interest payments on debt incurred by the government, and grants given to state governments and other parties (even though some of the grants may be meant for creation of assets).

While capital expenditure or capex is a broad economic term used by several companies, it is a very important term in a budgetary context.

It usually denotes funds used by a company (government) to acquire, maintain or upgrade physical assets such as property, new infrastructural projects or buying new equipment.

Solution: C

Current Account is the record of trade in goods and services and transfer payments.

Capital Account records all international transactions of assets..

Solution: D

The locations of the 9 stupas built after the death of Buddha are Rajagriha, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Allakappa, Ramagrama, Vethapida, Pava, Kushinagar and Pippalivana.

Solution: A

In the north-western parts of India including Gujarat and Rajasthan, Solanki school or Maru-Gurjara style developed under the patronage of the Solanki rulers.

The temple walls were devoid of any carvings. A unique feature of this school is the presence of step-tank, known as surya-kund in the proximity
of the temple. Example: Modhera Sun temple, Gujarat.

Solution: A

Megadiversity Countries is a term used to refer to the world’s top biodiversity-rich countries.

To qualify as a Megadiverse Country, a country must: 

1. Have at least 5000 of the world’s plants as endemics
2. Have marine ecosystems within its borders.

The focus on endemism is in line with the IUCN’s “doctrine of ultimate responsibility”, which holds that a country with the only populations of an endangered species has ultimate responsibility for ensuring the survival of that particular species. Other secondary criteria have also been taken into consideration, such as animal and invertebrate endemism, species diversity, higher-level diversity, ecosystem diversity and presence of tropical rainforest ecosystems. Despite endemism being the main criterion, thresholds for the criteria are flexible and countries have been considered individually based on all criteria.

The identified Megadiverse Countries are: United States of America, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Madagascar, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, China, and Australia.

https://www.biodiversitya-z.org/content/megadiverse-countries

Solution: B

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Solution: C

Article 280 of the Constitution of India provides for a Finance
Commission as a quasi-judicial body. It is constituted by the president
of India every fifth year or at such earlier time as he considers necessary.

The Finance Commission consists of a chairman and four other members to be appointed by the president. They hold office for such period as specified by the president in his order.

The Constitution authorises the Parliament to determine the qualifications of members of the commission and the manner in which they should be selected. Accordingly, the Parliament has specified the qualifications of the chairman and members of the commission.

Solution: D

Democracy is of two types—direct and indirect. In direct democracy, the
people exercise their supreme power directly as is the case in Switzerland.
There are four devices of direct democracy, namely, Referendum, Initiative, Recall and Plebiscite.

Referendum is a procedure whereby a proposed legislation is referred to the electorate for settlement by their direct votes.

Initiative is a method by means of which the people can propose a bill to the legislature for enactment.

Recall is a method by means of which the voters can remove a representative or an officer before the expiry of his term, when he fails to discharge his duties properly.

Plebiscite is a method of obtaining the opinion India’s of people on any issue of public importance. It is generally used to solve the territorial disputes.

Solution: B

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ):

• The coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters which get influenced by tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line have been declared as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) in 1991.
• The coastal regulation zones have been declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change under the Environment Protection Act 1986.
• While the CRZ Rules are made by the Union environment ministry, implementation is to be ensured by state governments through their Coastal Zone Management Authorities.
• In this zone, Government imposes restrictions on setting up and expansion of industries or other projects.
• It is mandatory for getting clearances from ministry and local authorities to start any development project in CRZ.

Solution: A

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, Government of India, was established in 1982.

WII carries out wildlife research in areas of study like Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modeling, Ecodevelopment, Ecotoxicology, Habitat Ecology and Climate Change. WII has a research facility which includes Forensics, Remote Sensing and GIS, Laboratory, Herbarium, and an Electronic Library.

The founder director was V. B. Saharia while the first Director was Hemendra Singh Panwar who remained the director from 1985 to 1994. Trained personnel from WII have contributed in studying and protecting wildlife in India. The national tiger census or the All India Tiger Estimation, is done by WII along with NTCA and state forest departments.

National Tiger Conservation Authority:

The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it under the said Act.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has been fulfilling its mandate within the ambit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for strengthening tiger conservation in the country by retaining an oversight through advisories/normative guidelines, based on appraisal of tiger status, ongoing conservation initiatives and recommendations of specially constituted Committees.

Animal Welfare Board of India:

• Established in 1962 under Section 4 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960, the Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body advising the Government of India on animal welfare laws, and promotes animal welfare in the country of India.
• The Board was initially within the jurisdiction of the Government of India’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In 1990, the subject of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was transferred to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, where it now resides.
• The Board consists of 28 Members, who serve for a period of 3 years.
• It works to ensure that animal welfare laws in the country are followed and provides grants to Animal Welfare Organisations. The Board oversees Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) by granting recognition to them if they meet its guidelines.

Solution: D

Deemed Forests:

• Deemed forests, comprising about 1% of India’s forest land, are a controversial subject as they refer to land tracts that appear to be a “forest”, but have not been notified so by the government or in historical records.
• The concept of deemed forests has not even been clearly defined in any law including the Forest Conservation Act 1980.

An expert committee constituted by the Karnataka government after the Supreme Court order (in T N Godavarman Thirumalpad (1996) Case) identified ‘deemed forests’ as “land having the characteristic of forests irrespective of the ownership’”. This includes:

• Thickly wooded areas of the Revenue Department not handed over to the Forest Department.
• Thickly wooded areas recommended to be handed over to the Forest Department.
• Thickly wooded land distributed to grantees but not cultivated.
• Thickly wooded plantations of the Forest Department.

Solution: C

 ‘Buldhana Pattern’:

• Buldhana Pattern’ of water conservation’ has won national recognition, NITI Aayog is in the process of formulating National Policy on water conversation based on it
• It is based on the synchronization of national highway construction and water conservation.
• It was achieved for the first time in Buldana district of drought-prone Vidarbha region, by using soil from the water bodies, nallas and rivers.

Solution: C

Bandipur National Park,

Bandipur National Park, established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in the Indian state of Karnataka, which is the state with the second highest tiger population in India. Along with adjacent Nagarhole National Park, it is one of the Premier Tiger Reserves in the country. The park is flanked by the Kabini river in the north and the Moyar river in the south. The Nugu river runs through the park.

Panna National Park:

Panna National Park is a national park located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh in India. It has an area of 542.67 km2 (209.53 sq mi). It was declared in 1993 as the twenty second Tiger reserve of India and the fifth in Madhya Pradesh. The forests of Panna National Park along with Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining territorial divisions form a significant part of the catchment area of the 406 km (252 mi) Ken River which runs northeast for about 72 km (45 mi) through the park.

Nokrek National Park:

Nokrek National Park, the core area of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, is a national park located approximately 2 km from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India. UNESCO added this National park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009. Along with Balpakram national park, Nokrek is a hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya. Established in 1986. All-important rivers and streams of the Garo Hills region rise from the Nokrek Range, of which the river Simsang, known as Someshwari when it emerges into Bangladesh at Baghmara, is the most prominent.

Jim Corbett National Park:

Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district and Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and was named after hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative. The Ramganga river (West) along with its significant tributaries Sonanadi, Palain and Mandal forms the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.

Answer: C

Let cost of first chicken be Rs. 100.

Then its selling price of both chicken= Rs 120.each

But he suffers loss of 20% on second chicken which implies that cost of second chicken  = 120/0.8 = 150

Therefore, total cost = 100 + 150 = Rs 250

Total selling price = 120 + 120 = Rs 240

Thus, he incurs a loss of Rs 10.

Therefore, loss = (10/250) * 100 = 100/25 =4 %

Answer: D

If speed of thief is more than police and if he is already ahead of police. Thus, distance between them keeps increasing over the time. He will never be able to catch the thief.

Answer: C

Let the amount of mixture taken from 1^st vessel = x

And, the amount of mixture from the second vessel = y

Therefore, (x/3 + 2y/5)/(2x/3 + 3y/5) = 5/8

Or ((5x + 6y)/15) / ((10x + 9y)/15) = 5/8

Or (5x + 6y)/(10x + 9y) = 5/8

Or 40x + 48y = 50x + 45y

40x + 48y = 50x + 45y

10x = 3y;

Thus, x/y = 3/10

Solution: C

Downstream speed = 55kmph

Upstream Speed = 25 kmph

Rate of stream = (55 – 25)/2 km/hr.

= 30/2 = 15 kmph           

Answer. A.

B and C are possible inference but not corollary. D is extraneous to the passage. A talks about what needs to be done in light of the available facts and is thus the most accurate corollary. Hence A.