DAY – 20 (InstaTest-20): Insta 70 Days Revision Plan-2021: Topic – ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY, Subject-wise Test 26 , Textbook-wise Tests 20 , November 2020 CA

Solution: B

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released ‘Emissions Gap Report’, according to which India is the fourth-largest emitter of Green House Gases (GHGs).

According to the report, unless global greenhouse gas emissions fall by 7.6 per cent each year, the world will fail to meet the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

The top four emitters (China, USA, EU and India) contribute to over 55 per cent of the total emissions over the last decade, excluding emissions from land-use change such as deforestation, the report states.

If land-use change emissions were included, the rankings would change, with Brazil likely to be the largest emitter.

Largest emitting sectors are Energy >Industry> Forestry> Transport> Agriculture.

Solution: B

The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was established in response to guidance from the Conference of the Parties (COP7) in Marrakech in 2001. The SCCF complements the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). Unlike the LDCF, the SCCF is open to all vulnerable developing countries. In addition, it funds a wider range of activities related to climate change. To date the SCCF has a portfolio of more than $350 million supporting 85 projects globally.

Adaptation is the top priority. But the SCCF also funds, through separate financing windows, technology transfer, mitigation in selected sectors including: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management; and economic diversification.

Through the GEF, and with guidance from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the SCCF targets key sectors for adaptation and technology transfer.

The SCCF is the adaptation fund open to all vulnerable developing countries.

Solution: A

Underground coal gasification converts coal to gas while still in the coal seam (in-situ). Gas is produced and extracted through wells drilled into the unmined coal seam. Injection wells are used to supply the oxidants (air, oxygen) and steam to ignite and fuel the underground combustion process. Separate production wells are used to bring the product gas to the surface.

The process decomposes coal and generates carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane.

It causes less pollution compared to traditional coal mining

Solution: A

The National green tribunal (NGT) came into existence in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal act 2010. The NGT act provides for the establishment of the National green tribunal for the purpose of effective and quick disposal of various cases related to the protection and conservation of forests, environment and other natural resources including the enforcement of any legal right related to the environment.

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.

The jurisdiction of NGT extends over all the civil cases where there is a
substantial question of environment, and such questions arising out of the
implementation of enactments under schedule 1 of NGT act 2010. The schedule 1 of NGT includes the following acts.

1. The Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974.
   2. The Water (prevention and control of pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
   3. The Forest (conservation) Act, 1980.
   4. The Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981.
   5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
   6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.
   7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Solution: D

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 an Act of the Parliament of India to control and prevent air pollution in India. It was amended in 1987. The Act makes provisions for the establishing of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at the apex level and State Pollution Control Boards at the state level. Hence, statement 1 is correct

According to this act, the “air pollutant” means any solid, liquid or gaseous substance (including noise) present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

The further provisions of the act say that no person shall, without the previous consent of the State Board, establish or operate any industrial plant in an air pollution control area. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Every person to whom consent has been granted by the State Board, shall comply with the conditions and norms prescribed by the board such as prevention and control of the air pollution. Failure to do so brings penalty including jail term of at least 1.5 years.

Solution: D

Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) is Supreme Court mandated body tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). It was notified in 1998 by Environment Ministry under Environment Protection Act, 1986.

The EPCA is also mandated to enforce Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the city as per the pollution levels.

The EPCA had enforced several measures, including closure of the Badarpur thermal power plant, ban on brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers, and construction activities.

Solution: D

Smog

Smog has been coined from a combination of the words fog and smoke. Smog is a condition of fog that had soot or smoke in it.

The Formation of Smog

Photochemical smog (smog) is a term used to describe air pollution that is a result of the interaction of sunlight with certain chemicals in the atmosphere.

One of the primary components of photochemical smog is ozone. While ozone in the stratosphere protects earth from harmful UV radiation, ozone on the ground is hazardous to human health.

Ground-level ozone is formed when vehicle emissions containing nitrogen oxides (primarily from vehicle exhaust) and volatile organic compounds (from paints, solvents, printing inks, petroleum products, vehicles, etc.) interact in the presence of sunlight.

Solution: A

India is the largest emitter of anthropogenic sulphur dioxide in the world.

Anthropogenic sulphur dioxide is produced from burning of coal and it is known to largely contribute to air pollution.

Key Findings:

SO2 hotspots across the world have been mapped.

The SO2 hotspots were detected by the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite.

India has over 15 percent of all anthropogenic sulphur dioxide (SO2) hotspots in the world.

The main SO2 hotspots in India include Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, Korba in Chhattisgarh, Talcher and Jharsuguda in Odisha, Neyveli and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Kutch in Gujarat, Ramagundam in Telangana and Chandrapur and Koradi in Maharashtra.

Norilsk smelter complex in Russia is the largest SO2 emission hotspot in the world.

Solution: A

Particulate pollutants

• Particulate pollutants are matter suspended in air such as dust and soot.
• Major source of SPM (suspended particulate matter) are industries, vehicles, power plants, construction activities, oil refinery, railway yard, market place, industries, etc.
• Their size ranges from 001 to 500 micrometres (µm) in diameter.
• Particles less than 10 µm float and move freely with the air current.
• Particles which are more than 10 µm in diameter settle down.
• Particles less than 0.02 µm form persistent aerosols.
• According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particulate size 5 µm or less in diameter (PM 2.5) are responsible for causing the greatest harm to human health.
• These fine particulates can be inhaled deep into the lungs and can cause breathing and respiratory symptoms, irritation, inflammations and pneumoconiosis (disease of the lungs caused due to inhalation of dust. It is characterized by inflammation, coughing, and fibrosis – excess deposition of fibrous tissue).

Solution: D

The sources for acid rains are

Natural sources

• seas and oceans,
• volcanic eruptions,
• Biological processes in the soil e.g., Decomposition of organic matter.
• Forest fires

Man-made sources:

• burning of coal (60% of SO2) and
• petroleum products (30% of SO2), and
• The smelting of metal sulfide ores to obtain the pure metals.
• Industrial production of Sulfuric acid in metallurgical, chemical and fertilizer industries.

Solution: A

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti to improve ground water management through community participation. The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.6000 crore and is to be implemented over a period of 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25).

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is an initiative for ensuring long term sustainability of ground water resources in the country. The Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti is adopting a mix of ‘top down’ and ‘bottom up’ approaches in identified ground water stressed blocks in seven states, representing a range of geomorphic, climatic and hydrogeologic and cultural settings.

The scheme aims to improve ground water management through community participation in identified priority areas in seven States, viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The Government of India and the World Bank has signed a $450 million loan agreement to support the national programme to arrest the country’s depleting groundwater levels and strengthen groundwater institutions.

Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

https://vikaspedia.in/energy/policy-support/environment-1/water/atal-bhujal-yojana

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: B

Traditional Water Storage System:

Examples of Traditional water storage systems are Jal Mandir (Gujarat); Khatri, Kuhl (H.P.); Zabo (Nagaland); Eri, Ooranis (T.N.); Dongs (Assam); Katas, Bandhas (Odisha and M.P.) etc

https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/policies-and-schemes/crops-related/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchai-yojana

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: D

Any material, usually organic, that is spread on the ground to protect the soil and the roots of plants from the effects of soil crusting, erosion, or freezing is known as a Mulch. A mulch may be made of materials such as straw, sawdust, grass clippings, peat moss, leaves, or paper etc.

Advantages:

• Mulching helps soil fertility.
• Mulching helps in conserving soil moisture
• It also acts as temperature regulator in hot summers and cold winters.
• Live mulching technique is very good for nitrogen fixation.
• Organic waste generated from field can fruitfully be utilised to reap significant benefits.
• Mulching can save the farmer time and labour. A mulched garden will have very few weeds, especially if the mulch is applied before the weeds get a start. The mulch also keeps the soil loose, and thus reduces the need for cultivation.

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: D

Blue Baby Syndrome (Methemoglobinemia) – Happens most commonly due to nitrate poisoning.

In some parts of the world exposure to arsenic via drinking-water has been shown to cause a severe disease of the blood vessels, which leads to gangrene, known as ‘black foot disease’. 

Minamata disease, sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease, is a neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning.

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: B

The Indian State of Forest Report 2019 presents a gloomy picture for the Northeast as six states out of eight excluding Assam and Tripura witnessed total decrease of around 765 sq km of forest cover.

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: B

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: B

The Group of Seven is an intergovernmental organization consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The heads of government of the member states, as well as the representatives of the European Union, meet at the annual G7 Summit.

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: C

Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh (RJJK) has been set up by the Union Government to mobilize contribution/ donation from individuals/ institutions/ corporates/ foreign donors/ philanthropists, etc. for Jal Jeevan Mission to achieve the objective of providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household of the country by the year 2024.

The audit of RJJK account will be carried out annually by an independent auditor from a panel of auditors empanelled with Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Objectives of the Kosh:

• To enable individuals/ organisations to donate/ contribute in making provision of clean drinking water in village of their choice.
• To join the on-going efforts under Jal Jeevan Mission to provide tap water in rural homes, schools, anganwadi centres, tribal residential schools, health-cum-wellness centres, etc.
• To promote R&D, innovation, use of technology in ensuring tap water in rural households.

Donations to the “Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh”, are eligible for 50% deduction under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This is applicable for the assessment year 2021-22 and subsequent years.

 The foreign contribution towards the Kosh are also exempted from the operation of FCRA, 2010 as the Trust fulfils the necessary criteria provided by MHA’s Notification.

 https://jaljeevankosh.gov.in/#about

 Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: C

Source: Yojana, April 2021

Solution: C

The Living Planet Report, WWF’s flagship publication released every two years, is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet.

Solution: D

Trade unions/ labour unions during freedom struggle:

Bombay Mill hands’ Association:

The credit for the first association of Indian workers is generally given to the Bombay Mill-Hands Association founded by N.M. Lokhande in 1890. This was in the period just after the passing of the ‘First’ Factories Act in 1881 by the British Government of the time.

Madras Labour Union:

Bahman Pestonji Wadia or Bomanji Pestonji Wadia (BP Wadia, B.P. Wadia or BPW) was an Indian theosophist and labour activist. He was first a member of the TS Adyar, later of the United Lodge of Theosophists. On 13 April 1918, along with V. Kalyanasundaram Mudaliar, Wadia founded the Madras Labour Union, one of India’s first organised labour unions.

Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association:

Anasuya or Anusyabehn Sarabhai was a pioneer of the women’s labour movement in India. She founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association (Majoor Mahajan Sangh), India’s oldest union of textile workers, in 1920.

Solution: B

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM):

• DRDO has successfully test-fired indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM) from a test range off the Odisha coast
• It has been developed to replace the ‘Akash’ missile defence system, and has 360-degree coverage.
• It uses solid fuel propellant and has a strike range of 25-30 km with capability of hitting multiple targets.
• It is capable of hitting the low flying objects.
• It has been designed for induction into the Army and has a range of 25 to 30 km.

Solution: C

Nathu La is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in East Sikkim district. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.

Jelep La or Jelep Pass, elevation 4,267 m or 13,999 ft, is a high mountain pass between East Sikkim District, Sikkim, India and Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is on a route that connects Lhasa to India.

Kumjawng Pass is located in Arunachal Pradesh

Solution: B

Crew-1 mission:

• The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, whose objective is to make access to space easier in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can be easily transported to and from the ISS, enabling greater scientific research.
• Significantly, Crew-1 will be the first operational flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS and is the first of the three scheduled flights scheduled over the course of 2020-2021.

What will members of Crew-1 do at the ISS?

• The Crew-1 team will conduct microgravity studies.
• Some of the research that the crew is carrying with themselves includes materials to investigate food physiology, which will study the effects of dietary improvements on immune function and the gut microbiome and how those improvements can help crews adapt to spaceflight.
• Once in orbit, astronauts will collect samples to provide data to scientists back on Earth so that they can continue to study how dietary changes affect his body.
• Another experiment aboard is a student-designed experiment titled, “Genes in Space-7” that aims to understand how spaceflight affects brain function.

To date, Russia, the United States, and China are the only countries with public or commercial human spaceflight-capable programs.

Solution: D

Water Risk Filter Report:

This is an online tool, co-developed by the Worldwide Fund for Nature that helps evaluate the severity of risk places faced by graphically illustrating various factors that can contribute to water risk. It reported 30 Indian cities that would face a ‘grave water risk’ by 2050 due to a dramatic increase in their population percentage to 51 per cent by 2050, from 17 per cent in 2020.

Solution: B

Let selling price be SP.

SP = 120 % of CP

SP= CP * 6/5—(1)

By giving discount of 25 % on MRP,

Selling Price (SP) = 75% of MRP = MRP * ¾ — (2)

By equating (1) and (2), we get

¾ * MRP = (6/5) * CP

Or CP = (¾) * (5/6) * MRP

Or CP = (5/8) * MRP — (3)

Now, it is given that MRP – CP =Rs 180

Using equation (3),

MRP – (5/8) * MRP =180

Or 8 MRP – 5 MRP = 1440

Or 3 MRP = 1440

Or MRP = 1440/3 = 480

Solution: C

Since the month begins with a Sunday, so there will be five Sundays in the month

Therefore Required average = ( 510 x 5 +240 x 25)/30

= 8550/30 = 285

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Solution: C

Total age of 25 students = 25 * 18 = 450

When the teacher’s age is included to it, the average increases by two years, therefore total age of group including teacher = 26 * 20=  520

Thus, teacher’s age = 520 -450 = 70 years

Solution: B

Let the numbers be x, x + 2, x + 4, x + 6 and x + 8.

Then  [x + (x + 2) + (x + 4) + (x + 6) + (x + 8) ] / 5 = 36

or 5x + 20 = 180

or x = 32.

Therefore, lowest number is 32 and highest number is 40.

Thus, sum = 40 + 32 = 72

Ans. D.

The passage focusses on outlining the reasons why children’s use of social media is problematic. The passage states that stopping this is impractical and thus the natural corollary is to regulate and monitor this use. Hence D.