DAY – 22 (InstaTest-22): Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2022: Topic – Environment & Ecology, Subject-wise Revision of Tests 14, 15 & 26, Textbook based Revision of Tests 18,19 and 20 and November 2021 CA

Solution: D

CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority):

• Supreme Court of India ordered for establishment of Compensatory Afforestation Fund and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) in 2001.
• In 2006, adhoc CAMPA was established for the management of Compensatory afforestation fund.
• To compensate the loss of forest area and to maintain the sustainability, the Government of India came up with a well-defined Act, known as CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority).
• The law establishes the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of each state.
• These Funds will receive payments for: (i) compensatory afforestation, (ii) net present value of forest (NPV), and (iii) other project specific payments.
• The National Fund will receive 10% of these funds, and the State Funds will receive the remaining 90%.
• According to the Act’s provision, a company diverting forest land must provide alternative land to take up compensatory afforestation.
• For afforestation, the company should pay to plant new trees in the alternative land provided to the state.
• The national and state compensatory afforestation funds are both non-lapsable and have been established under Public Account of India and Public Account of each state.

Solution: D

Chiru Goat

• Chiru, or Tibetan antelope, is assessed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2017.
• The Tibetan antelope is the sole species in the genus Pantholops.
• Endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, the Tibetan antelope inhabits open alpine and cold steppe environments.
• It is a migratory species of the cold desert, moving seasonally between lower and higher altitudes, and can be found between 3,700m and 5,500m.

Solution: D

Pongamia

There is several non edible oil yielding trees that can be grown to produce biofuel. Karanja (Pongamia) is one of the most suitable trees. It is widely grown in various parts of the country.

Salient features of Pongamia

• It is a Nitrogen fixing tree and hence enriches the soil fertility
• It is generally not grazed by animals
• It is tolerant to water logging, saline and alkaline soils,
• It can withstand harsh climates (medium to high rainfall).
• It can be planted on degraded, waste/fallow and cultivable lands
• Pongamiaseeds contain 30-40% oil.
• It helps in controlling soil erosion and binding sand dunes, because of its dense network of lateral roots.
• Its root, bark, leaves, sap, and flower have medicinal properties. Dried leaves are used as an insect repellent in stored grains.

Properties of Pongamia Oil

• Non edible oil is largely extracted from seeds.
• The collected seeds consist of 95% kernel
• The oil content varies between 27 – 40%.
• When mechanical expellers are used for recovery of oil from the kernels, the yield of oil is reported to be about 24 to 26.5%
• The crude oil is yellow orange to brown in color, which deepens on standing. It has a bitter taste, disagreeable odour, and it’s non-edible.
• Apart from use as a biofuel, the oil can be used for lighting lamps, lubricant, water-paint binder, pesticide, and in soap making and tanning industries
• The oil is known to be used for the treatment of rheumatism and human and animal skin diseases.
• The press cake (left over after oil extraction) is rich in Nitrogen and hence can be used for improving soil fertility. The press cake when applied to the soil, also has pesticidal value, particularly against nematodes.

Pongamia seed oil Vs standard petroleum/diesel

• Pongamia seed oil as a bio- fuel has physical properties very similar to conventional diesel.
• It is, however a clean fuel (eco friendly) than conventional diesel

Solution: D

All the above statements are correct.

Scope of biomass-based power generation in India

India produces a huge quantity of biomass material in its agricultural, agro-industrial, and forestry operations. According to some estimates, over 500 million tonnes of agricultural and agro-industrial residue alone is generated every year. This quantity, in terms of heat content, is equivalent to about 175 million tonnes of oil. A portion of these materials is used for fodder and fuel in the rural economy. However, studies have indicated that at least 150–200 million tonnes of this biomass material does not find much productive use, and can be made available for alternative uses at an economical cost. These materials include a variety of husks and straws. This quantity of biomass is sufficient to generate 15 000–25 000 MW of electrical power. In addition, electricity can also be generated from biomass grown on wastelands, road and rail track side plantations, etc. The quantum of electricity that can be produced from such biomass has been estimated to be in excess of 70 000 MW. Thus, the total electricity generation potential from biomass could reach a figure of about 100 000 MW.

Advantages

• These projects can be designed to match the electric loads as biomass can be stored and used according to demand.
• Equipment for these projects is similar to that for coal-based thermal power projects and hence, no new technological developments are required.
• Due to their proximity to the rural areas, these projects are likely to improve quality of electricity supply there.
• A variety of biomass materials can be used in the same plant, providing flexibility of operations.

Biomass Gasification for Thermal and Electrical Applications

What is biomass gasification?

Biomass gasification is thermo-chemical conversion of solid biomass into a combustible gas mixture (producer gas) through a partial combustion route with air supply restricted to less than that theoretically required for full combustion. Typical composition of producer gas is as follows.

• Carbon monoxide – 18 % – 20 %
• Hydrogen – 15 % – 20 %
• Methane – 1 % – 5 %
• Carbon dioxide – 9 % – 12 %
• Nitrogen – 45 % – 55 %
• Calorific value – 1000–1200 kcal/m³

Why gasify biomass?

• Producer gas can be used as a fuel in place of diesel in suitably designed/adopted internal combustion (IC) engines coupled with generators for electricity generation.
• Producer gas can replace conventional forms of energy such as oil in many heating applications in the industry.
• The gasification process renders use of biomass relatively clean and acceptable in environmental terms.
• Large monetary savings can be obtained through even partial substitution of diesel in existing diesel generator (DG) sets.

Solution: C

Sacred groves comprise of patches of forests or natural vegetation – from a few trees to forests of several acres – that are usually dedicated to local folk deities (Example – Ayyanar  and Amman) or tree spirits (Vanadevatais).

These spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations. Sacred groves are protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 but not exclusively protected under the act.

Himachal Pradesh leads in state-wise distribution of sacred groves.

Solution: C

The GRIHA V 2015 rating system consists of 31 criteria categorized under various sections such as Site Planning, Construction Management, Occupant Comfort and Wellbeing, Sustainable Building Materials, Performance Monitoring and Validation, and Innovation.

Eligibility

All buildings, which are in the design stage and have built up area more than 2,500 m2, are eligible for certification under GRIHA. Building types include, but are not limited to offices, retail spaces, institutional buildings, hotels, hospital buildings, healthcare facilities, residences, and multi-family high-rise buildings.

It was conceived by TERI and developed with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

It is not mandatory to get GRIHA rating for any of the establishments in India.

Solution: C

Our country’s in situ conservation efforts are reflected in its 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks, > 450 wildlife sanctuaries and many sacred groves. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Ex situ conservation methods include protective maintenance of threatened species in zoological parks and botanical gardens, in vitro fertilisation, tissue culture propagation and cryopreservation of gametes.

Ex situ Conservation– In this approach, threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care. Zoological parks, botanical gardens and wildlife safari parks serve this purpose. There are many animals that have become extinct in the wild but continue to be maintained in zoological parks. In recent years ex situ conservation has advanced beyond keeping threatened species in enclosures. Now gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile condition for long periods using cryopreservation techniques, eggs can be fertilised in vitro, and plants can be propagated using tissue culture methods. Seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important plants can be kept for long periods in seed banks.

Solution: D

Smokestacks of thermal power plants, smelters and other industries release particulate and gaseous air pollutants together with harmless gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, etc. These pollutants must be separated/ filtered out before releasing the harmless gases into the atmosphere.

There are several ways of removing particulate matter; the most widely used of which is the electrostatic precipitator which can remove over 99 per cent particulate matter present in the exhaust from a thermal power plant. It has electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts, which produce a corona that releases electrons. These electrons attach to dust particles giving them a net negative charge. The collecting plates are grounded and attract the charged dust particles. The velocity of air between the plates must be low enough to allow the dust to fall. A scrubber can remove gases like sulphur dioxide. In a scrubber, the exhaust is passed through a spray of water or lime.

Catalytic converters, having expensive metals namely platinum-palladium and rhodium as the catalysts, are fitted into automobiles for reducing emission of poisonous gases. As the exhaust passes through the catalytic converter, unburnt hydrocarbons are converted into carbon dioxide and water, and carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are changed to carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas, respectively. Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic converter should use unleaded petrol because lead in the petrol inactivates the catalyst.

Solution: D

What is Coral Bleaching?

The whitening of coral colonies due to the loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae from the tissues of polyps is called as Coral Bleaching.

Zooxanthellae are unicellular algae that provide colour to corals. They also provide food to corals and their deaths lead to breakdown of the symbiotic relationship between them. This breakdown of symbiotic relationship causes starvation and resultant deaths of coral polyps. This condition exposes the white calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral colony. There are a number of stresses or environmental changes that may cause bleaching. These causes include disease, excess shade, increased levels of ultraviolet radiation, sedimentation, pollution, salinity changes, and increased temperatures.

Other causes of coral bleaching include –

♦ Increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation;

♦ Large amounts of storm water from heavy rains flooding the reef;

♦ The exposure of coral to certain chemicals or diseases;

♦ Sediments such as sand or dirt covering the coral;

♦ Excess nutrients such as ammonia and nitrate from fertilizers and household products entering the reef ecosystem.

(The nutrients might increase the number of zooxanthellae in the coral, but it is possible that the nutrient overload increases the susceptibility of coral to diseases.)

Coral Reefs are Important in Following Ways –

(i) Coral reefs provide shelter to the world’s most colourful fishes. These support fish productions up to 2.5 lakh tonnes per year.

(ii) Coral reefs control the concentration of carbon dioxide in the lower atmosphere and in the sea water.

(iii) Coral reefs provide different types of raw materials for industries.

(iv) Coral reefs check sea waves against going towards sea coasts by reducing their speed.

(v) Coral reefs are helpful in controlling Green House Effect as they absorb carbon dioxide.

(vi) Corals are used as medicines by human communities living along coasts.

(vii) Coral reefs form important ecosystems. They also provide food to different types of sea animals like star fish

Solution: B

Namdapha is in Arunachal Pradesh.

Sariska is in Rajasthan. Hence, option (b) is correct.

Solution: C

Solution: B

• Earlier, RBI used to keep a major chunk of this surplus for its Contingency Fund and Asset Development Fund. However, after the Malegam Committee (2013) recommendations its transfer of surplus to government increased.
• Later, the Bimal Jalan committee provided a revised Economic Capital Framework or ECF. ECF provides a methodology for determining the appropriate level of risk provisions and profit distribution to be made under Section 47 of the RBI Act, 1934.

Solution: B

• It is designed to study decays of particles containing a beauty quark, the quark with the highest mass forming bound states.
• Beauty quarks are produced during the collision of high-energy proton beams in the LHC at CERN.

Solution: A

• Launched in 1985, ITER is an experimental fusion reactor facility currently under construction in Cadarache, south of France.

It aims to prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a future source of energy and build the world’s largest tokamak through an international collaboration.

Solution:D

Black Panther combat force – A specialised anti-Naxal combat force for Chhattisgarh on the lines of Greyhounds unit in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Solution: d)

Justification: Statement 1:  Manas has the largest population of endangered Bengal Florican. Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog are also found here.

Statement 2:  Dihang-Dibang: Mouling National Park and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary – Mishmi takin, red goral, musk deer, red panda, Asiatic black bear, Mechuka giant flying squirrel and Mishmi Hills giant flying squirrel are found here.

Statement 3:  Nokrek Along with Balpakram: Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya – hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya and also an important habitat of the Asian elephants and Red Panda.

Solution: a)

Justification: Statement 1 and 2:  Vembanad Kayal is the largest Lake of Kerala. It is famous for tourist locations like Alappuzha and Kumarakom, and also for house boats. River mouths of Pamba-Achenkovil Rivers in Vembanad form one of the most unique wetland topography of Kerala, the Kuttanad.

It is below the sea level and is famous for exotic fish varieties and paddy fields that are below the sea level.

Statement 3:  This is about Ashtamudi lake, a natural backwater in Kollam district. Rivers Kallada and Pallichal drain into it. It forms an estuary with the sea at Neendakara which is a famous fishing harbour in Kerala. National Waterway 3 passes through this lake.

Solution : D

• Women Reservation Bill in Indian- 108 th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
• NCBC- 123rd Constitutional Amendment Bill, 102 nd Constitutional Amendment Act.

Solution: b)

Justification:  The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with help from Gujarat’s forest department, is attempting for the first time a process to restore coral reefs using biorock or mineral accretion technology in the Gulf of Kachchh.

What is Biorock? It is the name given to the substance formed by electro accumulation of minerals dissolved in seawater on steel structures that are lowered onto the sea bed and are connected to a power source, in this case solar panels that float on the surface.

How they are formed?

1. The technology works by passing a small amount of electrical current through electrodes in the water.
2. When a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode are placed on the sea floor, with an electric current flowing between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and adhere to the structure (cathode).

This results in calcium carbonate formation. Coral larvae adhere to the CaCO3 and grow quickly.

Fragments of broken corals are tied to the biorock structure, where they are able to grow at least four to six times faster than their actual growth as they need not spend their energy in building their own calcium carbonate skeletons.

Solution: a)

Justification: Please refer to a small section of the OLD map of India (Southern part) – also note the reserves in Central India and eastern India.

Q Source: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/trd_8222.aspx

Solution: d)

Justification: The Indian elephant Elephas maximus occurs in the central and southern Western Ghats, North-east India, eastern India and northern India and in some parts of southern peninsular India. It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).

It occurs in 16 of the 28 (formerly) states in the country and is showing an increasing trend across its distributional range. Its population in 2007 was estimated to be in the range from 27,657 to 27,682, whereas in 2012 the population was estimated to be between 27,785 and 31,368. The state-wise population estimates are given in table below:

PROJECT ELEPHANT was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The Project is being mainly implemented in 16 States / UTs , viz. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.

Q Source: http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/eri_8226.aspx

Samarth scheme is by Ministry of MSME is to support women entrepreneur through skill development and market assistance

Answer D

Answer A

The Three Seas Initiative(3SI) is a forum that brings together Twelve European Union member states between the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea

Answer B

The Bucharest 9 Initiative was launched by Poland and Romania in 2014 by the Presidents of the 9 countries. Its aim is to consolidate views on issues of interest in the Alliance for the participating nations, and to support joint security projects.

The B9 are, apart from Romania and Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Answer A

Pratyush is one of the fastest supercomputers in India developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune in 2018 Param siddhi rank 62 in 2020 PARAM Shivay, the first supercomputer assembled indigenously, was installed in IIT Param Ganga recently latest supercomputer

Solution : b

Because Total age of father and mother = 35× 2 =70 yr

And total age of father, mother and son = 27 × 3 = 81 yr

∴Age of son = 81 – 70 = 11 yr

Solution : c

Let ages of man and his son are 8x yr and x yr, respectively.
According to the question,
[(8x+x)/(2 )] = 27
x = [(27×2)/(9)]=6
Hence, age of son after 6 yr = 6+6 = 12yr

Solution : a

N+ A = 10%
N = 8.33%
Hence A = 1.66% → 60 days.

Solution : c

He will complete the work in 20 days. Hence, he will complete ten times the work in 200 days.

Solution : c

Let the work done by 1 work.

Here, M1 = 15 , D1 = 16 , W1 = W2 = 1

M2 = 24, D2 = ?

∴According to the formula,

M1 D1 W2 = M2 D2 W1                            [ by Technique]

15×  16 ×1 = 24× D2 ×1

∴D1 = [(15 × 16 )/24] = 10

Therefore, 10 days are required to complete the work.