DAY – 52 (InstaTest-52): Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2022: Topic – ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY and AGRICULTURE, Tests 33,34 , September 2021 CA

Solution : B

Breeding is sexual reproduction that produces offspring, usually animals or plants. It can only occur between a male and a female animal or plant. Breeding may refer to: Breeding in the wild, the natural process of reproduction in the animal kingdom.

Under a particular set of selection pressures, organisms evolve towards the most efficient reproductive strategy. Some organisms breed only once in their lifetime (Pacific salmon fish, bamboo) while others breed many times during their lifetime (most birds and mammals). Some produce a large number of small-sized offspring (Oysters, pelagic fishes) while others produce a small number of large-sized offspring (birds, mammals).

Unlike the bigger, more abundant savannah elephants – which start breeding from the age of 12 – female forest elephants begin breeding only at 23. They then only give birth only once every five to six years.

Solution: C

A keystone species—which can be any organism, from animals and plants to bacteria and fungi—is the glue that holds a habitat together. It may not be the largest or most plentiful species in an ecological community, but if a keystone is removed, it sets off a chain of events that turns the structure and biodiversity of its habitat into something very different. Although all of an ecosystem’s many components are intricately linked, these are the living things that play a pivotal role in how their ecosystem functions.

What Effect Do Keystones Have on an Ecosystem?

Keystone species maintain the local biodiversity of an ecosystem, influencing the abundance and type of other species in a habitat. They are nearly always a critical component of the local food web. One of the defining characteristics of a keystone species is that it fills a critical ecological role that no other species can. Without its keystone species, an entire ecosystem would radically change—or cease to exist altogether. It’s important to note that a species’ role can change from one ecosystem to the next, and a species that is considered a keystone in one environment may not be considered the same in another.

The sea star, Pisaster ochraceus, is a keystone predator found in the tidal pools of northwestern North America and was the species that launched Robert Paine’s keystone species concept. When comparing two stretches of shoreline—one from which he physically removed the sea stars and hurled them out to sea—Paine observed the huge influence on biodiversity that the starfish had on the landscape where they remained, despite being relatively uncommon. On tidal outcrops lacking the predatory sea star, mussels soon crowded out many of the 15 original species, including algae, limpets, anemones, and sponges. Within a single year, the biodiversity of Paine’s starfish-free ecosystem was nearly halved.

Solution: B

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, microorganisms capable of transforming atmospheric nitrogen into fixed nitrogen (inorganic compounds usable by plants). More than 90 percent of all nitrogen fixation is effected by these organisms, which thus play an important role in the nitrogen cycle.

Two kinds of nitrogen-fixing bacteria are recognized: free-living (non-symbiotic) bacteria, including the cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) Anabaena and Nostoc and genera such as Azotobacter, Beijerinckia, and Clostridium; and mutualistic (symbiotic) bacteria such as Rhizobium, associated with leguminous plants (e.g., various members of the pea family), and certain Azospirillum species, associated with cereal grasses.

Rhizobium organisms in the soil recognize and invade the root hairs of their specific plant host, enter the plant tissues in return for secretions (food) from their host that encourage their growth and multiplication.

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: 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

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

Contract Farming can be carried out based on a pre-harvest agreement between buyers and producers. It is defined under Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of constitution; however Agriculture is under State list.
A Committee chaired by Dr Ashok Dalwai, was set up at the Ministry
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, in April 2016 to
prepare a blueprint for doubling farmer’s income by 2022.

FDI up to 100%, under the automatic route, is allowed in food processing
industries. Further, 100% FDI under Government route for retail trading,
including through e-commerce, is permitted in respect of food products
manufactured and/or produced in India.

Solution: D

Zero tillage is the process where the crop seed will be sown through drillers without prior land preparation and disturbing the soil where previous crop stubbles are present.

Zero tillage not only reduce the cost of cultivation it also reduces the soil erosion, crop duration and irrigation requirement and weed effect which is better than tillage. Zero Tillage (ZT) also called No Tillage or Nil Tillage.

Mixed farming is a type of farming which involves both the growing of crops as well as the raising of livestock.
Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops in proximity.

Vertical farming is the practice of growing produce in vertically stacked layers. The practice can use soil, hydroponic or aeroponic growing methods. Vertical farms attempt to produce food in challenging environments, like where arable land is rare or unavailable.

http://www.basicknowledge101.com/subjects/verticalfarming.html

Solution: A

Commercial banks are the largest institutional lenders for agriculture sector in India.

Kisan Credit Card is a pioneering credit delivery innovation for providing
adequate and timely credit to farmers under single window. It is a flexible and simplified procedure, adopting whole farm approach, including short-term, medium-term and long-term credit needs of borrowers for agriculture and allied activities and a reasonable component for consumption needs.

Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) is a saving instrument ( But not tax saving
instrument) launched by the Government for individual savers, wherein
invested money doubled during the maturity period.

This savings scheme was first launched by the Government on 1 April, 1988 and was distributed through post offices. It was discontinued in 2011 and later reintroduced in 2014.

The maturity period of the scheme is around 100 months and the money
invested doubled on maturity. However, KVP is not a tax saving instrument as it does not offer any income tax exemption.

Solution: C

What Is Triclosan?

• 
  Triclosan is an ingredient added to many consumer products intended
  to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It is added to some
  antibacterial soaps and body washes, toothpastes, and some
  cosmetics.
• Some short-term animal studies have shown that exposure to high doses
  of triclosan is associated with a decrease in the levels of some thyroid
  hormones. But we don’t know the significance of those findings to human
  health. Other studies have raised the possibility that exposure to triclosan
  contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. At this time, we
  don’t have enough information available to assess the level of risk that
  triclosan poses for the development of antibiotic resistance.
• There are other ongoing studies that involve the safety of triclosan. One is
  a study investigating the potential of developing skin cancer after a longterm exposure to triclosan in animals. Another is a study on the potential
  breakdown of triclosan to other chemicals on human skin after exposure
  to triclosan to ultraviolet (UV) rays. At this time, neither study has been
  completed.

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: 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 0.001 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 2.5 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: A

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the UNCLOS to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the UNCLOS Convention.

The Tribunal is open to States Parties to the Convention. It is also open to entities other than States Parties, i.e., States or intergovernmental organisations which are not parties to the Convention and to state enterprises and private entities.

Solution: C

Both the statements are correct

Warehouse Receipts are documents issued by warehouses to depositors
against the commodities deposited in the warehouses, for which the
warehouse is the Bailee.

Warehouse Receipt is a proof of storage. It is an acknowledgement of the goods held by the warehouse keeper on behalf of the person named therein. It is a document issued by a warehouse keeper stating that he holds the goods mentioned in the receipt and is awaiting instructions from the person to whom

Solution 😀

Solution:

• Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13 or Goal 13) is about climate action and is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The official mission statement of this goal is to “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”.SDG 13 has targets which are to be achieved by 2030.

• Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy.

Solution: D

Solution:

• The UNEP Frontiers reports draw attention to emerging issues of environmental concern. Novel environmental issues are constantly arising, and there is a need to produce scientific assessments for the attention of policymakers and practitioners for their timely and effective action. The issues presented in the report are considered ‘emerging’ based on new scientific information and knowledge, new methods of addressing existing issues, or mounting impacts of existing issues. The issues presented in the Frontiers reports may be local and relatively small-scale today, but they have the potential to become issues of regional and global concern that impact the environment and people’s livelihoods considerably.

Solution: B

Solution:

• An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the International Space Station. Learn more about visitors to the space station by country.
• The space station has been continuously occupied since November 2000.
• An international crew of seven people live and work while traveling at a speed of five miles per second, orbiting Earth about every 90 minutes. Sometimes more are aboard the station during a crew handover.
• In 24 hours, the space station makes 16 orbits of Earth, traveling through 16 sunrises and sunsets.

Solution: C

Solution:

• INS Vela (S24) is the fourth submarine of the first batch of six Kalvari-class submarines for the Indian Navy. It is a diesel-electric attack submarine based on the Scorpène class, designed by French naval defence and energy group DCNS and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited, an Indian shipyard in Mumbai. The first cutting of steel for the submarine began on 14 July 2009,and the ship was launched on 6 May 2019.

Solution: A

Solution:

• Some of the more common compound semiconductors include: gallium-arsenide (GaAs), gallium-nitride (GaN), silicon carbide (SiC), indium-phosphide (InP) and even aluminium-gallium-indium-phosphide (AlGaInP).
• Plutonium(IV) oxide or (plutonia) is the chemical compound with the formula PuO2. This high melting-point solid is a principal compound of plutonium. It can vary in color from yellow to olive green, depending on the particle size, temperature and method of production. It is used in nuclear reactors.

Solution: B

Solution: Trirashmi caves, also known as Pandav Leni, are a group of 24 caves that were carved out of Trirashmi Hill, Nasik, MaharashtraThe caves are both viharas and chaityas. Viharas are monasteries and chaityas are the halls of congregation.They belong to both Hinayana Faith (did not believe in idol or image worship) and Mahayana faith (believes in idol or image worship of Buddha) in Buddhism.

Solution: B

Solution: It is a type of hand-painted or block printed cotton textile produced  mainly in TamilNadu & Andhra Pradesh. Karuppur kalamkari paintings from Tamil Nadu recently received the geographical indication (GI) tag .This art was patronised by the Mughals particularly in Golconda. 

Solution: A

Solution: Importers will have to ensure that imported goods meet the prescribed ‘rules of origin’ provisions for availing concessional rate of customs duty under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

Solution: B

Gwalior, & Orchha  were selected under HULP Programme

Chemical treatments of Historical spots will be done to make art more attractive is one initiative in it. Survey work & mapping of urban characteristics of historical cities will be carried under HULP project.

Solution:  A

Solution: Paryushan is an annual 8-10 days fasting & meditation, observed by Swethambara Jains. Das Lakshan is a 10 days festival observed by Digambara Jains after Paryushan

These are strict observance of 10 Cardinal values 

Answer : d

Let the weight of fresh grapes be x.

Quantity of water in it =  ´ x =

Quantity of pulp in it = ( x –  ) =

Quantity of water in 500 kg dry grapes =  ´500 = 50 kg

\Quantity of pulp in it = ( 500 – 50 ) = 450 kg

X = 2250 kg

Answer : a

Let original rate of rice be Rs. X per kg.

Reduced rate = Rs. [ ( 100 – 6.25 ) ´  ´x]  = Rs.  per kg

According to the question,

120 ´ 16 – 1800 = 15x

128 – 120 = x

X = Rs. 8 per kg

\Reduced rate = Rs. (  ´ 8 ) per kg

= Rs. 7.50 per kg

Answer :b

Let the original price per egg be x.

Then, increased price = Rs. (

According to the question,  = 6

1014 – 780 = 6 ´ 130x

780x = 234

X = = 0.3

\ Present price per dozen = Rs. ( 12 ´  ´0.3) = Rs. 4.68

Answer : d

Before 3 years, Total age of 5 members of  a family = 17 ´ 5

= 85 years.

Present age of all family members = 85 + 3 ´ 5

= 85 + 15

= 100 yr.

Average is same after child birth. So let the age of the child = x year

New total family member will be = 6

Average =

17 =

17 ´ 6 =  x + 100

X = 102 – 100

X = 2 year.

Sol. (d)

Option (a) does not capture the essence of the phrase Option (b) is true, but it is not the best explanation. ‘I was almost a part of it indicates a sense of cohesiveness or feeling at home. So, option (d) is correct.