UPSC Editorials Quiz : 15 April 2025

Solution: c)

• The 2020 trans-shipment facility marked a key milestone in India’s regional connectivity strategy, enhancing economic integration with neighboring countries.
• Under this arrangement, India allowed Bangladeshi export cargo—particularly its flagship export item, readymade garments (RMG)—to transit through Indian territory to access ports like Kolkata and Haldia for shipment to third countries.
• This facility was particularly useful for landlocked neighbors like Bhutan and Nepal, which benefited from smoother logistical access to Bangladeshi exports via Indian infrastructure.
• Importantly, this was a unilateral move by India, showcasing its commitment to regional cooperation and goodwill. It aligned with India’s Act East and Neighborhood First policies by promoting trade, reducing transportation time and costs, and reinforcing India’s role as a regional connectivity hub.

Solution: d)

• “Ghost gear” refers to abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) such as nets, lines, and traps. Even after being lost, these continue to trap and kill marine species—a process known as ghost fishing.
• According to UNEP, ghost gear contributes to the death of over 650,000 marine mammals annually, posing grave ecological and economic risks.
• It entangles not only commercial species like tuna but also endangered species like sea turtles, sharks, and dolphins.
• It also clogs coral reefs and leads to microplastic fragmentation over time. Ghost gear is a key target under the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), and addressing it is critical for achieving SDG 14 – Life Below Water.

Solution: a)

• Statement 1 is incorrect because microplastics are classified into two types: primary microplastics, which are intentionally manufactured at a microscopic size (like microbeads in cosmetics and fibres shed from synthetic textiles); and secondary microplastics, which result from the degradation of larger plastic items due to environmental exposure like sunlight or mechanical abrasion.
• Statement 2 is correct—primary microplastics include synthetic fibres and cosmetic microbeads, both of which are significant sources of environmental contamination.
• Statement 3 is incorrect as most microplastics are less than 5 mm in size, many are microscopic, and therefore invisible to the naked eye. Their small size and diverse composition make them extremely difficult to filter out of aquatic systems using conventional filtration technologies.

Solution: b)

• Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
• The Bustard Recovery Program is one of India’s flagship grassland conservation efforts and includes ex-situ conservation breeding (e.g., Jaisalmer breeding centre for GIB) and in-situ strategies like habitat restoration and minimizing disturbance during breeding season.
• It is also funded by CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund), making it an example of ecological restitution using diverted forest funds.
• Statement 2 is incorrect—the program is centrally implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) with support from MoEFCC and state forest departments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, among others.

Solution: a)

• Only statement 3 is correct.
• The Crocodile Conservation Project, launched in 1975, focused on captive breeding, release, habitat restoration, and monitoring of all three crocodile species in India.
• Statement 1 is incorrect—it had no link with the UNCCD, which deals with desertification. Statement 2 is also incorrect—the Sundarbans is the largest mangrove ecosystem in India, not Bhitarkanika. Bhitarkanika is second, followed by others like Pichavaram and Gulf of Kachchh.