UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 28 June 2025

Solution: A

Statement 1 is incorrect. The first-ever radio tagging of Ganges River dolphins in India in 2024 was carried out in Assam, specifically in the Brahmaputra River system, not primarily in the Sundarbans.

Statement 2 is incorrect. While breeding patterns and social structures are important aspects of dolphin biology, the primary stated purpose of this specific radio tagging initiative was to understand their movement, habitat preferences, and overall behavior to aid conservation.

Statement 3 is correct. The initiative aims to deepen the understanding of the Ganges River dolphins’ ecology, including their movement patterns within the river system, their preferred habitats, and general behaviour. This information is crucial for formulating effective conservation strategies for this endangered species.

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct. Forests play a crucial role as carbon sinks, absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Deforestation diminishes this capacity, thereby contributing to the accumulation of greenhouse gases and global warming.
• Statement-II is correct. Forests store vast amounts of carbon in their trees, vegetation, and soil. When forests are cleared, burned, or degraded, this stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, predominantly as carbon dioxide, further exacerbating the greenhouse effect.
• Statement-II explains how deforestation contributes to increased atmospheric carbon, which is a key reason why it’s a significant contributor to global warming as mentioned in Statement-I.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. India is home to four globally recognized biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas (includes Eastern Himalayas), the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region (includes parts of Northeast India), and the Sundaland (includes Nicobar Islands).
• Statement 3 is incorrect. A critical criterion for a region to be declared a biodiversity hotspot is that it must have lost at least 70% of its original natural habitat. Therefore, hotspots are characterized by high levels of habitat loss and threat, not low levels.

Solution: D

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA) is an umbrella legislation designed for the protection and improvement of the environment.

(a) This is a primary objective, as stated in the Act’s preamble.

(b) The EPA was enacted to implement the decisions made at the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, where India participated. This is a key historical context and objective.

(c) The Act empowers the Central Government to take measures to control environmental pollution, which includes establishing standards for emissions and effluents from industries. This is a core function.

(d) While environmental protection broadly includes forest conservation, the exclusive management and regulation of forest resources and prevention of deforestation are primarily dealt with under specific legislations like the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Indian Forest Act, 1927.

The EPA has a broader scope covering all aspects of environmental pollution and protection, not exclusively forest management.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The Montreux Record is a principal tool under the Ramsar Convention. It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Listing on the Montreux Record does not mean the site is delisted from the Ramsar List. Instead, it highlights that the site is facing significant ecological threats and requires priority conservation attention. Sites can be removed from the Montreux Record if their condition improves.
• Statement 3 is correct. Inclusion in the Montreux Record can help mobilize national and international support, including technical assistance and financial aid, to address the threats and restore the ecological character of the wetland. It signals a priority for conservation action.