UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 1 April 2026

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect; it is the Southern slopes of the Himalayas that are more densely forested because they receive the full force of the South-West monsoon and more solar radiation (in the Northern Hemisphere). The Northern slopes, facing Tibet, are in a rain-shadow zone and are much drier and barer.
• Statement 2 is incorrect; Sub-tropical Broad-leaved Hill forests are characteristic of the Eastern Himalayas (e.g., in Arunachal Pradesh and Bengal) and are dominated by Oaks and Chestnuts, not Chir Pine. Chir Pine is the dominant species of the Sub-tropical Moist Pine forests, which are more prominent in the Western Himalayas.
• Statement 3 is correct; the Alpine zone starts where the trees end (the timberline) and is characterized by hardy vegetation like juniper, rhododendron shrubs, and meadows that undergo a rapid life cycle when the snow melts in summer.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is correct. The Central Zoo Authority was established as a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment & Forests by the Government of India. It was constituted through an amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, in the year 1991, and became functional in 1992. This gives it the legal backing to regulate zoos across the country.
• Statement 2 is correct. The primary objective of the CZA is to complement and strengthen the national effort in the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity. A key function in achieving this is to enforce minimum standards and norms for the housing, upkeep, and veterinary care of the animals in Indian zoos. This is to ensure that animals are kept in conditions that are conducive to their well-being and to prevent cruelty and mismanagement.
• Statement 3 is correct. A significant power vested in the CZA is the authority to grant recognition to zoos. No zoo can operate in India without being recognized by the CZA. The authority evaluates zoos based on its prescribed standards and can recognize or derecognize them if they fail to meet these norms. This power of recognition is the primary tool through which the CZA enforces its standards and regulations.

Solution: A

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Incineration involves controlled combustion to reduce waste volume and recover energy. However, it is less effective for wet waste, which has lower calorific efficiency.

About Incineration:

• What it is: Incineration is the controlled combustion of waste in high-temperature furnaces to reduce volume, neutralize hazardous materials, and recover energy.
• Procedure:

• • Combustion: Waste is burned at temperatures exceeding 850°C for complete destruction of toxins.
  • Energy Recovery: Heat from combustion generates steam, which powers turbines for electricity production.
  • Exhaust Gas Cleaning: Advanced systems like scrubbers and bag house filters remove harmful pollutants from emissions.
  • Ash Residue Handling: Bottom ash is recycled or landfilled, while fly ash is treated with chemicals before disposal.

• Advantages:

• • Energy Generation: Produces electricity and heat from waste combustion.
  • Space-Saving: Reduces landfill dependency in densely populated areas.
  • Pollution Control: Modern systems ensure minimal environmental impact by capturing emissions.
  • Resource Recovery: Produces materials like paving bricks and activated carbon.
  • Safe Disposal: Effectively neutralizes hazardous materials.

• Limitations:

• • Harmful Emissions: Releases dioxins, furans, and other toxins if not properly maintained.
  • Health Risks: Linked to respiratory issues and carcinogenic effects near poorly managed plants.
  • Air and Water Pollution: Residual ash and flue gases can contaminate the environment.
  • High Costs: Advanced incinerators require significant investment and maintenance.
  • Inefficiency with Moisture: Wet waste in India reduces calorific efficiency.

Solution: C

• The SDGs represent a universal call to action.
• Statement 1 is incorrect; the SDGs are voluntary and non-binding. While countries are expected to establish national frameworks and report progress, there are no legal penalties for failing to meet the targets.
• Statement 2 is correct; “Leaving No One Behind” (LNOB) is the core ethos of the SDGs, prioritizing the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in every goal.
• Statement 3 is correct; research on SDG interlinkages shows that providing clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) significantly reduces disease (SDG 3), allows children (especially girls) to attend school more consistently (SDG 4), and empowers women by reducing the time spent on water collection (SDG 5). This interconnectedness means that strategic investments in “multiplier goals” can accelerate progress across the entire 2030 Agenda.

Solution: A

• The National Mission on Climate Change and Human Health (NMCCHH) was introduced to address the “human” face of climate change.
• Statement 1 is correct as its primary goal is to reduce morbidity, mortality, and injuries resulting from extreme weather and climate variability, particularly focusing on the marginalized.
• Statement 2 is correct because the mission emphasizes synergy with other missions (like the Water or Sustainable Habitat missions) and focuses on performing situational analysis and vulnerability mapping to identify climate-sensitive disease hotspots.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because while the NAPCC is the overarching framework of the Environment Ministry, the NMCCHH is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).