UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 16 April 2026

Solution: C

• Row 1: The Littoral zone is the shore area where light reaching the bottom allows rooted plants to grow, supporting a rich diversity of snails, insects, and amphibians.
• Row 2: The Limnetic zone is the open, sunlit water layer away from the shore; it is the primary site of photosynthesis by phytoplankton, which in turn supports the nekton (free-swimming fish).
• Row 3: The Profundal zone is the deep, dark, and cold layer below the thermocline; it is characterized by low oxygen and is dominated by decomposers (bacteria/fungi) and the benthos (bottom-dwellers) that feed on organic detritus.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was adopted in 2010 to provide a clear legal framework for implementing the third objective of the CBD.
• Statement 2 is correct. The core objective and the most significant contribution of the Nagoya Protocol is that it creates a legally binding framework for Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS). It obligates parties to create conditions for facilitated access to genetic resources for environmentally sound uses and to ensure that benefits derived from their use are shared in a fair and equitable manner with the provider country, based on Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT).
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Nagoya Protocol does not mandate the creation of or contribution to a global multilateral gene bank. Instead, it focuses on establishing bilateral agreements between users and providers of genetic resources. While it does consider a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for transboundary resources, it does not compel countries to deposit their resources in a central bank. The framework is built on respecting national sovereignty over genetic resources.

Solution: D

All four materials listed can be used as feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

1. Agricultural residues (like straw, corn stover) are lignocellulosic biomass that can be converted to SAF through various pathways.
2. Corn grain can be fermented to produce ethanol, which can then be further processed into SAF (alcohol-to-jet pathway).
3. Wastewater treatment sludge can be processed (e.g., through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, or hydrothermal liquefaction) to create precursors for SAF.
4. Wood mill waste (like sawdust, wood chips) is another form of lignocellulosic biomass suitable for SAF production.

Solution: A

• The chemicalization of agriculture has direct public health consequences.
• Statement-I is correct; Blue Baby Syndrome (methaemoglobinemia) is a serious condition where an infant’s blood cannot deliver enough oxygen to tissues.
• Statement-II is also correct and provides the biological explanation for Statement-I. When infants consume water high in nitrates (leached from chemical fertilizers), the nitrates are converted to nitrites in the body. These nitrites bind to hemoglobin, forming methaemoglobin, which is incapable of carrying oxygen. This demonstrates a clear cause-and-effect relationship between agricultural inputs and pediatric health.
• Furthermore, this leaching contributes to the eutrophication of freshwater bodies, where nutrient-rich runoff causes algal blooms that deplete dissolved oxygen, killing aquatic life. These dual impacts—on human health and aquatic ecosystems—highlight the urgent need for precision nutrient management and organic alternatives.

Solution: C

• The National Agroforestry Policy, 2014, was a landmark policy that recognized the massive potential of “Trees Outside Forest” (TOF). Historically, farmers were hesitant to plant trees because they faced cumbersome regulations from the Forest and Revenue departments when they wanted to fell or transport the timber.
• Statement (c) is the correct answer as a core objective of the policy is to simplify and streamline these rules, thereby treating trees planted on farms similar to agricultural crops. This encourages farmers to adopt agroforestry, providing them with a long-term “insurance” or backup income against crop failures and poor monsoons.
• The policy also aims to provide raw materials to wood-based industries, reducing India’s wood imports and helping achieve the national goal of 33% tree cover. It explicitly avoids “exclusive” mandates or specific species restrictions, focusing instead on decentralized, regional lists of suitable trees for each state.