1. Sea of Japan, that was recently seen in news, is a marginal sea of which ocean?
[A] Pacific Ocean
[B] Atlantic Ocean
[C] Arctic Ocean
[D] Indian Ocean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pacific Ocean]
Notes:
Recently, North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, raising regional security concerns. The Sea of Japan, also called the East Sea, is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean. It lies between Japan and Sakhalin Island on the eastern side and Russia, North Korea, and South Korea on the western side. It connects to the East China Sea through the Tsushima Strait and the Korea Strait. In the north, it links with the Sea of Okhotsk through the La Perouse Strait and the Tatar Strait.
2. The JALAJ Livelihood Centres initiative is jointly implemented by Namami Gange Mission and which institution?
[A] Ministry of Rural Development
[B] Wildlife Institute of India
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] National Biodiversity Authority
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Wildlife Institute of India]
Notes:
Recently, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti inaugurated 25 JALAJ Livelihood Centres. JALAJ is a joint initiative of the Namami Gange Mission and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). It aims to link Ganga river conservation with sustainable livelihoods in the Ganga river basin. The initiative follows a circular economy model by training local people in eco-friendly livelihood practices. It promotes community ownership of conservation with special focus on women’s participation. JALAJ creates a symbiotic relationship between rivers and local communities.
3. The Rusty-spotted Cat, one of the rarest and smallest wild cats in the world, was recently spotted in which state?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Gujarat
[C] Karnataka
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rajasthan]
Notes:
The Rusty-spotted Cat, one of the rarest and smallest wild cats in the world, was recently spotted in the Shergarh forest of Baran district, Rajasthan. It is the world’s smallest and lightest known cat species. The species is found in dry deciduous and semi-deciduous forests of northern and central India, the Western Ghats, Kachchh, Rajasthan, and peninsular India. It is also distributed in Nepal and Sri Lanka. India supports about 80 percent of the global population of this species. Its conservation status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is Near Threatened.
4. Which species is the natural host of “Nipah Virus” that was recently seen in news?
[A] Rodents
[B] Pigs
[C] Fruit bats
[D] Migratory birds
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Fruit bats]
Notes:
India recently confirmed two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, with authorities containing the situation through surveillance and airport screenings. Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals to humans and also through contaminated food or human-to-human contact. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural hosts of Nipah virus. It is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the Research and Development (R&D) Blueprint due to its epidemic potential.
5. Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state?
[A] Karnataka
[B] Kerala
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Karnataka]
Notes:
Amid controversy over reducing its boundary, the Forest Minister recently visited Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary to assess the situation. The sanctuary is located in Shimoga (Shivamogga) district of Karnataka and covers about 395.6 square kilometres. The Tunga Anicut Dam lies within the sanctuary and supports otters and several water bird species. Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is part of Shettihalli and is a major bird nesting site on an island in the Tunga River. The area has tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, dry deciduous, and moist deciduous forests.
