Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs
1. What is the first most reason for the unnatural deaths of Elephants in India in recent times?
[A] Railway Collisions
[B] Electrocution
[C] Human-animal Conflict
[D] Contagious Diseases
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Electrocution]
Notes:
Railway collisions were the second-largest reason for the unnatural deaths of elephants while Electrocution was the first most reason.
The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a permanent coordination committee that includes the Ministry of Railways and the Environment Ministry to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks. 19 elephants were killed across the country on railway tracks in 2018-19, 14 in 2019-20 and 12 in 2020-21.
2. Which Union Ministry issued an order to exempt certain types of genome edited crops from rules applicable on GM crops?
[A] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
[B] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[C] Ministry of Science and Technology
[D] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]
Notes:
The Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change issued an order, exempting SDN1 and SDN2 genome edited plants from Rules 7-11 of the Environment Protect Act (EPA) for manufacture, use or import or export and storage of hazardous microorganisms or genetically engineered organisms or cells rules-1989.
The exemptions from the rules applicable on genetically modified or GM crops is expected to give a big boost to further research and development of genome-edited crops.
3. Which country has approved the ‘Rights of Nature’ in its Constitution?
[A] Australia
[B] New Zealand
[C] Chile
[D] Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Chile]
Notes:
The plenary body of Chile’s Constitutional Convention formally approved the Rights of Nature within its proposed constitutional text.
The Chilean people will now vote on the final version. After the vote, Chile could become the second such country in the world besides Ecuador.
4. As per the recent study of CEEW, which state had the highest number of forest fire incidences in the last two decades?
[A] Rajasthan
[B] Mizoram
[C] West Bengal
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mizoram]
Notes:
According to a study released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), the frequency and intensity of forest fires have increased in the past two decades.
The study, ‘Managing Forest Fires in a Changing Climate’, found that there has been a ten-fold increase in forest fires in the past two decades. More than 62 per cent of Indian states are prone to high-intensity forest fires. Mizoram had the highest number of forest fires in the last two decades, with more than 95 per cent of its districts being forest fire hotspots.
5. Kottooly wetlands, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Karnataka
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kerala]
Notes:
Kottooly wetlands is located in the heart of Kozhikode city in Kerala. Earlier, it had seven different varieties of mangroves. But now, the mangrove forest is depleting in spite of being under the Coastal Regulation Zone.
Recently a ‘Mangrove nursery’ has been set up to prevent the depletion of mangroves from the ecologically sensitive region. This initiative is a part of ‘Paristhithikam ecosystem rejuvenation project’, being organised by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change of Kerala.
6. Senna spectabilis, which was seen in the news, belongs to which category of plant?
[A] Invasive plant
[B] Aquatic plant
[C] Exotic plant
[D] Translocated Plant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Invasive plant]
Notes:
A recent study organised by Ferns (a nature conservation society) in association with the Kerala Forest Department, showed that there has been a significant growth of invasive plants, especially Senna spectabilis, in the forest areas of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR).
The growth of such plants in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is a matter of serious concern to the conservation of wildlife habitats.
7. Maya’s Pit Viper, a new venomous snake has been recorded in which state?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Kerala and Karnataka
[C] Meghalaya and Mizoram
[D] Goa and Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Meghalaya and Mizoram]
Notes:
A new venomous green snake has been recorded simultaneously in Meghalaya as well as Mizoram. It was first found near the Meghalaya capital of Shillong, in October 2020.
The new species was relatively common in Meghalaya, Mizoram and even in Guwahati. But it used to be referred to as either the Pope’s Pit Viper or Gumprecht’s Green Pit Viper so far.
8. Kolamarka and Muktai Bhawani are the new wildlife sanctuaries of which state?
[A] Bihar
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Tamil Nadu
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
The Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (MSBWL) has approved 12 new conservation reserves and three wildlife sanctuaries.
The new sanctuaries are the extension of the Lonar wildlife sanctuary, Kolamarka sanctuary and Muktai Bhawani sanctuary. These protected areas (PAs) will have an area of 1,000 sq km which is twice the size of Mumbai city. Maharashtra has 6 national parks, 50 sanctuaries, 15 conservation reserves and six tiger projects.
9. Haploptychius sahyadriensis, a new species of snail has been found in which state/UT?
[A] Goa
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Andhra Pradesh
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Maharashtra]
Notes:
A new species of snail – Haploptychius sahyadriensis, a third in the genus Haploptychius, has been found in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
The species is endemic to Vishalgad Conservation Reserve in Kolhapur. Haploptychius sahyadriensis is different from the other Indian and South-East Asian species. It has been named after the type locality of the species in the northern part of the Western Ghats, which is Sahyadri in Sanskrit. India has 1,450 snails and slugs with the highest diversity in north-eastern India.
10. Where was the new species of crab named Lamarckdromia beagle discovered?
[A] Brazil
[B] Palau
[C] Australia
[D] New Zealand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Australia]
Notes:
Lamarckdromia beagle is a new species of crab discovered off Western Australia’s south coast. It was named in honour of HMS Beagle – the ship on which Charles Darwin explored the world while undertaking his research.
The above questions are part of Daily Current Affairs 20 MCQs Series in GKToday's Academy Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for Rs. 750/- for entire year.
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