1. Which state is going to conduct its maiden snow leopard survey?
[A] Uttrakhand
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Haryana
[D] Punjab
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttrakhand]
Notes:
Uttarakhand is preparing for its maiden snow leopards survey after the winter is over. Experts estimate that there are over 80 snow leopards in Uttarakhand. However, a census of this cat has not yet been conducted.
2. What is Landouria tonywhitteni that was named after Tony Whitten?
[A] Snail
[B] Grasshopper
[C] Snake
[D] Beetle
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Snail]
Notes:
Tony Whitten was a British conservationist who documented biodiversity in Asia before he died due to cycling crash. A prize fund was set up in his name after his death. One of the recent winners of this prize named a snail in Indonesia after him. These species live in a limestone habitat and are threatened due to quarrying for the cement industry.
3. Which is the first country to ban sun screens, that are toxic to coral reefs and sea life?
[A] Palau
[B] Philippines
[C] Taiwan
[D] Papua New Guinea
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Palau]
Notes:
Palau, a small island nation in the West Pacific Ocean imposed a ban on sun screens that contain chemicals affecting the coral reefs and other aquatic species. The step is also taken to conserve its Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The sun cream with the toxic chemicals including oxybenzone, will not be permitted to be used or sold in the country. Palau is a famous destination among international tourists and is mainly acclaimed for its coral reefs.
4. Which state will have the country’s first rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles?
[A] Madhya Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] Chhattisgarh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
India’s first rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles will be inaugurated in the Bhagalpur forest division of Bihar. The centre, which is to be open soon can accommodate 500 turtles at a time. The forest division is near to the river Ganga, which makes it a perfect breeding area for freshwater turtles. The turtles are abducted and hurt by smugglers will be rescued by the team of the rehabilitation centre and will be provided proper treatment.
5. Bhitarkanika National Park, sometimes seen in news is situated in which Indian state?
[A] Odisha
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Maharashtra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Odisha]
Notes:
The Ramsar site – designated Bhitarkanika National Park is located in Odisha’s Kendrapara District. It is seen in news recently as the annual census of estuarine crocodiles was conducted in the national park. As per the census, there are 1,757 estuarine or salt water crocodiles in the park, 15 more than the previous year count. The national park is also a mangrove ecosystem and is home to several flora and fauna in addition to crocodiles.
6. Which national park recorded 96 unique species of wetland birds, recently?
[A] Keoladeo National Park
[B] Kaziranga National Park
[C] Bannerghatta National Park
[D] Buxa National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kaziranga National Park]
Notes:
According to the second wetland bird count conducted by the officials of the Kaziranga National Park and avian specialists, ithe park recorded 96 species of wetland birds. This count is one of the highest among the other national parks with birdlife.
Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the state of Assam. It has the world’s largest population of Indian rhinoceros also called as the one-horned rhinoceros. Several migratory birds visit the park attracting many tourists.
7. 1t.org, a platform to support and conserve 1 trillion trees around the world, was recently convened by which international organisation?
[A] World Wide Fund for Nature
[B] World Environment Federation
[C] World Economic Forum
[D] Food and Agricultural Organisation
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Economic Forum]
Notes:
During the 50th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 recently being held at Davos, WEF along with its partners launched a platform called 1t.org, to support and conserve 1 trillion trees around the world. The plan was announced by the Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, Klaus Schwab.
The United States also joined the scheme, which is a major initiative to restore the planet and tackle climate crises. The initiative will also support other initiatives and organisations which work to conserve and restore forests. It unifies the platform and provide political support and helps in mobilising funds.
8. The Mauna Kea volcano, which was seen in news regarding the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT), is situated in which country?
[A] Indonesia
[B] Papua New Guinea
[C] Philippines
[D] Hawaii
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Hawaii]
Notes:
The Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) will become one of the world’s largest general-purpose observatories, once it is constructed. The proposed site for its location is over the Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii islands, which is a sacred place for the island’s locals. Several protests are being witnessed demanding to shift the construction of the observatory to some other place.
India is also a member of the collaboration of the research institutions and governments and has committed 10 % of the project resources. India recently announced that it would like the project to move to an alternate and appropriate place.
9. What is India’s rank in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) India annual report?
[A] Fifth
[B] Sixth
[C] Seventh
[D] Eighth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fifth ]
Notes:
Carbon Disclosure Project-India (CDP), an environmental non-profit organisation released its annual report of 2018, titled “Corporates #StepUp Climate Action”. As per the report, 25 companies committed to science-based targets in alignment with the Paris Agreement by December 2018. This has earned the 5th rank to India, which is only after the US, Japan, Britain and France in corporate climate action.
The report examines carbon reduction activities of companies and revealed that 58 Indian companies of the 59 firms surveyed between 2018 and 2019, have board-level oversight of climate-related issues.
10. Kaamya Karthikeyan of Mumbai recently became the youngest girl in the world to summit Mt Aconcagua. Mt Aconcagua is the highest peak of South America, located in which country?
[A] Brazil
[B] Argentina
[C] Peru
[D] Chile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Argentina]
Notes:
Kaamya Karthikeyan a student from Mumbai, recently became the youngest girl in the world to scale Mt Aconcagua. Mt Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America, located in Argentina. It is the highest peak outside Asia with the height of 6962 metres.
The student of Navy children school has already scaled the some of the highest peaks in Africa, Europe, and Australia in the past.
