Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs
This category comprises 50 random questions from the total 102 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs category published in gktoday from 1 January, 2019 till October 20, 2020.
1. Which river, which was recently in news for failed rejuvenation efforts, is known as Mexico’s most polluted waterway by the UN?
[A] Santiago river
[B] Rio Grande
[C] River Lerma
[D] Colorado river
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Santiago river ]
Notes:
The United Nations called the Santiago river as Mexico’s most polluted waterway. According to the 2017 figures, less than a third of the country’s industrial wastewater is treated. Recently, Mexico has signed an expansive trade deal with the US and Canada in which it made an explicit promise to conserve its environment.
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. 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.
4. A one-horned rhinoceros calf was recently born at the Manas National Park. The National park is situated in which state?
[A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Assam
[C] Sikkim
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
The Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a biosphere reserve is situated in Assam. Recently a one-horned rhinoceros of the national park named R3A gave birth to its calf. The R3A was also born in the same park to the elder rhino ‘Laisri’ in 2013.
The One-horned rhinoceros or the Indian rhinoceros is an endangered species and is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red list of threatened species. At present, the national park is home to 42 rhinos.
5. According to the recent IMD report, which state had the highest number of deaths due to unusual weather conditions?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bihar]
Notes:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released a report titled ‘Statement on Climate of India During 2019’. According to the report, almost 1560 people died in 2019 due to unusual weather events including heavy rain and floods, heat wave, lightning and thunderstorm.
With nearly 650 deaths, Bihar had the highest number of people who died due to extremities in weather. The report also cited that five of the eight cyclones that hit India, were on the Arabian Sea, which was against the normal count of 1 cyclone on the west.
6. According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) Statement on Climate of India During 2019 report, Arabian Sea on India’s west coast saw a 400% rise in cyclones, a record that is repeated only after 1902. Which five cyclones hit Arabian Sea in 2019?
[A] Vayu, Pabuk, Kyarr, Bulbul and Pavan
[B] Vayu, Pabuk, Kyarr, Bulbul and Fani
[C] Pabuk,Vayu, Kyarr, Bulbul and Fani
[D] Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr, Maha and Pavan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr, Maha and Pavan ]
Notes:
According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD’s) Statement on Climate of India During 2019 report, the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea was 400% higher than normal frequency because five out of eight cyclones affected Arabian Sea. These give cyclones were Vayu, Hikka, Kyarr, Maha and Pavan. This after the sea on India’s west coast normally undergoes only one cyclone annually — read a 400% rise. (India normally has five cyclones in total every year.) However, the Bay of Bengal — usually the more cyclone-prone coast of India — was relatively subdued in 2019 with three (Pabuk, Fani, Bulbul) instead of four cyclones that occur there annually on an average.
7. Which major tech-company recently announced that it has planned to cut more than half of carbon emissions across its supply chain, by 2030?
[A] Google
[B] Microsoft
[C] Infosys
[D] IBM
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Microsoft]
Notes:
The Chief Executive of Microsoft Corporation, Satya Nadella recently announced that the company has set a new ambition to address climate change and promised to remove the carbon emissions the company has made.
Microsoft has planned to cut more than half of carbon emissions across its supply chain by 2030. The plan also includes the creation of a “Climate Innovation Fund,” which will invest $1 billion for developing technologies to remove carbon. The company aims to remove the entire direct and indirect carbon emissions it had made since 1975 (founding year of Microsoft), by 2050.
8. 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.
9. The Supreme Court of India recently permitted to introduce which animal to Indian habitat from Namibia?
[A] African elephant
[B] African Lion
[C] African Cheetah
[D] African Rhinoceros
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [African Cheetah]
Notes:
The Supreme Court of India recently permitted the Centre to introduce the ‘African Cheetahs’ to the appropriate habitats in India. As the Asiatic cheetah, commonly called as the Indian Cheetah, has become almost extinct, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) filed a petition, which sought permission for introducing African Cheetahs to India.
The bench headed by the Chief Justice S A Bobde also set up a committee with three members from Wildlife Institute of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, which will guide the NTCA in this regard.
10. How many wetlands in India were recently added to the ‘Ramsar Site’ list?
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [10]
Notes:
The Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar recently announced that 10 more Indian wetlands have been declared as sites of international importance by Ramsar. The number of wetlands with Ramsar site tag has now increased to a total of 37. The total surface area covered by the 37 Ramsar sites is also increased more than 1 million hectares.
In the new declaration, Maharashtra gets the first Ramsar site tag for Nandur Madhameshwar. Punjab added 3 more sites and now has a total of 6 sites while Uttar Pradesh added 6 new sites and now has 7 Ramsar sites. The Ramsar Convention was signed by the member countries to preserve the ecological significance of their wetlands.
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