31. Gangotri National Park, which was seen in news recently, is located in which state/UT?
[A] Uttarakhand
[B] Sikkim
[C] Assam
[D] Bihar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttarakhand]
Notes:
Considered as extinct over seventy years back, the Woolly flying squirrel was spotted at Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand.
As per the Forest Research Institute, the flying squirrel was added in the IUCN Red List. It was spotted during the survey conducted in the national park. The animal uses its wool-like furry claws like a parachute and fly.
32. Which is the second Indian zoo to have African hunting cheetahs?
[A] Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
[B] Mysuru Zoo
[C] Darjeeling Zoo
[D] Indra Gandhi Zoo, Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mysuru Zoo]
Notes:
The Mysuru Zoo in Karnataka is the second Indian zoo to have African hunting cheetahs after the Hyderabad zoo.
Under the Animal Exchange Programme, the zoo has acquired one male and two female African hunting Cheetah from Ann Van Dyke Cheetah Centre at Johannesburg, South Africa. One female Cheetah of age 15 months and two male Cheetahs of age 14 and 16 months are brought by air.
33. Which organization has stated that rainfall received in August 2020 in India is highest since 1926?
[A] ISRO
[B] IMD
[C] NASA
[D] WMD
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [IMD]
Notes:
As per a statement by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall received by the country in August 2020 is the highest since 1926.
August 1926 recorded a rainfall of 34.8 cm exceeding normal by 33%, whereas August 2020 recorded 32.7 cm rainfall exceeding normal by 27%. Also, IMD has stated that in June’20 to 6th September’20, India had registered 7% more rainfall than what is normal for this period.
34. Five state-run oil and natural gas PSUs would make financial contribution to which fund?
[A] Green Energy Fund
[B] International Solar Alliance Corpus Fund
[C] UNFCC Fund
[D] Nirbhaya Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [International Solar Alliance Corpus Fund]
Notes:
Union Minster of Petroleum has stated that Five state run oil and natural gas PSUs will become corporate partners of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
These PSUs would make financials contribution to ISA’s corpus fund. This announcement was made during the 1st World Solar Technology Summit organized by ISA. ONGC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and GAIL are the 5 PSUs.
35. Which organisation is to set up a ‘Community response forum’ to analyse the impact of Stubble burning on places in and around Delhi?
[A] NASA
[B] ISRO
[C] FAO
[D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [NASA]
Notes:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is to set up a ‘Community response forum’ to analyse the impact of Stubble burning on places in and around Delhi.
The panel also aims to suggest possible solutions for the grave environmental issue. The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) of NASA will involve in developing this community forum. It also focusses on biomass burning and its impact on regional air quality in the Indian sub-continent.
36. Which forest is said to be in a risk of changing from Forest to Savanna, as per a recent study?
[A] Congo Rainforest
[B] Amazon Rainforest
[C] Daintree Rainforest
[D] Tongass National Forest
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Amazon Rainforest]
Notes:
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, the resilience of tropical rainforests under two additional extreme scenarios is explored.
As per the study, rainfall in the Amazon is very low that up to 40% of the forest is at a risk of changing into a savanna-like environment, with fewer trees and biodiversity. The study also simulated the effect of emissions from burning fossil fuels between now and the end of the century.
37. As per the statement of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which monsoon has completely withdrawn from India?
[A] Southwest monsoon
[B] Northeast monsoon
[C] Retreating monsoon
[D] Winter Monsoon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Southwest monsoon]
Notes:
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that southwest monsoon has completely withdrawn from India on 28th October, 2020.
The IMD has also stated that the northeast monsoon has commenced. Under the influence of North East Monsoon (also known as retreating monsoon), there would be ample rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
38. Panna Biosphere Reserve, which is seen in news recently, is located in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Karnataka
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Panna Biosphere Reserve that is located in Madhya Pradesh, has been included in the UNESCO’s “World Network of Biosphere Reserves”. Additionally, Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll of Maldives have also been included in the list.
Panna is a critical tiger habitat in India and it was accorded Biosphere Reserve status by Government of India in 2011.
39. Which Indian state has issued warning against hunting of migratory birds, especially Amur falcons?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Tripura
[C] West Bengal
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tripura]
Notes:
Tripura has recently issued warning against hunting of migratory birds, especially Amur falcons, amidst the onset of winter.
The Forest Department is set to issue order to inform that the migratory birds including the Amur falcons are covered under the Wildlife Protection Act enacted in 1972. The state of Nagaland had already issued an order to save the migratory birds.
40. As per a recent study by the IIT-Kharagpur, which region of India is named as the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3)?
[A] Southern Coastal region
[B] Indo-Gangetic Plain
[C] Deccan Plateau
[D] Western Ghats
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Indo-Gangetic Plain]
Notes:
According to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3).
This is due to concentrated agricultural activities and fertilizer production in the region. The satellite data of agricultural emissions show that atmospheric ammonia is related with total fertilizer consumption and temperature.
