Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee also called as GEAC is an apex body created under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under ‘Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989’

Notes:
Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere as a part of the Earth’s carbon cycle. It is also the primary greenhouse gas which is emitted through human activities.

Notes:
Indian Network on Climate Change Assessment consists of over 120 institutions and over 250 scientists country wide. It carries out research on the effects of climate change in different regions and sectors in India and also suggests suitable adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Notes:
The public must be informed and consulted on any proposed development under a project. Everyone who is affected by the proposed project is entitled to have access to the Executive Summary of the EIA.

Notes:
Both Statements are correct:

1. Algal bloom refers to a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic ecosystem.
2. Algal blooms can occur in freshwater as well as marine environments.

Notes:
The Umbrella Group is a loose coalition of non-European Union developed countries. It was formed after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. The umbrella group consists of 12 countries although there is no formal membership.

Notes:
The world’s first negative emissions plant under the CarbFix Project to turn atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into stone has begun operations in Hellisheidi, Iceland. It is intended to lock away carbon dioxide by reacting it with basaltic rocks.

Notes:
Thalweg Doctrine is a part of international law that aims to resolve water boundary disputes. The doctrine states that the boundary between two states divided by a flowing body of water may be drawn along the thalweg, which is the line of the greatest depth of the channel. The boundary would follow the center of the principal navigable channel of the waterway.

The Thalweg Doctrine has been used in several disputes, including:

1. The Shatt al-Arab between Iraq and Iran
2. The Danube in central Europe (Croatia–Serbia border dispute)
3. The Kasikili/Sedudu Island dispute between Namibia and Botswana
4. The 2004 dispute settlement under the UN Law of the Sea

The Thalweg Doctrine has also been used in the Sir Creek dispute between India and Pakistan. The dispute is not settled yet due to a lack of trust.

Notes:
Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina hosts the largest ice cap outside Antarctica and Greenland. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, established in 1937, spans over 726,927 hectares and is home to 47 active glaciers, including the well-known Perito Moreno Glacier. Divided by Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma, the park holds the scenic Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in its northern segment. The park’s varied ecosystem sustains unique species and attracts over 688,000 visitors every year, making it a favorite among nature lovers and providing a crucial research site for scientists studying climate change.

Notes:
The Heard and McDonald Islands are located in the sub-Antarctic region and serve as external territories of Australia. These volcanic islands, discovered in the 1850s by American mariners John Heard and William McDonald, were proclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. These islands, recognized for their unique wildlife and geology (including active volcanoes), are considered one of the world’s most remote places. Initially claimed by the UK in 1910, they were transferred to Australia in 1947, hence, the land boasting the highest mountain under Australian sovereignty.