UPSC 2020 › Environment & Ecology

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution ?

1. Automobile exhaust
2. Tobacco smoke
3. Wood burning
4. Using varnished wooden furniture
5. Using products made of polyurethane

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With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements :

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin ?

1. Nagarhole National Park
2. Papikonda National Park
3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

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With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are

Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous ?

Steel slag can be the material for which of the following ?

1. Construction of base road
2. Improvement of agricultural soil
3. Production of cement

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Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat ?

1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park

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In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint ?

1. Copper slag
2. Cold mix asphalt technology
3. Geotextiles
4. Hot mix asphalt technology
5. Portland cement

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Consider the following statements :

1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury.
2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment.
3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

What is the use of biochar in farming ?

1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming.
2. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms.
3. When biochar is a part of the growing medium, it enables the growing medium to retain water for longer time.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication ?

What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture ?

1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of previous crop.
2. Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible.

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According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels ?

1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet

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Which one of the following statements best describes the term 'Social Cost of Carbon' ? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the

In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture ?

1. Crop diversification
2. Legume intensification
3. Tensiometer use
4. Vertical farming

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What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture ?

1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

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With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct ?

1. It is spread over two districts.
2. There is no human habitation inside the Park.
3. It is one of the natural habitats of Great Indian Bustard.

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Consider the following statements :

1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat” ?