Environment Quizzup Prelims 2025 -Day 40 | UPSC Prelims-2025 | Edukemy
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Questions:
1. With reference to the landslides in India, consider the following statements:
1. In the Himalayan states, Uttarakhand has the largest landslide-prone land area.
2. Outside the Himalayan states, Karnataka is the most vulnerable state.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
— According to a report published in IIT-M’s Shaastra magazine, the ILSM indicates that 13.17% of the country is prone to landslides, which is higher than previously thought. Furthermore, 4.75% of the area is deemed “very highly susceptible”.
— “Sikkim has the largest land area (57.6%) prone to landslides, whereas Kerala is the most vulnerable state outside of the Himalayas, with more than 14% of its land mass classified as “extremely high vulnerability.” Hence, statements 1 and 2 are not correct.
2. Consider the following statements:
1. Any area where surface runoff is directed or land is heavily saturated is vulnerable to landslides.
2. The soil topography, rock type, geomorphology, and slope angles in certain areas can make them more vulnerable to landslides than others.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
3. Consider the following statements:
1. Rainfall variability pattern is the single biggest cause for landslides in India.
2. The Himalayas and the Western Ghats are highly vulnerable to landslides.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
4. Consider the following statements about the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):
1. It was established in 1994.
2. The UN declared the decade of 2020 to 2030 the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A
— Currently, one-third of the world’s land is degraded, affecting 3.2 billion people, highlighting the gravity of the crisis and the need for immediate action to battle desertification and drought.
— In the early 1990s, world leaders met at the Rio Earth Summit to address critical challenges such as desertification, biodiversity loss, and climate change. In response, the United Nations established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— In 2007, the United Nations named 2010 to 2020 the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification. This campaign aims to promote awareness about the need of land preservation and to stimulate community action to battle desertification and droughts. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
5. With reference to the EarthCARE satellite mission, consider the following statements:
1. It is a satellite mission operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA).
2. It will develop climate and weather forecasting models by understanding the role of cloud-aerosol-radiation interactions.
3. It is a Sun-synchronous orbit mission.
4. It was launched using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer: C
— EarthCARE is a climate satellite mission operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— It will develop climate and weather forecasting models by studying the interplay between clouds, aerosols, and radiation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— It is a mission to Sun-synchronous orbit that was launched on May 28, 2024, with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Hence, statement 3 and 4 are correct.
QOD
Longwood Shola, a Ramsar site is located in:
(a) Karnataka
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Lakshadweep
(d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: D
— Longwood Shola in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris and Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary in Ariyalur district are the most recent additions to the state’s Ramsar sites list.
— The sanctuary is located along the Central Asian Flyway and serves as an important breeding and foraging habitat for waterbird species. The marsh also contributes to irrigation and groundwater recharge in the area.
— Nilgiris is home to around 700 varieties of flora and animals. Out of the 177 bird species found at the site, 14 are indigenous to the Western Ghats.
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