Environmental Studies MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Environmental Studies - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Red Data BookKey Points

•  The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) publishes an inventory of endangered plants in the form of a publication titled the Red Data Book.
• The Red Data Book is a publication that lists endangered and threatened species of plants and animals in a region. 
• The Red Data Book is created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• It's a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.
• The book contains color-coded information sheets that are arranged according to the extinction risk of species and subspecies.
• For example, red sheets contain information about endangered species, black sheets contain information about species that are confirmed to be extinct, and white sheets contain information about rare species. 
• The Red Data Book is beneficial for providing detailed information for studies and researches.
• It also helps in monitoring programs on rare and endangered species, and in protecting the species that are on the verge of extinction.

Additional Information

• Green Data Book
• A small-sized book providing complete information related to environmental data.
• It focuses on key indicators like agriculture, biodiversity, forestry, pollution, and sanitation.
• Blue Data Book
• It provides additional information on the ecology, conservation, and advancement of species.
• It is often used to monitor the recovery of species that were once endangered or threatened.
• Black Data Book
• It lists species that are confirmed to be extinct.
• It serves as a record of species loss and highlights the importance of conservation efforts.

Concept:

Greenpeace:

• Green Peace is a non-governmental environmental organisation with offices in over forty countries and has its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• It was founded by Bill Darnell and Dorothy Stouce in 1971 in Vancouver, Canada.
• Green Peace is known for its direct actions and is one of the most visible environmental organisations in the world.
• It covers issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering and anti-nuclear issues.
• The mission of Green Peace is to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity and focuses on worldwide issues.

Explanation:

The focus of Greenpeace:

• Climate change is one of the most threatening scenarios for both human and non-human life forms.
• Protecting our marine reserves by defending our oceans.
• Protecting the forest biodiversity.
• Creating a toxin-free future by decreasing the use of hazardous chemicals.
• Encouraging a campaign for sustainable agriculture by encouraging better farming practices.
• Promoting peace, disarmament and non-violence.

Thus, the mission of Greenpeace is to ensure the ability of Earth to nurture life in all its diversity.

Concept:

WTO:

• The full form of WTO is World Trade Organization.
• It was founded in 1995 in Geneva.
• WTO is a permanent organisation created by an international treaty ratified by the governments and legislatures of member states.
• WTO is a successor to GATT, it is a much more powerful body than GATT.
• It governs trade not only in goods but also in services and intellectual property rights.
• As of 11th December 2005, there were 149 members of WTO.
• The basic objectives of WTO are raising standards of living and incomes, ensuring full employment, and expanding production and trade.

Explanation:

WTO guiding principles:​

There are five key guiding principles of WTO:

Non-discrimination:

• The most favoured nation (MFN) rule and the national treatment policy are the two main components of WTO.
• Both are enshrined in the core WTO rules on goods, services, and intellectual property, but the scope and character of each vary.
• According to the MFN rule, a WTO member must apply the same terms to all trade with other WTO members.
• WTO members must provide all other WTO members with the most favourable conditions under which it allows trade in a certain product type.
• According to WTO "If you do something unique for someone, you must do the same for all other WTO members."
• It says, imported commodities should be treated equally to domestically produced goods under national treatment.

Reciprocity:

• It represents an ability to limit the extent of possible free-riding as a result of the MFN regulation.
• It also desires to get better access to international markets.

Binding and enforceable commitments:

• A Schedule of concessions is a tariff commitment.
• It is made by the WTO members on the basis of multilateral trade negotiation and on accession is enumerated in a legal instrument.
• From the schedule, we can know about ceiling bindings.
• According to 'Ceiling binding' only after negotiating with its trading partners, a country can change its buildings.
• It means compensating them for the loss of trade.
• A country that is complaining can invoke the WTO settlement procedure if they don't get satisfaction.

​Transparency:

• WTO members must publish their trade regulations.
• That maintains institutions for the examination of official decisions that affect trade, replies to requests for information from other members, and notifies the WTO of any changes in trade policies.
• The WTO system also aims to increase predictability and stability by prohibiting the use of quotas and other restrictions on import amounts.

​Safety values:

• Governments can impose trade restrictions in certain circumstances.
• Members of the WTO can take steps to protect not only the environment, but also public health, animal health, and plant health.

​Thus, WTO has 5 guiding principles.

The correct answer is Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Key Points

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, in Paris, France.
• It is considered a milestone document in the history of human rights and provides a comprehensive framework for fundamental freedoms and rights.
• The UDHR has been referred to as the 'International Magna Carta' due to its universal application and emphasis on the dignity and rights of all human beings.
• It consists of 30 articles that outline the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of individuals.
• The document serves as the foundation for numerous international treaties, national constitutions, and laws around the world, promoting equality, justice, and human dignity.

Additional Information

• Key Terminologies:
  • Magna Carta: A historic document signed in 1215 in England, symbolizing the foundation of modern constitutional rights and limiting the powers of the monarchy.
  • Human Rights: Fundamental rights and freedoms inherent to all individuals, regardless of nationality, gender, race, or religion.
• UN Charter and Human Rights:
  • The United Nations Charter, signed in 1945, emphasizes the promotion and protection of human rights globally.
  • The UDHR was created as a follow-up to the UN Charter to define specific human rights standards.
• Influence of the UDHR:
  • It has inspired over 70 international human rights treaties and declarations.
  • It serves as the basis for landmark agreements such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
• Global Recognition:
  • The UDHR is translated into over 500 languages, making it the most translated document in the world.
  • It is celebrated annually on Human Rights Day, observed on 10 December.

Explanation:

South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE):

• The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) is a regional network.
• SANDEE was founded in November 1999 and is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
• Previously, SANDEE was based in Nepal at the IUCN-World Conservation Union.
• Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are among the South Asian countries where SANDEE works.
• It addresses South Asia's environmental concerns using economic methods and analyses.
• It is predicated on the idea, that solutions to both economic development and environmental issues are inextricably intertwined.
• As a result, SANDEE brings together scholars and institutes from across South Asia who is interested in the interconnections between development, poverty, and the environment.
• Its principal purpose is to help South Asians' development.
• It handles local and global environmental issues.

Thus, SANDEE stands for South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics.

Explanation:
Key Points

• Hydropower plants are used for generating electricity by constructing the dams across the stream, a turbine is located at the narrowing opening of the dam, waterfalls on the turbine due to gravity, and this is used to make the motors run to produce electricity.
• The geothermal power plant utilizes the temperature inside the earth's surface for generating electricity.
• Windfarms utilize the kinetic energy from the wind to rotate the blade of the turbine and shaft of the generator so that electrical energy produced.
• Nuclear power uses radioactive elements that undergo the controlled chain fission reaction to generate heat, and this heat used to produce high-pressure steam to rate the shaft of the generator.

So, the hydropower plants work on the basis of the gravity of the earth.

Concept:

• Humans carry seeds from one place to another, knowingly or unknowingly.
• People bring the seeds of plants that they find beautiful or useful, to grow in the garden.
• Later the seeds of these plants spread to other places.
• Many years later people may not even remember that these plants did not grow there earlier. 

Explanation:

• Chilli is a fruit of the plant ‘Capsicum annuum and capsicum frutecens’ that come from the genus capsicum belonging to the family of Solanaceae which also includes tomato and potato.

Additional Information

Vegetables and their country of origin:  

Thus, chilies were originally brought from South America.

Parliament- also called the Sansad, is the legislature of the Union. It has the President, and two houses- the Upper House and the Lower House. The Upper House is also called the Rajya Sabha or the Council of States while the Lower House is called the Lok Sabha or the House of the people.

The Correct Answer is: For hibernationKey Points

• Hibernation is defined as the dormancy period of the cold-blooded animals in winters.
• The cold-blooded animals such as Lizards, frogs tend to go under a dormancy period in winters in order to survive the cold temperature.
• Aestivation is defined as the slowing down of activity during the summer by some animals in order to cope with high temperatures.
• Regeneration is defined as the growth of new tissue from a destroyed one.
• The alteration in the genetic material tends to change the characteristics of an organism is called Mutation.

Additional Information 

• Hibernation is defined as a state of reduced metabolic activity during winter season among some animals.
• Many organisms are hibernators such as Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles.
• Snakes, Frogs and Lizards hibernate in cold weather because they are cold-blooded animals.
• The Hibernators relies on a combination of reserve body fat, stored food supplies etc.
• Some animals become dormant in the summer season which is called Aestivation.

Key Points

World Environment Day:

• It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
• World Environment Day is celebrated on 5^th June of every year.
• United Nations started it to spread awareness and action for the protection of our environment.

Thus, World Environment Day is celebrated on 5th June.

Additional Information

The correct answer is 1982.

Key Points

• Ramsar convention to promote conservation and wise use of all wetlands through regional actions and international cooperation came to force in India in 1982. 
• India is a party to the Ramsar Convention. India signed under it on 1st February 1982.
• The term was coined when the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands was signed in a city in Iran called Ramsar in 1971.

Additional Information

• Ramsar Convention is known as the Convention of Wetlands.
• It was established in 1971 by UNESCO and came into force in 1975.
• There are 80 Ramsar Sites in India (on Feb 2, 2024). The latest Ramsar sites are - Ankasamudra Bird Conservation Reserve, Aghanashini Estuary and Magadi Kere Conservation Reserve are located in Karnataka whereas two, Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary and Longwood Shola Reserve Forest are in Tamil Nadu.
• Sundarbans is the largest Ramsar Site in India.
• Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India.
• Tamil Nadu has the most number of Ramsar Sites in India. It has 14 Indian Wetlands.
• Renuka Wetland (Area – 20 ha) in Himachal Pradesh is the smallest wetland of India.

The correct answer is Three.

Key Points

• Panchayati Raj System -
  • It was first introduced in India by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 2 October 1959 in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan.
  • Panchayati Raj system is the system of local self-government of rural India.
  • Self-governance of urban areas is carried out by municipalities and sub-municipalities.
  • Self-governance of rural areas is carried out through Panchayati Raj Institutions.
  • Panchayati Raj institutions are three -
    • Gram Panchayat at the village level
    • Panchayat Samiti at Block (Taluka) level
    • Zilla Parishad at the district level

Additional Information

• 'Panchayati Raj Day is observed every year on 24 April in India.
• In the year 1993, through the 73^rd and 74^th Constitutional Amendments, the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in India got constitutional status.
• Lord Ripon is considered the father of local self-government in India during the British rule in India.
• In the year 1882, he made a proposal regarding local self-government.

The correct answer is 15%.

Key Points

• The total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a state cannot exceed 15% of the total number of members of the Legislative Assembly of that state. 
• The maximum strength of a Legislative Assembly is fixed at 500 and the minimum strength at 60 depending on the population size of the states.
• Some states like Arunachal Pradesh Sikkim Goa have the minimum number is fixed at 30 and in the case of Mizoram Nagaland, it is 40 and 46 respectively.
• Parliament can abolish the Legislative Council or create it.
• The maximum strength of a Legislative Council is fixed at one-third of the total strength of the assembly.
• The Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) is the upper house it is also known as the house of elders.
• The Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) is the lower house which is also known as the popular house.
• The provisions of the State legislature are given in Articles 168 to 212 in Part VI of the constitution.
• Currently, in India, only 6 States have a bicameral legislature they are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka

Explanation:

• Dr. Bhim Rao Baba Saheb Ambedkar is the father of the Indian constitution.
  • He was born on 14th April 1891 at Mhow in the Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh).
  • He is popularly known as the 'Modern Manu'.
  • He served as the first law minister of the government of India from 1947 to 1951.
  • He was appointed as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution.
  • He was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Additional Information 

• Notable works:
  • The Untouchables.
  • The Annihilation of Caste.
  • Pakistan or the Partition of India.
  • The Buddha and his Dhamma.
• Chaitya Bhoomi is the cremation place of B. R. Ambedkar

The correct answer is Abatement.

Key Points

• Abatement is reducing the degree or intensity of or eliminating, pollution.
• Restoration, reclamation, or recovery of natural resources are examples of abatement methods for reducing the degree or intensity of pollution.
• Only until the causes of pollution have been thoroughly identified can pollution abatement strategies be successfully implemented.
• Because it is intimately linked to urban planning, urban greenery and its role in pollution abatement is an interesting and emerging topic that demands joint work from specialists from other fields.

Important Points

• Aeration is the circulation of air through, mixing with, or dissolving in a liquid or other fluid-like substance.
• In air or another gas, an aerosol is a suspension of small solid particles or liquid droplets. Natural or anthropogenic aerosols can exist.
• Absorption is a physical or chemical phenomenon in which atoms, molecules, or ions enter a bulk phase, such as a liquid or solid material.