Environment

* Orangutans are known for their intelligence and tool-use capabilities. They have been observed using sticks in various ways, including scraping insects from holes in trees and logs, extracting honey from beehives, and even using leaves as utensils.

* Green hydrogen is any hydrogen that is produced from renewable energy.

* Statement 1 is correct: Green hydrogen can be used as a direct fuel for internal combustion engines, replacing conventional fuels like gasoline or diesel.

* Statement 2 is correct: Green hydrogen can be blended with natural gas and used as a fuel for various applications like heating, power generation, and industrial processes.

* Statement 3 is correct: Green hydrogen can be used in hydrogen fuel cells to power electric vehicles, providing a clean and efficient alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

Therefore, all three statements regarding the uses of green hydrogen are correct.

The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) is a global network of scientific and policy experts on invasive species, organised under the auspices of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hence, option A is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Most common Indian squirrels, such as the Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus species) and the Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica), are arboreal. They build nests, known as dreys, in tree branches, hollows, or crevices using twigs and leaves, rather than making burrows in the ground.

Statement 2 is Correct: Many squirrel species exhibit "scatter hoarding" behavior. They store food materials like nuts and seeds by burying them in various shallow locations in the ground to retrieve them during times of food scarcity. This behavior is a key ecological process for seed dispersal.

Statement 3 is Correct: Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores. While their diet primarily consists of seeds, nuts, fruits, and fungi, they also consume insects, caterpillars, bird eggs, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards or young birds.

* Statement I is correct: Marsupials, which are a type of mammal characterised by the presence of a pouch (marsupium) for carrying their young, are not naturally found in India. Marsupials are primarily native to the Americas and Australia.

* Statement II is incorrect: Marsupials can thrive in a variety of habitats, not just montane grasslands without predators. Many marsupial species are found in a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, savannas, and even urban areas, and can coexist with a variety of predators. Therefore, the correct answer is: Statement-I is correct, and Statement II is incorrect.

* Community reserves in India are terms denoting protected areas of India which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India.

* Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the Section 36 D of the WildLife Protection Act (WLPA): The State Government shall constitute a Community Reserve management committee, which shall be the authority responsible for conserving, maintaining and managing the community reserve. The committee shall elect a Chairman who shall also be the Honorary WildLife Warden on the community reserve.

* Statement 2 is correct: After a forest has been made into a community reserve, people are not allowed to hunt there, thus hunting is prohibited in community reserves.

* Statement 3 is correct: People of such areas are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce.

* Statement 4 is incorrect: After a forest has been made into a community reserve, people are also not allowed to use it for agricultural practices such as shifting (jhum) cultivation.

* Lion-tailed Macaque: This is a diurnal animal, meaning it's active during the day.

* Malabar Civet: This is a nocturnal animal, primarily active at night.

* Sambar Deer: These are crepuscular animals, most active during dawn and dusk.

Therefore, only one (1) of the fauna is generally nocturnal or most active after sunset (Malabar Civet).


* Statement 1 is correct: Role of Biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS): Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed. Biofilters in a RAS help in waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed and other organic matter from the water. The biofilter media provide a surface for beneficial bacteria to grow, which help in breaking down and removing these wastes.

* Statement 2 is correct: Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate. One of the primary functions of biofilters in a RAS is to convert toxic ammonia (produced from fish waste) into less harmful nitrate. Beneficial bacteria in the biofilter media perform nitrification, a process where ammonia is first converted to nitrite and then further converted to nitrate.

* Statement 3 is incorrect: Biofilters do not increase phosphorus as a nutrient for fish in the water. Their primary role is to remove wastes and convert ammonia to nitrate. Phosphorus levels in the water are managed through other means, such as fish feed formulation and water quality management.

Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.

* Statement 1 is correct. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, with an estimated 251 km3 annual withdrawal from an estimated 20 million wells and tube wells, India is the world's greatest groundwater user. This accounts for more than a quarter of the total groundwater extracted internationally.

* Statement 2 is incorrect. India uses about 89% of this groundwater for irrigation. Major share of total groundwater extracted by India is utilised for irrigation purposes and not for drinking and sanitation purposes.

All three activities mentioned are indeed methods often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration.

* Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively is known as enhanced weathering. The basalt reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and forms stable carbonates, effectively storing the carbon dioxide and preventing it from contributing to global warming.

* Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime can help absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The increased alkalinity enhances the ocean's capacity to act as a carbon sink.

* Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters is a direct method of carbon capture and sequestration where carbon dioxide is captured at its source and then stored in a way that prevents it from being released into the atmosphere.

The Assertion is Correct: Carbon markets, such as Cap-and-Trade systems and voluntary offset markets, are recognized under the Paris Agreement (Article 6) as essential market-based tools to incentivize emission reductions by putting a price on carbon.

The Reason is Correct: Carbon markets often involve the transfer of resources from the private sector to the State, especially when governments auction emission allowances or permits, thereby generating public revenue from private emitters.

Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I because the widespread adoption of carbon markets is driven by their ability to achieve climate targets at the lowest economic cost through market flexibility, rather than the specific fiscal mechanism of transferring funds to the State.

* The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement that addresses the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources. It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and specifically focuses on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their utilisation.

* Statement 1 is correct: In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) are indeed key to the realisation of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. BMCs play a crucial role in this by ensuring that local communities have a say in the access to and use of these resources.

* Statement 2 is correct: The Biodiversity Management Committees also have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing. They have the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within their jurisdiction. This is part of their role in managing and conserving biodiversity, and ensuring that the benefits derived from the use of these resources are shared equitably.

Therefore, both statements are correct.

* The honey bee dance, also known as the waggle dance, is a form of communication performed by worker honey bees to other members of the honey bee colony. The waggle dance was famously decoded by Austrian scientist, Karl von Frisch. * The direction the bee moves in relation to the hive indicates direction; if it moves vertically, the direction to the source is directly towards the Sun. * The duration of the waggle part of the dance signifies the distance. Hence, option (C) is the correct answer.

The term "greenwashing" is best described as deceptively conveying a misleading impression that a company's products or practices are environmentally friendly.

Greenwashing is a marketing strategy where companies try to portray themselves as environmentally conscious, even if their actions don't necessarily reflect that commitment. It often involves using misleading language, imagery, or selective data to create a positive environmental image.


The goal is to gain a competitive advantage by appealing to consumers who are increasingly concerned about environmental issues.

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of holding warming well below 2C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C.

A collaboration of two organisations, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, the CAT has been providing this independent analysis to policymakers since 2009. CAT quantifies and evaluates climate change mitigation targets, policies, and actions. It also aggregates country action to the global level, determining likely temperature increases during the 21st century using the MAGICC climate model. CAT further develops sectoral analysis to illustrate the required pathways for meeting the global temperature goals.

Biorock technology uses a low voltage electrical current to stimulate the growth of minerals on submerged structures. This creates a limestone-like material similar to that found in natural coral reefs.


Biorock structures can provide a stable substrate for coral polyps to attach and grow, accelerating the restoration of degraded coral reefs.

While Biorock can be used for other purposes, like creating artificial reefs for mariculture (fish farming) or promoting the growth of seacrete building materials, its application in coral reef restoration is a major area of interest.

Statement 1 is correct. PET fibres can be blended with cotton or wool to improve properties like wrinkle resistance and durability.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Not all PET containers are suitable for all alcoholic beverages. Some PET can leach chemicals at high temperatures or with certain types of alcohol. It's important to check for specific suitability indicators on the packaging.

Statement 3 is correct. PET bottles are one of the most commonly recycled plastics. They can be reprocessed into various products like clothing fibres, new bottles, or building materials.

Statement 4 is incorrect. Incineration of PET, like most plastics, generates greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide. While PET has a lower emission profile compared to some other plastics, it's still not a zero-emission disposal method.

Remember: Statements like store any kind of alcoholic beverages are vague & ambiguous, so they ought to be eliminated. Also, incineration of any substance cannot be environment friendly as it would definitely release GHGs. Hence the only Option left is Option A. Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 3.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control development and management of groundwater resources in the country.

Central Water Commission (CWC) - Established in 1945, the CWC is a technical organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It focuses on water resource planning, development, and management in India, but its legal basis comes from other central government acts.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) - While it works in close collaboration with the CGWA, the CGWB is a subordinate organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, established in 1970. It functions as the technical arm of the CGWA, providing hydrogeological data and technical expertise.

National Water Development Agency (NWDA) - This autonomous agency, established in 1982 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, operates under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It focuses on resolving interstate water resource disputes, conducting feasibility studies for water resource development projects, and planning water transfer and linking projects.

Out of the listed functions of wetlands, the one that best reflects the analogy of "kidneys" is option D.

Kidneys in our body function as a filtering system, removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood. Wetlands with their dense vegetation and saturated soils, wetlands act as natural filters for water. Aquatic plants and microbes in wetlands play a crucial role in - Phytoremediation: Aquatic plants can absorb and accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants from water. - Nutrient cycling: Wetlands help regulate nutrient levels in water by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This prevents them from flowing into rivers, lakes, and oceans and causing harmful algal blooms.

By filtering pollutants and excess nutrients, wetlands help purify water and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems. This aligns with the concept of kidneys filtering waste from our blood.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Climate Group is an international non-profit organization launched in 2004 with offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Amsterdam, and Beijing. It drives climate action by building and coordinating large networks of businesses and governments.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: EP100 is a global initiative led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is not the founding partner of this initiative.

Statement 3 is Correct: EP100 brings together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to improving their energy productivity. By integrating ambitious energy targets into business strategies, these companies drive innovation in energy efficiency and increase competitiveness while meeting emission reduction goals.

Statement 4 is Correct: Several Indian companies are members of EP100. For instance, Mahindra & Mahindra was the first Indian company to join the initiative, followed by others like Dalmia Cement and UltraTech Cement.

Statement 5 is Incorrect: The Climate Group serves as the Secretariat for the Under2 Coalition, not the International Energy Agency. The coalition is a global community of state and regional governments committed to keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C.

Statement 1 is Correct: SRI requires significantly fewer seeds (about 5-8 kg/ha) compared to traditional transplanting methods (60-80 kg/ha) because it involves planting single, younger seedlings with wider spacing. Statement 2 is Correct: The practice of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) prevents continuous submergence of fields, reducing anaerobic conditions and thereby significantly lowering methane emissions produced by methanogenic bacteria. Statement 3 is Correct: SRI reduces water requirement by 30-50% due to controlled irrigation; this directly leads to lower electricity or fuel consumption needed for pumping groundwater.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: While Section 39 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, specifies that certain wild animals are the property of the State or Central Government, this does not apply to all wild animals. Specifically, animals categorized as 'vermin' (under Schedule V) are excluded from this provision, making the absolute claim that wild animals are the 'sole property' of the government legally inaccurate.

Statement 2 is Correct: The protection status of a wild animal is determined by its listing in the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This legal protection is species-specific and applies to the animal wherever it is found, whether it is inside a designated Protected Area (like a National Park or Sanctuary) or outside in human-dominated landscapes.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Under Section 11 of the Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden can only authorize the capture or killing of a protected animal if they are satisfied that the animal 'has become dangerous to human life' or is disabled/diseased beyond recovery. Mere 'apprehension' or the fear that an animal might become a danger is not a sufficient legal ground; there must be an objective determination of actual danger.

Out of the listed plants, the following are nitrogen-fixing plants: 1. Alfalfa 3. Chickpea 4. Clover These plants have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria called rhizobia. The bacteria colonize nodules in the plant's roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form (nitrates) that the plant can absorb.


The other options are not nitrogen-fixing plants: 2. Amaranth 5. Purslane (Kulfa) 6. Spinach These plants require nitrogen from the soil but cannot fix it themselves. They rely on soil nitrogen content or applied fertilizers. Remember: Purslane is a weed. If you would have known this piece of information, the question could have been easily solved by simple elimination.

Therefore, the correct answer is (1, 3, 4).

Acid rain is primarily caused by the excess presence of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide in the environment.

* Carbon monoxide is not a direct cause of acid rain. It is a pollutant that contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, but it does not lead to the production of acid rain.

* Nitrogen oxides, which include nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, are major contributors to acid rain. When these gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere, they form nitric acid, a key component of acid rain.

* Ozone is not a direct cause of acid rain. While ozone can have negative environmental impacts, it is not a precursor to the formation of acid rain.

* Sulphur dioxide is another primary contributor to acid rain. When Sulphur dioxide combines with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere, it forms sulphuric acid, which is also a major component of acid rain.


Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants.

Rice cultivation emits methane and nitrous oxide due to flooded fields and nitrogen-based fertilizers. Flooding creates anaerobic conditions, producing methane released through rice plants. Fertilizers poorly absorbed by rice lead to soil microbes converting nitrogen into nitrous oxide.

The Golden Mahseer (*Tor putitora*) is a species of large freshwater fish, not a bird. Often referred to as the 'Tiger of the Water', it is native to the Himalayan region and inhabits the rapid streams and rivers of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins. It is recognized by its large golden scales and is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The other options—Indian Nightjar, Spoonbill, and White Ibis—are all avian species found in various habitats across India.

Urban Forests use the Miyawaki method to create urban forests. Miyawaki urban forests are fascinating complex ecosystems, in balance with today's soil and climate conditions. This technique works worldwide irrespective of soil and climatic conditions.


Over 2000 forests were successfully created using this method.

Doctor Akira Miyawaki, botanist and professor, is the inventor of the technique since 1980. He is a recipient of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, which is the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in ecology.

The correctly matched pairs are: * Pair 2: Renuka Wetland - Himachal Pradesh. Located in the Sirmaur district, it is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations. * Pair 3: Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura. It is a lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeast hills, fed by three perennial streams discharging into the River Gomti.

The incorrectly matched pairs are: * Pair 1: Hokera Wetland. It is located in Jammu & Kashmir (near Srinagar), not Punjab. It is a natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin. * Pair 4: Sasthamkotta Lake. It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, not Tamil Nadu. It is located in the Kollam district.

Since only two pairs (2 and 3) are correctly matched, the correct option is B.

Statement 1 is correct. The WHO recommends that the 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m³ and the annual mean should not exceed 5 ug/m³. These are the current most stringent guidelines set by WHO to protect public health.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Ozone pollution typically peaks during sunny and stagnant weather conditions, not during inclement weather like rain or storms.

Statement 3 is incorrect. While PM10 (≤ PM10) particles can enter the deep lungs and cause respiratory issues, it's the much finer PM2.5 (≤ PM2.5) particles and ultrafine particles that effectively penetrate the lung barrier (alveoli) to enter the bloodstream, affecting the heart, brain, and other organs. PM10 typically deposits in larger airways, whereas PM2.5's tiny size allows it to cross into the circulatory system, making it more dangerous.

Statement 4 is correct. Excessive ozone exposure can trigger asthma attacks and worsen respiratory problems. Ozone irritates the respiratory tract, making it harder to breathe.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Copepods are a group of small crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitat; they are zooplankton that function as consumers (secondary producers) rather than primary producers. Statement 2 is Correct: Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that obtain energy through photosynthesis and are significant primary producers in marine environments. Statement 3 is Correct: Diatoms are a major group of microalgae (phytoplankton) found in the oceans and are among the most important primary producers in the marine food chain. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Foraminifera are single-celled amoeboid protists that primarily function as consumers (zooplankton) by catching food with their ectoplasm.