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

The correct answer is Spiti Valley.

Key Points

• The Spiti Valley is located in the northeastern part of Himachal Pradesh, India.
• It is classified as a cold desert due to its high altitude and arid conditions.
• The valley lies in the rain shadow region of the Himalayas, receiving very little rainfall.
• Spiti Valley is known for its unique landscape of barren mountains and deep gorges.
• The region experiences extreme temperatures, with cold winters and relatively warm summers.

Additional Information

• Cold Desert:
  • Cold deserts are characterized by low precipitation and low temperatures.
  • Examples include the Gobi Desert in Asia and the Great Basin Desert in the USA.
• Geography of Spiti Valley:
  • Spiti Valley is situated at an altitude ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 meters above sea level.
  • The valley is surrounded by the towering peaks of the Trans-Himalayan range.
• Climate:
  • Spiti Valley has an extreme climate with temperatures dropping below -30°C in winter.
  • Summers are short and mild, making it the best time for visitors.
• Flora and Fauna:
  • Despite harsh conditions, Spiti Valley supports a variety of wildlife including snow leopards and ibex.
  • Vegetation is sparse, with hardy shrubs and grasses adapted to the cold desert environment.

The correct answer is Apple.

Key Points

• Almora and Nainital districts in the state of Uttarakhand, India, are known for their favorable climatic conditions suitable for apple cultivation.
• The cool temperatures and well-drained soils of these hilly regions provide an optimal environment for growing high-quality apples.
• Apple cultivation in these districts contributes significantly to the local economy and provides employment opportunities for many residents.
• The main varieties of apples grown in Almora and Nainital include Royal Delicious, Rich Red, and Golden Delicious.
• Horticulture is a key sector in Uttarakhand, and apples are one of the major fruit crops produced in this region.

Additional Information

• Climatic Requirements:
  • Apples require a temperate climate with cold winters and moderate summers.
  • They need a chilling period of about 1,000-1,500 hours below 7°C for proper bud development.
• Soil Requirements:
  • Apples thrive in well-drained, loamy soils rich in organic matter.
  • The ideal soil pH for apple cultivation is between 6.0 and 7.0.
• Major Apple Producing Regions in India:
  • Besides Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are the leading apple-producing states in India.
  • These regions together contribute to a significant portion of the country's apple production.
• Economic Importance:
  • Apple farming provides substantial income to farmers and plays a crucial role in the rural economy of hilly regions.
  • It also supports various agro-based industries such as packaging, transportation, and cold storage.

The correct answer is Rice.

Key Points

• Rice occupies the largest area among cereal crops in Uttarakhand, making it the primary staple food in the region.
• The state’s diverse climatic conditions and varied topography contribute to the extensive cultivation of rice.
• Rice is predominantly grown in the Terai and Bhabhar regions of Uttarakhand, which provide ideal conditions for its cultivation.
• Uttarakhand has implemented various agricultural schemes and initiatives to promote rice farming, which further supports its large cultivation area.

Additional Information

• Rice Varieties:
  • Uttarakhand cultivates various high-yield and traditional rice varieties, catering to diverse consumer preferences.
  • Some of the popular traditional varieties include Basmati rice, known for its aroma and long grains.
• Agricultural Practices:
  • Terrace farming is commonly practiced in hilly areas to efficiently grow rice and other crops.
  • Farmers in Uttarakhand adopt both traditional and modern agricultural practices to enhance rice productivity.
• Water Resources:
  • The state’s ample water resources, including rivers and rainfall, significantly support rice cultivation.
  • Efficient irrigation systems are in place to ensure a steady water supply for rice paddies.
• Government Support:
  • The government provides subsidies, training, and resources to rice farmers to improve yield and sustainability.
  • Agricultural research institutions in Uttarakhand work on developing disease-resistant and high-yield rice varieties.

The correct answer is Excretory systemKey Points

• Malpighian tubules is principle organ of excreation in insects
• Malpighian tubules branch off from the intestinal tract and actively uptake nitrogenous wastes and water from the hemolymph
• The tubules pass these materials into the gut to combine with the digested food products.

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Important PointsMalpighian tubules:

• Present in all insects except Collembolan and aphids
• Distal gland of malpighian tubules is joined to rectal glands of hind gut of hind gut which is known as cryptonephridial condition found in larvae of lepidoptera and adult of coleopteran to conserve moisture in rectum
• The primitive no. of malpighan tubules is 6
• In lepidopteran 2-8  in no.
• In orthopters 2-200 malpighian tubules are found

The main excreatory organs:

• Malpighian tubules
• Iintegument (through moulting)
• Tracheal system eliminates CO₂
• Wall of alimentary canal

Other organs of excration

• Nephrocytes
• Fat bodies
• Oenocytes
• Cephalic glands

Confusion Points Malpighian tubules are not the part of digestive system.

The correct answer is 4%.

Key Points

• India's share in the world's water resources is 0.04 or 4%.
  • It accounts for 18% of the world's population.
  • It accounts for about 2.45 per cent of world’s
    surface area.
  • The total water available from
    precipitation in the country in a year is about
    4,000 cubic km.
• India is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with a rapidly growing population and increasing demand for water.
• The major rivers in India are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, which are all shared with neighboring countries like China, Nepal, and Pakistan, leading to water sharing disputes.

Additional Information

• There is an ample supply of water worldwide, making it a cyclical resource.
  • Water covers roughly 71% of the earth's surface but fresh water makes up only approximately 3 percent of all water.
• Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity in India, with irregular monsoons and increasing temperatures leading to droughts and reduced availability of water.
• India is working towards increasing water conservation efforts and improving water management to ensure sustainable use of its limited water resources.
• There are four major sources of surface water: rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks.
• The groundwater utilisation is very high in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.

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.