1.

Consider the following statements:

1. It was the first biosphere reserve in India.

2. Lion-tailed macaque an endangered species is found here.

3. The vegeataion found here includes dry and moist deciduous, semievergreen and wet evergreen forests, evergreen shoals.

The above-mentioned statements are related to

(a) Nilgiri

(b) Agasthyamalai

(c) Seshachalam

(d) Great Nicobar

   2.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Purana Qila:

1. It built by Sher Shah Suri and Mughal emperor Humayun.

2. It served as an internment camp for Japanese civilians of British India during the Second World War.

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

  3.

1. Osmosis

2. Ion exchange

3. Distillation

How many of the above methods could be used for reducing the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water?.

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None of these

  4.

Most fertile and productive soils in the world have developed under grassland.  

1.The rainfall in grasslands is inadequate and hence excessive leaching of minerals is blocked. 

2.The humus and partially decomposed organic materials expand its capability.  

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

  5.

“Kavach” seen in news refer to

(a) Frog  

(b) Tree  

(c) Butterfly

(d) None of these

   6.

1. It is in the Ukraine.

2. It is on the Dnipro River.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct regarding, the Nova Kakhovka dam?.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

   7.

Which of the following is not a primary pollutant?

(a) Ozone

(b) Sulphur Di Oxide

(c) Carbon monoxide

(d) Carbon dioxide

   8.

Methaemoglobin is primarily produced by

(a) carbon monoxide

(b) nitrates

(c) carbon di oxide

(d) lead tetra ethyl

   9.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT):

1. It will allow us to record images in this wavelength crucial for maintaining the Ozone and Oxygen content in the atmosphere of the Earth.

2. It will provide early warning of potential solar flares.

3. It will measure and monitor the solar radiation emitted in the near ultraviolet wavelength range.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 10.

Which of the following is/are true w.r.t. INS Kirpan?.

1. It is Khukri class missile corvette.

2. India gifted this to Thailand recently.

3. It is capable of speed in excess of 25 knots.

4. It has a displacement of close to 1,400 tonnes.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4

 11.

Which of the following are greenhouse gases?.

1. fluorinated gas

2. water vapor

3. nitric oxide

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 12.

Amensalism can be represented as

(a) Species A (+); Species B (+)

(b) Species A (–); Species B (0)

(c) Species A (–); Species B (–)

(d) Species A (+); Species B (0)

 13.

With reference to Microplastics, consider the following statements:  

1. They are defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters.

2. They contribute to greenhouse gases.

3. They are found in cigarette filters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 14.

Consider the following statement with reference to Savitribai phule:

1. She started the Mahila Seva Mandal.

2. She was a Dalit woman.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

 15.

In most freshwater lakes, the algal productivity is limited by the availability of which of the following inorganic ions?

(a) Carbon

(b) Nitrogen

(c) Phosphorus

(d) All of the above

 16.

Consider the following:

1. Atmospheric inputs of phosphorus through rainfall are much smaller than carbon inputs.

2. Gaseous exchanges of phosphorus between organisms and environment are negligible.

3. There are few respiratory pathways for the flow of the phosphorus into the atmosphere.

Which of these is/are limiting nutrients?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 17.

Caecilians are

(a) Amphibians

(b) Reptiles

(c) Arthropods

(d) Molluscs

 18.

Consider the following:

1. aceclofenac

2. nimesulide

3. flunixin

Which of the above is/are harmful to vultures?   

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 19.

Permanent hardness of water is caused by

(a) Magnesium sulphate

(b) Magnesium bicarbonate

(c) Magnesium carbonate

(d) Magnesium Chloride

 20.

Which one of the following is not observed in biodiversity hotspots?

(a) Lesser interspecific competition

(b) Species richness

(c) Endemism

(d) Accelerated species loss

 21.

With reference to Cyclone Mocha, consider the following statements:

1. It is a temperate cyclone.

2. Its name is suggested by Yemen and was named after the Red Sea port city.

3. It made landfall recently in Myanmar.

How many statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only One

(b) Only Two

(c) All the three

(d) None of the statements

 22.

The new data platform, Marine Sand Watch, tracks and monitors dredging activities of sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock in the world''s marine environment was launched by

(a) UNEP

(b) WMO

(c) UNFCCC

(d) GEF

 23.

The first Indian state to declare access to the internet a basic human right

(a) Assam

(b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Kerala

(d) Himachal Pradesh

 24.

Permafrost has traditionally been found in

(a) Greenland and Antarctica

(b) Tuvalu and the Maldives

(c) Peru and Montana

(d) Canada and Alaska

 25.

‘Horizon 2047’ communique that was in news is connected with

(a) India’s carbon neutral plan

(b) India’s foreign affairs

(c) India’s solar panel dispute

(d) India’s gender sensitive campaign

1.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/explained-why-are-tigers-dying-in-nilgiris-district/article67354434.ece

There are 18 biosphere reserves in India:

1.  Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh

2.  Nanda Devi, Uttrakhand

3.  Khangchendzonga, Sikkim

4.  Dehang-Debang, Arunachal Pradesh

5.  Manas, Assam

6.  Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam

7.  Nokrek, Meghalaya

8.  Panna, Madhya Pradesh

9.  Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh

10.  Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh

11.  Kachchh, Gujarat (Largest Area)

12.  Similipal, Odisha

13.  Sundarban, West Bengal

14.  Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh

15.  Agasthyamala, Karnataka-Tamil Nadu-Kerala

16.  Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala (First to be Included)

17.  Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu

18.  Great Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Island

There are total 12 biosphere reserves of India which have been recognized internationally under Man and Biosphere Reserve program:

Nilgiri (First to be included)

Gulf of Mannar

Sunderban

Nanda Devi

Nokrek

Pachmarhi

Similipal

Achanakmar - Amarkantak

Great Nicobar

Agasthyamala

Khangchendzonga (Added under Man and Biosphere Reserve Program in 2018)

Panna, Madhya Pradesh (The latest included BR)

A

2.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/idols-coins-seals-latest-finds-at-purana-qila-excavation-site-8639603/

C 

3.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water are some organic and inorganic materials, which include minerals and ions that are dissolved in a particular quantity in water. When water passes through stones, pipes, or different surfaces, the particles are absorbed into the water. TDS in water can come from different sources such as minerals in chemicals used for treating water, runoff from the road salts, and chemicals or fertilizers from the farms. Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium cations, as well as Carbonate, Hydrogen Carbonate, Chloride, Sulfate, and Nitrate anions, are commonly the most prominent constituents.

Water that has a TDS level of more than 1000mg/L is unfit for consumption. A high level of TDS in water can lead to a number of health problems. The presence of potassium, sodium, and chlorides increases the TDS level in the water. However, the presence of toxic ions such as lead, nitrate, cadmium, and arsenic present in water can lead to a number of serious health problems. This is especially important for children because they are much more sensitive to contaminants because their defense systems have not fully developed.

TDS Level in parts per million(ppm)      Palatability Quotient

Between 50-150     Excellent for drinking

150-250       Good

250-300       Fair

300-500       Poor

Above 1200   Unacceptable

TDS removal methods

1. Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) - A reverse osmosis (RO) system reduces TDS in water by forcing the water through a semipermeable membrane. The membrane has tiny pores that allow water molecules to pass through but block larger particles such as dissolved minerals, salts, and metals. This is the most effective way of how to reduce water tds level at home.

2. Distillation - In this process, water is placed for boiling so the vapour rises, reaches the cool surface, and condenses back to the liquid form. In this process, the dissolved salts don''t vaporize; thus, they get settled in the bottom of the boiling solution. This is how the distillation process reduces TDS levels in the water. The dissolved salts are unable to vaporize and remain in the boiling solution.

3. Deionisation (DI) - In this process, water is passed through a positive and negative electrode. The ion-selective membranes enable the positive ions to separate from the water and move towards the negative electrode. The end result is de-ionized water with high purity. However, the water is first passed through a reverse osmosis unit first in order to remove the non-ionic organic contaminants.

B 

4.

Humus is dark, organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays. When plants drop leaves, twigs, and other material to the ground, it piles up. This material is called leaf litter. When animals die, their remains add to the litter. Over time, all this litter decomposes. This means it decays, or breaks down, into its most basic chemical elements. Many of these chemicals are important nutrients for the soil and organisms that depend on soil for life, such as plants. The thick brown or black substance that remains after most of the organic litter has decomposed is called humus. Earthworms often mix humus with minerals in the soil. 

Humus contains many useful nutrients for healthy soil. One of the most important is nitrogen. Nitrogen is a key nutrient for plants. Agriculture depends on nitrogen and other utrients found in humus. Humus makes soil more fertile and helps prevent disease in plants and food crops. 

When humus is in soil, the soil will crumble. Air and Water move easily through the loose soil, and oxygen can reach to the roots of plants. Humus can be produced naturally or through a process called composting. 

The functions of humus:- 

·        Increase the soil''s ability to hold water.

·        This makes the soil resistant and creates air gaps in the soil.

·        It provides nitrogen and other nutrients to the plants for growth.

·        It keeps the soil warm by absorbing heat.

·        Organic acids produced by complete decomposition of humus act as solvents for soil materials.

·        Humus increase immunity and exchange capacity of soil against chemical activity.

It affects the soluble capacity of the mineral and acts as an energy source for the growth of microorganisms.

D

5.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/advanced-version-of-kavach-on-the-horizon/article66942329.ece

D

6.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/kakhovka-dam-ukraine-russia-war-8648412/

C  

7.

Ozone is not a primary pollutant since it is formed by the photo-chemical reaction of oxygen with the UV rays and not directly discharged into the atmosphere by a source.

Primary pollutants; Pollutants that enter directly from the sources into the atmosphere are called primary pollutants.

Secondary pollutants: Pollutants that are formed due to interactions between primary air pollutants and other atmospheric components are called secondary pollutants. These interactions can be physical or chemical.

A 

8.

Methaemoglobin - If the iron component of the haem moieties is in the ferric state, than the normal ferrous state, it is called methaemoglobin.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/did-lord-krishna-really-have-blue-skin--55392

B

9.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/aditya-l-1-mission-launch-suit-isro-solar-telescope-iucaa-2394893-2023-06-19

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/unique-space-telescope-designed-pune-scientists-sun-mission-8667571/

D 

10.

India gifted the indigenously-built in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-gifts-missile-corvette-ins-kirpan-to-vietnam/article66986653.ece

D 

11.

· Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases are examples of greenhouse gases. Because they absorb heat, these molecules in our atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases.

· Neither nitric oxide nor nitrogen dioxide are greenhouse gases, although they are important in the process of creation of tropospheric ozone which is a greenhouse gas.

· Nitrogen oxides are an integral part of the Earth system and are constantly exchanged between the atmosphere and ecosystems. The nitrogen cycle has a pronounced effect on ecosystem productivity and affects climate in several ways. Both nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitric oxide (NO) are emitted from the soil, and whereas N₂O is a strong greenhouse gas by itself, NO acts indirectly by contributing to the formation of _O3, the third largest contributor to positive radiative forcing. The deposition of N compounds to ecosystems has a fertilizing effect and might stimulate primary production and thus CO₂ uptake from the atmosphere, whereas O₃ is phytotoxic and thus will reduce primary production. 

A 

12.

In Amensalism one species is harmed (−) whereas the other is unaffected (0).

Amensalism meaning, an ecological interaction between two species, but in this association among organisms of two different species, one is destroyed or inhibited, and other remains unaffected. Moreover, amensalism is frequently used to refer to asymmetrical competitive interaction.

Examples of Amensalism

Some of the notable amensalism examples are –

Penicillium secretes penicillin, which kills various bacteria

Roots of black walnut release juglone, which is a toxic material that destroys other herbaceous plants within its range

Streptomyces is an actinomycete that inhibits the growth of bacteria. It is mostly used as anti-biotics

Convolvulus arvensis hinders the development of wheat.

As mentioned earlier, amensalism meaning is a reaction in which one organism is harmed and the other stays unaffected. Now this interaction between two species can be divided into two categories, antibiosis and competition.

B

13.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/microplastics-long-legacy-left-behind-plastic-pollution

https://thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/japanese-scientists-find-microplastics-are-present-in-clouds/article67356549.ece

C  

14.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/who-was-savitribai-phule-192nd-birth-anniversary-8357861/

D

15.

Algal growth is usually limited by the available supply of either phosphate or nitrate, and we say that a water body is nitrogen limited if the ratio of nitrogen species to phosphorus species (N:P) is low, or is phosphorus limited if N:P is high.

D

16.

Phosphorus and the carbon cycle are the two different cycles which happen together in the atmosphere completely independent of each other. Both the cycles are termed as Biogeochemical cycles as they require both the activity of living as well as non-living components. The reservoir for the phosphorus cycle is mainly the earth’s crust as these rocks break down due to erosion or weathering. As a result the water will take the phosphorus along with it into the water body and as water will flow over land some of the phosphorus will get deposited into the soil also. We know that plants can take up phosphorus from the soil but they also have the ability to take up phosphorus from the water directly. Then when plants die the phosphorus gets deposited and accumulated in the soil itself and the cycle begins again. There are no respiratory pathways for the flow of the phosphorus into the atmosphere.

W.r.t. carbon cycle, the main reservoir for carbon is the atmosphere because the human being breathes out carbon which is taken up by the plants and the cycle thus continues. The phosphorus is never accumulated into the atmosphere in gaseous form so the chances of having gaseous exchange between organisms is almost zero.

A 

17.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/two-of-every-five-amphibians-threatened-with-extinction-reveals-study/article67383443.ece

A 

18.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/harmful-nsaids-continue-to-be-sold-in-pharmacies-around-vulture-habitats-in-nilgiris-study-finds/article67259154.ece

D 

19.

A 

20.

Lesser interspecific competition is not observed in biodiversity Hotspots. A biogeographic region where the significant levels of biodiversity are threatened by the human habitation is known as biodiversity Hotspots. The competition in which the individuals of different species compete for the resources in the same ecosystem is known as interspecific competition. It is a type of mutualism or symbiosis which is completed for resources such as food for living space in an ecosystem. It interacts with the biotic and abiotic factors which affect the community structure and can occur when two individuals species which are separate species share a limit of resources in the same area which is known as limited or lesser intraspecific competition. This competition has the potential to alter the communities and populations in the evolution of interacting species in an individual organism level in which the competition can occur interference or exploitative competition.

Species richness: The number of species which are different and are represented in an ecological community or a landscape. It is the count of a species that is considered synonyms with the species diversity. The individuals are selected in different ways which depend on the purpose of quantifying species richness. They are affected by several individuals and the heterogeneity of the sample. it is used as a criterion where the relative conservation values of habitats or landscape are assessed.

Endemism: It is an ecological state which is defined as a geographic location such as an Island state or region which is divided into two categories which include paleoendemism and endemism. The species which are formerly spread and restricted to smaller areas come under paleoendemism. The species which are recently Verizon true divergence and reproductive isolation or through hybridization and polyploidy in plants that have a limited range come under endemism.

Accelerated species loss: The process of becoming extinct is known as species loss where the reduction or loss of a species takes place. This is done by the revolutionary problems which cause the species to die and the humans which causes the species to become extinct by hunting, overharvesting, and introducing invasive species to the wild, changing wetlands and forest to crop plants and urban areas.

A 

21.

Cyclone Mocha:

o   It is a tropical cyclone formed over the southern Bay of Bengal.

o   The cyclone''s name ‘Mocha’ is suggested by Yemen and was named after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world.

o   It made landfall recently in Myanmar has been categorized as an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm by the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) and as a ‘Super Cyclone’ by global weather website Zoom Earth.  It became the strongest cyclone on earth so far in 2023 according to Typhoon Research Center in South Korea’s Jeju National University.

How a Tropical Cyclone Formed?

o   A tropical cyclone is formed only over warm ocean waters near the equator.

o   Warm, moist air rises up and away from the ocean surface, creating an area of low pressure.

o   It causes the air from surrounding areas with higher pressure to move towards the low-pressure area.

o   This leads to the warming up of air and causes it to rise above.

o   As the air rises & cools, the water in the air forms clouds.

o   This complete system of clouds and wind spins & grows, along with the ocean’s heat.

o   As the wind rotation speed increases, an eye gets formed in the middle.

Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone:

o   The centre of a cyclone is very calm and clear with very low air pressure.

o   The average speed is 120 kmph.

o   They have closed isobars which leads to greater velocity. Isobars are imaginary lines on a weather map that connect locations with equal atmospheric pressure.

o   They develop over oceans and seas only.

o   They move from east to west under the influence of trade winds.

o   They are seasonal in nature.

B 

22.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/sand-dredging-is-sterilising-ocean-floor-un-warns/article67333595.ece

A

23.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/explained-how-kfon-aims-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-in-kerala/article66930800.ece

C

24.

https://www.woodwellclimate.org/what-is-permafrost/

D  

25.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/expert-modi-france-visit-significance-outcomes-explained-8841673/

B