Daily Static Quiz (Environment) Oct 18, 2025
Daily Static Quiz (Environment) Oct 18, 2025
Question 1:
Consider the following statements regarding Biosphere Reserves in India:
The core zone of a Biosphere Reserve is strictly protected and no human activity is permitted.
The buffer zone may accommodate limited tourism and research activities.
Traditional agricultural practices are allowed in the transition zone.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 2:
Which of the following Biosphere Reserves in India are recognized by UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme?
Nokrek
Seshachalam
Pachmarhi
Panna
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Question 3:
With reference to Carbon Sequestration, consider the following statements:
Biological carbon sequestration involves the storage of carbon dioxide in vegetation and soils through photosynthesis.
Enhanced weathering involves spreading ground silicate and carbonate rocks to accelerate natural weathering processes.
Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology can only remove carbon dioxide from industrial emissions, not from ambient air.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 4:
Which of the following acts as natural carbon sinks?
Oceans
Forests
Peatlands
Limestone deposits
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Question 5:
Consider the following statements regarding carbon credits and carbon offsets:
One carbon credit represents one tonne of CO₂ or equivalent greenhouse gas reduced or removed.
Carbon credits are part of compliance markets regulated by governments under cap-and-trade systems.
Carbon offsets are always legally binding instruments under international treaties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 6:
With reference to Carbon Tax, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Carbon tax directly puts a price on carbon by defining a tax rate on greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon tax and carbon credit trading schemes are identical mechanisms for reducing emissions.
The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is related to carbon tax on imports.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 7:
Geoengineering techniques to combat climate change can be broadly classified into two categories. Which of the following techniques belong to Solar Radiation Management (SRM)?
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Marine Cloud Brightening
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
Space mirrors or sunshades
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Question 8:
Consider the following statements regarding the Kyoto Protocol:
The Kyoto Protocol established legally binding emission reduction targets only for developed countries (Annex I Parties).
It introduced market-based mechanisms including emissions trading, Joint Implementation, and Clean Development Mechanism.
The Protocol covers six greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 9:
With reference to the Conference of Parties (COP) under the UNFCCC, consider the following statements:
COP is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC where all member States that are Parties are represented.
COP decisions are always legally binding on all Parties under international law.
The Conference of Parties serving as the meeting of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) has the same mandate as the COP to the UNFCCC.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question 10:
Ocean fertilization is a proposed geoengineering technique to combat climate change. In this context, consider the following statements:
It involves introducing nutrients like iron to the upper ocean to stimulate phytoplankton growth.
Phytoplankton absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis and transfer surface carbon towards the seabed when they die.
Ocean fertilization is widely accepted by the scientific community as a safe and effective climate solution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer Key and Explanations
Question 1: Answer – (d)
Explanation:
All three statements are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: The core zone of a Biosphere Reserve is legally protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and human activities are strictly prohibited except for scientific research that does not disturb the ecosystem.
Statement 2 is correct: The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and activities such as restoration, limited tourism, fishing, grazing, and educational activities are permitted as long as they do not hinder the conservation objectives of the core area.
Statement 3 is correct: The transition zone (or area of cooperation) is the outermost zone where local communities live and work. Traditional agricultural practices, settlements, croplands, managed forests, and economic uses are allowed to ensure sustainable development while conserving biodiversity.
Question 2: Answer – (b)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (b) 1, 3 and 4 only.
Out of 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, only 13 are recognized by UNESCO’s MAB Programme:
Nokrek (Meghalaya) – Recognized in 2009
Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh) – Recognized in 2009
Panna (Madhya Pradesh) – Recognized in 2020
Seshachalam (Andhra Pradesh) is a notified Biosphere Reserve in India but has NOT been recognized by UNESCO’s MAB Programme.
Other UNESCO-recognized Indian Biosphere Reserves include Nilgiri (2000), Sundarbans (2001), Gulf of Mannar (2001), Nanda Devi (2004), Simlipal (2009), Great Nicobar (2013), Achanakmar-Amarkantak (2012), Agasthyamalai (2016), Khangchendzonga (2018), and Cold Desert (2025).
Question 3: Answer – (b)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (b) 1 and 2 only.
Statement 1 is correct: Biological carbon sequestration is the process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored as biomass in plants through photosynthesis and in soils through organic matter. This includes afforestation, reforestation, and conservation tillage practices.
Statement 2 is correct: Enhanced weathering (EW) is a geoengineering technique that accelerates natural weathering by spreading small particles of ground silicate and carbonate rocks onto soils, coasts, or oceans. These rocks naturally absorb CO₂, and by increasing their surface area, the process is accelerated.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology specifically captures CO₂ directly from ambient (atmospheric) air using chemical processes, not just from industrial emissions. This captured CO₂ is then stored underground or used for other purposes. While expensive, DAC can remove carbon from anywhere in the atmosphere.
Question 4: Answer – (d)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4.
All the given options are natural carbon sinks that absorb and store carbon:
Oceans: The largest carbon sink on the planet, absorbing about 25-30% of all human CO₂ emissions. The ocean stores carbon through biological pumps (phytoplankton) and physical pumps (ocean circulation). It is estimated that oceans contain 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Forests: Trees absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis and store it as biomass in trunks, branches, roots, and leaves. Tropical rainforests like the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asian forests are particularly significant carbon sinks.
Peatlands: Soil, particularly peatlands, absorbs roughly a quarter of all human emissions each year. Peatlands store carbon in organic matter accumulated over thousands of years.
Limestone deposits: Natural geological formations like limestone, coal, oil, and natural gas are carbon sinks that have stored carbon for millennia through geological processes.
A carbon sink is any natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases.
Question 5: Answer – (b)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (b) 1 and 2 only.
Statement 1 is correct: A carbon credit permits the holder to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas (measured as tCO₂e). These credits are tradable and can be bought, sold, or retired.
Statement 2 is correct: Carbon credits operate in two markets:
Compliance markets: Established through regulatory frameworks like the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) where participants are legally obligated to meet emission reduction targets under cap-and-trade systems.
Voluntary markets: Where entities voluntarily purchase credits for sustainability goals.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Carbon offsets are generally voluntary mechanisms where individuals or organizations compensate for their emissions by funding projects that reduce or remove emissions elsewhere. They are NOT legally binding instruments. Carbon offsets represent voluntary actions, whereas carbon credits in compliance markets can be legally binding. The concept of carbon credits was introduced in the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and reinforced by the Paris Agreement (2015), but offsets themselves operate primarily in voluntary markets.
Question 6: Answer – (b)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (b) 1 and 3 only.
Statement 1 is correct: A carbon tax is a direct price on carbon emissions, levied as a tax rate per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions. It creates a financial disincentive for emitting carbon by making polluters pay for their emissions directly.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Carbon tax and carbon credit trading schemes are DIFFERENT mechanisms:
Carbon Tax: A direct tax on emissions at a fixed rate set by the government. Companies pay for every tonne they emit.
Carbon Credit Trading: A market-based mechanism where companies receive or purchase emission allowances and can trade them. It sets a cap on total emissions but allows trading for flexibility.
Statement 3 is correct: The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is the EU’s tool to put a fair price on carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU. It aims to prevent “carbon leakage” where companies move production to countries with laxer emission constraints. India has raised concerns about CBAM in the context of the India-UK trade negotiations.
Question 7: Answer – (b)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (b) 1, 2 and 4 only.
Geoengineering techniques are divided into two broad categories:
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): Techniques that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it. These address the root cause of climate change.
Solar Radiation Management (SRM): Techniques that reflect sunlight away from Earth to reduce warming. These act quickly but don’t address rising CO₂ levels.
Options that belong to SRM:
Statement 1: Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) – injecting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect sunlight.
Statement 2: Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) – increasing the reflectivity of clouds over oceans.
Statement 4: Space mirrors or sunshades – constructing structures in space to reduce sunlight reaching Earth.
Statement 3 is INCORRECT for SRM: BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) is a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technique, not SRM. It combines biomass for energy generation with carbon capture and storage to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Other CDR techniques include Direct Air Capture (DAC), enhanced weathering, ocean fertilization, and afforestation.
Question 8: Answer – (d)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (d) 1, 2 and 3.
All three statements are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 at the 3rd Conference of Parties (COP3) to the UNFCCC, established legally binding commitments to reduce emissions ONLY for Annex I Parties (developed countries). The main feature was that it set specific emission reduction targets for industrialized nations while exempting developing countries.
Statement 2 is correct: To meet emission reduction objectives, the Kyoto Protocol established three market-based flexible mechanisms:
Emissions Trading: Allows countries to trade emission allowances.
Joint Implementation (JI): Allows Annex I countries to implement emission reduction projects in other Annex I countries.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Allows developed countries to implement emission reduction projects in developing countries.
Statement 3 is correct: The Kyoto Protocol aimed to reduce six major greenhouse gases:
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Methane (CH₄)
Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)
The Protocol aimed to reduce these gases to 5.2% below pre-1990 levels during its first commitment period (2008-2012).
Question 9: Answer – (a)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (a) 1 only.
Statement 1 is correct: The Conference of Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC. All 197 States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at COP meetings, where they review the implementation of the Convention. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin in 1995.
Statement 2 is incorrect: COP decisions are NOT always legally binding. Generally, COP decisions do not set legally binding commitments on Parties unless explicitly authorized in the treaty where the treaty expressly confers on its organs (COP, CMA, etc.) the power to implement provisions that create binding obligations. Most COP decisions provide guidance, interpretations, and establish processes, but their legal bindingness depends on the specific treaty provisions and the nature of the decision. Political declarations and reports from COPs are generally not legally binding.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The COP and CMA have DIFFERENT mandates:
The COP implements the UNFCCC Convention.
The CMA (Conference of Parties serving as the meeting of Parties to the Paris Agreement) implements ONLY the Paris Agreement.
While related, they are separate bodies with distinct responsibilities. The CMA was established by the COP specifically to oversee the Paris Agreement but has sole responsibility for the Paris Agreement’s work programme. The COP does not have a role in implementing the Paris Agreement beyond establishing the CMA.
Question 10: Answer – (b)
Explanation:
The correct answer is (b) 1 and 2 only.
Statement 1 is correct: Ocean fertilization is a geoengineering technique that involves the purposeful introduction of nutrients (particularly iron and other limiting nutrients) to the upper ocean to increase marine food production and phytoplankton growth. The goal is to enhance the ocean’s natural capacity to absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Statement 2 is correct: Phytoplankton (microscopic marine algae and bacteria) absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, similar to land plants. When phytoplankton die, they sink to the ocean floor, taking the carbon with them. This process is part of the ocean’s “biological carbon pump,” which transfers surface carbon to the deep sea for long-term storage. The ocean already stores approximately 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere through these mechanisms.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Ocean fertilization is NOT widely accepted by the scientific community as safe. In fact, scientists are rather concerned about it. The potential negative consequences include:
Disruption of ocean ecosystems and biogeochemical equilibriums
Creation of oxygen-depleted “dead zones”
Unintended effects on marine biodiversity
Potential release of other greenhouse gases like methane
Uncertainty about actual effectiveness and permanence of carbon storage
The scientific community emphasizes caution regarding geoengineering techniques like ocean fertilization because the potential risks and unintended consequences have not been fully explored.
