Daily Static Quiz (Environment) Nov 29, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Environment) Nov 29, 2025

Q.1 Consider the following tiger reserves in India:

1. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
2. Manas Tiger Reserve
3. Indravati Tiger Reserve
4. Sundarbans Tiger Reserve

Which of the above tiger reserves have a total area exceeding 2,500 sq km?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q.2 With reference to the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), consider the following statements:

1. It was constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
2. It has the power to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater extraction in over-exploited areas.
3. It can take punitive actions including sealing of illegal wells against violators.

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

Q.3 The Aravalli Range is known to support several endemic and endangered species. Which of the following fauna is/are found in this region?

1. Leopard
2. Striped Hyena
3. Caracal
4. Indian Wolf

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q.4 Ocean acidification is primarily caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide by seawater. In this context, consider the following chemical reactions:

1. CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃ (Carbonic acid)
2. H₂CO₃ → HCO₃⁻ + H⁺ (Bicarbonate ion)
3. HCO₃⁻ → CO₃²⁻ + H⁺ (Carbonate ion)

Which of the above reactions contribute to the lowering of oceanic pH?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q.5 With reference to the National Policy on Biofuels – 2018 and its amendments, consider the following statements:

1. The policy classifies biofuels into First Generation (1G), Second Generation (2G), and Third Generation (3G) categories.
2. The target for 20% ethanol blending in petrol was advanced from 2030 to 2025-26.
3. The policy prohibits the use of surplus food grains for ethanol production to ensure food security.

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

Q.6 Match the following Wildlife Sanctuaries with their respective States:

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Q.7 Consider the following endangered species found in Northeast India:

1. Western Hoolock Gibbon
2. Gee’s Golden Langur
3. Bengal Slow Loris
4. Namdapha Flying Squirrel

Which of the above are endemic to the forests south of the Brahmaputra River?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q.8 Which of the following statements regarding deserts of South America is/are correct?

1. The Atacama Desert lies in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains and is affected by the cold Humboldt Current.
2. The Patagonian Desert is the largest desert in South America and is classified as a cold desert.
3. The Monte Desert receives moisture from the Pacific Ocean unlike other South American deserts.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Q.9 With reference to the Great Barrier Reef, consider the following statements:

1. It hosts six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.
2. The reef system contains over 400 species of hard corals.
3. Dugongs are found in the waters of this reef system.

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

Q.10 The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) is one of the major migratory bird flyways in the world. In this context, consider the following statements:

1. The Bar-headed Goose is known to migrate across the Himalayan passes at altitudes exceeding 8,000 metres.
2. India provides critical stopover sites for over 90% of bird species using this flyway.
3. The Siberian Crane and Sociable Lapwing are species largely restricted to the Central Asian Flyway.

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

Answers with Explanations

Answer 1: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest tiger reserve in India with a total area of approximately 3,728 sq km, spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.​
• Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam has a total area of approximately 2,837 sq km.​
• Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh covers approximately 2,799 sq km.​
• Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in West Bengal has an area of approximately 2,585 sq km, which is just marginally above 2,500 sq km but falls slightly below when considering core areas alone.​

However, based on the data from multiple sources, Sundarbans has approximately 2,584.89 sq km, which is marginally below 2,500 sq km in some calculations. The three reserves that definitively exceed 2,500 sq km are Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam, Manas, and Indravati.

Answer 2: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: CGWA was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, not the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.​
• Statement 2 is correct: CGWA grants No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater withdrawal to industries, infrastructure projects, and agricultural purposes, especially in over-exploited or critical areas.​
• Statement 3 is correct: CGWA has the power to take punitive actions including imposing fines and sealing illegal wells against violators who extract groundwater without permission.​

Answer 3: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation:
All four species are found in the Aravalli Range:

• Leopard: Significant leopard populations exist in the Northern Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor and along the Ferozpur Jhirka-Nuh Aravalli range.​
• Striped Hyena: Found in notable habitats along the Aravalli range.​
• Caracal: Listed among the fauna of the Aravalli region.​
• Indian Wolf: Found in the Aravalli ecosystem.​

The Aravalli Range, despite being one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, supports diverse wildlife including these predators due to its unique dry deciduous forest ecosystem.​

Answer 4: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:
All three reactions contribute to lowering oceanic pH:

• Reaction 1: Carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater and reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃).​
• Reaction 2: Carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻) and releases hydrogen ions (H⁺).​
• Reaction 3: Bicarbonate ions further dissociate into carbonate ions (CO₃²⁻) and release additional hydrogen ions (H⁺).​

Each reaction releases hydrogen ions (H⁺), which increases acidity and lowers pH. The pH scale is logarithmic, so a 0.1 decrease represents approximately a 30% increase in acidity. Since the Industrial Revolution, ocean pH has dropped from approximately 8.2 to 8.1.​

Answer 5: (b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The National Policy on Biofuels classifies biofuels into 1G (First Generation – from food crops/molasses), 2G (Second Generation – from non-food biomass/agricultural residues), and 3G (Third Generation – from algae-based sources).​
• Statement 2 is correct: The 2022 amendment advanced the ethanol blending target of 20% from 2030 to 2025-26. India achieved this target in 2025.​
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The policy allows the use of surplus food grains for ethanol production. One of the key features of the policy is permitting damaged food grains and surplus grains unfit for human consumption to be used for ethanol production.​

Answer 6: (a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

Explanation:

• Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat (Little Rann of Kutch) and is the last remaining refuge of the Indian Wild Ass.​
• Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Uttarakhand (Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts) and is known for its high-altitude ecosystems.​
• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan (Alwar district) and was India’s first tiger reserve to be declared tiger-free after poaching incidents.
• Sundarbans Wildlife Sanctuary is located in West Bengal (South 24-Paraganas district) and is famous for mangrove forests and Royal Bengal Tigers.​

Answer 7: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Western Hoolock Gibbon: India’s only ape, found south of the Brahmaputra River and east of the Dibang River in Northeast India.​
• Gee’s Golden Langur: Endemic to a small area in western Assam and Bhutan, primarily found south of the Brahmaputra River. About 93% of the Indian population is found in Chirang, Manas, and Ripu forest reserves.​
• Bengal Slow Loris: While found in Northeast India, it has a wider distribution and is not specifically endemic to the region south of Brahmaputra.​
• Namdapha Flying Squirrel: Restricted to a single valley in the Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh, which is south of the Brahmaputra.​

Answer 8: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Atacama Desert lies on the Pacific coast of Chile and is bounded by the Andes to the east, creating a two-sided rain shadow effect. The cold Humboldt Current contributes to temperature inversion and extreme aridity, making it the driest non-polar desert on Earth.​
• Statement 2 is correct: The Patagonian Desert (also known as Patagonian Steppe) is the largest desert in Argentina and eighth-largest in the world (approximately 673,000 sq km). It is classified as a cold desert with average temperatures of only 3°C.​
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Monte Desert lies on the leeward (eastern) side of the Andes and receives very little moisture due to rain shadow effects. It does not receive moisture from the Pacific Ocean; rather, this rain shadow effect is the primary reason for its aridity.​

Answer 9: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:
All three statements are correct about the Great Barrier Reef:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Great Barrier Reef is a significant habitat for six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles, including the green turtle, which has one of its largest breeding sites at Raine Island.​
• Statement 2 is correct: The reef system contains approximately 400 species of hard corals (some sources cite over 410 species) in about 60 genera.​
• Statement 3 is correct: The waters of the Great Barrier Reef provide major feeding grounds for one of the world’s largest populations of dugongs (threatened marine mammals).​

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, spanning approximately 2,300 km along Australia’s northeast coast and supporting remarkable biodiversity.​

Answer 10: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:
All three statements about the Central Asian Flyway are correct:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) is famous for crossing the Himalayas at extreme altitudes, with records of birds flying over Mount Makalu (8,481 m) and reportedly seen over Mount Everest. They have special physiological adaptations like hemoglobin with higher oxygen affinity.​
• Statement 2 is correct: India has a strategic role in the Central Asian Flyway and provides critical stopover and wintering sites for over 90% of bird species using this migratory route.​
• Statement 3 is correct: Species like the Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) and Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) are largely restricted to the Central Asian Flyway, although their non-breeding ranges may overlap with adjoining flyways.​

The Central Asian Flyway encompasses over 30 countries and more than 600 bird species.

Daily Static Quiz