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Environment & EcologyMediumAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2018, Paper I

In India, Indus Dolphin, one of the world's rarest mammals, is mainly found in which one of the following rivers?

  1. A.Ganga
  2. B.Cauvery
  3. C.Brahmaputra
  4. D.Beas

Correct answer

D. Beas

Explanation

The correct answer is D, Beas. In India the Indus river dolphin survives only in a short stretch of the Beas in Punjab, around the Harike wetland.

The Indus river dolphin is a freshwater dolphin that is almost blind and finds its way and food by echolocation. Most of its population lives in the Indus river system of Pakistan. A small, isolated group lives in India in the Beas, mainly between Talwara and the Harike barrage, and it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Punjab declared it the state aquatic animal in 2019, and the Beas Conservation Reserve protects its habitat. Dams, barrages and pollution, which break rivers into short pieces, are its main threats.

A is wrong because the Ganga holds the Ganges river dolphin, India's National Aquatic Animal, a different species. B is wrong because the Cauvery has no river dolphins. C is wrong because the Brahmaputra also holds the Ganges river dolphin, not the Indus dolphin.

Exam tip: Ganges dolphin = National Aquatic Animal (Ganga, Brahmaputra); Indus dolphin = Punjab's state aquatic animal, in the Beas.

Practice Questions

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Q1.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

What is 'Greenhouse Gas Protocol'?

  1. A.It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions
  2. B.It is an initiative of the United Nations to offer financial incentives to developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt eco-friendly technologies
  3. C.It is an inter-governmental agreement ratified by all the member countries of the United Nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to specified levels by the year 2022
  4. D.It is one of the multilateral REDD+ initiatives hosted by the World Bank
Show answer
Correct answer: A. It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the most widely used international standard for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. It was launched in 1998 by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Q2.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2020, GS Paper IHard

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.

2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.

3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.

4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.2 and 4 only
  3. C.3 only
  4. D.1, 3 and 4 only
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 and 2 only

Elephant herds are led by an old female, and pregnancy can last up to about 22 months; statements 3 and 4 are wrong.

Q3.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IEasy

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to

1. protection of biodiversity

2. resilience of forest ecosystems

3. poverty reduction

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

A well-run REDD+ programme protects biodiversity, makes forests more resilient and can reduce poverty among forest communities. REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Q4.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2017, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is an initiative of the European Union.

2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.

3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 and 2 only

The Global Climate Change Alliance is a European Union programme; WRI and WBCSD run a different initiative, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Q5.Environment & EcologyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:

1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India.

2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 only

Red Sanders grows naturally in a small part of South India, but in dry deciduous forests, not in tropical rain forests.