Set 8 | Important Environment and Sustainable Development MCQs

Correct Answer is B.

• In 2012, the Rio+20 conference (the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) took place in Brazil. The conference produced a key document called “The Future We Want,” which urged governments, businesses, and the UN to support nations in transitioning to a green economy.
• In response to this call, the UN created PAGE (Partnership for Action on Green Economy) to assist countries in making this transition by offering integrated support and fostering collaborative partnerships.

Correct Answer is A.

• Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan from the United Nations on Sustainable Development, developed at the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
• Therefore, only the statement about Agenda 21 being a product of the Earth Summit is correct.

Correct Answer is C.

• Many transplanted seedlings struggle to grow because they often lose most of their root hairs during transplantation. Root hairs are crucial for collecting water and mineral nutrients from the soil and transporting them through the roots to the rest of the plant.
• Composed of cellulose and a small amount of pectin, root hairs act as a gelling agent with the soil. Additionally, the use of fertilizers can increase soil concentrations, making it harder for plants to absorb water.
• This situation can lead to plant cells becoming stressed, causing the leaves to turn brown.

Correct Answer is D.

• Environmental degradation refers to the deterioration of the environment through the depletion of resources like air, water, and soil. This degradation can occur due to natural processes or as a result of human activities.
• Therefore, the correct answer is (d), as it acknowledges that environmental degradation can be caused by both natural factors and human actions.

Correct Answer is D.

• The protection of ecological balance is closely related to the Forest Policy and the Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986. Additionally, the Industrial Policy and the Education Policy also incorporate environmental considerations.
• Therefore, all four policies mentioned—Forest Policy, Environmental (Protection) Act, Industrial Policy, and Education Policy—can be considered relevant to the protection of ecological balance.

Correct Answer is A.

• The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1992, just before the Rio Earth Summit, to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
• It is an international partnership involving 184 countries and 18 implementing agencies that focuses on global environmental issues. GEF serves as a financial mechanism for five major international conventions: the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• GEF supports multi-stakeholder alliances to protect threatened ecosystems on land and in the oceans, build green cities, and enhance food security for a more prosperous and climate-resilient world.
• Carlos Manuel Rodríguez currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility.

Correct Answer is C.

• Plachimada is a small village in the Palakkad district of Kerala, located within the Chittur block’s Perumatty Panchayat. In 2000, this Panchayat granted a license to Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL) to manufacture Coca-Cola and other products such as Fanta, Limca, Thums Up, Sprite, and Kinley. However, contamination of groundwater in the area due to chemical waste discharged by the company led local residents to initiate a protest.
• This protest gained momentum with support from the Panchayat authorities and eventually attracted national and international backing. The movement against the multinational company (MNC) became a notable example of grassroots activism and inspired similar movements worldwide.

Correct Answer is A.

• The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, also known as Umbrella Legislation, was enacted by the Government of India in response to the Bhopal Tragedy.
• This legislation, established under Article 253 of the Constitution, serves as a comprehensive framework for the Central Government to coordinate the activities of various Central and State authorities previously established under laws such as the Water Act and the Air Act. The Act provides a broad legal framework for environmental protection and regulation.

Correct Answer is C.

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. On July 22, 2010, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee was renamed the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee.
• It is the apex body within the Ministry of Environment and Forests, established under the ‘Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989,’ which operates under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Correct Answer is C.

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is defined by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations as “a concept for resource-saving agricultural crop production that strives to achieve acceptable profits alongside high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving the environment.” The principles of Conservation Agriculture include:

1. Minimum tillage and soil disturbance: Reducing soil disturbance to maintain soil structure and health.
2. Permanent soil cover with crop residues and live mulches: Protecting the soil surface with residues or living plants to prevent erosion and improve moisture retention.
3. Crop rotation and intercropping: Alternating crops and growing different crops together to enhance soil fertility and reduce pest and disease risks.