1. (a) New research reveals Australia’s pink garnet sand originated from Antarctic mountains. Garnet, a deep red mineral formed in high-temperature conditions, is rare in beach sand due to wave erosion. Found in metamorphic and igneous rocks, garnets are often opaque to translucent. Australia produces nearly half of the world’s garnets, used in abrasives, grinding wheels, and decorative applications. Garnet-rich sand typically also contains epidote and magnetite.
2. (a) Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) is located in Karnataka, BBP is a zoological garden and part of Bannerghatta National Park, which is near Bangalore, Karnataka. BBP is known for its leopard safari, which is India’s largest. The park also has a zoo, butterfly park, and rescue center.
3. (b) A massive avalanche struck Gandhi Sarovar, also known as Chorabari Tal, near Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand. Gandhi Sarovar, originating from the Chorabari Bamak Glacier, is where Lord Shiva is believed to have taught yoga to the Saptrishis. Kedarnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva, is part of the Char Dham circuit, which includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath.
4. (a) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently approved Rs 56 crore for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican. The funds are for the next phase of the Bustard Recovery Program, which is being implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The next phase of the program is proposed to run from 2024 to 2033.
5. (c) The Saryu River, also known as Sarayu or Sarju, flows through Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. It is historically significant, mentioned in the Vedas and Ramayana, with Ayodhya, Lord Rama’s birthplace, on its banks.
6. (a) The coastal waters of Kerala are facing a significant ecological threat from the invasive Caribbean false mussel, as revealed by a report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This invasive species, originally from South and Central America, has rapidly spread throughout Kerala’s coastal waters, displacing native clams and oysters crucial for the state’s fisheries.
7. (b) A study warns that the invasive non-native ant species, the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), has become established in Italy and poses a threat to Europe and the UK due to global heating. These ants have a powerful sting, damage crops, and can infest electrical equipment. They are known to form “super colonies” rapidly, prey on invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants, and out-compete native ants, insects, and herbivores for food. The red fire ant is considered one of the most destructive invasive species globally, causing an estimated $6 billion in damage each year.
8. (b) The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a tool used to monitor drought. It measures how precipitation compares to the average precipitation over a given period of time. The SPI can be used to assess droughts over a range of time scales and to compare droughts across different regions.
9. (a) The Wildlife Trust of India has identified the dancing frogs found exclusively in the Western Ghats as the most endangered amphibian genus in India. It is also the fifth most threatened genus in the world with 92 percent of its species in the threatened category. The organisation made the analysis based on the second edition of the Global Amphibian Assessment, which was released recently.
10. (c) The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is a brown-colored, wild mountain goat with an arresting appearance accentuated by its swept-back horns and a bristly mane. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
11. (b) December 11th, 2023, the IUCN Red List status assessment of Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) has been changed from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened, thanks to effective national and international conservation efforts.
12. (b) It is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is named after the local hillock ” Kambalakonda ” acting as a green lung for citizens of Vizianagaram, is this large and sprawling sanctuary.
13. (a) They occupy less than 0.1% of the world’s ocean area, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species, including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. Coral reefs flourish in ocean waters that provide few nutrients.
14. (b) Mukhtar Babayev is the president-designate for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29). He was appointed in January 2024.
15. (b) The primary focus of the “Harit Nauka – Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels” initiative is to promote the adoption of eco-friendly practices for inland vessels:
16. (b) Lake Turkana is located in Kenya, with a small portion extending into Ethiopia,Lake Turkana is the world’s largest permanent desert lake and is one of the top 25 largest lakes in the world. It’s also Africa’s fourth-largest lake by surface area. The lake is known for its unique biodiversity and cultural significance, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
17. (b) Pacific Ocean. Great Barrier Reef, a complex of coral reefs, shoals, and islets in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Australia that is the longest and largest reef complex in the world.
18. (c) It is a new species of snake identified from Mizoram. It is named Smithophis mizoramensis after its place of discovery. The new species is also given a Mizo name “Tuithiangrul” or “Mizo Brook Snake.”
19. (b) The Miyawaki method, is a urban afforestation method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It involves planting 2-4 types of native trees per square meter. Dense planting leads to rapid growth as seedlings compete for sunlight.
20. (b) A new weather forecasting mission with a budget of at least Rs 10,000 crore is set to be launched soon. This mission will be much larger than the existing National Monsoon Mission (NMM). The NMM has developed advanced models for weather and climate prediction that are now fully operational. These models provide forecasts for short-range (1-10 days), medium-range (10-30 days), and seasonal (up to one season) periods. Over the past three years, these models have shown high accuracy in predicting weather events. The NMM aims to improve monsoon prediction across India for all time scales. It encourages international collaboration for better prediction systems.
21. (a) International Whale Shark Day is celebrated annually on August 30. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a filter-feeding shark species. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans globally, except the Mediterranean Sea. Whale sharks have a dark gray top with light spots and stripes, providing camouflage, and a mouth at the front of the head. They are filter feeders, processing over 6,000 liters of water per hour through their gills. Their diet includes plankton, small fish, and mollusks like sardines, anchovies, and squid. The IUCN classifies whale sharks as endangered.
22. (b) Typically found along shorelines, Gentoo penguins have distinct head markings with two white wedges around their eyes. Predominantly inhabiting the Falkland Islands, these penguins are classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
23. (b) Lampreys are part of the order Petromyzontiformes, which is a group of jawless fish. They are part of the Agnatha superclass, which is a group of jawless fish that includes two groups: Cyclostomata and Ostracoderm.
24. (c) Kanger Valley National Park (also known as Kanger Ghati National Park) is a national park in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh state in India.
25. (a) The Supreme Court has urged the Indian government to reveal its strategy for saving the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), one of the heaviest flying birds. With a mere 100-150 individuals remaining in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, this large bird faces extinction. Notable for its ostrich-like appearance, the Great Indian Bustard is distinguishable by a black crown, brownish body, and marked wings. Critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, it inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands, presenting a crucial conservation challenge in India.
26. (c) Futala Lake is a lake in Nagpur in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The lake covers 60 acres (24 ha). Built by the Bhosle kings of Nagpur, the lake is known for its coloured fountains.
27. (a) Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the state of Jharkhand, which is situated in eastern India. It is approximately 10 kilometers from the city of Jamshedpur, which is known for its industrial presence.
28. (b)The Pantanal region is one of the world’s largest wetlands. It is located in a large floodplain in the center of the upper Paraguay River basin in South America (Figure 1). It encompasses 179,300 km2 across Brazil (78%), Bolivia (18%), and Paraguay (4%).
29. (a) Groynes are low lying wood or concrete structures which are situated out to sea from the shore. They are designed to trap sediment, dissipate wave energy and restrict the transfer of sediment away from the beach through long shore drift.
30. (b) Mackenzie River, major river system in the drainage pattern of northwestern North America. Its basin is the largest in Canada, and it is exceeded on the continent only by the Mississippi-Missouri system.
31. (a) Bhoj Wetland is located in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is situated in the city of Bhopal and is made up of two human-made lakes, the Upper Lake (Bhojtal) and the Lower Lake (Chhota Talaab). The Upper Lake covers an area of 31 square kilometers and drains a catchment of 361 square kilometers.
32. (b) The Upper Karnali Hydro-Electric Power Project is located in Nepal. This run-of-the-river project is being developed on the Karnali River in Nepal. Once completed, it will be Nepal’s largest hydropower plant, with an installed capacity of 900 MW. The project will supply power to Nepal, India, and Bangladesh for a period of 25 years.
33. (c) Tamil Nadu leads India in environmental conservation with 16 Ramsar sites, the highest nationwide. The recent additions, Longwood Shola Reserve Forest and Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, underscore the state’s commitment to ecological preservation.
34. (a) A record number of manatees recently gathered at a Florida state park. Manatees, often called “sea cows,” are large aquatic mammals belonging to the Sirenia group, which also includes dugongs. While they share similarities in appearance and behavior, the key difference lies in their tails – manatees have paddle-shaped tails, while dugongs have fluked tails, resembling whales. Manatees inhabit shallow coastal areas and rivers, with three species identified: Amazonian, African, and Caribbean manatees. They are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species
35. (c) At least 112 people have died in the Valparaíso region of Chile due to fast-moving wildfires. The fires are thought to be the deadliest ever recorded in Chile. The government is investigating whether some of the fires were deliberately started. The fires have also destroyed an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 homes. The fires are thought to be the result of a week of record-setting temperatures caused by El Niño. High heat has also caused droughts and generally increased wildfire risk.
36. (c) The Kalingarayan Anicut, a 13th-century barrage on the Bhavani River in Erode, Tamil Nadu, is among the world’s oldest water diversion projects. Acknowledged as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2021 by ICID, it was commissioned by Kalingarayan, the ruler of Poondurai Nadu, a Kongu Nadu subdivision. In 1240, he joined Madurai Pandyas as a soldier, and in 1265, earned the title ‘Kalingarayan’ from Sadayavarman Sundara Pandyan, subsequently ruling Poondurai Nadu.
37. (c) It is located in the north-eastern part of Telangana (Old Adilabad district), with the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other.
38. (b) The Goa-based CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) launched C-bot, an autonomous underwater vehicle for monitoring coral reefs. The vehicle is also known as the Coral Reef Monitoring and Surveillance Robot. C-bot is a robot with advanced features for increased surveillance over the coral reefs. It can travel to a depth of 200 meters underwater.
39. (a) It is an invasive pest species. It is a polyphagous pest, which can also grow and multiply on alternate hosts like drumstick, pigeon pea, chickpea, papaya, mango and weed species like Parthenium, Cleome viscosa, Prosopis sp., Lantana camera, Calotropis sp., Tecoma sp.
40. (c) Cameroon, located in central Africa and boasting a rich biodiversity with around 11,000 species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, has recently adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, an agreement under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).
41. (c) It is located in the north-eastern part of Telangana (Old Adilabad district), with the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other.
42. (a) Birders recently observed the fire-capped tit, a small bird species. It is a part of the Paridae family, in Aravalli hills, signaling reverse migration from winter to summer. Native to the Himalayas, it migrates south to Western Ghats and Kerala in September, returning in February/March. Inhabiting montane broadleaf forests, it feeds on invertebrates, nectar, and pollen. Despite early migration due to mild winters, the fire-capped tit holds a “Least Concern” conservation status.
43. (a) Cuscuta dodder, an invasive weed native to North America, is threatening Chengalpet forests and Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, endangering local ecology and migratory bird habitats. This parasitic vine lacks roots, infesting acres of trees in reserve forests and penetrating India’s oldest bird sanctuary. Found on Barringtonia trees crucial for bird nesting, it forms dense canopies before strangling and killing hosts. In India, it poses a significant problem in oilseeds, pulses, and fodder crops. Globally, it’s listed as a ‘declared noxious weed’ in 25 countries. Cuscuta seeds, with a hard coat, can survive up to 50 years in dry storage and 10 years in the field.
44. (a) The Tamil Nadu Government has launched the “TN Endangered Species Conservation Fund” to protect lesser-known species like the Nilgiri Marten. This rare carnivore, scientifically named Martes gwatkinsii, is exclusive to the Western Ghats in India, spanning Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Found in Shola ecosystems, it boasts chocolate-colored fur and a canary yellow throat, resembling a civet or mongoose. The conservation effort focuses on its habitat in high altitudes (300 to 1200 m) across specific Western Ghats clusters.
45. (d) Tamil Nadu has established a special fund to conserve the Purple Frog, considered a ‘living fossil’ coexisting with dinosaurs. Acknowledged globally as one of the rarest frogs, it belongs to the Sooglossidae family and spends most of its life underground, emerging only during the monsoon for mating. With a distinct appearance, short hind legs, and preference for specific Western Ghats habitats, the Purple Frog is listed as Near Threatened by IUCN and under Schedule I of WPA, highlighting its conservation significance.
46. (a) The Vantara initiative is associated with animal welfare. Vantara is a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation center in Gujarat, India that focuses on rescuing, treating, and caring for injured, abused, and threatened animals.
47. (a) Odisha has appealed to the NTCA to introduce tigers into Similipal Tiger Reserve to address the emergence of pseudo-melanistic tigers. Out of 30 tigers in the reserve, 13 adults exhibited pseudo-melanistic traits, a phenomenon unique to Similipal. This indicates potential inbreeding and strong stochastic effects. No other wild habitat globally has pseudo-melanistic tigers. The move seeks to enhance genetic diversity and preserve the unique characteristics of Similipal’s tiger population.
48. (a) The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States recently announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year.
49. (a) The caracal, a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, Middle East, and parts of Asia, including India, faces extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, and illegal trade.
50. (a) The Uttarakhand government forms expert teams to assess five potentially hazardous glacial lakes at risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The National Disaster Management Authority identifies 188 such lakes in Himalayan states, including 13 in Uttarakhand. GLOFs result from sudden water discharge from glacial lakes, posing threats of floods, sediment, and debris downstream, endangering lives and infrastructure. Uttarakhand’s vulnerable lakes include Vasudhara Tal in Chamoli and four in Pithoragarh district- Maban Lake in Lassar Yangti Valley, Pyungru Lake in the Darma basin.
51. (a) Close to 100 hectares of forest were recently destroyed by fire in the Sulthan Bathery forest range within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS), located in Wayanad, Kerala. Established in 1973, the sanctuary spans approximately 344.44 sq. km and is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It shares borders with protected areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary is home to various tribes and boasts diverse flora, including teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak.
52. (b) The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) will invest ₹290 crore in the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydro-Electric Power Project on Nepal’s Karnali River. This run-of-the-river project will supply power to Nepal, India, and Bangladesh for 25 years. Awarded to GMR Upper Karnali Hydro Power Limited in 2008, it will generate 3,466 million units of electricity annually, offsetting two million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
53. (a) Recently, an unexpected hydrothermal eruption disrupted the stunning natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park. Established on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone is the world’s first national park, located mainly in Wyoming, with portions in Montana and Idaho. It is famous for its geothermal features, including the Old Faithful geyser, and its diverse wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, and bison. Yellowstone’s creation marked the inception of the national park system and the global conservation movement, emphasizing the importance of preserving natural landscapes and biodiversity.
54. (b) The typhoon that recently wreaked havoc across Taiwan, the Philippines, and parts of southeastern China was Typhoon Gaem,Typhoon Gaemi brought destructive winds and rainfall to the region from July 22–25, 2024. It caused widespread flooding, damage to agriculture, and killed at least 90 people. The tail end of the typhoon also hit China and North Korea, causing more than 20 deaths.
55. (c) The Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, which was recently in the news due to issues related to encroachment, is located in the state of Chhattisgarh. The tiger reserve, situated in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, has faced challenges due to illegal encroachment in its buffer area. The Chhattisgarh high court ordered the removal of encroachers from the reserve, following a legal battle where the court rejected the petition filed by the encroachers. This action was based on evidence, including ISRO satellite imagery, which showed that the encroached region was once dense forest until 2012. The issue has highlighted the challenges faced by wildlife reserves in India in terms of illegal encroachment and the need for vigilant conservation efforts.
56. (c) This frog species is endemic to the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the family Dicroglossidae, a large group of Asian frogs with over 220 species.
57. (a) The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, separated from the coast by a channel 160 kilometres (100 mi) wide in places and over 61 metres (200 ft) deep. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms.
58. (a) Lake Kariba, lake in central Africa, between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was formed by damming the Zambezi River in the Kariba Gorge, where the river narrows between hills of hard rock 250 miles (400 km) below Victoria Falls.
59. (d) Tiranga Barfi of Varanasi linked with India’s independence, attained Geographical Indication (GI) status. Dhalua Murti Metal Casting Craft from Varanasi also received GI recognition.
60. (d) The Forest Department in Karnataka is launching an operation to capture troublesome wild elephants and equip them with radio collars. Asian elephants, weighing around 5,500 kg and standing up to 3.5 meters tall, are subdivided into three subspecies: Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.
61. (a) Geographic Distribution: It is found in the cloud forests of the southern Central American and Andean Mountain chains, which stretch from Costa Rica through Panama, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
62. (d) The golden trevally is a high-value marine fish that lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It’s known for its distinctive coloration, fleshy lips, and rubbery texture. Juveniles are bright yellow with black bars, while adults are golden-silvery
63. (a) A study mapped Afghanistan’s five river basins, each crucial for irrigation and regional dynamics. Notably, the Harirod-Murghab, originating in central mountains, sustains fertile lands in the northwest. The Helmand Basin, covering 51%, hosts Afghanistan’s longest river, vital in the southwest. The Kabul Basin, formed by the Kabul River, dominates the southeast’s drainage, while the Northern Basin differs in its internal flow. Understanding these basins aids water management and regional stability.
64. (c) Taam Ja’ blue hole is an underwater sinkhole located in Chetumal Bay at the southeast corner of the Yucatan Peninsula. Its name means deep water in the Mayan language and, at over 420 metres (1,380 ft) deep, it is the deepest known blue hole.
65. (a) Recent lava from La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina Island, Galápagos, devastates the habitat of rare land iguanas. Positioned atop the mantle plume generating Galápagos, it erupted for the first time since 2020. The island, 1,125 km off Ecuador’s mainland, boasts a large caldera hosting a permanent lake, attracting diverse wildlife, including tens of thousands of Galápagos land iguanas nesting within it.
66. (a) Lake Maracaibo (Spanish: Lago de Maracaibo) is a brackish lake located in northwestern Venezuela, between the states of Zulia, Trujillo, and Mérida.
67. (a) Scientists discovered a new loach species, Schistura sonarengaensis, in Meghalaya’s Saouth Garo Hills near the Bangladesh border. This freshwater, bottom-dwelling fish was found in three cave-dwelling populations. It has prominent eyes and 13-26 black blotches on a greyish-black stripe over a pale body. Unlike typical cave species, it retains eyes and has reduced pigmentation. It differs from other Schistura species in the region, except for Schistura syngkai.
68. (a) Scientists have discovered six new lineages of bent-toed geckos in Northeast India. These geckos, found in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, are nocturnal and live near forest streams, rocks, and vegetation.
69. (c) The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is a protected wildlife reserve that includes the Bandhavgarh National Park and the Panpatha wildlife sanctuary. It’s located in the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh, between the Vindhyan Hills and the Satpura hill ranges. The reserve is spread across the Umaria, Katni, and Shahdol districts of Madhya Pradesh.
70. (a) The Chaliyar River originates from the Ilambaleri hills in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats. The hills are located in the Wayanad district of Kerala, near the border of Wayanad and Malappuram.
71. (b) A pall of gloom fell over Kumaradevam gram panchayat in East Godavari district after the death of a century-old Indian siris tree. The Indian Siris, or Albizia lebbeck, is a tropical deciduous tree native to India and Southeast Asia, growing up to 20 meters with an umbrella-shaped canopy. It fixes nitrogen, enriches soil, and helps with soil conservation and erosion control, producing fragrant white flowers.
72. (c) Red squirrels are territorial tree squirrels that spend most of their lives in trees. They feed on the fruit of trees and plants, such as hazelnuts, bird eggs, berries, and fruit. They often store food supplies that can last for years.
73. (b) Researchers at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here have scientifically described two new species of needlefish from Indian waters.
74. (b) Ritacuba Blanco is the highest peak of Cordillera Oriental, in the Andes Mountains of Colombia. It’s also named Ritak’uwa, an ancient name from the U’wa indigenous people that live in the lowlands of the National Park Sierra Nevada del Cocuy y Güicán, where the Ritacuba Blanco is located.
75. (a)The world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) plant, Mammoth, began operations in Iceland on May 8, 2024. The plant is located in Hellisheiði, Iceland, on a dormant volcano.
76. (b) ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) found severe coral bleaching in Lakshadweep Sea due to prolonged maritime heatwaves
77. (d) Bairdiella chrysoura, the American silver perch, silver croaker or goldtail croaker, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers.
78. (c) Indonesia’s Ibu volcano, located on Halmahera island in the Maluku Islands, erupted, sending ash 5 km high. The country’s volcanology agency issued a warning. Ibu is a stratovolcano known for its steep slopes and explosive eruptions. It stands approximately 1,325 meters tall with a base diameter of 10 kilometers. Situated in Indonesia’s eastern region, Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku archipelago.
79. (a) A new plant species, Emblica Chakrabarti, was found in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, specifically in Adichilthotti within the Edamalayar forest range. Belonging to the Phyllanthaceae family, Emblica plants typically thrive as shrubs in tropical rainforests, reaching up to 2 meters in height. They flower and bear fruit from December to June. This discovery adds to the biodiversity of the region, highlighting its ecological significance.
80. (a) Thiruvananthapuram international airport has made history by becoming the first airport in India to achieve the zero waste to landfill (ZWL) accolade. This recognition, awarded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII-ITC) Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, highlights the air.
81. (a) Telangana Forest Department informed NGT that the area of MNP in Chilkur was reduced by 80 hectares on paper. NGT was hearing a case concerning extra high-tension electrical lines through the eco-sensitive zone. MNP, located in Hyderabad, Telangana, boasts tropical waterless deciduous forest, including Teak, Bamboo, and Sandal. Its fauna includes Spotted deer, Indian hare, forest cat, civet, Indian rat snake, Russell’s viper, cheetal, and the flowerpecker bird.
82. (a) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated a three-day elephant census at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, located at the junction of Eastern and Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It spans 1,411.6 sq km, declared a tiger reserve in 2013, fostering a continuous habitat for tigers and other wildlife. The reserve boasts the world’s largest tiger population, over 280 tigers, and is home to indigenous tribes like the Irula and Kurumba.
83. (a) Male proboscis monkeys evolved their enhanced noses to attract mates, found only in Borneo’s rainforests. They’re among Asia’s largest monkeys with distinctive long noses and large stomachs. Habitats include coastal mangroves and riverine forests, with a diet mainly of leaves. They swim well with webbed fingers and toes, living in harem groups. Threatened by habitat loss from deforestation, they’re classified as Endangered by the IUCN and listed in CITES Appendix.
84. (b) The Tizu River forms an important drainage system in the eastern part of Nagaland. It originates from the central part of Nagaland state and runs through a northeast direction, flows through Kiphire and Phek districts and confluences in the Chindwin River of Myanmar.
85. (c) Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in Morigaon district in Assam, India.
86. (d) The PARIVESH portal was developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) designed, developed, and hosts the portal.
87. (d) The Adichunchanagiri Peacock Sanctuary is located in the state of Karnataka. It is situated in the Mandya district, near the Chunchanagiri Temple and Pilgrimage center,The sanctuary was established in 1981 to protect the growing population of peafowl. It is a safe space for peacocks to live and thrive without human disturbance. The sanctuary is home to many species, including:
88. (a) A tigress translocated from Corbett Tiger Reserve to Rajaji Tiger Reserve has given birth to four cubs, according to the Chief Wildlife Warden. Rajaji National Park, established in 1983 and located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, is a vital link to other tiger habitats in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The reserve, named after freedom fighter C. Rajgopalachari, became India’s 48th tiger reserve in 2015.
89. (c) The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcano is located in the western South,The volcano is situated in the Kingdom of Tonga, about 65 kilometers northwest of Tongatapu, the country’s main island. It’s also 2,000 kilometers north of New Zealand and over 3,000 kilometers northeast of Australia.
90. (a) New research reveals Tmesipteris oblanceolata, a fork fern species, boasts the largest genome known. A genome encompasses an organism’s complete genetic information. This fern contains 160 billion base pairs, surpassing the human genome by over 50 times. Belonging to an ancient plant group predating dinosaurs, it’s exclusive to New Caledonia and nearby Pacific islands, thriving in rainforest canopies.
91. (a) An international study announced the discovery of living shallow-marine stromatolites on Sheybarah Island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Stromatolites, sedimentary formations, are primarily created by photosynthetic microorganisms like cyanobacteria. Their surface layer hosts active microbes, while the underlying build-up resembles lithified remnants of past microbial communities. Stromatolites played a vital role in the Great Oxygenation Event, altering Earth’s atmosphere. The world’s largest living stromatolite system is found in Hamelin Pool.
92. (c) During the SPAI exercise, total efforts included: 13,450 km of trails surveyed for recording Snow leopard signs, while camera traps were deployed at 1,971 locations for 180,000 trap nights. The Snow leopard occupancy was recorded in 93,392 km2, with an estimated presence in 100,841 km2. A total of 241 unique Snow leopards were photographed. Based on data analysis, the estimated population in different states are as follows: Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and Jammu and Kashmir (9).
93. (b) Dominica is planning to establish the world’s first sperm whale reserve, which will entail setting aside approximately 800-square-kilometer area off its western coast. In this designated zone, large ships and commercial fishing activities will be restricted, allowing visitors to swim alongside these gentle marine giants. This initiative aims not only to enhance tourism revenue but also to contribute to carbon sequestration in the deep sea, an often overlooked advantage of whale conservation.
94. (c) Researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have identified two additional high-value species of seer fish in Indian waters.
95. (a) Mythimna separata has caused prolonged pest infestation in Assam, damaging 28,000 hectares of paddy crop in at least 15 districts. It is known as ear head cutting caterpillar, rice ear-cutting caterpillar, or armyworm.
96. (a)The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) developed three Action Plans for threatened pollinator groups in Europe. The plans were developed in collaboration with experts, environmental NGOs, academics, protected areas bodies, and governmental authorities across the EU.
97. (b) Two rhinos have recently returned to the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam after nearly four decades, following a successful anti-encroachment operation. Located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, these two wildlife sanctuaries, despite having distinct names, form a unified entity both ecologically and geographically. Positioned as centrally located Protected Areas (PAs) in Assam, they serve as vital connecting corridors for animal migration between Kaziranga and Orang National Parks. Surrounded by key PAs like Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuaries, Pakke-Nameri National Parks, and the rich reserve forests of Karbi Anglong, Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries play a crucial role in the buffer zones of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
98. (b) At the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024, Denmark announced a Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) initiative to boost collaboration between the two countries in the sustainable energy solutions sector and advance its joint global goal towards carbon neutrality.
99. (c) Siamang gibbons (Symphalangus syndactylus), native to the rainforests of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, are primarily known for their unique and powerful singing voices. These vocalizations, a distinctive feature of the species, serve essential purposes such as communication and territory marking.100.(d)he Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) is located in Tamil Nadu,The reserve is situated in the Western Ghats mountain range of South West India, in the Anaimalai Hills of Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts. It’s also known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, The ATR is a protected area that’s home to a variety of flora and fauna, including tigers, leopards, gaurs, sambar deer, and many types of birds and reptiles. It’s considered one of the biodiversity hotspots in the Western Ghats.
100. (d) The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) is located in the state of Tamil Nadu, The ATR is a protected area in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats, which is located in the southern part of India. It is spread across the Pollachi and Valparai taluks of Coimbatore District and Udumalaipettai taluk of Tiruppur District.
101. (c) In Amensalism, one species is positively benefited and the other remains neutral. 3. In Predation and Parasitism one species is positively benefited and the other is harmed.
102. (c) The largest cause of air pollution is fossil fuel combustion – mostly the production and use of cars, electricity production, and heating. There are estimated 4.5 million annual premature deaths worldwide due to pollutants released by high-emission power stations and vehicle exhausts.
103. (b) Biomagnification is the process by which toxic substances increase in concentration as they move up the food chain. This happens when organisms can’t metabolize or excrete the toxic substances, so they pass them on to the next level up. Mercury is a well-known example of a pollutant that causes biomagnification. For example, predatory fish can contain such high levels of mercury that eating them can cause cancer.
104. (b) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are organic compounds that contain only carbon, chlorine and fluorine. It is a greenhouse gas and is primarily responsible for the depletion of ozone layer.
105. (c) An aquarium is not a natural ecosystem, but a forest, coral reef, and grassland are,An ecosystem is a community of living organisms that interact with each other and their physical surroundings in a specific environment. Ecosystems are made up of biotic components, which are living organisms, and abiotic components, which are physical factors like temperature, rainfall, wind, soil, and minerals.
106. (b)The term for the measure of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic organisms to break down organic material in water is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). BOD is a measure of how much oxygen is needed to remove waste organic matter from water through the process of decomposition by aerobic bacteria.
107. (a) The producers form the first trophic level. The herbivores or the primary consumers form the second trophic level. The carnivores form the third trophic level.
108. (c) We know that a sound is a form of energy. Sometimes the sound can be soothing to listen to and, at times, loud to hear. Sound can travel in the air and is produced by the vibration of objects. Regular exposure to a higher sound level that impacts humans and other living organisms is known as sound pollution. This article will help us understand what noise pollution is, the types of noise and pollution, and its causes and examples.
109. (a) The grass is the producer which is consumed by the primary consumer goat which in turn is consumed by the secondary consumer human.
110. (b) A “beet” is not considered a social insect, while ants, termites, and most wasp species are considered social insects as they live in colonies with a division of labor and cooperate with each other.
111. (a) Bleaching powder is manufactured through a reaction between flaked lime (which is also called slaked lime) and chlorine.
112. (d) When vegetation is affected by high levels of ozone, the color of the affected part of the leaf becomes brown, reddish, yellowish-brown, or nearly black.
113. (c) Swimming Pool cannot be called as an ecosystem. A swimming pool contains only water and no other biotic or abiotic components hence it is not an ecosystem. An Ecosystem is comprised of living as well as non-living components which are biotic and abiotic respectively. A pond is a natural ecosystem.
114. (d) In a food chain, consumers are categorized into three groups: primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers. Primary consumers are herbivores, feeding on plants and fungus. Secondary consumers are carnivores, who feed on other animals. Tertiary consumers are usually at the top of food chains, capable of feeding on secondary consumers and primary consumers. According to the ten per cent law, exactly 90% of the energy is lost in the transfer at each trophic level, and only 10% is passed on as usable biological energy. Here, the eagle is at the top of the food chain and the snake is the tertiary consumer.
115. (b) Deforestation increases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by releasing carbon dioxide that was stored in trees,When forests are cleared or burned, the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere, primarily as carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
116. (b) The thickness of the ozone layer varies worldwide and is generally thinner near the equator and thicker near the poles. The greatest amounts of ozone occur in the stratosphere. The reasons for these variations are due to atmospheric circulation patterns and solar intensity.
117. (b) This diagram typically represents the greenhouse effect, where carbon dioxide is the primary gas trapping heat in the atmosphere.
118. (a) The leakage of oil from a ship into the sea badly affects the aquatic organisms living in the sea as in case of marine birds the oil gets stuck to their feathers and they are not able to fly ultimately leading to their death.
119. (a) For metropolitan and mega cities with both piped water supply and an existing/contemplated sewerage system, supply of 150 lpcd is recommended. For smaller cities with both these facilities, 135 lpcd is the norm. For towns having water supply but no sewerage system, only 70 lpcd is recommended.
120. (d) Deforestation: Large-scale clearing of forests for timber, agriculture, and other purposes is a major contributor to habitat destruction. Forests are incredibly biodiverse ecosystems, and their destruction leads to the loss of numerous plant and animal species.
121. (b) Biodiversity is the term for the variety of life on Earth, including all living things and their interactions. It includes the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems. Biodiversity is not evenly distributed on Earth, with the tropics having greater diversity due to the warm climate.
122. (b) The position of an organism in a food chain is called its trophic level. Producers always occupy the first trophic level of a food chain. The primary consumers or the herbivores occupy the second trophic level. Carnivores or the secondary consumers occupy the third trophic level and the predators that consume the carnivores occupy the fourth trophic level. In the given food chain, Grass occupies the first trophic level and grasshoppers occupy the second trophic level.
123. (b) Natural selection is a process that results in organisms adapting to their environment by selectively reproducing changes in their genetic constitution. In the case of mosquitoes, the resistant gene version became more common in the population over time because mosquitoes with the resistant gene version had a better chance of surviving and reproducing.
124. (c) Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat, Sonitpur, Biswanath andNagaon districts of the state of Assam, India.
125. (d) The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), unofficially known as Mangalyaan (Sanskrit: Maṅgala ‘Mars’, Yāna ‘Craft, Vehicle’), was a space probe orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
126. (d) Pluto is a dwarf planet because it orbits the sun, is nearly round, but has not been able to clear its orbit of debris. Pluto was previously considered the ninth planet, but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Pluto is the largest dwarf planet in our solar system, with an equatorial diameter of about 1,477 miles (2,377 kilometers).
127. (b) This scanning technique is not painful. It generates a 3-D image of the inside of an object. A series of 2-D X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation. The technique is used in identifying normal and abnormal structures
128. (a) Annealing is a heat treatment process that involves slowly cooling glass after it has been formed. The process is done in a temperature-controlled kiln at a temperature called the annealing temperature.
129. (c) Calcium carbonate is a white, soft, and porous sedimentary rock that’s made up of calcite, an ionic salt. It’s the main component of limestone, marble, eggshells, corals, and bivalve shells. Chalk is formed when tiny calcite shells, called coccoliths, gradually accumulate in deep marine conditions.
130. (d) Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere, which raises the average temperature of the Earth. This process is known as global warming.
131. (c) Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. This means the brain and the rest of the body may not get enough oxygen.
132. (c) The orbital period of Halley’s Comet is 75–76 years. This means that it returns to Earth’s vicinity every 75–76 years. Halley’s Comet is a “periodic” comet, and is considered one of the most famous comets in history.
133. (b) The distance between the Sun and Earth is estimated to be 14.96 × 107 km. This distance is also known as an astronomical unit (AU) and is used to measure distances in the solar system. The exact distance between the Sun and Earth is 149,597,870,700 meters (92,955,807 miles).
134. (b) Lactic acid. Lactic Acid: Lactic acid is found in sour milk products like laban, yoghurt, kefir, curd, cottage cheeses, etc. Lactic acid is also in our blood, where it’s deposited by muscle and red blood cells.
135. (a) Milk of Magnesia is used as a laxative and an antacid.
136. (d) The term “squirrel cage” is associated with induction motors. A squirrel cage is the rotating part of an induction motor, also known as a squirrel-cage rotor. It’s named after its appearance, which resembles a squirrel cage.
137. (b) So, if radius of the tube is doubled, rise of level of water will becomes half of the previous rise in capillary tube.
138. (b) A hygrometer measures the amount of water vapor in the air, or humidity. Relative humidity indicates how much water vapor the air contains in relation to the maximum amount it can hold at a given temperature.
139. (b) When a barometer reading suddenly decreases, it indicates that the climate will be extremely stormy,A barometer is a scientific instrument that measures air pressure. A sudden drop in air pressure indicates the arrival of a low-pressure system and a storm. Storms are created when a low-pressure center forms with a high-pressure system around it. This can cause strong winds, tornadoes, hail, thunder, and lightning.
140. (a) An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is defined as a filtration device that is used to remove fine particles like smoke and fine dust from the flowing gas. It is the most commonly used device for air pollution control.
141. (d)The instrument used to measure the intensity of an earthquake is called a seismograph. A seismograph records the ground’s motion during an earthquake. The internal part of a seismograph is called a seismometer, which is usually a pendulum or a mass on a spring. A seismograph also includes a timing device and a recording device. The output of a seismograph is called a seismogram.
142. (c) The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the Earth’s surface. This protects life on Earth from the harmful effects of UV rays, such as skin diseases, cancer, and death of aquatic organisms.
143. (b) CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere. It’s the main contributor to climate change because of its abundance
144. (a) Biodegradation of seaweeds results in release of a large amount of Methane which is an important economic source as well.
145. (a) Archaebacteria are ancient bacteria that can survive in extreme conditions because of their unique cell wall structure. Their cell walls are made of protein and non-cellulosic polysaccharide, and they lack peptidoglycan.
146. (a) Yes, endemic species are plants and animals that are found exclusively in a specific area and are not found naturally anywhere else. They can be endemic to a zone, state, country, island, or continent.
147. (c) Reforestation is the process of restoring a forest that had once existed but was removed at some point of time in the past. Though , it can occur naturally is a deforested area but we can expedite it by planting trees with due consideration to biodiversity that earlier existed in that area.
148. (c) Mimosa pudica is a flowering plant that is native to the Caribbean, Central and South America, but is now found in many other places. It is a member of the pea/legume family Fabaceae. The plant is known for its sensitive leaves that fold inward and droop when touched or shaken, and then reopen a few minutes later. This rapid movement is an example of a plant’s “sleep” or nyctinastic movement.
149. (d) Viticulture or grape cultivation is a speciality of the Mediterranean region.
150. (a) Yes, the botanical name for common wheat is Triticum aestivum. Common wheat is also known as bread wheat. It is a hexaploid species (6n=42) that is widely used and cultivated around the world. In fact, it is the most widely grown crop and the cereal with the highest monetary yield, accounting for about 95% of the wheat produced.
