The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India?
Right to a healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to Life under Article 21.
Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1).
Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A).
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Correct Answer:
(A)
Only 1
The National Green Tribunal was established on 18 October, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forest to provide the right to a healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to Life under Article 21. It draws inspiration from the constitution of India (Article 21) which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment. Notably on 18th October 2010, Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta became its first chairman. Present chairman of NGT is Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel.
Ques:
2
Which of the following is related to Protection of Ecological Balance?
Forest Policy
Environment (Protection) Act
Industrial Policy
Educational Policy
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Correct Answer:
(D)
All the above
Protection of the ecological balance is directly related to the Forest Policy and the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. While Industrial Policy and Education Policy also include the environmental approach. Thus, the four policies mentioned in question could be considered as being related to the protection of ecological balance.
Ques:
3
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the:
Correct Answer:
(C)
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. On 22 July, 2010 Genetic Engineering Approval Committee was renamed as Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee. It is the apex body constituted in the Ministry of Environment and Forest under 'Rule for manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganism/genetically engineered organism or cells 1989' under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
Note: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is also known as Umbrella Legislation. In the wake of the Bhopal Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution. The Act is an “umbrella” legislation designed to provide a framework for Central Government coordination of the activities of various Central and State authorities established under previous laws, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
Ques:
4
Consider the following statements regarding the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
It has five schedules that give varying degrees of protection.
National Board for Wildlife, state wildlife advisory boards and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau are advisory boards.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Neither 1 nor 2
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 protection of wild animals, birds, and plants; and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole of India. It has six schedules that give varying degrees of protection.
Statutory bodies under WPA:
National Board for Wildlife and state wildlife advisory boards
Central Zoo Authority
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
National Tiger Conservation Authority
Ques:
5
Consider the following statements regarding the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:
It vests regulatory authority in Centre Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
The act also aims to control and prevent air pollution in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(A)
1 only
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
Objective: To provide prevention and control of water pollution. Maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness and purity of water in the various sources of water.
It vests regulatory authority in Centre Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 aims to control and prevent air pollution in India.
Ques:
6
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has signed MoU with TIFAC for supporting forest-based communities. Where is the headquarters of ICFRE located?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Dehradun
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an apex body in the National forestry research system that promotes and undertakes need based forestry research extension. Its headquarters is located at Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Ques:
7
Consider the following statements:
Forests cover more than half of the earth’s land mass.
Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based species of animals, plants, and insects.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(B)
2 only
Forests are vast ecosystems characterized by dense collections of trees, shrubs, plants, and a rich variety of wildlife. Importance of Forest – covering one third of the earth’s land mass, they perform vital functions and support the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people. They are home to more than half of the world’s land-based species of animals, plants, and insects.
Ques:
8
Consider the following statements:
1. Forests are the largest storehouses of carbon.
2. They help mitigate climate change by storing carbon and releasing oxygen.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(B)
2 only
Forests are the largest storehouses of carbon after the oceans, as they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.
They help mitigate climate change by storing carbon and releasing oxygen, thereby reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Forests provide habitat, and food as well as protection to wildlife species against extremes of climate and help in balancing carbon dioxide and oxygen of the atmosphere.
Ques:
9
Consider the following statements:
1. About 50% of all the drugs used throughout the world have active ingredients extracted from plants.
2. Quinine is used to treat leukemia (from the cinchona tree).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Neither 1 Nor 2
About 40% of all the drugs used throughout the world have active ingredients extracted from plants and animals.
Example: Quinine is used to treat malaria (from the cinchona tree), drug for leukemia from Vinca rosea, taxol from Taxus brevifolia etc.
Ques:
10
Consider the following statements:
1. Forests act as a repository for biodiversity genes.
2. The forest cover protects streams and rivers from the sun's radiation and drying.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(C)
Both 1 and 2
Protects Watershed Areas
Forests serve as watershed regions because nearly all of the water in forest areas comes from forest-derived water tables as well as rivers, lakes, and streams.
The forest cover protects streams and rivers passing through forests from the sun's radiation and drying.
The Amazon, for example, has one of the world's largest watersheds and river systems.
Many additional forest areas act as important watershed zones around the world.
Supports Biodiversity
Forests act as a repository for biodiversity genes.
This is due to the fact that forests contain around 90% of all plant and animal species on the planet, resulting in a diverse range of plant and animal life forms in distinct forest settings.
Forests also promote biodiversity by providing habitats in which various plants and animals can thrive.
Some of the world's most endangered species can also be found in forests.