MCS2019, MCS2023 & MPS 2023
1. Consider the following statements about global warming:
i. Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.08°C per decade.
ii. Water vapour is a greenhouse gas.
iii. The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the rest of the world over the past four decades.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(A) ii only
(B) i and ii only
(C) ii and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
2. Consider the following statements regarding the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023:
i. The CCPI 2023 report analyses the climate performance of the European Union and 59 countries.
ii. Assessment is based on 14 indicators only.
iii. As per the report, India ranked 10th.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(A) i only
(B) i and ii only
(C) ii and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
3. Consider the following statements about MARS, an alert and response system promoted by the UN Environment Programme:
i. MARS was launched at the 27th Conference of the Parties held in Egypt.
ii. It is a satellite-based system that enables governments to detect methane emissions.
iii. As per the report, methane contributes about 10% to global warming.
Which of the following statements are correct?
(A) i and iii only
(B) i and ii only
(C) ii and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
4. CITES COP19 recently accepted the proposal to downgrade the status of which animal?
(A) Himalayan Yak
(B) Southern White Rhinoceros
(C) Indian Softshell Turtle
(D) Great Indian Bustard
5. With respect to Transboundary Protected Areas, which of the following TPAs are between India and Nepal?
i. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area
ii. Sacred Himalayan Landscape
iii. Transboundary Manas Conservation Area
(A) i only
(B) i and ii only
(C) ii and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
6. The longest living root bridge in the world is located in:
(A) Mawkyrnot
(B) Nohwet
(C) Nongriat
(D) Nongbareh
7. Consider the following species with respect to IUCN Red List data:
i. Pygmy Hog
ii. Javan Rhinoceros
iii. Great Indian Bustard
iv. Siberian Crane
Which of the following are critically endangered species?
(A) i and ii only
(B) ii and iii only
(C) i, ii and iii only
(D) i, ii, iii and iv
8. Consider the following statements regarding the “Trapping Zone”:
i. The Trapping Zone is referred to as “an oasis of oceanic life”.
ii. It is located 1,000 metres beneath the surface in the Lakshadweep Islands.
iii. The ecosystem presents a rich source of food for larger predators like tuna, alfonsino, spiky oreo and sharks.
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(A) i only
(B) i and ii only
(C) i and iii only
(D) i, ii and iii
9. Kaziranga National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in which year?
(A) 1975
(B) 1980
(C) 1985
(D) 1989
10. The Blue Duke, recently seen in the news, is the state butterfly of which state, as declared on the occasion of World Environment Day 2022?
(A) Uttarakhand
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Sikkim
(D) Assam
11. Which of the following statements are true of coral reefs?
i. They are plant species.
ii. They use sunlight for photosynthesis and thrive at temperatures varying from 25°C to 35°C.
iii. They are formed by huge colonies of corals that secrete hard calcareous (aragonite) exoskeletons that provide structural rigidity.
iv. Atolls are a type of coral reef formation.
(A) i and ii only
(B) i, ii and iii only
(C) ii, iii and iv only
(D) i, ii, iii and iv
12. Identify the state in India based on the following geographical characteristics:
i. It is located between 26.28° N and 29.30° N latitude and 91.20° E and 97.30° E longitude.
ii. It has the highest diversity of mammals and birds in India.
iii. It has the longest connecting river bridge in India.
(A) Arunachal Pradesh
(B) Sikkim
(C) Himachal Pradesh
(D) Uttarakhand
13. Ischemic heart disease is caused by exposure to what type of pollution?
(A) Water pollution
(B) Air pollution
(C) Soil pollution
(D) Radioactive pollution
14. Consider the following statements regarding SAFAR:
i. SAFAR is a national initiative introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
ii. It was indigenously developed by IIT Mumbai and operationalised by the India Meteorological Department.
iii. It monitors weather parameters such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and wind direction.
Select the correct statements.
(A) i only
(B) ii and iii
(C) i and ii
(D) All three i, ii and iii
15. Consider the following statements:
i. It is a wetland site under the Ramsar Convention.
ii. It is a permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of the Brahmaputra.
iii. It is a bird sanctuary.
Identify the site.
(A) Deepor Beel
(B) Loktak Lake
(C) Rudrasagar Lake
(D) Tsongmo Lake
16. Which among the following is not an in-situ bioremediation technique?
(A) Bioventing
(B) Biosparging
(C) Bioaugmentation
(D) Biocomposting
17. Consider the following statements with respect to Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves:
i. They act as buffer zones, connectors and migration corridors between established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
ii. These protected-area categories were first introduced through the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(A) i only
(B) ii only
(C) Both i and ii
(D) Neither i nor ii
18. Delhi Declaration is associated with:
(A) ASEAN
(B) BRICS
(C) International Solar Alliance
(D) UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification)
19. BirdLife International is a:
(A) Intergovernmental organization
(B) Global partnership of conservation organizations
(C) UN agency
(D) Subsidiary of WWF
20. Consider the following statements regarding biofuels:
i. First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, vegetable oils and animal fats.
ii. Second-generation biofuels are produced from microorganisms such as algae.
iii. Third-generation biofuels are produced from food crops and waste biomass.
Select the correct code.
(A) i only
(B) i and ii
(C) i and iii
(D) ii only
21. In this type of biotic interaction, one species benefits while the other remains unaffected. Identify the type.
(A) Competition
(B) Amensalism
(C) Commensalism
(D) Neutralism
22. Bonn Convention is associated with:
(A) Ozone depletion
(B) Hazardous chemicals
(C) Hazardous waste
(D) Migratory species
23. Which of the following statements with respect to Brahmaputra Biodiversity Biology Boat (B4) is correct?
i. It performs tests on water quality and biodiversity of the ecosystem.
ii. It was launched in collaboration with the Ministry of DoNER.
(A) Only (i)
(B) Only (ii)
(C) Both (i) and (ii)
(D) Neither (i) nor (ii)
24. Which of the following is a flying fox?
(A) Bat
(B) Kite
(C) Stork
(D) Vulture
25. In which country did the world’s first negative-emissions power plant start its operations?
(A) Netherlands
(B) Iceland
(C) Hungary
(D) Switzerland
26. Which of the following can help in reducing the carbon footprint?
i. Using fly-ash-based cement in building construction.
ii. Using LED-based electric lamps instead of incandescent lamps.
(A) (i) only
(B) (ii) only
(C) Both (i) and (ii)
(D) Neither (i) nor (ii)
27. Which of the following are useful control strategies to check outdoor pollution caused by fine particulate matter?
i. Restriction on the use of two-stroke engines.
ii. Restriction on burning of biomass.
iii. Restriction on the use of coal as fuel in homes.
iv. Active measures to control forest fires.
(A) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(B) (iii) only
(C) (i) and (ii) only
(D) (i), (ii) and (iii)
28. In which one of the following states is the Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve located?
(A) Uttarakhand
(B) Assam
(C) Odisha
(D) Arunachal Pradesh
29. Cooking with solid fuel on open fires or traditional stoves results in high levels of indoor air pollution. The indoor smoke contains a range of health-damaging pollutants, which include all of the following except:
(A) Lead oxide
(B) Carbon monoxide
(C) Sulphur oxides
(D) Benzopyrenes
30. The arsenic problem in India is primarily due to:
(A) Overexploitation of coal in Bihar and Bengal
(B) Overexploitation of groundwater in the affected areas
(C) Overexploitation of surface water in the affected areas
(D) Overexploitation of arsenopyrite in the hinterland
31. In our country, Van Mahotsav Day is usually observed on:
(A) 1st July
(B) 2nd October
(C) 1st December
(D) 10th August
32. Which one among the following is a fundamental duty of citizens under the Constitution of India?
(A) To protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures
(B) To protect only forests and wildlife
(C) To preserve only rivers and lakes
(D) To protect the environment only during national emergencies
33. Consider the following statements regarding the Stratospheric Ozone Layer:
i. Ozone is mostly found in the stratosphere.
ii. The ozone layer lies 55–75 km above the surface of the Earth.
iii. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
iv. The ozone layer has no significance for life on Earth.
Which of the following is correct?
(A) (i) and (ii)
(B) (i) and (iii)
(C) (ii) and (iii)
(D) (iii) and (iv)
34. Which is the most stable ecosystem?
(A) Desert
(B) Ocean
(C) Mountain
(D) Forest
35. ‘Rio+20’ is the short name for:
(A) Millennium Development Goals
(B) United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(C) Earth Summit
(D) Post-2015 Development Agenda
36. Which of the following statements regarding Jhum cultivation in India are correct?
i. It is largely practiced in the North-Eastern states of India.
ii. It is referred to as ‘slash-and-burn’ cultivation.
iii. Soil fertility is exhausted in a few years under continuous cultivation.
(A) (i) and (ii) only
(B) (ii) and (iii) only
(C) (i) and (iii) only
(D) (i), (ii) and (iii)
37. Zoonotic disease is:
(A) A disease transmitted from animals to humans
(B) Zoo with humans
(C) An ecosystem preventing ozone depletion
(D) A wild species of chimpanzee