Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – February 15, 2019

Statement 1 is incorrect.  TRAFFIC is a joint conservation programme of WWF and IUCN. TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The United Nations Environment Programme is an agency of United Nations and coordinates its environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices.

Statement 2 is correct. TRAFFIC’s mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

TRAFFIC was established in 1976 in what remains a unique role as a global specialist, leading and supporting efforts to identify conservation challenges and support solutions linked to trade in wild animals and plants.

TRAFFIC is governed by the board of trustees of TRAFFIC International. We work particularly closely with our founding organisations, IUCN and WWF, making a critical contribution to achievement of their conservation goals through a unique partnership that complements and engages the considerable strengths of each of these two major global conservation organizations.

The Espoo (EIA) Convention sets out the obligations of Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning. It also lays down the general obligation of States to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries.

Wildlife sanctuary can be created for a particular specie,s (for e.g. grizzled giant squirrel) whereas the national park is not primarily focused on a particular species. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Any area other than area comprised with any reserve forest or the territorial waters can be notified by the State Government to constitute as a sanctuary if such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural. or zoological significance, for the purpose of protecting, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Human activities like tilling of land, collection of minor forest produce, harvesting of timber and private ownership rights are allowed in wildlife sanctuary.

Zooxanthellae are tiny plant-like organisms called zooxanthellae live in the tissues of many animals, including some corals, anemones, and jellyfish, sponges, flatworms, mollusks and foraminifera. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

These microscopic algae capture sunlight and convert it into energy, just like plants, to provide essential nutrients to the corals. In exchange, they have a place to live inside the animal’s body. But when the zooxanthellae are under stress, such as high temperatures, they will die or leave their host—a process known as bleaching. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

All of the above locations are ideal for generation of tidal energy.

Statement 1 is correct. Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands lie in the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman in the north and the Nicobar in the south. They are separated by a water body which is called the Ten Degree channel. The capital of Andaman and Nicobar island is Port Blair.

Statement 2 is correct.

The Lakshadweep group of islands is broadly divided by the Eleventh-Degree channel, north of which is the Amini Island and to the south of the Canannore Island.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Kerala Coast is the closest to Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep and Minicoy are the islands of the Arabian Sea. They are located at a distance of 280 km – 480 km off the Kerala coasts.

Statement 1 is correct.

India lies entirely in the Northern hemisphere. The main land extends between latitudes 8°4’N and longitudes 68°7’E and 97°25’E.

The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30’N) divides the country into almost two equal parts. To the southeast and southwest of the mainland, lie Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep islands in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea respectively.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

The actual distance measured from north to south extremity is 3,214 km, and that from east to west is only 2,933 km. Thus, India’s east to west extent is shorter than that of the north to south.

Statement 3 is correct.

India is bounded by the Himalayas in the north, Hindukush and Sulaiman ranges in the northwest and Purvanchal hills in the north-east. All these mountains ranges are known as young fold mountains as these have been formed relatively recently in the Earth’s history, compared to older mountain ranges like the Aravallis.