{"id":15875,"date":"2018-02-15T12:48:58","date_gmt":"2018-02-15T07:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=15875"},"modified":"2018-02-15T10:49:37","modified_gmt":"2018-02-15T05:19:37","slug":"answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-february-14-2018-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-february-14-2018-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 February 14, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/mains-marathon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.1) Despite a strict law, what do you think are the reasons for which illegal trade of wild birds is rampant in India? What are the steps taken by Government for conservation and management of endangered species of birds? (GS\u20133)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past two decades reports have shown that of the <\/span><b>1,300 Indian species of birds, about 450 are being traded in domestic and international markets.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Winter is a preferred time<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the trade as the birds can <\/span><b>undertake longer journeys without food and water, and can be stored in smaller spaces to avoid detection.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <\/span><b>West Bengal shares a weak 2,216 km border with Bangladesh,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the birds are easily taken to the neighbouring country, and smuggled all over the world via<\/span><b> traders in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Illegal trade of wild birds is rampant in India:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite a strict law, the illegal trade of wild birds is rampant in India because of the following reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main reason for the unabated wildlife trafficking across India is its <\/span><b>weak international land borders.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest bottleneck in ensuring efficient checks on wildlife trafficking is the <\/span><b>exponentially growing demand for animal trophies in India.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>lack of political will and governance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> failures worsen the situation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is an unending problem as long as there is <\/span><b>demand for wild Indian birds in local markets.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there are <\/span><b>provisions in the law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prosecute the buyers of these birds, it has <\/span><b>not been implemented.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>underground nature of trade<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in wild Indian birds makes it difficult to enumerate it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Disincentives for over-exploitation and illegal trade,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as penalties for legal infringements are also not strong enough.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Steps taken by Government for conservation and management of endangered species of birds:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The steps taken by Government for conservation and management of endangered species of birds are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is signatory to <\/span><b>several major international conventions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the protection endangered species of birds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of them are: <\/span><b>Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Central Government has enacted the <\/span><b>Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for protection of wildlife including birds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inter alia<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, provides for creation of<\/span><b> Protected Areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for protection of wild life and also provides for punishment for hunting of specified fauna including birds specified in the <\/span><b>schedules I to IV thereof.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Important habitats of birds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have been notified as Protected Areas under the Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Wetland (Conservation and Management)Rules 2010 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have been framed for protection of wetlands, in the States, which are habitats of birds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of <\/span><b>National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-System<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also provides assistance to the States for management of wet lands including Ramsar sites in the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Wildlife Crime Control Bureau<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been established for control of illegal trade in wildlife, including endangered species of birds and their parts and products.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Research and monitoring activities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on birds are promoted by the Government through reputed research organizations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.2) Bellandur lake in Bengaluru has been in the news in recent months for the surge of foam and froth from the polluted lake, and the rise of smoke and flames from the area surrounding it. Examine the magnitude of<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">polluted lakes, its challenges and measures adopted by government. (GS\u20133)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The microbes feeding on the rotting organic matter consume all the oxygen in the water, <\/span><b>disturbing the ecology for the survival of fish life.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When such organic matter naturally breaks down, it <\/span><b>releases fatty acids<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that float to the surface.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These act as natural surfactants, which allow minute bubbles to form which often persist for a long time. This is how foam is <\/span><b>formed and turns into froth.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phosphorus is useful for agriculture, but it is directly responsible for <\/span><b>choking our surface waters with aquatic vegetation.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Challenges:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenges in curbing polluted lakes in India are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has <\/span><b>no mandatory rules<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> limiting phosphorus content in detergents and laundry bars.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even the <\/span><b>demand for detergents has grown<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the rate of 10-11 per cent per annum between 2005 and 2010, and is likely to have been faster in the subsequent years because of rapid urbanisation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>phosphorus content<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the detergents in India is much <\/span><b>higher than 2.2 per cent.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Aquatic vegetation not yet covered<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the rules under the Environment Protection Act 1986.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Waste management is critical<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 solid waste (garbage), liquid waste (sewage), and aquatic waste.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Additional challenges are posed by encroachment,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which diminishes catchments for freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Measures adopted by government:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The measures adopted by the government in curbing polluted lakes in India are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dredging of dried lake beds and tank beds in the drought affected areas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementation of Wetland Conservation measures as per Ramsar Convention<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digging deep trenches surrounding the lakes to avoid waste dumping, especially in urban areas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exclusive missions of various state governments like Mission Kakatiya of Telangana for rejuvenating lakes, ponds and tanks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rejuvenation works taken up under MGNREGA, PMKSY etc<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Municipal and Solid Waste Management Rules mandates segregation, recycling and reuse of waste, and emphasis on waste treatment before discharging.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.3) What do you mean by bioremediation? How does it work? How can it address pollution? Discuss. (GS\u20133)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioremediation is a natural process<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that involves the <\/span><b>use of biological entities to neutralize the contaminated site.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a <\/span><b>\u201ctreatment that uses naturally occurring organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic or non toxic substances\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioremediation is the technology that uses <\/span><b>microorganism metabolism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to remove pollutants. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It uses relatively <\/span><b>lowcost, low-technology techniques, which generally have a high public acceptance and can often be carried out on site.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>This technology includes:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">biostimulation (stimulating viable native microbial population),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bioaugmentation (artificial introduction of viable population),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bioaccumulation (live cells),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">biosorption (dead microbial biomass),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">phytoremediation (plants) and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rhizoremediation (plant and microbe interaction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioventing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioleaching<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Land farming<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Usage of bioremediation:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The usage of bioremediation are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioremediation can be used at the <\/span><b>site of contamination (in situ) or on contamination removed from the original site (ex situ).<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case of contaminated soil, sediments, and sludges, it can <\/span><b>involve land tilling <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in order to make the nutrients and oxygen more available to the microorganisms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bioremediation serves as a <\/span><b>very effective method of removing poisonous contaminants and heavy metals from effluent water.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also serves as a <\/span><b>cheap and easy means of water treatment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which leaves behind non-toxic by product since it involves living organisms with the ability to transform toxic matters in their normal biological activities to yield non-toxic by products.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archives\u00a0 Q.1) Despite a strict law, what do you think are the reasons for which illegal trade of wild birds is rampant in India? What are the steps taken by Government for conservation and management of endangered species of birds? (GS\u20133) Introduction: Over the past two decades reports have shown that of the 1,300 Indian&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-february-14-2018-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 February 14, 2018<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":2292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mains-marathon-answers","category-public","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/pen-paper-laptop.jpg?fit=1000%2C500&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}