Q1. Consider the following statements about the Ramsar Convention:
- It is the United Nations Convention that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
- Almost 90% of UN member states have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.
- It does not consider underground aquifers and human-made sites as wetlands.
- The Montreux Record is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- The Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
- The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Since then, almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.
- The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans.
- Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
- It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
Q2. Milak river flows through which of the following States?
(a) Assam
(b) Mizoram
(c) Nagaland
(d) Sikkim
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Context: Scientists have discovered a new fish species called Badis limaakumi in the Milak River in Nagaland, India.
- This species, named after Limaakum, an assistant professor and head of the zoology department at Fazl Ali College, Nagaland, is unique in that it can change its colour similar to a chameleon.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
- Some species of turtles are herbivores.
- Some species of fish are herbivores.
- Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.
- Some species of snakes are viviparous.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- S1: Sea turtles may be carnivorous (meat eating), herbivorous (plant eating), or omnivorous (eating both meat and plants). The jaw structure of many species indicates their diet.
- Some species change eating habits as they age. For example, green sea turtles are mainly carnivorous from hatching until juvenile size; then progressively shift to an herbivorous diet.
- S2: Herbivorous fishes are fishes that eat plant material. Surgeonfish and parrotfish are two familiar MAR examples, often seen browsing and scraping on reef algae.
- S3: Marine herbivores are found within four groups of species in the animal kingdom — invertebrates, fish, reptiles and mammals — and include zooplankton, mollusks, the green sea turtle, the marine iguana and some fish species. Manatees and dugongs are the only herbivores among marine mammals.
- S4: Snakes are reptiles, and most species of snakes will follow the general rules of reptilian reproduction — the mother will lay a clutch of eggs that will hatch into baby snakes. Such snakes are referred to as oviparous. A few exceptional species of snakes diverge from this general rule. They are referred to as viviparous, and they give birth to live young. Both oviparous and viviparous snakes have uteri, or wombs; however, only viviparous snakes form placental attachments between their uteri and the developing fetuses.
Q4. Consider the following pairs:
Wildlife Naturally found in
- Blue-finned Mahseer Cauvery River
- Irrawaddy Dolphin Chambal River
- Rusty-spotted Cat Eastern Ghats
How many of the above given pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- S1: In the River Cauvery, the mahseer community comprises a ‘blue-finned’ and an orange-finned, ‘hump-backed’ fish. Whilst it is not yet known whether these are distinct species or 2 different phenotypes, evidence suggests that the hump-backed phenotype is endemic to the river, whereas the blue-finned phenotype was introduced in the 1980s.
- S2: Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong.
- S3: In India, it was long thought to be confined to the south, but records have established that it is found over much of the country. It was observed in eastern Gujarat’s Gir National Park, in Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and along India’s Eastern Ghats.
Q5. Consider the following statements:
- In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil’.
- The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.
- The office of ‘Mir Bakshi’ came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- S1: The provinces were divided into shiqs or districts under a shiqdar. Each shiq consisted of a few parganas or kasba. Government officials of a pargana, after shiqdar were amil, who collected revenues. The mushrif kept accounts at the pargana level and the khazandar was incharge of the treasury.
- S2: Empire was divided into provinces known as Iqtas headed by Hakim/faujdar/Momin, which were divided into Sarkars (districts) manned by 2 officials, Shiqdar-i-Shiqdaran (for law and order) and Munsif-i-Munsifan (for revenue collection). The jagir of the Mughal period was similar to the iqta of the Delhi Sultanate. Iqta was not indigenous.
- S3: Mir Bakshi headed the military department, nobility, information and intelligence agencies during Akbar’s reign.
