20 April 2024

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. The World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated to mark the establishment of CITES.
2. CITES is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
3. The CITES Secretariat is administered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN).

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct
• In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 3 as the UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of protecting the world’s wild animals and plants. This was as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973 on this day.
• CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• It accords varying degrees of protection to more than 37,000 species of animals and plants, ranging from live animals and plants to wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, medicines, etc.
• The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP (The United Nations Environment Programme) and is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Conference of the Parties to CITES is the supreme consensus-based decision-making body of the Convention and comprises all its parties.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Appendices covered under CITES:

1. Appendix I includes species not threatened with extinction.
2. Appendix II includes species that are necessarily threatened with extinction.
3. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (a)

Explanation

• Only Statement 3 is correct.
• The species covered under CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
• Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted rarely, only in “exceptional circumstances”, such as gorillas, and lions from India.
• Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled to ensure their survival. For example, certain kinds of foxes and Hippopotamuses.
• Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade, like the Bengal fox or the Golden Jackal from India. Different procedures are given category-wise to engage in the trade of species in each of the lists.

Q3. Consider the following statements about Red Sanders:

1. It is classified as endangered by the IUCN.
2. It is an Indian endemic tree species, with a restricted geographical range in the Eastern Ghats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Explanation: About Red Sanders:

• Red sanders, classified as endangered by the IUCN, CITES (Appendix II), and Wildlife Protection Act (Schedule IV), are native to a specific region within the Eastern Ghats and are known for their unique flora. It is referred to as ‘the pride of Eastern Ghats’. These trees have a slow growth rate, taking 25 to 40 years to mature, and they display remarkable resistance to droughts.

Red Sanders application:

• The Red Sanders heartwood is valued for its wavy grain. Besides its use in furniture, the red dye (called ‘santalin’) extracted from the wood serves as a colouring agent for textiles, medicine, and food.

Q4. Which one of the following effects of creation of black money in India has been the main cause of worry to the Government of India?

(a) Diversion of resources to the purchase of real estate and investment in luxury housing

(b) Investment in unproductive activities and purchase of precious stones, jewelley, gold, etc.

(c) Large donations to political parties and growth of regionalism

(d) Loss of revenue to the state exchequer due to tax evasion

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The main cause of worry to the Government of India from the creation of black money is Loss of revenue to the state exchequer due to tax evasion.
• When black money is created, it is not declared to the government, so no taxes are paid on it. This means that the government loses out on a significant amount of revenue, which could be used to fund important public services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• The other effects of black money, such as diversion of resources to unproductive activities and large donations to political parties, are also concerning, but they do not have the same immediate impact on the government’s budget as tax evasion.

Q5. With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements:

1. It is a product of oil refineries.
2. Some industries use it to generate power
3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into the environment.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: It is a product of oil refineries.
• This statement is correct. Furnace oil is a heavy fuel oil that is a byproduct of petroleum refining. It is produced by distilling crude oil and then removing the lighter fractions, such as gasoline and diesel fuel.
• Statement 2: Some industries use it to generate power.
• This statement is also correct. Furnace oil is used to generate power in a variety of industries, including power plants, marine vessels, and industrial boilers.
• Statement 3: Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment.
• This statement is also correct. Furnace oil is a high-sulfur fuel, which means that it releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere when it is burned. SO2 is a major component of acid rain, which can damage forests, waterways, and human health.