29 March 2024

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) is part of the Atal Innovation Mission(AIM).
2. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the Department Of Science and Technology.

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: (a)

Explanation: What is Atal Tinkering Labs?

• An Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) is part of the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and is established in schools across India. The objective of ATLs is to nurture creativity, curiosity, and skills like design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, and physical computing in young minds.

Q2. Which of the following is/are NOT criteria for being qualified as a ‘biodiversity hotspot’?

1. Each one must be irreplaceable
2. It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation

Select the correct answer using codes given below

(a) 1 Only

(b) 2 Only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

• It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is irreplaceable.
• It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. In other words, it must be threatened.
• Around the world, 35 areas qualify as hotspots. They represent just 2.3% of Earth’s land surface, but they support more than half of the world’s plant species as endemics — i.e., species found no place else — and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species as endemics…”

Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve:

1. It lies between the west coast of Sri Lanka and the southeastern tip of India.
2. It incorporates two National parks of India.
3. It is home to indigenous Shompen people.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: Gulf of Mannar lies between the west coast of Sri Lanka and the southeastern tip of India, in the Coromandel Coast region.
• S2: The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve was declared in January 2013. It incorporates two National parks of India, which were gazetted in 1992: the larger Campbell Bay National Park on the northern part of the island, and Galathea National Park in the southern interior.
• S3: The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve also incorporates territories and traditional lands of the indigenous Nicobarese and Shompen peoples.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve’(GOMBR):

1. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is the first marine Biosphere in India.
2. It extends from Rameswaram to Tuticorin.
3. It is internationally recognised under the UNESCO-MAB programme.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GOMBR) area extends from Rameswaram to Tuticorin. It comprises 21 Islands and this is the first Indian marine national park which is internationally recognised under the UNESCO-MAB programme. The IUCN commission on national parks and WWF identified the reserve as an area of particular concern because of its richest biodiversity and multiple use of the area. The GOMBR is the first marine Biosphere in India.

Q5. Consider the following Biosphere Reserves:

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
2. Manas Biosphere Reserve
3. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve
4. Kachchh Biosphere Reserve
5. Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

How many of the above are part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves?

(a) Only two

(b) Only three

(c) Only four

(d) All five

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• 11 of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.
• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka 2000
• Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu 2001
• Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve West Bengal 2001
• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand 2004
• Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya 2009
• Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh 2009
• Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Odisha    2009
• Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Great Nicobar 2013
• Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh 2012
• Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Kerala and Tamil Nadu 2016
• Khangchendzonga National Park Sikkim 2018