Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Elephants in India, Clarion-Clipperton Zone and more (Week 116)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Environment and Geography to check your progress.
🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨
With reference to the Elephants in India, consider the following statements:
1. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme.
2. In north-eastern India, the elephant's range extends along the foothills of the Himalayas from the eastern border of Nepal through northern West Bengal to western Assam.
3. Elephants are protected under Schedule II species of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
4. As per the recent elephant census, there are zero elephants in Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore region.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Explanation
— The Union Environment Ministry held a review of key initiatives under Project Elephant on Thursday at the 21st meeting of the project's steering committee, chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Phase-I of the synchronised elephant population estimation for the Northeastern states was completed, according to the ministry.
— Project Elephant is a centrally supported plan, and the steering committee oversees its implementation, as well as problems such as elephant conservation and habitat protection. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The last elephant census or estimating exercise was conducted in 2017, and it revealed that the country was home to around 29,964 elephants. Although a report on the next synchronised elephant census titled 'Status of Elephants in India 2022-23' was created, The Indian Express reported in October that it was delayed due to a delay in the census in the North-East and because it was an interim report. According to that report, the number of elephants has decreased by 20% over the previous five years.
— The elephant is India's national heritage animal, classified as a Schedule I species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Elephants in India
— The elephant's range in north-east India runs along the Himalayan foothills from Nepal's eastern border to northern West Bengal to western Assam. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— Elephant populations in central India are very fragmented, with a few individuals straying into Chhattisgarh from Orissa, Jharkhand, and the southern section of West Bengal.
— In northwestern India, the species is distributed in six scattered populations in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, extending from the Bahraich Forest Department's Katranighat Wildlife Sanctuary in the east to the Yamuna River in the west.
— Southern India has eight primary clusters that are split from one another: Northern Karnataka, Crystalline of Karnataka—Western Ghats; Bhadra—Malnad; Brahmagiri—Nilgiris—Eastern Ghats; Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore; Anamalai—Parambikulam; Periyar—Srivilliputhur; and Agasthyamalai. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: moef.gov.in)
With reference to the 'tigers outside of tiger reserve', consider the following statements:
1. The scheme will be implemented by the Chief Wildlife Wardens of state forest departments, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
2. The scheme aims to manage conflicts more effectively through enhanced monitoring and protection.
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
Explanation
— With frequent human-tiger conflicts in various forest divisions of the country, the Union Environment Ministry has approved funds for a pilot plan called 'tigers outside of tiger reserve' to better manage such conflicts through greater surveillance and protection. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— According to official documents, the executive committee of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is part of the Environment Ministry, approved in-principle funding for the scheme on a pilot basis for one year. The scheme will provide funds to 80 forest divisions across ten states that were initially identified based on data from recurring human-tiger conflicts.
— This will be used for technical interventions to preserve and monitor tigers and co-predators, to strengthen forest managers to deal with conflict caused by technology, to collaborate with civil society and professional veterinarians, and to expand the prey base.
— The initiative will be executed on the ground by state forest department Chief Wildlife Wardens, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). When asked about the initial rollout of the pilot, a government official stated that the NTCA was finalising the list of forest and wildlife divisions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
With reference to the rare earth magnets, consider the following statements:
1. They are a crucial component in electric vehicle motors.
2. Russia controls over 90 per cent of global processing capacity for the magnets.
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
Explanation
— India stated it had communicated with China on the supply of rare earth magnets, as Beijing has imposed export limits.
— China, which controls more than 90% of worldwide processing capacity for magnets used in autos, clean energy, and home appliances, imposed restrictions in April forcing companies to acquire import permits from Beijing. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— While rare earth magnets are essential components in electric vehicle motors, they are also required in equipment such as power windows and audio speakers found in gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— According to industry estimates, India's car sector bought 460 tonnes of rare earth magnets, largely from China, in the fiscal year ending March 31, and plans to import 700 tonnes valued at $30 million this year.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to the tiger reserves, consider the following pairs:
1. Palamau Tiger Reserve – Mizoram
2. Sariska Tiger Reserve – Haryana
3. Madhav Tiger Reserve – Assam
How many of the pairs given above are correctly marked?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None of the pairs
Explanation
Madhav Tiger Reserve is situated in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh in Shivpuri District, very close to the Shivpuri township This was notified as a National Park in the year 1958.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: madhavnationalpark.org)
The Banakacherla reservoir project was recently in the news. It is the water dispute between:
(a) Goa and Maharashtra
(b) Odisha and Telangana
(c) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
(d) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Explanation
— Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has challenged former Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Chandrashekar Rao to a discussion in the state Assembly over the contentious Banakacherla reservoir project. It is the most recent water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
— The Banakacherla reservoir project aims to transform Andhra Pradesh's drought-prone Rayalaseema area into arable land.
— According to the idea, the first phase would be to increase the capacity of the Polavaram Right Main Canal from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs, allowing Godavari water to be transferred to Krishna.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Where is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone found?
(a) In the Antarctic Ocean
(b) In the low Earth orbit (LEO) where astronauts primarily travel
(c) Between troposphere and stratosphere
(d) In the Pacific Ocean
Explanation
— Scientists have been fascinated by the mystery of dark matter for decades, thinking that it uses gravitational attraction to hold galaxies together. Recently, an exciting discovery has shed light on another unseen phenomena: dark oxygen.
— Dark oxygen is found well below the ocean's surface. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oxygen is released from mineral deposits located 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) below the surface in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).
— This depth is almost half of Mount Everest's height.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Consider the following pairs:
1. Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary : Sikkim
2. Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary – Maharashtra
3. Kuno National Park – Madhya Pradesh
4. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary – Kerala
Which of the pairs given above are not correctly matched?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Only 3
(d) All of the above
Explanation
— The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary renamed on 25 May 2004, formerly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest, is an isolated protected area of evergreen forest located in Jorhat district of Assam, India.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
These migratory birds, locally known as 'Kahuaipuina,' arrive in northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, in large numbers during October.
Which birds are being referred to in the above lines?
(a) Amur Falcons
(b) Rosy Pelican
(c) Black-crowned Night Heron
(d) Siberian Cranes
Explanation
Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) – These migratory visitors, locally known as 'Kahuaipuina,' arrive in northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, in large numbers during October. They are on their southbound migration from their breeding grounds in northern China, eastern Mongolia, and far eastern Russia. During their stopover, which lasts three to four weeks, the falcons build fat reserves by foraging on termites before continuing their journey to their wintering grounds in South Africa.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 115)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 116)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 116)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 116)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 115)
Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 115)
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Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Elephants in India, Clarion-Clipperton Zone and more (Week 116)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Environment and Geography to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Elephants in India, consider the following statements: 1. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme. 2. In north-eastern India, the elephant's range extends along the foothills of the Himalayas from the eastern border of Nepal through northern West Bengal to western Assam. 3. Elephants are protected under Schedule II species of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 4. As per the recent elephant census, there are zero elephants in Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore region. How many of the statements given above are correct? 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Although a report on the next synchronised elephant census titled 'Status of Elephants in India 2022-23' was created, The Indian Express reported in October that it was delayed due to a delay in the census in the North-East and because it was an interim report. According to that report, the number of elephants has decreased by 20% over the previous five years. — The elephant is India's national heritage animal, classified as a Schedule I species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Elephants in India — The elephant's range in north-east India runs along the Himalayan foothills from Nepal's eastern border to northern West Bengal to western Assam. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — Elephant populations in central India are very fragmented, with a few individuals straying into Chhattisgarh from Orissa, Jharkhand, and the southern section of West Bengal. — In northwestern India, the species is distributed in six scattered populations in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, extending from the Bahraich Forest Department's Katranighat Wildlife Sanctuary in the east to the Yamuna River in the west. — Southern India has eight primary clusters that are split from one another: Northern Karnataka, Crystalline of Karnataka—Western Ghats; Bhadra—Malnad; Brahmagiri—Nilgiris—Eastern Ghats; Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore; Anamalai—Parambikulam; Periyar—Srivilliputhur; and Agasthyamalai. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Other Source: With reference to the 'tigers outside of tiger reserve', consider the following statements: 1. The scheme will be implemented by the Chief Wildlife Wardens of state forest departments, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority. 2. The scheme aims to manage conflicts more effectively through enhanced monitoring and protection. 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 Explanation — With frequent human-tiger conflicts in various forest divisions of the country, the Union Environment Ministry has approved funds for a pilot plan called 'tigers outside of tiger reserve' to better manage such conflicts through greater surveillance and protection. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — According to official documents, the executive committee of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is part of the Environment Ministry, approved in-principle funding for the scheme on a pilot basis for one year. The scheme will provide funds to 80 forest divisions across ten states that were initially identified based on data from recurring human-tiger conflicts. — This will be used for technical interventions to preserve and monitor tigers and co-predators, to strengthen forest managers to deal with conflict caused by technology, to collaborate with civil society and professional veterinarians, and to expand the prey base. — The initiative will be executed on the ground by state forest department Chief Wildlife Wardens, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). When asked about the initial rollout of the pilot, a government official stated that the NTCA was finalising the list of forest and wildlife divisions. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. With reference to the rare earth magnets, consider the following statements: 1. They are a crucial component in electric vehicle motors. 2. 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Introduction — The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction. — It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts. Body — It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content. — The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points. — Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse. — Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer. — Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required. Way forward/ conclusion — The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction. — You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers. Self Evaluation — It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers. QUESTION 1: The Ken-Betwa River Link Project represents a significant milestone in India's river interlinking initiatives, aimed at addressing water scarcity in drought-prone regions. Discuss its potential benefits and associated ecological and socio-economic challenges. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) envisions moving water from the Ken to the Betwa rivers, both of which are tributaries of the Yamuna. — The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-kilometer tunnel. According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project will provide yearly irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP), supply drinking water to about 62 lakh people, and create 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — The Ken-Betwa Link Project comprises two phases. Phase I will comprise the construction of the Daudhan Dam complex and its component units, including the Low Level Tunnel, High Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa Link Canal, and power plants. Phase II will include three components: Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage. — The notion of joining the Ken and the Betwa received a significant boost in August 2005, when the Centre and the two states signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding for the creation of a detailed project report (DPR). In 2008, the Centre designated the KBLP as a National Project. Later, it was added to the Prime Minister's package for the development of the drought-prone Bundelkhand region. — The project is in Bundelkhand, which includes 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project will greatly assist the water-stressed region, particularly the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh. — 'It will pave the way for more river interlinking projects to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country,' according to a press release from the Ministry. Conclusion: — The river-linking project has come under considerable examination for its possible environmental and socioeconomic impact. The project will involve extensive deforestation in the heart of the Panna National Park and Tiger Reserve. — PM Modi recently laid the foundation stone for the Daudhan Dam. Daudhan Dam is 2,031 metres long, with 1,233 metres being earthen and the remaining 798 metres being concrete. The dam's height will be 77 meters. According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project will sink around 9,000 hectares of land, affecting ten communities. — It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for River Interlinking, which was created in 1980. This plan includes 16 projects under its peninsular component, including the KBLP. Aside from this, 14 linkages are envisioned in the Himalayan Rivers Development Plan. (Source: PM Modi lays foundation stone: What is the Ken-Betwa river linking project, environmental concerns around it by Harikishan Sharma and Nikhil Ghanekar) Points to Ponder Other river linking projects in India What are the project's likely environmental and social impacts? Related Previous Year Questions The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods, and interrupted navigation. Critically examine. (2020) The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India? (2024) QUESTION 2: Discuss the evolution of the term 'yoga' in Indian literature—from the Vedas and Upanishads to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers. Introduction: — Yoga originated in ancient India. However, it is impossible to determine exactly how ancient it is. While the term '5,000-year-old tradition' is frequently used, the existing evidence does not support such specificity. — The term 'yoga' appears in the Vedic corpus (1,500-500 BCE), the oldest (surviving) literature from the subcontinent. However, it appears in a setting that is very different from postural or even meditational exercise, as it is commonly understood today. Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — Two key pieces of archaeological evidence are often cited as proof of yoga's antiquity. (i) The first is a tiny staetite seal unearthed from Mojenjodaro, an Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) site in Pakistan. According to historian Alistair Shearer's book The Story Of Yoga: From Ancient India To The Modern West (2020), the seal from around 2,500-2,400 BCE depicts a seated figure with legs crossed in the mulabandhasana posture, which was later popular among tantric yogis. (ii) The other, more recent, archaeological find is from Balathal, Rajasthan, one of the chalcolithic Banas culture's 90 or so sites. A nearly 2,700-year-old skeleton was excavated from the site 'sitting in the samadhi position,' a stance 'that many yogis adopt for meditation and is also assumed at the time of their burial,' according to Shearer. — The Mahabharata, written spanning six centuries from 300 BCE to 300 CE, is where yoga is employed in the way that we know it today. 'Some of these citations [in the Mahabharata] refer to yoga in a philosophical sense,' whilst others employ it 'when describing arduous physical penances and austerities performed by holy men,' according to Shearer. Contemporary and subsequent writings, such as the Upanishads, use the phrase similarly. — According to one school of thought, yoga has no Vedic beginnings and instead derives from heterodox traditions of the first millennium BCE (and earlier), particularly Buddhism and Jainism. 'The unifying feature of this freelance religious movement was the practice of yoga,' Vivian Worthington asserts in A History of Yoga (1982). Yoga is mentioned in a variety of Buddhist and Jain scriptures. — The Yoga Sutra of Maharishi Patanjali is the most well-known text on the subject, having been written around 350 CE and being the oldest text dedicated completely to it. Most experts agree that this literature affected their current knowledge of yoga. Conclusion: — None of the sources listed above provide definitive, empirical answers about the origins of yoga. This is largely due to the fact that India lacks a history-writing tradition like the West, where a clear distinction is made between history, which is founded on empirical data, and myth, whose credibility stems from its meaning rather than its accuracy. — There are no contemporary sources on yoga that can provide empirical information on its origins. While examining textual evidence can provide insights about the changing meaning of the term and the growth of the practice, it cannot definitively pinpoint when yoga originated. (Source: International Yoga Day: Why is it hard to pinpoint the origin of yoga?) Points to Ponder Read more about Yoga Read about Upanishads and Yoga Sutra of Maharishi Patanjali Related Previous Year Questions Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the Later Vedic period. (2024) Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. (2020) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 108) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 107) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 108) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 107) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 106) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 107) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
