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Which of the following is a role of 'Panchayati Raj Institutions' in environmental governance at the local level?
- Ignoring local environmental issues
- Implementing watershed development, waste management, and afforestation programs
- Focusing only on revenue collection
- Excluding community participation
Answer: Implementing watershed development, waste management, and afforestation programs
PRIs, empowered by the 73rd Amendment, play a crucial role in decentralized natural resource management, leveraging local knowledge and ensuring community ownership.
The 'Central Empowered Committee' (CEC) was a Supreme Court-appointed body to monitor environmental compliance in forest and wildlife cases.
- True
- False
Answer: True
CEC, active from 2002-2014, provided expert advice on forest conservation issues; its functions have since been integrated into other institutional mechanisms.
'Internet of Things' (IoT) sensors can provide real-time monitoring of air quality, water levels, or soil moisture for environmental management.
- True
- False
Answer: True
IoT networks enable continuous, granular data collection, supporting early warning systems, precision agriculture, and adaptive resource management.
Which of the following is a common use of 'Mobile Apps' for environmental awareness?
- Promoting single-use plastics
- Tracking personal carbon footprint, reporting pollution, or identifying species
- Encouraging excessive travel
- Ignoring local environmental issues
Answer: Tracking personal carbon footprint, reporting pollution, or identifying species
Apps like Greenly, Sameer, and PlantNet empower citizens to monitor their impact, report violations, and engage with nature, fostering pro-environmental behavior.
'Citizen Science' platforms enable the public to contribute environmental observations, expanding data coverage for research and monitoring.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Projects like eBird, iNaturalist, and Airveda engage volunteers in data collection, fostering environmental awareness while generating valuable datasets for scientists and policymakers.
'Divestment' campaigns encourage institutions to withdraw investments from fossil fuel companies to align portfolios with climate goals.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Fossil fuel divestment aims to reduce financial support for carbon-intensive activities, signal market shifts, and redirect capital toward clean energy solutions.
Which of the following is an example of a 'Sovereign Green Bond' issuer?
- Individual households
- National governments, such as India issuing Sovereign Green Bonds
- Small retail shops
- Local street vendors
Answer: National governments, such as India issuing Sovereign Green Bonds
Sovereign green bonds are issued by governments to fund public green projects; India launched its first sovereign green bonds in 2023 to mobilize resources for climate initiatives.
'ESG Investing' considers Environmental, Social, and Governance factors alongside financial returns in investment decisions.
- True
- False
Answer: True
ESG integration helps investors identify risks and opportunities related to sustainability, promoting long-term value creation and responsible corporate behavior.
'Design for Disassembly' enables products to be easily taken apart at end-of-life, facilitating repair, reuse, and material recovery.
- True
- False
Answer: True
This design principle supports circularity by using modular components, standardized fasteners, and material labeling to streamline maintenance and recycling processes.
Which of the following is an example of 'Upcycling' in waste management?
- Burning plastic waste for energy
- Transforming discarded materials into products of higher quality or value
- Landfilling mixed waste
- Downcycling plastics into lower-grade products
Answer: Transforming discarded materials into products of higher quality or value
Upcycling creatively repurposes waste into valuable items (e.g., tires into furniture), extending material life and reducing demand for virgin resources.
'Industrial Symbiosis' involves waste or by-products from one industry becoming raw materials for another, enhancing resource efficiency.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Industrial symbiosis, exemplified by Kalundborg in Denmark, creates collaborative networks that reduce waste, lower costs, and minimize environmental impacts across sectors.
Feedback on resource consumption (e.g., real-time energy use displays) can help individuals adjust behavior to reduce environmental impact.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Timely, salient feedback makes abstract consumption tangible, enabling behavior change through increased awareness and goal-setting for conservation.
Which of the following is an example of a 'default option' nudge for promoting green energy?
- Requiring customers to actively opt-in for renewable energy
- Automatically enrolling customers in green energy plans with an option to opt-out
- Banning non-renewable energy options
- Providing no information about energy sources
Answer: Automatically enrolling customers in green energy plans with an option to opt-out
Default effects leverage inertia; making sustainable choices the default significantly increases adoption while preserving individual choice to switch.
Social norms and peer influence can significantly encourage individuals to adopt environmentally friendly practices.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Behavioral interventions leveraging descriptive and injunctive norms (what others do/approve) can effectively promote actions like energy conservation and waste reduction.
Deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules poses risks to unique benthic ecosystems that are poorly understood and slow to recover.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Mining activities on the ocean floor can destroy habitats, release sediment plumes, and disrupt deep-sea biodiversity, raising concerns about sustainable resource extraction.
Which of the following is a major source of 'Pharmaceutical Pollution' in water bodies?
- Rainwater harvesting
- Improper disposal of unused medicines and excretion of drugs by humans/animals
- Organic farming
- Afforestation
Answer: Improper disposal of unused medicines and excretion of drugs by humans/animals
Pharmaceutical residues enter water systems through sewage, agricultural runoff, and manufacturing effluents, posing risks to aquatic life and potentially human health.
The 'Van Panchayat' system in Uttarakhand represents a traditional form of community forest management.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Van Panchayats are village-level institutions that manage local forests for sustainable use of fodder, fuelwood, and minor forest produce, recognized under state law.
Which traditional practice involves leaving fields fallow and rotating crops to maintain soil fertility?
- Shifting cultivation
- Crop rotation and fallowing
- Monoculture
- Hydroponics
Answer: Crop rotation and fallowing
Traditional farmers use crop rotation and fallow periods to restore soil nutrients naturally, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.
The 'Bishnoi' community of Rajasthan is renowned for their centuries-old tradition of protecting trees and wildlife.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Founded by Guru Jambheshwar in the 15th century, Bishnois follow 29 principles including strict conservation of flora and fauna, exemplified by the Khejarli sacrifice.
International Mountain Day is observed on December 11 to promote sustainable development in mountain regions.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Designated by the UN, this day highlights the importance of mountains for biodiversity, water resources, climate regulation, and livelihoods of mountain communities.