Environment – MCQ – GK Questions

The Centre approved the 'Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana' with a ₹3,000 crore corpus (running from 2026–27 to 2030–31) to conserve and restore nearly 15,000 sacred groves, also known as 'Aastha Vans'.

According to the government advisory, the DSR method saves 20% water compared to traditional transplanting which requires 2,500 to 3,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of rice. DSR also reduces cultivation costs by approximately ₹5,000 per acre and allows the crop to mature 12-15 days earlier.

The Chhattisgarh government issued an advisory on July 3, 2026, emphasizing DSR method against the backdrop of uncertainty of rainfall due to El Niño, a climate phenomenon that tends to weaken the South Asian monsoon. This is relevant for understanding climate impacts on agriculture policy.

The press release explicitly states that the Ministry of Jal Shakti will organize the National Workshop on R&D in Water on 1 June 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

Ahmedabad developed India's first Heat Action Plan in 2013 after the deadly 2010 heat wave. It has served as a model for other Indian cities and globally.

India reintroduced cheetahs in September 2022 at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh — initially 8 cheetahs from Namibia, followed by 12 from South Africa in 2023.

India has 85 Ramsar sites as of 2025, the highest in Asia and third highest globally, covering significant wetland ecosystems.

According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, India's total forest and tree cover is about 21.76% of its total geographical area.

India's total renewable energy capacity surpassed 200 GW in 2025, on track towards its target of 500 GW by 2030.

COP29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024. A key outcome was the New Collective Quantified Goal of $300 billion/year for climate finance.

Reports indicated a below-normal monsoon season rainfall for India in May 2026. Monsoon predictions significantly impact agricultural output, inflation forecasts, and GDP growth estimates. The India Meteorological Department typically classifies monsoon as normal when it is 96-104% of the Long Period Average.

The tiger identified as 'Explorer' killed nine cattle, prompting authorities to decide on tranquilisation. This reflects the standard wildlife management protocol followed when conflict animals exhibit repeated livestock predation, a topic frequently appearing in environment and ecology sections of competitive exams.

IMD categorizes monsoon performance based on deviation from the LPA. Rainfall below 90% of the LPA is classified as 'deficient', which raises concerns about drought conditions. This classification helps in disaster preparedness and agricultural policy formulation.

IMD revised its monsoon forecast and placed the probability of a 'deficient' monsoon at 60%. A deficient monsoon is defined as rainfall under 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA). Such forecasts are critical for agricultural planning and water resource management.

Environmental democracy, embodied in principles like the Aarhus Convention and India's EIA public consultation, empowers citizens to engage meaningfully in protecting the environment.

Adaptive management acknowledges uncertainty in complex socio-ecological systems, using iterative decision-making to improve policies and practices over time.

PRIs, empowered by the 73rd Amendment, play a crucial role in decentralized natural resource management, leveraging local knowledge and ensuring community ownership.

Effective environmental governance requires clarifying roles, building institutional capacity, and fostering collaboration among national, state, and local authorities.