Environment – Medium Level – GK Questions

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 aims to increase nuclear power capacity from ~7 GW to 22 GW by 2031-32 as part of its clean energy mix, with new reactors at Gorakhpur, Jaitapur, and Kovvada.

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 (3rd highest globally), but the UK and Bolivia have more. The UK leads globally in number of Ramsar sites.

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 2022 tiger census recorded approximately 3,167 tigers — the highest in the world — a success of Project Tiger launched in 1973.

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

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 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.

NMCG executes pollution abatement, riverfront development, and biodiversity conservation projects under the Namami Gange programme, coordinated by the National Ganga Council chaired by the Prime Minister.

By securing tenure and resource rights, the Act seeks to empower communities as stewards of forests, though implementation challenges remain in balancing rights and conservation.

NAEB's programs for afforestation, eco-development, and biodiversity conservation are now implemented through MoEFCC to streamline environmental governance.

NBA, headquartered in Chennai, approves applications for biological resource use by foreign entities and advises the government on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.