Environment – Medium Level – GK Questions

Chronic noise exposure can cause permanent hearing damage, hypertension, sleep disturbance, and psychological stress.

India's AQI is based on PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb, providing a comprehensive assessment of air quality.

Chronic fluoride exposure causes dental fluorosis (tooth discoloration) and skeletal fluorosis (bone/joint damage), prevalent in parts of India.

One Health is a collaborative approach to achieve optimal health outcomes by recognizing links among people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

Blackfoot disease, a peripheral vascular disease, is linked to chronic arsenic exposure through contaminated drinking water, notably in West Bengal.

Sagarmala aims to harness India's coastline and waterways for economic growth while ensuring sustainable coastal management.

An estimated 80% of marine plastic originates from land via rivers, runoff, and inadequate waste disposal systems.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) by dinoflagellates can discolor water, produce toxins, and cause fish kills and human health issues.

Lower pH reduces carbonate ion availability, making it harder for corals, mollusks, and plankton to build and maintain shells/skeletons.

CRZ-I to CRZ-IV classify areas based on ecological sensitivity, human settlements, and water areas to balance development and conservation.

Warmer waters cause corals to expel symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), leading to bleaching, reduced growth, and potential mortality.

EIA emphasizes precaution (acting despite uncertainty to prevent harm) and inclusive public consultation for transparent, sustainable decisions.

Environmental monitoring occurs before (baseline), during (construction), and after (operation) project implementation to ensure compliance and impact management.

EACs, constituted by MoEFCC, appraise projects and advise the regulatory authority on granting or rejecting environmental clearance.

Scoping determines the scope and depth of the EIA, ensuring focus on significant impacts and efficient use of resources.

SEA integrates environmental considerations into higher-level decision-making, complementing project-level EIA for sustainable development.

Public consultation, including public hearings, allows affected communities to voice concerns and is required for most large projects under EIA rules.

The EIA Notification 2006 lists 39+ project categories requiring EC based on scale, location, and potential environmental impact.

Soil organic matter and microbial diversity indicate fertility, structure, nutrient cycling capacity, and overall ecosystem health.

Planting rows of trees or shrubs as windbreaks reduces wind speed at ground level, minimizing soil particle displacement by wind.