The 2014 Codex
Questions 1 to 10 (Set A)
What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as 'Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative'?
1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
3. There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
4. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) is an approach designed to produce "More with Less" in agriculture.
- Statement 1 is True: It uses single-budded chips instead of whole canes, drastically reducing seed cost (up to 75% less seed material).
- Statement 2 is True: Because planting is done with wider spacing, drip irrigation becomes highly effective and reduces water usage by 40-70%.
- Statement 4 is True: Wider spacing between the sugarcane plants allows excellent scope for intercropping (like growing wheat, potato, or cowpea in between).
- Statement 3 is False: This is an "extreme word" trap. While SSI promotes organic manure, it does not strictly prohibit the application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers "at all". It merely aims to reduce them.
The SSI Paradigm
The Danger List
If a wetland of international importance is brought under the 'Montreux Record', what does it imply?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur...
The Montreux Record is a specialized register maintained as part of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
It is essentially a "danger list". It lists Ramsar wetland sites where negative changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur strictly as a result of technological developments, pollution, or other human interference. (For example, India's Loktak Lake and Keoladeo National Park are currently on this record).
Route: [REALM 183: Ramsar Convention & Montreux Record]Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the "Ten Degree Channel"?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) Andaman and Nicobar
The Ten Degree Channel is a prominent geographical strait in the Bay of Bengal. It lies roughly on the 10-degree North latitude line (hence the name). It separates the Andaman Islands (specifically Little Andaman to the north) from the Nicobar Islands (specifically Car Nicobar to the south).
Note: The 8 Degree Channel separates Minicoy (Lakshadweep) and Maldives. The Great Channel separates Nicobar and Sumatra.
Route: [REALM 14: Geography of Indian Islands]The Oceanic Strait
The Ministry Shuffle
Consider the following pairs: Programme/Project : Ministry
| 1. Drought-Prone Area Programme | Ministry of Agriculture |
| 2. Desert Development Programme | Ministry of Environment and Forests |
| 3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas | Ministry of Rural Development |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (d) None
This is a classic "mix-and-match" trap by the examiner. None of the programs are matched with their correct ministries.
- 1. Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) & 2. Desert Development Programme (DDP): Both of these are area development programs historically managed by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development (not Agriculture or MoEFCC).
- 3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA): This specific project was initiated by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture (not Rural Development).
With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements:
1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness.
3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 2 and 3 only
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is one of the largest and oldest organizations engaged in nature conservation and biodiversity research in India.
Statement 1 is False: This is a common institutional trap. BNHS is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 1883. It is completely independent and is NOT an autonomous body functioning under the Government (MoEFCC).
Statements 2 and 3 are True: As a premier conservation NGO (represented by its famous Great Hornbill logo), it actively conducts wildlife research, advocates for policy, and engages heavily with the public by organizing nature trails, bird-watching camps, and educational programs.
Route: [REALM 191: Environmental NGOs & Institutions]The Hornbill Society
The Earth's Treasury
With reference to 'Global Environment Facility', which of the following statements is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) It serves as financial mechanism for 'Convention on Biological Diversity' and 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change'
Established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) acts as a catalyst for environmental action. It is fundamentally a massive financial mechanism (a trust fund). It officially provides grants and funding to developing countries to meet the objectives of five major international environmental conventions:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
Note: It does not primarily undertake scientific research (that's for bodies like IPCC), nor is it an agency under the OECD.
Route: [REALM 200: Climate Finance (GEF)]With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statements:
1. 'Photovoltaics' is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while 'Solar Thermal' is a technology that utilizes the Sun's rays to generate heat which is further used in electricity generation process.
2. Photovoltaics generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
3. India has manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for Photovoltaics.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (a) 1 only
This tests the fundamental physics and industrial reality of solar energy.
Statement 1 is True: Photovoltaic (PV) cells (standard solar panels) use the photoelectric effect to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar Thermal uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight to heat water/fluid into steam, which then spins a traditional turbine.
Statement 2 is False: PV cells fundamentally produce Direct Current (DC), which must be converted to AC by an inverter for home use. Conversely, Solar Thermal plants spin a mechanical turbine generator, which directly produces Alternating Current (AC).
Statement 3 is False: India has a massive and growing manufacturing base for Photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules (supported by PLI schemes), contrary to the statement.
Route: [REALM 74: Solar Energy Technologies]The Dual Harvest
The Elite Six
Consider the following languages:
1. Gujarati
2. Kannada
3. Telugu
Which of the above has/have been declared as 'Classical Language/Languages' by the Government?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 2 and 3 only
To be declared a "Classical Language" in India, a language must have an independent, high antiquity (1500-2000 years of recorded history/literature) that is not borrowed from another speech community.
As of 2015, only six languages held this prestigious tag: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). Gujarati has not been accorded Classical Language status.
Route: [REALM 30: Classical Languages of India]Consider the following pairs:
| 1. Dampa Tiger Reserve | Mizoram |
| 2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary | Sikkim |
| 3. Saramati Peak | Nagaland |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (c) 1 and 3 only
This maps key geographical and ecological features of North East India.
- 1. Dampa Tiger Reserve: True. Dampa is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram.
- 3. Saramati Peak: True. Mount Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland, located near the Myanmar border.
- 2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary: False. Gumti is a prominent sanctuary surrounding the Dumbur lake in Tripura, absolutely not in Sikkim.
The Eastern Frontier
The Swamp Keepers
With reference to a conservation organization called 'Wetlands International', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
The Secret Whisper
Official Key: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is False: This is a major institutional classification trap. Wetlands International is a global, not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). It is not an "inter-governmental organization" formed by states. (While it acts as an International Organization Partner (IOP) to the Ramsar Convention, it was not *formed* by the Ramsar signatories as a political entity).
Statement 2 is True: As a leading NGO, its core mission is precisely to work at the field level globally to restore wetlands, gather scientific knowledge, and use that practical data to advocate for stronger conservation policies at government levels.
Route: [REALM 191: Conservation NGOs (Wetlands International)]