UPSC 2022: Nexus 41—50

Climate Treaties, Toxic Lungs, Wild Fungi & Urban Forests. [Set A]

Question 41

Climate Governance

"Climate Action Tracker" which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a :

(a) Database created by coalition of research organisations
(b) Wing of "International Panel of Climate Change"
(c) Committee under "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"
(d) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Official Verdict: (a) Database created by coalition of research organisations

The Core Concept: The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis tracking government climate action and measuring it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim. It is not an official UN or IPCC committee. Instead, it is produced by a collaborative coalition of two prominent independent European research organizations: Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute.

Tethered to: REALM 263: Environmental Indicators & Reports

Question 42

Climate Alliances

Consider the following statements:

"The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative "EP100".
EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency...
Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the "Under2 Coalition".

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Official Verdict: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

The Core Concept: The Climate Group is a prominent international non-profit (1 is true). It launched EP100 (Energy Productivity 100) in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, not the IEA (2 is false). EP100 recruits major corporations to double their energy productivity (3 is true), and major Indian conglomerates like Mahindra & Mahindra and Dalmia Cement are signatories (4 is true). Finally, the Climate Group itself—not the IEA—acts as the Secretariat for the Under2 Coalition of state and regional governments (5 is false).

Tethered to: REALM 204: Global Environmental Organizations

Question 43

Wetland Ecology

"If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys." Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement?

(a) The water cycle in wetlands involves surface runoff...
(b) Algae form the nutrient base upon which fish... thrive.
(c) Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining sedimentation balance...
(d) Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.

Official Verdict: (d) Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.

The Core Concept: Kidneys perform a very specific physiological function: they filter toxins and waste out of the blood. In the exact same metabolic metaphor, wetlands filter the water that flows through them. Aquatic macrophytes, reeds, and specialized marsh microbes aggressively absorb agricultural runoff (excess nitrogen and phosphorus) and trap toxic heavy metals, purifying the water before it reaches lakes and oceans.

Tethered to: REALM 60: Wetland Conservation & Management

Question 44

Environmental Toxicology

In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:

The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 µg/m³ and annual mean... should not exceed 5 µg/m³.
In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.
PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.
Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Official Verdict: (b) 1 and 4 only

The Core Concept: In 2021, the WHO drastically tightened its global air quality guidelines, explicitly setting the annual PM2.5 limit to 5 µg/m³ and 24-hour to 15 µg/m³ (1 is true). Surface ozone is formed by photochemical reactions requiring intense sunlight and heat; thus, it peaks on hot, sunny summer days, not during "inclement" (rainy/stormy) weather (2 is false). PM10 gets trapped in the upper respiratory tract; it is the ultra-fine PM2.5 (and PM1) that can cross the alveolar barrier into the bloodstream (3 is false). Ground-level ozone is a severe respiratory irritant known to trigger asthma attacks (4 is true).

Tethered to: REALM 153: Effects of Air Pollution

Question 45

Fungal Botany

With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements:

It is a fungus.
It grows in some Himalayan forest areas.
It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official Verdict: (c) 1 and 2

The Core Concept: Gucchi (Morchella esculenta), also known as the Morel mushroom, is a highly prized edible fungus (1 is true). It grows entirely wild in the conifer forests of the temperate Himalayan regions, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh (2 is true). The trap is Statement 3: Due to its incredibly complex symbiotic relationship with the surrounding forest ecology, it cannot be commercially cultivated on farms; it must be wild-foraged by locals.

Tethered to: REALM 131: Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals

Question 46

Polymer Chemistry

With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements:

Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties.
Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.
Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.
Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions.

Official Verdict: (a) 1 and 3

The Core Concept: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is spun into polyester fibers, universally blended with cotton to make durable clothing (1 is true). It is the most highly recycled plastic globally, chopped down to make carpets and fleeces (3 is true). However, alcohol acts as a solvent that can leach toxic antimony from low-grade PET over time, making it unsafe for high-proof spirits (2 is false). Chemically, PET is a hydrocarbon ($C_{10}H_8O_4$); incinerating it undeniably produces massive amounts of the greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide (4 is physically impossible and false).

Tethered to: REALM 40: Synthetic Polymers

Question 47

Endemic Fauna

Which of the following is not a bird?

(a) Golden Mahseer
(b) Indian Nightjar
(c) Spoonbill
(d) White Ibis

Official Verdict: (a) Golden Mahseer

The Core Concept: The Indian Nightjar, Spoonbill, and White Ibis are all widespread avian species (birds) found across Indian wetlands and forests. The Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora), however, is a legendary, large-scaled freshwater game fish (a species of cyprinid) famously inhabiting the fast-flowing rivers of the Himalayan foothills and the Cauvery basin.

Tethered to: REALM 67: Endemic Species

Question 48

Agricultural Biochemistry

Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants?

Alfalfa
Amaranth
Chickpea
Clover
Purslane (Kulfa)
Spinach

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Official Verdict: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

The Core Concept: Nitrogen-fixing plants form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable ammonia. This ability is almost exclusively limited to plants in the Legume (Fabaceae) family. Alfalfa (1), Chickpea (3), and Clover (4) are classic legumes utilized universally in crop rotation to enrich soil. Amaranth, Purslane, and Spinach are leafy greens/pseudo-cereals from entirely different botanical families and lack this nitrogen-fixing ability.

Tethered to: REALM 31: Nitrogen Cycle

Question 49

Marine Ecology

"Biorock technology" is talked about in which one of the following situations?

(a) Restoration of damaged coral reefs
(b) Development of building materials using plant residues
(c) Identification of areas for exploration/extraction of shale gas
(d) Providing salt licks for wild animals in forests/protected areas

Official Verdict: (a) Restoration of damaged coral reefs

The Core Concept: Biorock (or mineral accretion technology) was invented to combat mass coral die-offs. It involves submerging a conductive steel frame in seawater and running a low-voltage electrical current through it. The electrolysis causes dissolved minerals (calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide) to crystallize rapidly onto the steel, forming an artificial limestone substrate. Coral fragments are then attached to this structure, where they grow much faster and exhibit far higher resilience to thermal bleaching and acidity.

Tethered to: REALM 50: Coral Reef Conservation

Question 50

Urban Ecology

The "Miyawaki method" is well known for the:

(a) Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas
(b) Development of gardens using genetically modified flora
(c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas
(d) Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces

Official Verdict: (c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas

The Core Concept: Pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this afforestation technique involves planting dozens of native species closely together in highly degraded or small urban plots (like traffic islands or industrial wastelands). Because the plants are planted so densely, they compete for sunlight, forcing them to grow upward at up to 10 times the normal speed, creating a mature, self-sustaining, biodiversity-rich mini-forest in just 20 to 30 years instead of centuries.

Tethered to: REALM 246: Urban Forestry