Environment & Ecology MCQs - 2026-06-15

The Himalayan glaciers feed major river systems like the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mekong, Yangtze, and Yellow River, which are vital for water supply across large parts of Asia.

Initially, increased meltwater might lead to higher river flows, but as glaciers shrink, the long-term water supply will diminish, leading to scarcity. Accelerated melting also increases the risk of GLOFs.

The report highlights that the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, which are a major source of freshwater for many Asian rivers, directly impacts the water availability and security for millions of people in downstream regions.

Biodiversity hotspots face threats from habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, urban development, and changes in environmental conditions like rainfall, necessitating the creation of new protected areas.

The Western Ghats are renowned for their high levels of endemism across various taxa and possess unique ecosystems like rainforests and shola grasslands, making them vital for conservation efforts.

The Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot, and new protected areas are often established to conserve species found nowhere else on Earth, which are known as endemic species.