Environment & Ecology MCQs - 2026-08-04

Sustainable development in the Himalayas requires careful and stringent land-use planning, eco-friendly and resilient infrastructure, and active involvement of local communities in conservation efforts to balance development with environmental protection.

Unplanned urbanization in the Himalayas strains local water sources due to increased demand, leads to inadequate waste disposal polluting rivers and springs, and puts immense pressure on other local natural resources, creating severe environmental degradation.

Urbanization in the Himalayas leads to infrastructure development, deforestation, and increased human activity, resulting in habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, and destabilization of slopes, making them more prone to landslides and other natural disasters.

Mangroves thrive in saline or brackish water environments and are not a source of freshwater for large-scale agricultural irrigation. Their primary benefits include coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and providing habitat for marine life.

The MISHTI scheme leverages existing programs like MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) Fund, and other sources to achieve its mangrove restoration goals, ensuring efficient resource utilization.

The MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 to restore and conserve mangroves along India's coastline and salt pans, promoting sustainable livelihoods. It remains a key initiative in 2026.