Environment & Ecology MCQs

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is the nodal ministry responsible for the development and promotion of all forms of renewable energy in India, including offshore wind energy.

The Gujarat coast has been identified as the primary location for India's first offshore wind energy project, with a target capacity of 1 GW. This project is being developed by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

The release of hydrogen ions (H+) increases the acidity of the water, which is measured as a decrease in pH. A lower pH indicates higher acidity.

Ocean acidification reduces the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential building blocks for the shells and skeletons of calcifying organisms like corals, oysters, clams, and other shellfish.

Ocean acidification is caused by the uptake of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by the oceans, leading to a decrease in seawater pH.

India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Healthy wetlands act as natural filters, purifying water by removing pollutants, and also serve as sponges, absorbing excess water and mitigating floods, thereby providing essential ecosystem services.

The term 'Sanrakshan Abhiyan' (conservation campaign) for 'Amrit Sarovar' (nectar ponds/water bodies) implies a focus on the rejuvenation, protection, and sustainable management of water bodies, which includes wetlands, to enhance their ecological services.

The '30x30' target, a key component of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aims to effectively conserve and manage at least 30% of the world's land and sea areas by 2030.

Habitat loss and degradation, driven by land-use change, agriculture, and urbanization, is consistently identified by UNEP and other scientific bodies as the leading direct driver of biodiversity loss.