1. The Indus Suture Zone (ISZ), which was seen in news recently, is found in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] Sikkim
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Ladakh
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Explanation: As per a recent study conducted by a group of scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, the Indus Suture Zone (ISZ) in the Ladakh region, has been found to be tectonically active. The zone, where the Indian and Asian Plates are joined, has been till date considered as a locked zone. WIHG is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. The study has been published recently in the journal ‘Technophysics’. ©navclasses
2. As per the statement of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), which monsoon has completely withdrawn from India?
[A] Southwest monsoon
[B] Northeast monsoon
[C] Retreating monsoon
[D] Winter Monsoon
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Explanation: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that southwest monsoon has completely withdrawn from India on 28th October, 2020. The IMD has also stated that the northeast monsoon has commenced. Under the influence of North East Monsoon (also known as retreating monsoon), there would be ample rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. ©navclasses
3. Panna Biosphere Reserve, which is seen in news recently, is located in which state?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Karnataka
[D] Madhya Pradesh
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Explanation: The Panna Biosphere Reserve that is located in Madhya Pradesh, has been included in the UNESCO’s “World Network of Biosphere Reserves”. Additionally, Fuvahmulah and Addu Atoll of Maldives have also been included in the list. Panna is a critical tiger habitat in India and it was accorded Biosphere Reserve status by Government of India in 2011. ©navclasses
4. As per a recent study by ‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’, the Coral reefs of which country is found to have degraded significantly?
[A] India
[B] United States
[C] Australia
[D] France
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Explanation: As per a first of its kind assessment of coral reefs in U.S. waters by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Maryland, the reefs off the Florida coast are the most degraded, with 2% remaining. The sensitive underwater ecosystems are said to have recorded a continued decline. These ecosystems are essential to the health of the world’s oceans, as per the researchers. ©navclasses
5.Which country launched ‘Vulture Action Plan 2020-25’, to actively increase the number of vultures?
[A] Australia
[B] China
[C] India
[D] Brazil
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Explanation: Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has recently launched a Vulture Action Plan 2020-25. As the number of vultures has seen a steep decline in India, this project aims for the conservation and active increase in the number of vultures in the country. There are nine recorded species of vultures in India and four of them are in critically endangered state. ©navclasses
6. Which state has implemented a PPP model for rescue and rehabilitation of leopards?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Haryana
[C] Jammu and Kashmir
[D] Gujarat
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Explanation: As many as 12 leopards from Sakkar Baug Zoological Park, which came in conflict with the humans, have been transferred to a private rehabilitation centre by Gujarat Forest Department. The leopard’s maintenance would be done in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode by the Government of Gujarat and Reliance Industries Ltd- RIL’s Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom. This is the first of its kind PPP model for protection of wild animals in India. ©navclasses
7. India’s Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA), formed recently has how many members?
[A] 5
[B] 11
[C] 17
[D] 25
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Explanation: The Indian Government has constituted a Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA). It was formed through a gazette notification. The committee comprises of 17 members. It is entrusted with the responsibility of formulating policies and programmes for implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under Paris Agreement 2015. The Secretary of Union Environment Minister would be the Chairperson. ©navclasses
8. As per a recent study by the IIT-Kharagpur, which region of India is named as the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3)?
[A] Southern Coastal region
[B] Indo-Gangetic Plain
[C] Deccan Plateau
[D] Western Ghats
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Explanation: According to researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is the global hot-spot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3). This is due to concentrated agricultural activities and fertilizer production in the region. The satellite data of agricultural emissions show that atmospheric ammonia is related with total fertilizer consumption and temperature. ©navclasses
9.Lesser florican birds, tagged in which Indian state, has flown to Telangana recently?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Gujarat
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Rajasthan
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Explanation: One of the two lesser florican birds that was tagged by the Gujarat forest department has flown all the way to the state of Telangana. The bird was tagged at the Blackbuck National Park (BBNP), Velavadar, in Bhavnagar. This has confirmed a research finding that lesser florican birds migrate to peninsular India from the western part of India after their breeding season. ©navclasses
10.The National Green Tribunal has directed which state to prepare an action plan for 14 proposed elephant corridors?
[A] Tamil Nadu
[B] Kerala
[C] Odisha
[D] Maharashtra
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Explanation: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Odisha government to prepare an action plan within three months on 14 identified elephant corridors. The State government had proposed 14 corridors, for providing stress-free migration to elephants from one habitation to another in the state. The 870 sq km-area proposal did not record any progress and so NGT issued directions to the state. ©navclasses
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