NATURE'S FINEST
The Bengal tiger, which features a striking orange coat and bold black stripes, is a symbol of power and elegance in the animal world. Interestingly, each Bengal tiger has a unique stripe pattern. Credit : PEXELS
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Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Bengal slow loris rescued in Tinsukia
Dibrugarh: A Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis), an endangered primate species, was rescued from a village in Tinsukia district on Sunday. The animal, locally known as "lajuki bandar", was found in the backyard orchard of one Kishore Chetry in Samukjan village, located in the Ledo area. The nocturnal primate, known for its slow and shy movements, was spotted early in the morning by Chetry, who immediately alerted the forest department. Officials arrived promptly and took custody of the animal, ensuring its safe transfer for a veterinary health check-up before releasing it back into its natural habitat.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Barak Valley, Montreux Record and more (Week 113)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Environment and Geography to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at The Barak Valley has been affected by the floods. The Barak sub-basin lies in: 1. Assam 2. Manipur 3. Sikkim 4. Mizoram Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4 Explanation — Assam's flood situation remained dire, affecting 2.57 lakh people across 21 districts and resulting in 12 deaths in the state. — More than 94,000 people were affected in the Barak Valley in Sribhumi district alone. — The Barak sub-basin drains portions of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The drainage area of the site in India is 41723 square kilometres, accounting for about 1.38% of the country's total geographical area. — The sub-basin lies in the States of Meghalaya. Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Other Source: With reference to the Sundarbans mangrove forest, consider the following statements: 1. It lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. 2. It is a World Heritage site which was inscribed in 1987. 3. It lies on the India-Myanmar border. 4. It is the world's second-largest contiguous mangrove forest. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Explanation — Amid the Centre's crackdown on illegal immigration and cross-border terror networks, the Border Security Force (BSF) has asked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for assistance in deploying advanced surveillance systems such as drones, radars, and satellites along a critical 113-kilometer stretch of the Sundarbans on the India-Bangladesh border. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — The Sundarbans Reserve Forest (SRF), located in the south-west of Bangladesh between the rivers Baleswar and Harinbanga, and bordering the Bay of Bengal, is the world's biggest contiguous mangrove forest. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. — The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the world's largest (140,000 acres), is located on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It is near India's Sundarbans World Heritage Site, which was designated in 1987. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — The area is recognised for its diverse wildlife, which includes 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger, and other threatened species like the estuarine crocodile and Indian python. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Other Source: The region 'thermal equator' refers to: (a) The region which receives the maximum heat from the Sun and is distinct from the geographical equator (b) A belt of low pressure near the equator where trade winds converge (c) A theoretical line or zone encircling Earth with the most stable and high-temperature climate (d) A boundary between the cold polar air and the warm tropical air, typically found between 50° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres. Explanation — According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the Southwest Monsoon began over Kerala on Saturday (May 24), eight days earlier than its average onset date of June 1. — According to the IMD, seasonal wind reversal is caused by annual variations in the Sun's apparent location between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. — This causes the thermal equator, the region which receives the maximum heat from the Sun and is distinct from the geographical equator, to oscillate. — The southwest monsoon is the southwesterly wind that brings rain to the subcontinent, usually from June to September. The 2025 monsoon season began bringing over 70% of the country's yearly rainfall. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Mount Etna, sometimes referred to simply as Etna, is an active volcano in: (a) Philippines (b) United States (c) Indonesia (d) Italy Explanation — Mount Etna, Europe's largest volcano, erupted explosively, spewing a massive cloud of ash, smoke, and rock fragments several kilometres into the sky. — Mount Etna, also known simply as Etna, is an active volcano on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located just off the toe of the Italian 'boot'. Etna's peak is the highest in Italy south of the Alps, and it is Europe's greatest active volcano. — Etna's summit contains five craters that are responsible for the majority of the volcano's eruptions. 'Flank' eruptions also occur at the mountain's 300-odd vents, which vary in magnitude. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Which of the following statements with reference to the Aravalli Green Wall Project are correct? 1. It aims to improve the ecological health of the Aravalli range. 2. Its objective is to prevent the westward expansion of the Thar Desert. 3. The wall will help in carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change. 4. This project spans the states of Rajasthan and Haryana only. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Explanation — Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Centre's Aravalli Green Wall initiative on June 5, World Environment Day, to prevent desertification and repair degraded land in four states. — The Aravalli Range, one of the world's oldest, extends across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. — The Aravalli Green Wall Project's objectives are as follows: (i) Improving ecological health in the Aravalli range. Hence, statement 1 is correct. (ii) To halt the eastward spread of the Thar Desert and reduce land degradation by establishing green barriers that will prevent soil erosion, desertification, and dust storms. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. (iii) This green wall will contribute to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation by planting native tree species in the Aravalli range, providing a home for wildlife, and enhancing water quality and quantity. Hence, statement 3 is correct. (iv) Encourage sustainable development and livelihood opportunities by incorporating local populations in activities such as afforestation, agroforestry, and water conservation that produce revenue, employment, food security, and social benefits. (v) Contribute to India's commitments under international agreements such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Other Source: Consider the following statements: 1. The Champions of the Earth award is the UN's highest environmental honour. 2. Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil received the Lifetime Achievement (The Champions of the Earth award) in 2024. Which of the above statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation According to UNEP: — Established in 2005, the Champions of the Earth award is the UN's highest environmental honour. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Every year, UNEP honours individuals and organizations working on innovative and sustainable solutions. Champions transform our economies, innovate, lead political change, fight environmental injustice, and defend our natural resources. — The 2025 award spotlights outstanding climate action focusing on solutions on methane, buildings and construction, sustainable cooling, clean air, and forests. — Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil received the Lifetime Achievement (The Champions of the Earth award) in 2024. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. 'Tiger My Life, Ranthambhore and Beyond' is authored by: (a) Dr. Salim Ali (b) Billy Arjan Singh (c) Valmik Thapar (d) Kota Ullas Karanth Explanation — Valmik Thapar, a towering figure in Indian wildlife conservation and one of the country's most passionate advocates for the tiger, died recently at his residence on Kautilya Marg in New Delhi. He was 73 and was diagnosed with cancer last year. — In 1987, Thapar set up Ranthambhore Foundation, a non-profit that worked for integrating local communities into conservation efforts. He also partnered with the non-profit Dastkar to create livelihoods for displaced villagers. — In his book 'Tiger My Life, Ranthambhore and Beyond', Thapar, in 2012, summed up what he called his mission: 'My fight was always for inviolate spaces—where the tiger could live free, away from noise, away from humans.' Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. What is the 'Montreux Record'? (a) It is a book compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) documents climate-related hazards around the world, providing critical data to support risk assessment, preparedness, and climate resilience efforts. (b) It is a record comprising data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and serves as a foundation for charting an ambitious path forward to expand this critical indicator of the health of the world's biodiversity. (c) It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. (d) None of the above Explanation As per — 'The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation 4.8 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990). Resolution 5.4 of the Conference (1993) determined that the Montreux Record should be employed to identify priority sites for positive national and international conservation attention.' Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 113) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 112) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 112) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
5 key facts about World Environment Day 2025
Lifestyle Desk Date and Host Country It will be observed on June 5, 2025 and Hosted by South Korea. Source: Pexels Why is Pride Month celebrated in June?
