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Generate QuizEnvironment – MCQ – GK Questions
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Which of the following best describes the 'Bystander Effect' in the context of environmental collective action?
- Individuals are more likely to act when they see others acting
- Individuals are less likely to take action when they assume others will address the problem
- Everyone acts immediately in environmental emergencies
- Only experts should address environmental issues
Answer: Individuals are less likely to take action when they assume others will address the problem
The bystander effect can hinder environmental action if people diffuse responsibility; clarifying individual roles and creating accountability can counteract this.
Which of the following is a strategy to overcome the 'Intention-Action Gap' in pro-environmental behavior?
- Providing more information only
- Reducing friction - making sustainable actions convenient, affordable, and socially visible
- Ignoring behavioral barriers
- Relying solely on moral appeals
Answer: Reducing friction - making sustainable actions convenient, affordable, and socially visible
Bridging the gap between environmental concern and action requires addressing practical barriers like cost, convenience, and social norms alongside awareness.
Which of the following is an example of a 'default option' nudge for promoting green energy?
- Requiring customers to actively opt-in for renewable energy
- Automatically enrolling customers in green energy plans with an option to opt-out
- Banning non-renewable energy options
- Providing no information about energy sources
Answer: Automatically enrolling customers in green energy plans with an option to opt-out
Default effects leverage inertia; making sustainable choices the default significantly increases adoption while preserving individual choice to switch.
Which behavioral intervention strategy uses 'nudges' to make sustainable choices easier without restricting freedom?
- Command-and-control regulation
- Choice architecture - altering how options are presented to guide decisions
- Complete bans on unsustainable products
- Heavy taxation only
Answer: Choice architecture - altering how options are presented to guide decisions
Nudges, based on behavioral insights, redesign decision contexts (e.g., default options, salient information) to encourage pro-environmental choices while preserving autonomy.
Which of the following is a barrier to pro-environmental behavior change according to behavioral science?
- Clear information and feedback
- Present bias - prioritizing immediate rewards over long-term environmental benefits
- Strong social norms supporting conservation
- Convenient access to recycling facilities
Answer: Present bias - prioritizing immediate rewards over long-term environmental benefits
Behavioral economics identifies cognitive biases like present bias, status quo bias, and lack of immediate feedback as obstacles to adopting sustainable behaviors.
Which of the following best describes 'Greenwashing' in the context of environmental marketing?
- Using eco-friendly packaging
- Making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or practice
- Certifying products through legitimate eco-labels
- Investing in renewable energy
Answer: Making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or practice
Greenwashing deceives consumers by overstating environmental credentials, undermining genuine sustainability efforts and eroding trust in green claims.
Which of the following is a potential impact of 'Space Debris' on the space environment?
- Improving satellite communication
- Risk of collision with operational satellites and spacecraft, creating more debris (Kessler Syndrome)
- Enhancing astronomical observations
- Reducing launch costs
Answer: Risk of collision with operational satellites and spacecraft, creating more debris (Kessler Syndrome)
Accumulated space junk poses collision risks that could trigger cascading debris generation, threatening space infrastructure and future space activities.
Which of the following is a major source of 'Pharmaceutical Pollution' in water bodies?
- Rainwater harvesting
- Improper disposal of unused medicines and excretion of drugs by humans/animals
- Organic farming
- Afforestation
Answer: Improper disposal of unused medicines and excretion of drugs by humans/animals
Pharmaceutical residues enter water systems through sewage, agricultural runoff, and manufacturing effluents, posing risks to aquatic life and potentially human health.
Which of the following is a concern associated with 'Nano-pollution' from engineered nanomaterials?
- They are always biodegradable
- Their small size allows them to penetrate biological barriers and their environmental fate is poorly understood
- They cannot enter food chains
- They have no industrial applications
Answer: Their small size allows them to penetrate biological barriers and their environmental fate is poorly understood
Nanoparticles' unique properties raise concerns about toxicity, bioaccumulation, and long-term ecological impacts, requiring careful risk assessment and regulation.
Which of the following best describes 'Microplastics' as an emerging environmental concern?
- Large plastic items floating in oceans
- Plastic particles less than 5mm in size that persist in environment and enter food chains
- Biodegradable plastic alternatives
- Plastic waste that decomposes within a year
Answer: Plastic particles less than 5mm in size that persist in environment and enter food chains
Microplastics from degraded plastics, microbeads, and fibers accumulate in ecosystems, are ingested by organisms, and pose risks to wildlife and human health.
Which traditional fishing practice in Kerala uses bamboo structures to catch fish sustainably during monsoon?
- Trawling
- Chinese fishing nets (Cheena vala)
- Dynamite fishing
- Bottom trawling
Answer: Chinese fishing nets (Cheena vala)
These stationary lift nets, introduced centuries ago, allow selective fishing with minimal bycatch and are an example of traditional sustainable fishing technology.
Which indigenous practice involves using neem leaves for grain storage to protect against pests?
- Chemical fumigation
- Traditional botanical pest management
- Genetic modification
- Irradiation
Answer: Traditional botanical pest management
Farmers traditionally use neem, turmeric, and other botanicals as natural pesticides for stored grains, reducing chemical use and preserving seed viability.
Which traditional practice involves leaving fields fallow and rotating crops to maintain soil fertility?
- Shifting cultivation
- Crop rotation and fallowing
- Monoculture
- Hydroponics
Answer: Crop rotation and fallowing
Traditional farmers use crop rotation and fallow periods to restore soil nutrients naturally, reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers.
Which traditional water harvesting structure, known as 'Zabo' system, is practiced in which Indian state?
- Rajasthan - Johad
- Nagaland - Zabo
- Tamil Nadu - Eri
- Uttarakhand - Naula
Answer: Nagaland - Zabo
The Zabo system of Nagaland integrates water conservation, forestry, and agriculture by channeling rainwater from hilltops to terraced fields and ponds.
Which indigenous community in India is known for the 'Apatani' traditional agricultural system that integrates rice-fish cultivation in Ziro Valley?
- Naga tribes
- Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh
- Bodo tribe of Assam
- Santhal tribe of Jharkhand
Answer: Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh
The Apatani wet rice cultivation system, recognized by FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), sustainably integrates fish farming with paddy fields.
Which case led to the ban on mining activities in the Aravalli range to protect ecological balance?
- T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India
- M.C. Mehta vs Union of India (Aravalli Mining Case)
- Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India
- Narmada Bachao Andolan vs Union of India
Answer: M.C. Mehta vs Union of India (Aravalli Mining Case)
The Supreme Court restricted mining in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli hills of Haryana and Rajasthan to prevent deforestation, soil erosion, and water depletion.
Which case is associated with the judicial recognition of the 'Right to Clean Environment' as part of the Right to Life under Article 21?
- Subhash Kumar vs State of Bihar
- M.C. Mehta vs Union of India
- Both A and B
- Neither A nor B
Answer: Both A and B
In Subhash Kumar (1991) and multiple M.C. Mehta cases, the Supreme Court interpreted Article 21 to include the right to pollution-free air and water as fundamental to life.
Which case dealt with the issue of noise pollution from firecrackers and established guidelines for their use?
- Forum for People's Collective Efforts vs State of West Bengal
- Noise Pollution (V) vs Union of India
- M.C. Mehta vs Union of India
- S. Jagannath vs Union of India
Answer: Noise Pollution (V) vs Union of India
In this 2005 case, the Supreme Court laid down comprehensive guidelines regulating the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers to control noise and air pollution.
Which case established the principle that 'Sustainable Development' is part of Indian law under Article 21?
- Subhash Kumar vs State of Bihar
- Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India
- M.C. Mehta vs Kamal Nath
- Narmada Bachao Andolan vs Union of India
Answer: Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India
In this 1996 case, the Supreme Court explicitly recognized Sustainable Development, Precautionary Principle, and Polluter Pays Principle as part of Indian environmental law.
In which landmark case did the Supreme Court of India introduce the concept of 'Absolute Liability' for hazardous industries?
- M.C. Mehta vs Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case)
- Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India
- T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India
- Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action vs Union of India
Answer: M.C. Mehta vs Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case)
In the 1987 Oleum Gas Leak case, the Supreme Court held that enterprises engaged in hazardous activities have absolute liability for any harm caused, without exceptions.