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Practice conventions-and-laws with 20 free MCQ questions covering environment-and-ecology. Detailed explanations in English and Hindi, perfect for UPSC, SSC, and competitive exam preparation.
Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.
Q1.Who was the legendary environmentalist and leader of the Chipko Movement who coined the famous slogan 'Ecology is permanent economy' and undertook extensive foot marches in the Himalayas?
Explanation: Sunderlal Bahuguna was a primary leader of the Chipko Movement. He popularized the movement globally, fasted to protest the Tehri Dam construction, and coined the slogan 'Ecology is permanent economy' to emphasize the economic value of intact forests.
Q2.Which environmental pioneer co-founded the 'Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh' (DGSS) in Gopeshwar in 1964, which later became the organizational nursery of the Chipko Movement?
Explanation: Chandi Prasad Bhatt co-founded DGSS in 1964, promoting local community-based forest management and small industries. When commercial logging was permitted over local use in 1973, Bhatt pioneered the tree-hugging ('chipko') protest model, for which he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982.
Q3.In 1983, a grassroots environmental movement modeled on Chipko was launched in Karnataka to protect the Western Ghats forests. Led by Pandurang Hegde, this movement is called:
Explanation: The Appiko Movement ('Appiko' in Kannada means 'to hug') was launched in September 1983 in Salkani forest of Sirsi taluk, Karnataka. Led by Pandurang Hegde, it aimed to save natural forests of the Western Ghats from commercial felling, promoting forest growth and rational use.
Q4.What was the famous three-word slogan of the Appiko Movement in Karnataka, indicating its core conservation goals?
Explanation: The slogan of the Appiko Movement in Kannada is: 'Ulisu' (to save natural forests), 'Belesu' (to grow forest trees on bare land), and 'Balasu' (to use forest resources rationally), showing a highly practical approach to sustainable forestry.
Q5.The historic 'Silent Valley Movement' of the 1970s and 1980s in Kerala was launched to protest against a proposed hydroelectric project across which river?
Explanation: The Silent Valley protest was directed against a hydroelectric dam project on the Kunthipuzha River inside the Silent Valley forest. Environmentalists feared the dam would submerge 8.3 sq km of unique, untouched tropical evergreen rainforests, rich in endemic species.
Q6.Which of the following endemic, endangered primate species served as the flagship symbol of conservation during the Silent Valley Movement in Kerala?
Explanation: The Lion-tailed Macaque is a highly endangered primate endemic to the Western Ghats. The Silent Valley forest hosts one of the largest remaining contiguous populations of this species. Protecting its habitat became the primary focus of the save Silent Valley movement.
Q7.The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), launched in 1985 to protest the construction of large dams across the Narmada River, has been primarily led by which social activist?
Explanation: Medha Patkar is the primary founder and leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. She organized local tribal (Adivasi) populations, farmers, and environmentalists to protest the Sardar Sarovar Dam, focusing on submersion zones and rehabilitation failures.
Q8.Which renowned Gandhian social reformer and activist joined Medha Patkar in the Narmada Bachao Andolan, fasting and living in submergence-threatened villages along the river?
Explanation: Baba Amte (Murlidhar Devidas Amte), famous for his work with leprosy patients, strongly supported the NBA. He moved to the banks of the Narmada River in 1990 to live in 'Narmada Nijabal' (a village threatened by submergence) to express solidarity with the displaced tribal communities.
Q9.The Joint Forest Management (JFM) model, which involves local communities protecting forests in return for non-timber forest products, successfully originated in 1971 in which degraded Sal forest range of West Bengal?
Explanation: JFM originated in the Arabari forest range of Midnapore district, West Bengal. A forest officer, A.K. Banerjee, involved local villagers in protecting 1,272 hectares of degraded Sal forest. In return, villagers got employment in silviculture and 25% share in the harvest of timber, regenerating the forest rapidly.
Q10.Which environmentalist, popularly known as the 'Waterman of India', won the Stockholm Water Prize in 2015 for reviving several seasonal rivers in dry Rajasthan using traditional rainwater storage tanks (johads)?
Explanation: Rajendra Singh is an environmentalist from Alwar, Rajasthan. Heading the NGO 'Tarun Bharat Sangh', he led community efforts to construct thousands of 'johads' (earth check dams), successfully reviving five dry rivers (Arvari, Ruparel, Sarsa, Bhagani, and Jahajwali) and rising the water table.
Q11.The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan follows 29 ecological and spiritual tenets established in the 15th century by which religious Guru?
Explanation: The Bishnoi sect was founded in 1485 AD by Guru Jambheshwar (Jambhoji) in Rajasthan. He laid down 29 rules (Bishnoi means 'twenty-nine' in local dialect), which strictly command his followers to protect green trees and wildlife, banning any killing of animals or cutting of green trees.
Q12.Who was the legendary Indian ornithologist and naturalist, often called the 'Birdman of India', who conducted systematic bird surveys across India and authored key guides on Indian birds?
Explanation: Dr. Salim Ali (Salim Moizuddin Abdul Ali) was an influential Indian ornithologist. He was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys across India. He was instrumental in establishing the Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) and conserving Silent Valley.
Q13.Which of the following is India's oldest non-governmental conservation organization, founded in 1883, dedicated to scientific research in natural history and wildlife protection?
Explanation: The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) was founded on September 15, 1883. It is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research, famously associated with Dr. Salim Ali and publishing research journals.
Q14.The prestigious annual award instituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1987 to honor individuals or organizations for significant, lifetime contributions to environmental protection is the:
Explanation: The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP) was instituted in 1987. It is awarded annually to individuals and organizations (like NGOs or research bodies) who have made significant, measurable, and lasting contributions in environmental protection and conservation.
Q15.Which of the following environmental activists led the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' to focus international attention on the ecological and human rehabilitation costs of the Sardar Sarovar Dam?
Explanation: Medha Patkar filed petitions, led long hunger strikes, and organized mass mobilizations to highlight the loss of fertile agricultural lands and displacement of indigenous tribal communities without proper rehabilitation under the Sardar Sarovar project.
Q16.In 1974, when contractors arrived to fell trees in Reni village (Chamoli, Uttarakhand), which local woman led the village women to hug the trees, forcing the contractors to withdraw?
Explanation: Gaura Devi was a simple village woman who led the women's wing of the local cooperative. On 26 March 1974, when the village men were away, loggers arrived. Gaura Devi and 27 other women stood in front of the trees, hugged them, and blocked the axes, initiating the first major successful Chipko protest in the region.
Q17.Which of the following describes the key achievement of the Silent Valley Movement in India?
Explanation: As a result of intense protests by local citizens, scientists, and NGOs (like KSSP - Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad), the Prime Minister of India (Indira Gandhi) intervened. The dam project was cancelled, and in 1984, Silent Valley was officially declared a National Park, preserving its pristine ecosystem.
Q18.The Narmada Bachao Andolan raised serious concerns regarding which of the following dams, the largest structure in the Narmada Valley Project?
Explanation: The Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat is the cornerstone of the Narmada Valley Project. Protests under the NBA focused on the height of this dam, as each increase in height expanded the reservoir basin, submerging more forest and agricultural land in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Q19.The 'Waterman of India', Rajendra Singh, founded which non-governmental organization in Rajasthan to lead water restoration and community campaigns?
Explanation: Rajendra Singh founded Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) in 1975. Initially focused on education and health, the NGO shifted to community-led water harvesting in Alwar in 1985, constructing over 8,600 'johads' (earth structures) to capture rainwater and restore dry rivers.
Q20.Which prestigious wildlife conservation award has been instituted by the Government of India to honor forest officers, wildlife researchers, and communities for exemplary field conservation services?
Explanation: The Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Award is given annually by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to individuals (such as forest staff, scientists) and institutions (like wildlife NGOs) for outstanding work in the field of wildlife conservation and research.
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