ON AN ENDING NOTE: IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan- Environment and Current Affairs [Day 60]

Hello Friends,

So, its the last day of 60 Day Plan. We started with a vision, been with you with dedication and motivated you with passion. All this if not coupled with your dedication, sincerity and hard work will go in vain.

Do you remember the zeal when you came here on Day 1 having the plan in hand? Is it the same today? Will you be able to maintain and keep it up from tomorrow on?

It’s all the ‘Game of Thoughts’ (not Game of Thrones 😛 )

Master your thoughts, nurture them and guide them to achieve your goal!!

It boils down to thoughts ultimately. Yes!

We are taking about the hurdle that you are all about to face in about two weeks- the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. It is of course a big day. After all, it will shape your destiny and decide whether or not you will qualify for the next stage. But then, it will be yet another day for the rest of the world. People will take rest at home, children will play in grounds, couples will visit malls to watch movies and shops will open as usual. To the rest of the world, it will be a Sunday and that’s it. No one else but you value this day as a landmark and that is what gives you cold feet when you think too much about it.

For you the stakes are too high and when stakes are high it is normal for people to panic. It’s just like an Indo-Pak cricket match in a World Cup. Even after having played so many matches, players feel nervous and you know the reason behind it. There is pressure to perform. Doesn’t the same happen to you? This won’t be the first time that you will be writing an exam! Remember your college days. One night of preparation and casual chats with your roommate made you sail through the papers. You hardly bothered about the semester exams. For you, the stakes were never high. But come Prelims, you and your mindset change dramatically. You no longer remain the same casual, easy going and happy go lucky person. You buckle under pressure and negativities surround you. You start doubting your preparation first and then your ability to crack this examination. This doubt creates impediments that inhibit you from giving your best and you even start thinking of abandoning your preparation. As you can see, this is nothing but a vicious cycle of pressure, perception and thoughts perpetuating each other to make you sad and depressed.

 You must not come under its trap. There is no truth to it. The pressure of performance is not a reality. Its a perception. If you are able delink yourself from this perception of pressure, you will succeed. Take for example the interview given by India’s Cricket Captain Virat Kohli on the highly anticipated match with Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. When asked about the pressure with respect to this match, Virat Kohli responded by saying that the encounter with Pakistan will just be another match for him and his team. There is only a perception of this pressure that is created by the media and the hype surrounding it. The same hype has been created around you by your family, friends, websites, magazines and what not. At this point of time time, you need to be like Kohli. Don’t think too much about it. Keep practicing and stop bothering about the hype that is created around this examination.

There are numerous examples around to lift you up. One of them which we like is of Dave Wottle, Olympics, 1972. Just give few minutes to watch and learn a great lesson for life. Never Give Up!

The formula is simple my friends. You set your goal, you make efforts for it, you perform, leave everything else on destiny, wait for the result and accept whatever comes in your way.

Can’t you simply follow this formula?

You can but in most of the cases you won’t. The reason is simple- you have surrounded yourself with many variables that have complicated the equation of success for you. These variables shape your life in many ways. Your family, friends, forums, neighbours, Facebook, youtube, twitter etc affect you in ways that you can’t even comprehend. The need is to focus and by focus we don’t mean that you abandon them completely. It only means that you differentiate between what you have and what you want. Take decisions on merits and not on the basis of perception. You can afford to stay away from social media for the next few weeks and avoid unnecessary friends and relatives (please don’t take it otherwise).

The next few days are going to be crucial. They are like the slog overs of a cricket match. Even if your beginning was slow but you followed the basics, you can accelerate at the right moment. Prepare a right plan for the coming few days, follow that religiously, avoid distractions and remain happy. We are here to help you and have prepared a smart tracker to keep you reminded of your goals.

You can see the results we have got this year. Top Ranker Holders were your fellow mates of this platform. This should act as motivation for your to take that badge of honor for you. Isn’t it?

So, promise us (comment below), you will not only give your best but will also not let any distraction be part of upcoming days. That you will do your best and prove to yourself; nothing is impossible if consistent effort is made. 

All the best

IASbaba Team

Now get back to work and solve these questions 🙂 

[Day 60]: Environment and Current Affairs 

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Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding the Genetic Diversity:

1. Genetic diversity exists between different species and not within the same species.
2. It ensures that some species survive drastic changes and thus carry on the desirable genes.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Consider the following statements:

1. Endemic species are species unique to a defined geographical location.
2. Endemic species are least prone to extinction due to habitat loss.
3. Among animals, insects are the most species rich taxonomical group.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3
3. 1 and 3
4. All of the above

Q.3) Which of the following statements correctly explains the term ‘Bioprospecting’?

1. Finding a new habitat for a vulnerable specie.
2. Artificially mating two different species to get new species.
3. The search for economically valuable genetic and biochemical resources from nature.
4. The search for alternate keystone specie for an ecosystem.

Q.4) According to Indian Forest Report 2015, approximately how much land in India is under forest cover?

1. 35%
2. 15%
3. 24%
4. 18%

Q.5) Which of the following statements are correct about biogeographic Realms?

1. Realm is a continent or sub – continent sized area with unifying features of geography and fauna & flora.
2. The world has been divided into eight biogeographic realms.
3. Neotropical realm covers Central and South America.

Select the code from below:

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 and 3
3. 1 and 3
4. All of the above

Q.6) Which of the following are the examples of Arachnids?

1. Mosquito
2. Tick
3. Spider
4. Scorpion

Select the code from below:

1. 1,2 and 3
2. 2,3 and 4
3. 1,3 and 4
4. All of the above

Q.7) Which of the following are correct differences between angiosperms and gymnospers?

1. Angiosperms have seeds while gymnosperms do not.
2. Angiosperms bear fruits while gymnosperms do not.

Select the code from following:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.8) Which of the following is the correct criterion to keep a specie in Critically endangered list of IUCN red data book?

1. Reduction of population > 50% in last 10 years.
2. Reduction in population size (Less than 50 mature individuals).

Select the code from below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.9) Which of the following statements regarding Namdhapa Flying Squirrel are correct?

1. It is found only in Uttarakhand state of India.
2. Its status is critically Endangered in IUCN red list.
3. It is hunted for food.

Select the code from below:

1. 1, 2 and 3
2. 1 and 2
3. 2 and 3
4. 1 and 3

Q.10) Which of the following statements are correct about the Primary criteria for selection of Biosphere Reserves in India?

1. A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area.
2. It should include Additional land and water suitable for research.
3. Core area should be typical of a biogeographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all tropic levels in the ecosystem.

Select the code from below:

1. 1,2 and 3
2. 1 and 2
3. 2 and 3
4. 1 and 3

Q.11) Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area?

1. Global warming
2. Fragmentation of habitat
3. Invasion of alien species
4. Promotion of vegetarianism

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q.12) Global warming potential (GWP) describes the impact of each gas on global warming. Which of the following gases has the highest GWP?

1. Methane
2. Sulphur hexafluoride
3. CFCs
4. HCFCs

Q.13) Which of the following statements regarding Ocean Acidification are correct?

1. The pH of Oceans in certain areas have gone down less than 7.
2. There is an ongoing decrease in the pH of our oceans because of higher uptake of CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Select the code from below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.14) Consider the following statements regarding IPCC:

1. It has been established by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and World Meteorological Organisation.
2. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.15) Recently Forest and Environment Department of an Indian state learnt tricks from Mankidia tribe to trap monkeys. Where are these tribes found?

1. Western Ghats of Karnataka
2. Odisha
3. Rajasthan
4. Uttar Pradesh

Q.16) Mughal era structure “Khooni Bhandara” in Madhya Pradesh has been recommended by the state for UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. What is it?

1. Dungeon believed to be Mughal prison
2. Arsenal and armoury of Mughals
3. Mughal Fort
4. Underground water management system

Q.17) Consider the following statements on  Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND 4201)

1. It is India’s own standard bar of gold that is 99.99% pure
2. It weighs 25g and is of the dimension of Parle-G biscuit
3. Bars are made by India Government Mint, Measurements would be done by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Certification would be by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory

Select the incorrect statements

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. None of the above

Q.18) NASA named a new bacterium after APJ Abdul Kalam. Where was the bacteria found?

1. Satellite debris
2. International Space Station
3. Kuiper Belt
4. Mars

Q.19) National Institute of Immunology has developed Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP), an indigenous vaccine for

1. Tuberculosis
2. Leprosy
3. Diarrhoea
4. Tetanus

Q.20) ‘Darwaza Band’ campaign launched by Union government is against

1. Domestic violence
2. Child sexual abuse
3. Open defecation
4. Sexual harassment at workplaces

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