Environment and Sustainable Development

91. With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate- Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statement is/are correct? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]

1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:Statement (1) is incorrect because the concept of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was originally developed by FAO in 2010 through the paper "Climate Smart Agriculture: Policies, Practices and Financing for food security, Adaptation and Mitigation." In 2014 an alliance was set up with this issue as its focal point: the GASCA (Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture). 014
Statement (2) is correct because membership in the Alliance does not create any binding obligations. 012
Statement (3) is incorrect because India is just a signatory.

92. With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of "Conservation Agriculture" assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]

Avoiding monoculture practices.
Adopting minimum tillage.
Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops.
using crop residues to cover the soil surface.
Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing /crop rotations.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 3 and 4
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 5

Correct Answer: (c) 2, 4 and 5

Solution:Conservation Agriculture (CA) can be defined by a statement given by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations as "a concept for resource - saving agricultural crop production that strives to achieve acceptable profits together with high and sustained production level while concurrently conserving the environment." Minimum tillage and soil disturbance. Permanent soil cover with crop residues and live mulches. Crop rotation and inter-cropping are the principles of Conservation Agriculture.

93. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the codes given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

Assertion (A) : India is a case of an over-urbanised country.

Reason (R) : most of the large cities in India do not have adequate infrastructure.

Codes:

(a) Both (A) and (B) are correct and (R) explains (A).
(b) Both (A) and (B) are correct but (R) does not explains (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (d) (A) is false but (R) is true.

Solution:According to the census of 2011 approximately 121 crore people (68.9%) still live in rural areas as compared to 37.7 crores (31.1%) people living in the urban areas. Although the rate of urbanization in India is high yet the process lacks solutions to provide basic infrastructural amenities like Drinking water, Transport, Sanitation, Electricity, etc.

94. A country's natural capital included all of the following except: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

(a) Forest
(b) Water
(c) Roads
(d) Minerals

Correct Answer: (c) Roads

Solution:Natural capital includes all renewable and non-renewable environmental resources. It includes air, water, land, minerals and forests. In other words only those resources, which are created by nature, without any human interference, can be deemed as natural capital. Hence, roads cannot be included in the country's natural capital.

95. Which one of the following is not the objective of smart city development? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Good governance
(b) Clean green city
(c) Stabilizing quality of life
(d) Smart Mobility

Correct Answer: (c) Stabilizing quality of life

Solution:The Smart City Mission is an innovative and new initiative by the Government of India to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local development and harnessing technology as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens. The core infrastructure elements of the mission are-
* Adequate water supply.
* Assured electricity supply.
* Sanitation including solid waste management.
* Efficient urban mobility and public transport.
* Affordable housing, especially for the poor.
* Robust IT connectivity and digitalization.
* Good Governance, especially e-Governance and people's participation.
* Sustainable environment.
* Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly.
* Health and Education.