GK Questions NCERT Solutions (Part-5)

Correct Answer – Deciduous forest

The Moist deciduous forests are more pronounced in the regions which record rainfall between 100-200 cm. These forests are found in the northeastern states along the foothills of the Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha. Teak, sal, shisham, hurra, mahua, amla, semul, Kusum, and sandalwood etc. are the main species of these forests.Dry deciduous forest covers vast areas of the country, where rainfall ranges between 70 -100 cm. On the wetter margins, it has a transition to the moist deciduous, while on the drier margins to thorn forests. These forests are found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

In the higher rainfall regions of the Peninsular plateau and the northern Indian plain, these forests have a parkland landscape with open stretches in which teak and other trees interspersed with patches of grass are common. As the dry season begins, the trees shed their leaves completely, and the forest appears like a vast grassland with naked trees all around. Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, axlewood, etc. are the common trees of these forests. In the western and southern part of Rajasthan, vegetation cover is very scanty due to low rainfall and overgrazing.

Correct Answer – to protect tigers from illegal hunting

Special schemes like Project Tiger (1973) and Project Elephant (1992) have been launched to conserve these species and their habitat in a sustainable manner. Project Tiger has been implemented since 1973. The main objective of the scheme is to ensure maintenance of the viable population of tigers in India for scientific, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values, and to preserve areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the people. Initially, the Project Tiger was launched in nine tiger reserves, covering an area of 16,339 sq. Km, which has now increased to 44 tiger reserves, encompassing 36,988.28 sq. Km of core tiger habitats distributed in 17 states. The tiger population in the country has registered an increase from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010.

Correct Answer – Uttarakhand

The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve situated in Uttarakhand includes parts of Chamoli, Almora, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts. The major forest types of the reserve are temperate. A few important species are Silver weed and orchids like Latifolie and rhododendron. The biosphere reserve has a rich fauna, for example, the snow leopard, black bear, brown bear, musk deer, snowcock, golden eagle and black eagle. Major threats to the ecosystem are the collection of endangered plants for medicinal use, forest fires and poaching.

Correct Answer – Ten

A Biosphere Reserve is a unique and representative ecosystem of terrestrial and coastal areas which are internationally recognised within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme. There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India; Ten Biosphere Reserves have been recognised by the UNESCO on World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Nilgiri 01.08.1986
Nanda Devi 18.01.1988
Nokrek 01.09.1988
Manas 14.03.1989
Sunderban 29.03.1989
Gulf of Mannar 18.02.1989
Great Nicobar 06.01.1989
Similipal 21.06.1994
Pachmarhi 03.03.1999
Achanakmar-Amarkantak 30.03.2005

Correct Answer – 33

Forests have an intricate interrelationship with life and environment. These provide numerous direct and indirect advantages to our economy and society. Hence, conservation of forest is of vital importance to the survival and prosperity of humankind. Accordingly, the Government of India proposed to have a nation-wide forest conservation policy and adopted a forest policy in 1952, which was further modified in 1988. According to the new forest policy, the Government will emphasise sustainable forest management to conserve and expand forest reserve on the one hand, and to meet the needs of local people on the other.

The forest policy aimed at (i) bringing 33 percent of the geographical areas under forest cover; (ii) maintaining environmental stability and to restore forests where ecological balance was disturbed; (iii) conserving the natural heritage of the country, its biological diversity and genetic pool; (iv) checks soil erosion, extension of the desert lands and reduction of floods and droughts; (v) increasing the forest cover through social forestry and afforestation on degraded land; (vi ) increasing the productivity of forests to make timber, fuel, fodder and food available to rural population dependant on forests, and encourage the substitution of wood; (vii) creating of a massive peoples movement involving women to encourage planting of trees, stop felling of trees and thus, reduce pressure on the existing forest.

Correct Answer – North-Eastern monsoon

During October and November, northeast monsoon while crossing over the Bay of Bengal, picks up moisture and causes torrential rainfall over the Tamil Nadu coast, southern Andhra Pradesh, southeast Karnataka and southeast Kerala.

Here it is important to know why the Tamil Nadu coast remains dry during this season. There are two factors responsible for it: (i) The Tamil Nadu coast is situated parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch of southwest monsoon. (ii) It lies in the rainshadow area of the Arabian Sea.

Correct Answer – One-third

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and south-western part of Jammu and Kashmir. These areas have an annual rainfall of over 100 cm. A variability of over 50 per cent exists in the western part of Rajasthan, the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir and interior parts of the Deccan plateau. These areas have an annual rainfall of less than 50 cm. Rest of India have a variability of 25-50 per cent, and these areas receive an annual rainfall between 50 -100 cm.

Correct Answer – The Brahmaputra

Majuli (Assam), the largest riverine island in the world, is the best example of good paddy crops after the annual floods in the Brahmaputra.

Correct Answer – Atmospheric

Search – Black blizzard in Western Kansas, 14 April 1935

Classification of Natural Disasters

Atmospheric- Blizzards, Thunderstorms, Lightning, Tornadoes, Hailstorm Frost, Heat Wave or Loo.Cold Waves, etc.

Terrestrial- Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, Avalanches, Soil Erosion, Subsidence, Landslides

Aquatic- Tsunami, Floods, Tidal WavesOcean Currents, Storm Surge

Biological Plants and Animals as colonisers (Locusts, etc.). Insects infestation— fungal, bacterial and viral diseases such as bird flu, dengue, etc.