Q83. In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation techniques? 1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature. 2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. 3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to 1. Resist drought and increase absorptive area

There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in the manufacture of various products. Why? 1. They c

With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements: 1. PF

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrat

Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants? 1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into the environment. 2. The copper slag can cause

What is/are the advantage/ advantages of zero tillage in agriculture? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of the previous crop. 2. Withou

What is the use of biochar in farming? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farming. 2. When biochar is a part of the growing medi

Recombination DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferred: 1. Across different species of plants 2. From animals to plants 3. From micro

Recently, “oilzapper” was in the news. What is it?

In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, which of the following can be potential sites for ca

With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements: 1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capa

With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future? 1. Genome sequenc

Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Flowering plants Some species of which of the above kinds of organisms employ biopesticides?

Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen int

It is possible to produce algae based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry? 1. Production of al

With reference to Neem tree, consider the following statements: 1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to control the proliferation of some species of insects a

Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are used to create digital displays in many devices. What are the advantages of OLED displays over Liquid Crystal displays

Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution: (a) Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world. (b) Coal-based thermal p

In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements: 1. The main ad

With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following statements: 1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removi

With reference to ‘stem cells’, frequently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Stem cells can be derived from mammals only. 2. Ste

Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard. After the addition of lead to petrol has been banned, what still are the sources of lead poisoning? 1. Smelting u

Consider the following statements: 1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues. 2. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces. 3.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

What are the possible limitations of India in mitigating the global warming at present and in the immediate future? 1. Appropriate alternate technologies are no

Consider the following statements: The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at: 1. Expanding the cultivable area under irrigation. 2. Enabling the banks t

What is the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the water purification systems? 1. It inactivates/kills the harmful microorganisms in water. 2. It removes all

Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences? 1. Pollination of s

Consider the following statements: 1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into the environment. 2. Cattle release ammonia into the environment. 3. Poultr

What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture? 1. Proliferation of nitrogen fixing microorganisms in soil can

With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fly ash can be used in the pro

When reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements: 1. They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body. 2. They can be m

There is a concern over the increase in harmful algal blooms in the seawaters of India. What could be the causative factors for this phenomenon? 1. Discharge of

Consider the following statements: 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent. 2. A person’s genome c

What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? 1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible. 2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate

With reference to the usefulness of the byproducts of the sugar industry, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Bagasse can be used as biomass fu

With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced. 2. It is the only means of ir

Consider the following statements: 1. The boundaries of a National Park are defined by legislation. 2. A Biosphere Reserve is declared to conserve a few specifi

Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the following statements is/ar

Consider the following statements: DNA Barcoding can be a tool to: 1. Assess the age of a plant or animal. 2. Distinguish among species that look alike. 3. Iden

Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practicing drip irrigation? 1. Reduction in weed 2. Reduction in soil salinity 3. Reduction in-soil er

Which of the following statements can help in water conservation in agriculture? 1. Reduced or zero tillage of the land 2. Applying gypsum before irrigating th

How does the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting Indian Agriculture? 1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects the indigenous and traditiona

Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but a lot of it does not remain in the lower at

Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Plants Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in river beds? 1. Decreased salinity in the river 2. Pollution of groundwater 3. L

Consider the following statements: 1. The boundaries of a National Park are defined by legislation. 2. A Biosphere Reserve is declared to conserve a few specifi

Consider the following activities: 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes 3. Collecting breath samples from spouti

The term ‘Core Banking Solution’ is sometimes seen in the news. Which of the following statements best describes/describe this term? 1. It is a network of a ban

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants? 1. Vegetative propagation produces a clonal population. 2. Vegetati

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of energy 2. Viruses can be cultured in any synthetic med

Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage In the context of global climate change, which of the abov

At present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes of DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us? 1. It

Which of the following statements is/are correct? Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to: 1. protectio

Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? 1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these dep

Consider the following statements: 1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water. 2. Some microorganisms can

Brominated flame retardants are used in many household products like mattresses and upholstery. Why is there some concern about their use? 1. They are highly re

In which of the following are hydrogels used? 1. Controlled drug delivery in patients 2. Mobile air-conditioning systems 3. Preparation of industrial lubricants

With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements: 1. It is a product of oil refineries. 2. Some industries use it to generate power. 3

Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutants from which of the following? 1. Brakes o

The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for (a) Assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world (b) E

What is blue carbon? (a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems (b) Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils (c) Carbon c

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning 4. Using varn

According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? 1. Cassava 2. Da

Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the: (a) long-term damag

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1.