Q41. The High-Level Working Group (HLWG) led by K.R. Kasturirangan was constituted to evaluate which report on environmental protection?
a) Gadgil Committee report
b) Athirappilly Committee report
c) Oommen Committee report
d) None of the above
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Correct Answer: a) Gadgil Committee report
Explanation: The High-Level Working Group (HLWG) led by K.R. Kasturirangan was constituted to evaluate the Gadgil Committee report on environmental protection. The HLWG submitted its report in 2013, which diluted some of the scientific recommendations under political pressure.
Q42. The opposition to the Gadgil Committee report in Kerala was led by which groups?
a) Environmental activists
b) Mining and quarrying industries
c) Adivasi-Dalit communities
d) Politically-active religious influencers
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Correct Answer: d) Politically-active religious influencers
Explanation: In Kerala, the opposition to the Gadgil Committee report was led by politically-active religious influencers, who, along with the state government, protested against the report, putting pressure on the national government for its non-implementation.
Q43. The Kasturirangan Committee report demarcated how many villages as ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) in Kerala?
a) 123 villages
b) 100 villages
c) 150 villages
d) 200 villages
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Correct Answer: a) 123 villages
Explanation: The Kasturirangan Committee report demarcated 123 villages identified as ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) in Kerala. This demarcation was part of the committee’s recommendations to protect the Western Ghats while allowing for some developmental activities.
Q44. Which committee was formed by the Kerala state government in 2014 to review the demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats?
a) Gadgil Committee
b) Kasturirangan Committee
c) Athirappilly Committee
d) Oommen Committee
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Correct Answer: d) Oommen Committee
Explanation: In 2014, the Kerala state government formed its own committee, led by biologist Oommen V. Oommen, to review the demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. The committee produced the Cadastral Report, which excluded all inhabited and cultivated land from the ecologically sensitive area.
Q45. The Save the Western Ghats Movement (SWGM) started in which year?
a) 1986
b) 1990
c) 2000
d) 2010
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Correct Answer: a) 1986
Explanation: The Save the Western Ghats Movement (SWGM) started in 1986. After decades of public advocacy for conservation, it was finally in 2010 that the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), headed by eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil, was formed, facilitated by the then national government.
Q46. The Gadgil Committee report was submitted to the national government in which year?
a) 2010
b) 2011
c) 2012
d) 2013
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Correct Answer: b) 2011
Explanation: The Gadgil Committee report was submitted to the national government in 2011. The report recommended phasing out and strict regulation of mining, quarrying, and other environmentally detrimental activities in the Western Ghats.
Q47. The Kasturirangan Committee report was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in which year?
a) 2011
b) 2012
c) 2013
d) 2014
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Correct Answer: c) 2013
Explanation: The Kasturirangan Committee report was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2013. The report was seen as a diluted version of the Gadgil Committee report and faced opposition for its recommendations.
Q48. The Gadgil Committee report suggested the establishment of which authority for managing the ecology of the Western Ghats?
a) Western Ghats Development Authority
b) Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA)
c) Western Ghats Conservation Committee
d) Western Ghats Sustainable Development Council
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Correct Answer: b) Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA)
Explanation: The Gadgil Committee report suggested the establishment of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) for managing the ecology of the region and ensuring its sustainable development with the support of all concerned states.
Q49. The opposition to the Gadgil Committee report in Kerala was marked by what kind of protests?
a) Peaceful demonstrations
b) Violent clashes
c) Hooliganism
d) Legal challenges
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Correct Answer: c) Hooliganism
Explanation: The opposition to the Gadgil Committee report in Kerala was marked by hooliganism, as baseless rumors were spread about the report’s impact on the high range population, leading to protests and violence.
Q50. The Kasturirangan Committee report opened up space for which activities in the name of township development within Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)?
a) Mining and quarrying
b) Agricultural expansion
c) Large-scale tourism projects
d) Industrial development
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Correct Answer: a) Mining and quarrying
Explanation: The Kasturirangan Committee report opened up space for mining and quarrying in the name of township development within Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), despite stating that no new townships and settlement areas would be allowed in the Western Ghats.