Statement 1 is correct. The WHO recommends that the 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m³ and the annual mean should not exceed 5 ug/m³. These are the current most stringent guidelines set by WHO to protect public health.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Ozone pollution typically peaks during sunny and stagnant weather conditions, not during inclement weather like rain or storms.

Statement 3 is incorrect. While PM10 (≤ PM10) particles can enter the deep lungs and cause respiratory issues, it's the much finer PM2.5 (≤ PM2.5) particles and ultrafine particles that effectively penetrate the lung barrier (alveoli) to enter the bloodstream, affecting the heart, brain, and other organs. PM10 typically deposits in larger airways, whereas PM2.5's tiny size allows it to cross into the circulatory system, making it more dangerous. 

Statement 4 is correct. Excessive ozone exposure can trigger asthma attacks and worsen respiratory problems. Ozone irritates the respiratory tract, making it harder to breathe.

The correctly matched pairs are:

• Pair 2: Renuka Wetland - Himachal Pradesh. Located in the Sirmaur district, it is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations.
• Pair 3: Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura. It is a lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeast hills, fed by three perennial streams discharging into the River Gomti.

The incorrectly matched pairs are:

• Pair 1: Hokera Wetland. It is located in Jammu & Kashmir (near Srinagar), not Punjab. It is a natural perennial wetland contiguous to the Jhelum basin.
• Pair 4: Sasthamkotta Lake. It is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, not Tamil Nadu. It is located in the Kollam district.

Since only two pairs (2 and 3) are correctly matched, the correct option is B.

Urban Forests use the Miyawaki method to create urban forests. Miyawaki urban forests are fascinating complex ecosystems, in balance with today's soil and climate conditions. This technique works worldwide irrespective of soil and climatic conditions.

Miyawaki Method

Over 2000 forests were successfully created using this method.

Doctor Akira Miyawaki, botanist and professor, is the inventor of the technique since 1980. He is a recipient of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, which is the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in ecology.

The Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) is a species of large freshwater fish, not a bird. Often referred to as the 'Tiger of the Water', it is native to the Himalayan region and inhabits the rapid streams and rivers of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra basins. It is recognized by its large golden scales and is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The other options—Indian Nightjar, Spoonbill, and White Ibis—are all avian species found in various habitats across India.

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice farms could have the same long-term warming impact as about 600 coal plants.

Rice cultivation emits methane and nitrous oxide due to flooded fields and nitrogen-based fertilizers. Flooding creates anaerobic conditions, producing methane released through rice plants. Fertilizers poorly absorbed by rice lead to soil microbes converting nitrogen into nitrous oxide.

Acid rain is primarily caused by the excess presence of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide in the environment.

• Carbon monoxide is not a direct cause of acid rain. It is a pollutant that contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, but it does not lead to the production of acid rain.

• Nitrogen oxides, which include nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, are major contributors to acid rain. When these gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere, they form nitric acid, a key component of acid rain.

• Ozone is not a direct cause of acid rain. While ozone can have negative environmental impacts, it is not a precursor to the formation of acid rain.

• Sulphur dioxide is another primary contributor to acid rain. When Sulphur dioxide combines with water, oxygen, and other substances in the atmosphere, it forms sulphuric acid, which is also a major component of acid rain.

Acid Rain

Out of the listed plants, the following are nitrogen-fixing plants:

1. Alfalfa
2. Chickpea
3. Clover These plants have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria called rhizobia. The bacteria colonize nodules in the plant's roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form (nitrates) that the plant can absorb.

Nitrogen Fixation

The other options are not nitrogen-fixing plants: 2. Amaranth 5. Purslane (Kulfa) 6. Spinach These plants require nitrogen from the soil but cannot fix it themselves. They rely on soil nitrogen content or applied fertilizers. Remember: Purslane is a weed. If you would have known this piece of information, the question could have been easily solved by simple elimination.

Therefore, the correct answer is (1, 3, 4).

Lake Faguibine in Mali is a prime example of increasing aridity . Here's how it changed over the years, as seen through false-color Landsat satellite images

• Initially, it was one of the largest lakes in West Africa, fed by the Niger River during floods.
• In 1974, it spanned approximately 590 square kilometers (230 square miles).
• A decline in precipitation from the late 1980s led to its gradual drying.
• By the late 1990s, traditional livelihoods like fishing , agriculture , and livestock herding became impractical.
• Despite the resumption of normal rainfall after 2000, the lake has remained nearly dry.

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and remains filled with water. Lake Oguta is located in Nigeria and is still a freshwater lake. Lake Volta is one of the largest artificial lake by surface area in the world and remains filled with water from the Volta River.

Lakes of West Africa

Statement 1 is Incorrect: While Section 39 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, specifies that certain wild animals are the property of the State or Central Government, this does not apply to all wild animals. Specifically, animals categorized as 'vermin' (under Schedule V) are excluded from this provision, making the absolute claim that wild animals are the 'sole property' of the government legally inaccurate.

Statement 2 is Correct: The protection status of a wild animal is determined by its listing in the Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This legal protection is species-specific and applies to the animal wherever it is found, whether it is inside a designated Protected Area (like a National Park or Sanctuary) or outside in human-dominated landscapes.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Under Section 11 of the Act, the Chief Wildlife Warden can only authorize the capture or killing of a protected animal if they are satisfied that the animal 'has become dangerous to human life' or is disabled/diseased beyond recovery. Mere 'apprehension' or the fear that an animal might become a danger is not a sufficient legal ground; there must be an objective determination of actual danger.

Statement 1 is Correct: SRI requires significantly fewer seeds (about 5-8 kg/ha) compared to traditional transplanting methods (60-80 kg/ha) because it involves planting single, younger seedlings with wider spacing. Statement 2 is Correct: The practice of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) prevents continuous submergence of fields, reducing anaerobic conditions and thereby significantly lowering methane emissions produced by methanogenic bacteria. Statement 3 is Correct: SRI reduces water requirement by 30-50% due to controlled irrigation; this directly leads to lower electricity or fuel consumption needed for pumping groundwater.

Out of the listed functions of wetlands, the one that best reflects the analogy of "kidneys" is option D.

Kidneys in our body function as a filtering system, removing waste products and excess fluids from the blood. Wetlands with their dense vegetation and saturated soils, wetlands act as natural filters for water. Aquatic plants and microbes in wetlands play a crucial role in

• Phytoremediation: Aquatic plants can absorb and accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants from water.
• Nutrient cycling: Wetlands help regulate nutrient levels in water by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This prevents them from flowing into rivers, lakes, and oceans and causing harmful algal blooms.

By filtering pollutants and excess nutrients, wetlands help purify water and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems. This aligns with the concept of kidneys filtering waste from our blood.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Climate Group is an international non-profit organization launched in 2004 with offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Amsterdam, and Beijing. It drives climate action by building and coordinating large networks of businesses and governments.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: EP100 is a global initiative led by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is not the founding partner of this initiative.

Statement 3 is Correct: EP100 brings together a growing group of energy-smart companies committed to improving their energy productivity. By integrating ambitious energy targets into business strategies, these companies drive innovation in energy efficiency and increase competitiveness while meeting emission reduction goals.

Statement 4 is Correct: Several Indian companies are members of EP100. For instance, Mahindra & Mahindra was the first Indian company to join the initiative, followed by others like Dalmia Cement and UltraTech Cement.

Statement 5 is Incorrect: The Climate Group serves as the Secretariat for the Under2 Coalition, not the International Energy Agency. The coalition is a global community of state and regional governments committed to keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control development and management of groundwater resources in the country.

Central Water Commission (CWC) - Established in 1945, the CWC is a technical organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It focuses on water resource planning, development, and management in India, but its legal basis comes from other central government acts.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) - While it works in close collaboration with the CGWA, the CGWB is a subordinate organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, established in 1970. It functions as the technical arm of the CGWA, providing hydrogeological data and technical expertise.

National Water Development Agency (NWDA) - This autonomous agency, established in 1982 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, operates under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. It focuses on resolving interstate water resource disputes, conducting feasibility studies for water resource development projects, and planning water transfer and linking projects.

Statement 1 is correct. PET fibres can be blended with cotton or wool to improve properties like wrinkle resistance and durability.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Not all PET containers are suitable for all alcoholic beverages. Some PET can leach chemicals at high temperatures or with certain types of alcohol. It's important to check for specific suitability indicators on the packaging.

Statement 3 is correct. PET bottles are one of the most commonly recycled plastics. They can be reprocessed into various products like clothing fibres, new bottles, or building materials.

Statement 4 is incorrect. Incineration of PET, like most plastics, generates greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide. While PET has a lower emission profile compared to some other plastics, it's still not a zero-emission disposal method.

Remember: Statements like store any kind of alcoholic beverages are vague & ambiguous, so they ought to be eliminated. Also, incineration of any substance cannot be environment friendly as it would definitely release GHGs. Hence the only Option left is Option A. Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 3.

Biorock technology uses a low voltage electrical current to stimulate the growth of minerals on submerged structures. This creates a limestone-like material similar to that found in natural coral reefs.

Biorock Formation

Biorock structures can provide a stable substrate for coral polyps to attach and grow, accelerating the restoration of degraded coral reefs.

While Biorock can be used for other purposes, like creating artificial reefs for mariculture (fish farming) or promoting the growth of seacrete building materials, its application in coral reef restoration is a major area of interest.

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of holding warming well below 2C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C.

A collaboration of two organisations, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, the CAT has been providing this independent analysis to policymakers since 2009. CAT quantifies and evaluates climate change mitigation targets, policies, and actions. It also aggregates country action to the global level, determining likely temperature increases during the 21st century using the MAGICC climate model. CAT further develops sectoral analysis to illustrate the required pathways for meeting the global temperature goals.

Statement 1 is incorrect. India's Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is the largest solar power park in the world.

Statement 2 is correct. Kerala’s Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is the first airport in the world that would be running fully on solar power.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India is not in Goa but in Ramagundam, Telangana. The project is developed by NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation Limited).

The term "greenwashing" is best described as deceptively conveying a misleading impression that a company's products or practices are environmentally friendly.

Greenwashing is a marketing strategy where companies try to portray themselves as environmentally conscious, even if their actions don't necessarily reflect that commitment. It often involves using misleading language, imagery, or selective data to create a positive environmental image.

Greenwashing

The goal is to gain a competitive advantage by appealing to consumers who are increasingly concerned about environmental issues.