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Daily-mcqs 15 May 2026

Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams 15 May 2026

Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams

Q1:

With reference to the 'Global Forest Goals Report 2026' released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), consider the following statements:

Global forest cover increased slightly between 2015 and 2025 due to reforestation campaigns in Africa and South America.

The report identifies rising demand for fuelwood and charcoal as a major driver of forest degradation in developing regions.

Primary forests, which are crucial for biodiversity, witnessed a total loss of over 40 million hectares in the last decade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 2 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Show

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The report states that global forest cover declined from 4.18 billion hectares in 2015 to 4.14 billion hectares in 2025, not increased.

Statement 2 is correct: The report highlights that fuelwood and charcoal demand is a major driver of forest degradation, particularly in developing regions of Africa and Asia, due to poverty and a lack of clean energy alternatives.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The report states that 40 million hectares of total forest were lost, and around 16 million hectares of primary forests were destroyed, not the entire 40 million hectares.

Q2:

Regarding India’s forest conservation and restoration targets as of 2025, consider the following statements:

India has achieved its target of 33% forest and tree cover, standing at 35% as per 2025 data.

Under the Bonn Challenge, India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) and the Green India Mission are key initiatives to meet these restoration targets.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 1 and 3 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Show

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: As of 2025, India's forest and tree cover stands at approximately 25.17% (827,357 sq km), not 33% or 35%. The target is 33%, but it has not been achieved yet.

Statement 2 is correct: India has committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the international Bonn Challenge.

Statement 3 is correct: Key initiatives to increase forest cover and restore land include the Green India Mission, CAMPA, and the Aravalli Green Wall Project.

Q3:

Consider the following statements regarding the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC):

It is a system of ocean currents that acts as a conveyor belt, transporting warm water from the tropics to the Arctic region.

The rapid melting of Arctic ice increases the density of the North Atlantic water, driving the sinking process that strengthens the AMOC.

A significant weakening of AMOC is expected to lead to sea-level rise along the eastern coast of North America.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 1 and 3 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Show

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The AMOC acts as a massive "ocean conveyor belt" that carries warm, salty surface water from the tropics northward towards the Arctic.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Rapid melting of Arctic ice releases large amounts of fresh water, which is less dense and does not sink easily, weakening the deep-water formation process, not strengthening it.

Statement 3 is correct: A weakened AMOC is predicted to cause a sea-level rise along the eastern coast of North America and severe climate disruptions, including changes in global rainfall patterns.

Q4:

With reference to the impact of a weakened AMOC, consider the following statements:

It can lead to a cooling of the Southern Hemisphere while accelerating global warming in the Northern Hemisphere.

It can make El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events more unpredictable and extreme.

A weakened AMOC can impact the Indian monsoon indirectly by influencing global atmospheric circulation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 1 and 3 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Show

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Studies indicate that a weakened AMOC tends to trap more heat in the Southern Hemisphere, leading to its warming, while the Northern Hemisphere—particularly Europe—could face cooling.

Statement 2 is correct: The AMOC is linked to global ocean heat distribution. A disruption can make the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events more erratic and severe.

Statement 3 is correct: A disrupted AMOC affects global heat distribution, which can alter the Indian monsoon’s timing and intensity, influencing India's agriculture, food security, and water security.