Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Chandipura Virus (CHPV) is a single-stranded RNA virus, not a double-stranded DNA virus. It does belong to the Rhabdoviridae family (the same family as the rabies virus), as noted in the text.

Statement 2 is correct: The virus mainly infects children below 15 years of age. It is a neurotropic virus that attacks the central nervous system, leading to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).

Statement 3 is incorrect: There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine available for the Chandipura Virus. Medical management is strictly supportive (such as controlling seizures and managing hydration).

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), headed by Madhav Gadgil in 2011, recommended designating the entire 1,29,037 sq. km of the Western Ghats as an ESA with three graded zones.

Statement 2 is correct: The High-Level Working Group (HLWG) chaired by K. Kasturirangan in 2013 adopted a developmental-conservation balance, recommending that only 37% (about 56,825–60,000 sq. km) of the natural landscape of the Western Ghats be notified as an ESA.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The recommendation to establish a statutory authority named the Western Ghats Ecology Authority was made by the Madhav Gadgil Committee, not the Kasturirangan Committee.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Ecologically Sensitive Areas/Eco-Sensitive Zones are notified by the Central Government (MoEFCC) under Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, read with Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.

Statement 2 is correct: The Western Ghats span nearly 1,600 km across six states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu) and are the source of key east-flowing peninsular rivers including the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.

 Statement 3 is incorrect: The draft notification explicitly permits agriculture, horticulture, plantations, and organic farming as sustainable livelihood activities while restricting mining, quarrying, and red-category polluting industries.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct.
Project Tiger was launched in 1973 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Its objective is to conserve tigers in India and protect their natural habitats.

Statement 2 is correct.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in 2006 as a statutory body through an amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Its purpose is to ensure the effective implementation of Project Tiger and to monitor tiger conservation efforts across the country.

Statement 3 is incorrect.
Every tiger reserve in India is required to have both a Core Area (Critical Tiger Habitat) and a Buffer Area.

• The Core Area is strictly protected to conserve tigers and other wildlife and their habitats.


• The Buffer Area allows sustainable activities to balance wildlife conservation with the livelihood needs of local communities.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct.
According to the All India Tiger Estimation 2022 (AITE 2022), India is home to 3,682 tigers, representing approximately 70% of the world's wild tiger population.

Statement 2 is correct.
The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) is conducted once every four years (quadrennially). The survey is jointly carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Statement 3 is correct.
M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) is a software-based monitoring system used extensively in tiger reserves for patrolling, wildlife tracking, monitoring, and the collection of field data.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct.
According to the All India Tiger Estimation 2022 (AITE 2022), India is home to 3,682 tigers, representing approximately 70% of the world's wild tiger population.

Statement 2 is correct.
The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) is conducted once every four years (quadrennially). The survey is jointly carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Statement 3 is correct.
M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) is a software-based monitoring system used extensively in tiger reserves for patrolling, wildlife tracking, monitoring, and the collection of field data.