Some Facts For UPSC

Geography and Biosphere

Geyser: In Icelandic language means ‘to gush forth’ and that’s what geysers do. A geyser is a spring that throws forth intermittent jets of heated water and steam. Today’s electrical appliances that heat water in our bathrooms are also called geysers!.

Gran Pantanal : of Mato Grosao state in Brazil, through which the Paraguay River runs, is the world’s largest and most pristine wetland.

Coral reefs are also referred to as the Rainforests of the Oceans because of their tremendous biodiversity. Globally, 58% of the world’s coral reefs are at risk from human activities. The reefs of South East Asia which are the most ‘species – diverse’ in the world, are also the most threatened.

Biosphere

·         The biosphere consists of all the living organisms (the biotic component), energy (the energy component) and physical environment (the abiotic component)

·         The average thickness of the biosphere or life supporting layer consisting or air, water, soil and (rock is about 30 km)

·         The appear limit of the biosphere is determined by the availability of oxygen, moisture, temperature and air pressure.

·         The lower limits of the biosphere are determined by the availability of required amount of oxygen and light which can sustain life.

·         The biosphere extends upto greater depth in the oceans.

·         The existence of life has been detected upto a depth of 9,000 m in the deep oceanic trenches and deep sea plains.

·         The factors of modifiers which directly or indirectly affect ecosystems are of three categories e.g. (i) physical modifiers, (ii) chemical modifiers and (iii) biological modifiers.

·         The physical factors affect physical properties of the atmosphere which in turn affect physical properties of the atmosphere which in turn affect climate and climate ultimately affects the ecosystems.

·         The chemical factors affect the composition of the atmosphere which in turn, affects climate which ultimately affects the ecosystems.

·         The biological factors like cropping patterns, population characteristics, manipulation of species density and distribution and species genetics also affect the ecosystems.

·         The biosphere consists of two major systems viz. (i) terrestrial biomes systems and (ii) aquatic biomes systems.

Components of Biosphere

·         The abiotic or inorganic or physical component of the biosphere or the ecosystem represents physical environment of the whole biosphere or part thereof. This component, on an average, includes the lithosphere, the atmosphere and the hydrosphere.

·         Biotic or organic components of the biosphere consist of three subsystems e.g. (i) plant system, (2) animal system including man and (3) micro-organisms.

·         Energy, component may also be considered with abiotic component.

 

1. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), based at Chennai, a unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an affordable cochlear implant (also known as a bionic ear).
2. It will cost around 1 lakh rupees which is similar to imported device which costs about 8 lakh rupees.
3. India is now the fifth country besides US, Austria, Australia and France in the world to produce such a complex device.
Which of the above statement is/are incorrect:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

2. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the National Institute for Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development (NIESBUD),and IFC International Finance Corporat-ion, a member of the World Bank Group, for jointly undertaking different Projects relating to entrepreneurship development in India.
2. NIESBUD is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
3. The ultimate objective is to create a cadre of Master Trainers who would, in turn, replicate the model to impart training for MSME Sector in a much bigger way.
Which of the above statement is/are incorrect:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of these
3. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have agreed to hold the Presidential and Legislative elections quickly.
2. The meeting was held between Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Chief Khaled Meshal in Doha.
3. Fatah controls West Bank while Hamas rules Gaza. The two rival factions signed an agreement in April 2011 which called for holding polls simultaneously in West Bank and Gaza stripes by May 2012.
Which of the above statement is/are correct:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) 3 only

4. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has published its 12th India State of Forest Report 2011 of the forest cover in the country since 1987.
2. The India State of Forest Report is recognized as the authoritative assessment of the country's forest resources.
3. It is based on interpretation of satellite data from the indigenous IRS-P6-LISS III sensor.
4. Mizoram tops with 90.68% followed by Lakshadweep with 84.56.
Which of the above statement is/are correct:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4(d) 3 only

5. Consider the following statement(s):-
1. The Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the advance estimates of national income at constant (2004-05) and current prices, for the financial year 2011-12.
2. The economic growth is likely to be around 6.9 per cent in 2011-12. It was 8.5 per cent in the last fiscal.
3. Government data says this is mainly due to sharp slowdown in the manufacturing, agriculture and mining sectors.
Which of the above statement is/are correct:-
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 3 only