Now Reading: UPSC quiz on coral reefs, green crackers, and Himalayan monal
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UPSC quiz on coral reefs, green crackers, and Himalayan monal
The Story in Brief
The Indian Express published its weekly UPSC Essentials subject quiz on Environment and Geography on Friday, 6 November 2026. The quiz covers four topics: coral reefs, the Himalayan monal, green crackers, and cyclone formation.
One question asks about the distribution of coral reefs in India. The correct answer identifies four reef-bearing ecoregions: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, the south coast (Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay), and the west coast (Gulf of Kutch). Hope Islands and Gulf of Khambhat do not have coral reefs.
Another question addresses the Himalayan monal, the state bird of Uttarakhand, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. A third question covers green crackers: NEERI criteria require at least 30% reduction in particulate matter, and a 2023 study found barium levels in PM10 and PM2.5 were 30 to 60% lower in tested green crackers.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The quiz reinforces that four coral reef ecoregions exist in India, correcting a common misconception about the Gulf of Khambhat. For green crackers, the 30% PM reduction threshold and the 30 to 60% barium reduction figure from a 2023 NEERI study provide concrete benchmarks for aspirants. The Himalayan monal question highlights its Least Concern status and the finding from a 2025 study that birds in noisier areas use higher-frequency calls, linking human activity to behavioural change. Readers are left to apply these details to broader biodiversity and pollution control themes in the UPSC syllabus.
Source: indianexpress.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
