Q120. Which two primary factors jointly drive large-scale ocean currents?
[SSC Selection Post, 28 July 2025]
(A) Tides and lunar gravity
(B) Earthquakes and underwater volcanoes
(C) Wind and seawater-density differences
(D) Salinity and temperature only
Answer: (C) Wind and seawater-density differences
Explanation: Planetary winds largely propel surface currents, while density contrasts arising from temperature and salinity are important for deep circulation. Earth’s rotation modifies their paths. Together these processes redistribute heat, nutrients and organisms across fishing grounds and ocean basins.
Q119. Which of these states is especially associated with mangrove forests?
[DSSSB TGT, 12 November 2025]
(A) Bihar
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) West Bengal
(D) Assam
Answer: (C) West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal contains the Indian Sundarbans, where mangroves grow along tidal creeks and muddy islands. These salt-tolerant forests support fisheries and wildlife while reducing the vulnerability of coastal settlements to erosion and severe cyclonic storms.
Q118. Which warm ocean current has a strong influence on the climate of Western Europe?
[Haryana CET, 27 July 2025]
(A) Humboldt Current
(B) Labrador Current
(C) Gulf Stream
(D) Canary Current
Answer: (C) Gulf Stream
Explanation: The Gulf Stream transports warm subtropical water into the North Atlantic, contributing to a relatively mild maritime climate in Western Europe alongside the North Atlantic Drift. Ocean-current systems also affect plankton productivity, fog and the distribution of fish stocks.
Q117. Which state was a leading participant in the MISHTI mangrove-plantation initiative by February 2025?
[RRB Group D, 2 December 2025]
(A) West Bengal
(B) Odisha
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Gujarat
Answer: (D) Gujarat
Explanation: Gujarat has actively pursued mangrove restoration under MISHTI, a programme intended to improve shoreline habitats and coastal resilience. Mangrove planting requires suitable tidal flow, salinity and species selection, rather than merely putting saplings into any coastal soil.
Q116. Which state was associated with about 19,020 hectares of mangrove restoration under MISHTI?
[RRB Group D, 8 December 2025]
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Kerala
(C) Gujarat
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (C) Gujarat
Explanation: Gujarat’s long coastline and estuarine areas make mangrove management significant. MISHTI aims to expand and strengthen mangrove cover, which can protect fisheries breeding sites, store blue carbon and reduce the effects of coastal erosion.
Q115. Which factors influence ocean currents? 1. Coriolis force; 2. Gravity; 3. Solar heating; 4. Wind.
[UPSC NDA-II General Ability, 14 September 2025]
(A) 1 and 4 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1, 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: Wind sets surface waters in motion, uneven solar heating affects water density and sea level, and gravity helps drive circulation. The Coriolis effect deflects movement on the rotating Earth. All four therefore participate in shaping ocean-current systems.
Q114. Which coastal landform is notably associated with India’s eastern coast?
[PSPCL Junior Engineer, 16 June 2025]
(A) Extensive coral walls
(B) Fjord estuaries
(C) Oceanic archipelagos
(D) Large deltas
Answer: (D) Large deltas
Explanation: Rivers including the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery have built significant deltas along the eastern coast. Their sediment-rich environments contain agriculture, ports, wetlands and fishing settlements but are exposed to flooding and cyclonic storm surges.
Q113. The mangrove ecosystem around Hazira is located in which state?
[IB Security Assistant, 29 September 2025]
(A) Odisha
(B) Gujarat
(C) West Bengal
(D) Maharashtra
Answer: (B) Gujarat
Explanation: Hazira is situated on the Gujarat coast near Surat, an area affected by estuarine and tidal processes. Mangroves occurring around industrialised coasts can help stabilise sediments and support marine food webs, but also face pressure from reclamation and pollution.
Q112. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, approximately what percentage of India’s geographical area was under mangroves?
[OSSSC Combined Recruitment Examination, 11 November 2025]
(A) 0.25%
(B) 0.15%
(C) 0.10%
(D) 0.35%
Answer: (B) 0.15%
Explanation: India’s mangrove cover is geographically small but ecologically valuable. The official forest-cover assessment places it at roughly fifteen-hundredths of one per cent of India’s area. These tidal forests are disproportionately important for blue carbon, coastal fisheries and storm protection.
Q111. Which natural-vegetation type does NOT occur naturally as a characteristic forest type of Rajasthan?
[Rajasthan RSSB Junior Engineer, 10 February 2025]
(A) Mangrove forests
(B) Tropical thorn forests
(C) Tropical deciduous forests
(D) Subtropical mountain forests
Answer: (A) Mangrove forests
Explanation: Rajasthan is largely inland and dry, unlike the saline tidal coasts where mangroves grow. Thorn and dry deciduous vegetation are much more characteristic of the state. Mangroves depend upon tidal influence and waterlogged, often brackish soils.
