Daily Current Affairs Quiz: November 14, 2025

Answer: A [1, 2 and 3 only]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Tidal energy projects require locations with a sufficiently high tidal range to generate meaningful electricity. Only a few coastal areas globally meet this threshold, making site availability a major limitation.

Statement 2 is correct: Tidal barrages, turbines and related infrastructure involve high construction, operation and maintenance costs due to harsh marine conditions. Their engineering complexity also increases financial and technical challenges for large-scale deployment.

Statement 3 is correct: Tidal projects can disrupt marine ecosystems by modifying natural water flow, sediment movement and fish migration. Such ecological disturbances are a significant environmental concern associated with tidal energy infrastructure.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Although tidal energy is predictable, it still varies with lunar cycles, tidal phases and local geography. It is not completely uniform year-round, so claiming it is unaffected by seasonal variation is inaccurate.

Answer: B [Royal Bengal Tigers]
Explanation:

Option (a) is incorrect: Indian Rhinoceros are found mainly in Assam and parts of Bihar and West Bengal, not Rajasthan. Ranthambore’s habitat does not support rhinos, making this option factually incorrect.

Option (b) is correct: Ranthambore National Park is globally famous for its healthy population of Royal Bengal Tigers. It is one of India’s most successful tiger reserves under Project Tiger, known for tiger sightings.

Option (c) is incorrect: Indian Elephants primarily inhabit southern, northeastern and central India. Rajasthan’s dry, semi-arid landscape is unsuitable for sustaining elephant populations, so they are not native to Ranthambore.

Option (d) is incorrect: Asiatic Lions are restricted to the Gir Forest landscape in Gujarat. They do not naturally occur in Rajasthan, and Ranthambore provides no suitable habitat for sustaining a lion population.

Answer: C [2 and 4 only]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Pioneer species colonize barren or disturbed areas lacking established biodiversity, such as bare rock, lava flows or degraded land. They do not appear first in already biodiverse, steady-state ecosystems.

Statement 2 is correct: Pioneer species gradually alter soil, moisture and nutrient conditions through processes like weathering and organic matter accumulation, making the environment less ideal for themselves but more favourable for later, more competitive species.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Pioneer species are not limited to plants. Certain insects, microbes, lichens and small animals can also act as pioneers depending on the nature of the disturbed habitat and succession stage.

Statement 4 is correct: Pioneer species often have traits like nitrogen fixation, tolerance to harsh conditions, rapid reproduction and long-distance dispersal abilities, helping them establish quickly in newly exposed or disturbed environments.

Answer: D [1, 2, 3 and 4]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Glacial meltwater adds substantially to global sea-level rise, threatening coastal cities, deltas and ecosystems. As glaciers shrink, their melt increases ocean volume, intensifying flooding, storm surges and habitat loss.

Statement 2 is correct: Glacial retreat alters seasonal river discharge, reducing water availability during dry months. Communities, hydropower projects and agriculture dependent on glacial-fed rivers face shortages and disturbed flow patterns.

Statement 3 is correct: Loss of glacial ice reduces Earth’s albedo, causing more solar absorption. This accelerates warming and further melting, creating a reinforcing positive feedback loop that worsens climate impacts.

Statement 4 is correct: Melting glaciers can release long-trapped microbes, pathogens and pollutants like heavy metals and chemicals. Their re-entry into modern ecosystems may pose emerging health and environmental risks.

Answer: A [Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.]
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Green Highways Policy, 2015 explicitly involves NGOs, private sector entities, and local communities in plantation, transplantation and maintenance activities along national highways to ensure wider participation and accountability.

Statement 2 is correct: The policy emphasises that sustainable highway greening depends on strong community involvement and private investment, reducing reliance on government agencies and promoting shared responsibility for long-term maintenance.

Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I because the policy mandates involving NGOs, private players and communities precisely because public participation and private funding make greening more effective and sustainable.