MCQs with answers on “River Pollution in India: Causes, Impact, and Remedial Measures” 

 

1. What is the main cause of river pollution in India?

• a) Urbanization
• b) Agricultural runoff
• c) Industrial effluents
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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2. Which of the following rivers is most affected by pollution in India?

• a) Ganga
• b) Yamuna
• c) Godavari
• d) Narmada
  Answer: a) Ganga

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3. Which industrial activity contributes most to river pollution in India?

• a) Textile dyeing
• b) Mining
• c) Paper manufacturing
• d) Steel manufacturing
  Answer: a) Textile dyeing

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4. What is the primary cause of contamination of rivers due to agricultural activities?

• a) Pesticides and fertilizers
• b) Crop burning
• c) Over-irrigation
• d) Deforestation
  Answer: a) Pesticides and fertilizers

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5. The ‘Namami Gange’ programme is aimed at which of the following?

• a) River rejuvenation
• b) Water conservation
• c) Flood management
• d) River pollution prevention
  Answer: d) River pollution prevention

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6. Which of the following is an effect of river pollution?

• a) Loss of biodiversity
• b) Contamination of drinking water
• c) Decrease in agricultural productivity
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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7. Which river has the worst water quality due to high levels of coliform bacteria?

• a) Ganga
• b) Yamuna
• c) Godavari
• d) Brahmaputra
  Answer: b) Yamuna

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8. The ‘Polluter Pays Principle’ is a key concept in the context of:

• a) Water management
• b) Waste management
• c) River pollution control
• d) Energy conservation
  Answer: c) River pollution control

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9. Which of the following is a major contributor to organic pollution in rivers?

• a) Industrial effluents
• b) Solid waste
• c) Untreated sewage
• d) Agricultural runoff
  Answer: c) Untreated sewage

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10. What is the impact of river pollution on aquatic life?

• a) Oxygen depletion
• b) Altered reproductive patterns
• c) Habitat destruction
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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11. Which is the main cause of oxygen depletion in rivers?

• a) Industrial effluents
• b) Sewage discharge
• c) Agricultural runoff
• d) All of the above
  Answer: b) Sewage discharge

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12. Which of the following is an initiative to monitor river water quality in India?

• a) Ganga Action Plan
• b) National River Conservation Plan
• c) National Water Quality Monitoring Programme
• d) All of the above
  Answer: c) National Water Quality Monitoring Programme

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13. Which chemical compound is often found in polluted river waters that is harmful to human health?

• a) Sulphur dioxide
• b) Arsenic
• c) Carbon monoxide
• d) Nitrogen oxide
  Answer: b) Arsenic

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14. Which is a direct effect of river pollution on human health?

• a) Cholera
• b) Malaria
• c) Tuberculosis
• d) All of the above
  Answer: a) Cholera

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15. What is the main objective of the ‘Ganga Action Plan’?

• a) Reducing industrial pollution
• b) Treatment of sewage
• c) River water conservation
• d) Protection of aquatic species
  Answer: b) Treatment of sewage

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16. Which of the following is a proposed method for reducing pollution in rivers?

• a) Wastewater treatment plants
• b) Public awareness campaigns
• c) Industrial effluent standards
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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17. Which of the following methods is used to treat wastewater before discharge into rivers?

• a) Reverse osmosis
• b) Sedimentation
• c) Chemical treatment
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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18. Which river is known as one of the most polluted rivers in the world?

• a) Yamuna
• b) Ganga
• c) Brahmaputra
• d) Narmada
  Answer: a) Yamuna

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19. What role do wetlands play in controlling river pollution?

• a) Filter contaminants
• b) Provide habitat for wildlife
• c) Control flooding
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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20. Which government body is responsible for monitoring and controlling water pollution in India?

• a) Ministry of Water Resources
• b) Central Pollution Control Board
• c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
• d) National River Conservation Directorate
  Answer: b) Central Pollution Control Board

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21. Which of the following is a source of heavy metals in river water?

• a) Industrial discharge
• b) Agricultural runoff
• c) Domestic sewage
• d) Atmospheric deposition
  Answer: a) Industrial discharge

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22. The concept of ‘Total Maximum Daily Load’ (TMDL) is associated with:

• a) River pollution
• b) Groundwater recharge
• c) Industrial waste management
• d) Climate change mitigation
  Answer: a) River pollution

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23. Which of the following causes eutrophication in rivers?

• a) Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus
• b) High salinity levels
• c) Low oxygen content
• d) High mercury levels
  Answer: a) Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus

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24. What is the impact of river pollution on fish populations?

• a) Reduced reproduction rates
• b) Decline in fish populations
• c) Fish deaths
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above

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25. What is the primary aim of the ‘Clean Ganga Fund’?

• a) To fund the Ganga Action Plan
• b) To create awareness about river pollution
• c) To support river conservation initiatives
• d) To set up wastewater treatment plants
  Answer: c) To support river conservation initiatives

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26. Which of the following is NOT a reason for river pollution in India?

• a) Untreated sewage discharge
• b) Industrial waste disposal
• c) Excessive river dredging
• d) Agricultural runoff
  Answer: c) Excessive river dredging

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27. Which of the following best describes the effect of river pollution on agriculture?

• a) Increased crop yields
• b) Reduced crop yields due to contamination
• c) Increased soil fertility
• d) No effect
  Answer: b) Reduced crop yields due to contamination

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28. Which river was declared the ‘most polluted river’ by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2018?

• a) Ganga
• b) Yamuna
• c) Mahanadi
• d) Godavari
  Answer: b) Yamuna

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29. Which of the following is a major river that has benefitted from the ‘Namami Gange’ programme?

• a) Narmada
• b) Ganga
• c) Brahmaputra
• d) Godavari
  Answer: b) Ganga

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30. Which of the following steps is essential for effective river pollution control?

• a) Promoting waste segregation
• b) Treating industrial effluents
• c) Raising public awareness
• d) All of the above
  Answer: d) All of the above