2011 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I
Question 65: Environment and Ecology
Recently, "oilzapper" was in the news. What is it ?
aIt is an eco-friendly technology for the remediation of oily sludge and oil spills
bIt is the latest technology developed for under sea oil exploration
cIt is a genetically engineered high biofuel yielding maize variety
dIt is the latest technology to control the accidentally caused flames from oil wells
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Oilzapper is a bioremediation technology developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). It uses a consortium of oil-eating bacteria to break down the hydrocarbons in oily sludge and oil spills, turning them into harmless products. It is eco-friendly, and it is neither an exploration technology, nor a method for fighting oil well fires, nor a maize variety.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: an eco-friendly technology to clean up oily sludge and oil spills.
- (b) It is not a technology for under-sea exploration.
- (c) It is not a maize variety.
- (d) It is not a way to control oil well flames.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.