UPSC 2022 Environment and Ecology Questions with Answers
14 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Environment and Ecology in the UPSC 2022 Prelims. Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 11–14 of 14 questions
Browse Environment and Ecology chapters
UPSC 2022Environment and Ecology · Protected Areas for the Biodiversity Conservation
Q11. Consider the following pairs: Wetland/Lake Location 1. Hokera Wetland: Punjab 2. Renuka Wetland: Himachal Pradesh 3. Rudrasagar Lake: Tripura 4. Sasthamkotta Lake: Tamil Nadu How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation
Wetlands Location and Significance Hokera Wet-land Jammu and Kashmir. A perennial natural wetland that is part of the Jhelum basin. Renuka Wet-land Himachal Pradesh A naturally occurring wetland that receives freshwater springs and underground karst formations from the lower Himalayas and the Giri river. Rudrasagar lake Melaghar, Tripura A lowland sedimentation reservoir in the northeastern highlands that receives water from three enduring streams that empty into the River Gomti. Sasthamkotta lake Kollam district, Kerala Being Kerala’s largest freshwater lake, it has long been a popular destination for travellers.
UPSC 2022Environment and Ecology · Protected Areas for the Biodiversity Conservation
Q12. "If rainforests and tropical forests are lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys." Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statements?
Explanation
Natural wetlands are often called "earth’s kidneys" because they effectively filter pollutants from water, much like our kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from our bodies. Just as kidneys maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals, wetlands absorb and store excess nutrients, heavy metals, and chemicals from runoff. Aquatic plants and microorganisms help absorb heavy metals, excess nutrients, while sediment settles at the bottom in areas of slow-moving water, preventing it from reaching open water.
UPSC 2022Environment and Ecology · Species
Q13. With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: 1. It is a fungus. 2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. 3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Guchhi mushroom is a species of fungus in the family Morchellaceae of the Ascomycota. They are prized for their unique, honeycomb-like appearance.
Statement 2 is correct: It is grown in the foothills of Himalayas mostly in the temperate forests of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Statement 3 is incorrect: These mushrooms cannot be cultivated commercially due to their specific growth conditions. Found in conifer forests of temperate regions, they grow only in high mountain areas after the snow melts and are harvested wild by local communities.
UPSC 2022Environment and Ecology · Species
Q14. Which of the following is not a bird?
Explanation
Golden Mahseer is also known as the tiger of Indian rivers. It is a species of the genus Tor. The Golden Mahseer, the longest-living freshwater fish, is native to mountain and sub-mountain regions found in the Himalayan Rivers (Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra). The Pong Dam reservoir supports an ample population of the golden Mahseer. IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered. The Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus), Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), and White Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) are all bird species found in India.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2022
(b) Only two pair
12
2022
(d) Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.
13
2022
(c) 1 and 2
14
2022
(a) Golden Mahseer
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Environment and Ecology?
This page covers 14 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Environment and Ecology in the UPSC 2022 Prelims, asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Environment and Ecology?
Questions on Environment and Ecology in the UPSC 2022 Prelims are available for 22 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
