Q131. Identify the incorrect statement regarding sustainable mineral management.
Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development: RAS Prelims MCQs
179 RAS Prelims MCQs on biodiversity, conservation of natural resources and sustainable development cover the levels of biodiversity, hotspots, conservation bodies, wildlife law and climate instruments. Alpha diversity, Norman Myers, the IUCN Red List, the Wildlife Amendment Act 2022, the CBD protocols and carbon market ideas like cap and trade and additionality are asked as facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 131–140 of 179 questions
Q132. Watershed management is a holistic approach applied primarily for the sustainable management of which natural resources?
Explanation
Watershed management is a localized, holistic approach that focuses on the conservation and protection of soil and water resources within a specific drainage basin. By managing the runoff and preventing soil erosion, this strategy improves water availability, enhances agricultural productivity, and restores the ecological health of the entire area. It is a fundamental tool for sustainable rural development.
Q133. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: Afforestation and reforestation are key strategies in forest resource management to combat desertification.
Statement II: Monoculture plantations offer the same level of biodiversity and ecological resilience as natural, multi-species forests.
Statement I: Afforestation and reforestation are key strategies in forest resource management to combat desertification.
Statement II: Monoculture plantations offer the same level of biodiversity and ecological resilience as natural, multi-species forests.
Explanation
Afforestation and reforestation are essential strategies for restoring forest cover and halting desertification. However, the second statement is incorrect because monoculture plantations, which consist of a single species, do not provide the same levels of biodiversity or ecological resilience as natural, multi-species forests. Natural forests support a wider range of life forms and are better equipped to withstand environmental stresses.
Q134. All of the following are consequences of poor water resource management, EXCEPT:
Explanation
Poor water resource management leads to several negative environmental outcomes, including the depletion of aquifers, saltwater intrusion in coastal regions, and the deterioration of water quality due to unchecked pollution. In contrast, an increase in groundwater tables is a positive result of effective management and recharge efforts, making it the only option that is not a consequence of poor management practices.
Q135. The CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) funds are primarily utilized for:
Explanation
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority was created to manage funds collected from project proponents who divert forest land for non-forest purposes. These CAMPA funds are strictly intended for compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, and the protection of forests. This mechanism ensures that the loss of forest cover in one area is balanced by the creation of new forests.
Q136. Unregulated deforestation in hilly regions directly leads to which of the following effects?
Explanation
In hilly regions, tree roots play a crucial role in binding the soil and regulating the flow of rainwater. When unregulated deforestation occurs, this protective cover is lost, leading to increased soil instability. Consequently, the region becomes much more vulnerable to frequent and severe landslides and flash floods, as the land can no longer absorb heavy rainfall or resist gravity-driven erosion.
Q137. Find the odd one out among natural resources based on renewability.
Explanation
Solar energy is an inexhaustible resource, while forests and groundwater can be considered renewable if they are harvested and managed sustainably over time. Coal, however, is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years from decaying organic matter and is depleted as it is consumed. This lack of replenishment on a human timescale makes coal a non-renewable resource and the out.
Q138. The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an initiative launched jointly by India and France, is located in:
Explanation
The International Solar Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization launched by India and France to promote the efficient exploitation of solar energy. Its primary goal is to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The headquarters of the ISA is located at the National Institute of Solar Energy in Gurugram, India, making it the first such international organization to be headquartered in India.
Q139. Identify the correct statement regarding wind energy in India.
Explanation
India has significant wind energy potential, particularly along its long coastline. The states of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have emerged as leaders in wind power installation due to favorable wind speeds and government support. Unlike polluting fossil fuels, wind energy is a clean, renewable source that generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases, playing a key role in India’s transition to sustainable power.
Q140. Identify the incorrect statement regarding biomass energy.
Explanation
Biomass energy is a renewable resource derived from organic materials like plant and animal waste. Biogas is a key product of this energy source, produced through anaerobic digestion. Because plants can be regrown in a relatively short time, the claim that biomass is non-renewable due to a million-year growth cycle is factually incorrect. Biomass provides a sustainable way to manage waste.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 131 | (b) It encourages illegal and unregulated mining for rapid economic growth. |
| 132 | (b) Soil and water in a defined drainage basin |
| 133 | (a) Statement I is correct, and Statement II is incorrect. |
| 134 | (c) Increase in groundwater tables in over- exploited blocks |
| 135 | (d) Afforestation and regeneration to compensate for diverted forest land. |
| 136 | (c) Greater frequency and severity of landslides and flash floods. |
| 137 | (b) Coal |
| 138 | (a) Gurugram, India |
| 139 | (c) Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are among the leading states in wind power installation in India. |
| 140 | (a) Biomass energy is a non-renewable source because plants take millions of years to grow. |
Key facts from Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
- Genetic diversity is the variation of genes and alleles within a species; alpha diversity is the diversity of species within a habitat.
- Norman Myers proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots; the Nicobar Islands are part of the Sundaland hotspot.
- The IUCN maintains the Red List of Threatened Species; the Amazon rainforest is called the lungs of the planet.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022 removed the vermin schedule; the Centre can declare vermin by notification.
- The Cartagena Protocol, Nagoya Protocol and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework belong to the CBD; the Kyoto Protocol does not.
- Cap and trade sets an emission limit and allows trade of surplus allowances; one carbon credit equals one tonne of CO₂; additionality means reductions must be real.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development?
This page has 179 practice MCQs on Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development (Health, Environment and Agriculture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots?
The ecologist Norman Myers. A hotspot is a region with a very high number of endemic species that has lost most of its original habitat, such as the Western Ghats and Sundaland.
What is cap and trade?
A mechanism that sets a limit (cap) on total emissions and issues allowances to firms. Firms that emit less than their allowance can sell the surplus to others, which gives a market price to carbon.
What does additionality mean in carbon offsets?
That the emission reductions must be real and would not have happened without the revenue from carbon credits. A project that would have gone ahead anyway does not earn credits.