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 151–160 of 179 questions
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q151. Read the following statements and select the correct option: Statement I: Energy efficiency and eco-innovation are key drivers of a green economy. Statement II: A green economy values natural capital, such as forests and wetlands, as critical economic assets.
Explanation
A green economy is driven by energy efficiency and eco-innovation, which help reduce the environmental impact of economic activity. It also fundamentally recognizes that natural capital, such as healthy forests and wetlands, provides essential services and represents a critical economic asset for any nation. Both statements accurately reflect the core principles and values that define a modern, sustainable economic model.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q152. A major positive effect of a government shifting its investments from fossil fuels to public transportation and renewable energy infrastructure is:
Explanation
When a government redirects investment from fossil fuels toward public transportation and renewable energy, it stimulates a transition toward a more sustainable economy. A major positive effect of this shift is the creation of numerous "green jobs" in emerging sectors like wind power and electric mobility. This approach fosters technological innovation and promotes long-term economic growth that is decoupled from environmental degradation.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q153. All of the following are mechanisms to promote a green economy, EXCEPT:
Explanation
Promoting a green economy involves tools like carbon pricing, green bonds, and extended producer responsibility to encourage sustainable practices. Conversely, providing massive subsidies for fossil fuel extraction works against these goals by making polluting energy cheaper and discouraging the transition to renewables. Removing such subsidies is often considered a necessary step in aligning economic incentives with environmental protection and climate action goals.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q154. Find the odd one out in terms of economic models related to sustainability.
Explanation
The circular, green, and blue economies are all modern economic models designed to integrate sustainability, resource efficiency, and environmental protection into development. The linear economy, however, is the traditional ‘take-make-dispose’ model that ignores environmental limits and leads to resource depletion and waste. This lack of focus on sustainability and regeneration makes the linear model the clear odd one out here.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q155. Joint Forest Management (JFM) is a concept that involves:
Explanation
Joint Forest Management is a decentralized approach to forest conservation in India. It is based on a partnership between local village communities and the state forest department. Under this system, communities take an active role in protecting and managing nearby forest lands. In return for their efforts, they are granted rights to certain forest products and a share in the resulting revenue.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q156. The first successful experiment of Joint Forest Management in India, which later served as a model, took place in the Arabari forest range located in which state?
Explanation
The first successful experiment in Joint Forest Management took place in the Arabari forest range of West Bengal in the early 1970s. A forest officer, A.K. Banerjee, involved local villagers in the protection of degraded sal forests. The success of this community-based model in restoring the forest and improving livelihoods paved the way for the formal adoption of JFM nationwide across India.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q157. Identify the correct statement regarding the institutional framework of Joint Forest Management.
Explanation
The institutional framework of Joint Forest Management centers on the formation of village-level institutions, commonly known as Forest Protection Committees or Van Samitis. These committees represent the local community and work in collaboration with the forest department to implement management plans. This structure ensures that local people have a formal voice and a clear role in the conservation of their local resources.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q158. Identify the incorrect statement regarding benefit-sharing in JFM.
Explanation
In JFM, local communities are motivated to protect forests through a clear benefit-sharing mechanism. They are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce and receive a significant share of the revenue from the final timber harvest. The claim that all timber revenue goes exclusively to the Central Government is incorrect, as the system is designed to provide direct financial incentives to the communities.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q159. Sacred groves are a classic example of community-based conservation. They are best described as:
Explanation
Sacred groves are patches of forest vegetation that are protected by local communities due to their religious, cultural, or spiritual significance. These areas are often dedicated to local deities and are protected by traditional taboos that prohibit the cutting of trees or hunting of animals. They serve as important refuges for biodiversity and represent an ancient form of community-based conservation worldwide.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q160. The National Forest Policy that explicitly formally recognized the need for people’s involvement in forest conservation, leading to the JFM circular of 1990, was issued in:
Explanation
The National Forest Policy of 1988 marked a significant shift in India’s approach to forest management by emphasizing the importance of people’s participation. It moved away from a purely commercial focus and recognized the need to involve local communities in the protection and development of forests. This policy provided the foundation for the Joint Forest Management circular issued formally in 1990.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
151
(c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
152
(a) The creation of "green jobs" and stimulation of sustainable economic growth.
153
(c) Providing massive subsidies for fossil fuel extraction
154
(a) Linear Economy
155
(d) Partnership between communities and forest departments for management.
156
(b) West Bengal
157
(c) Forming village institutions like Forest Protection Committees.
158
(d) The entire revenue from timber sales goes exclusively to the Central Government.
159
(a) Forest tracts protected by communities due to religious and cultural beliefs.
160
(b) 1988
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.
