Q11. The concept of "Biodiversity Hotspots" was first proposed by which of the following environmentalists?
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 11–20 of 179 questions
Q12. Which of the following is NOT one of the four recognized biodiversity hotspots present in India?
Explanation
India is home to four globally recognized biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland. These regions are identified by their exceptional levels of endemism and severe habitat loss. While the Vindhyan Range is ecologically important, it does not meet the specific international criteria required to be classified as a global biodiversity hotspot under standard scientific assessments.
Q13. Read the following statements regarding the criteria for a region to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot:
I. It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics.
II. It must have lost at least 70 percent of its primary native vegetation.
III. It must be located strictly within the tropical latitudes.
IV. It must contain significant megafauna species.
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics.
II. It must have lost at least 70 percent of its primary native vegetation.
III. It must be located strictly within the tropical latitudes.
IV. It must contain significant megafauna species.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must harbor at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and have lost seventy percent of its original native vegetation. Hotspots are defined by high endemism and high threat levels rather than specific latitudes or the presence of megafauna. Consequently, only the botanical and habitat loss criteria are valid in this specific context.
Q14. All of the following states in India share parts of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, EXCEPT:
Explanation
The Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot runs along the western coast of India, spanning across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. This mountain range is famous for its unique flora and fauna. Odisha is located on the eastern coast of the Indian peninsula and is not part of the Western Ghats mountain system or its designated ecological hotspot.
Q15. The following question consists of two statements, Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the options given below:
Assertion (A): The Western Ghats are classified as a biodiversity hotspot.
Reason (R): They host a high degree of endemism and are subjected to significant threat from human activities.
Assertion (A): The Western Ghats are classified as a biodiversity hotspot.
Reason (R): They host a high degree of endemism and are subjected to significant threat from human activities.
Explanation
The Western Ghats are a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot because they contain a vast number of species found nowhere else on Earth. This high degree of endemism, coupled with significant environmental threats from human activities, fulfills the essential criteria for hotspot designation. Thus, the reasoning provided accurately explains why this region is classified under this specific international conservation category.
Q16. The Nicobar Islands of India form a part of which global biodiversity hotspot?
Explanation
The Nicobar Islands are geologically and biologically linked to the Southeast Asian archipelago, placing them within the Sundaland biodiversity hotspot. This region includes the Malay Peninsula and various Indonesian islands. While the Andaman Islands are often associated with the Indo-Burma hotspot, the Nicobars represent India’s contribution to the extremely rich and threatened Sundaland ecological zone in the Indian Ocean.
Q17. Identify the incorrect pair regarding India’s biodiversity hotspots and their prominent regions.
Explanation
The Sundaland hotspot in India primarily includes the Nicobar Islands, while the Indo- Burma hotspot covers the northeastern states. The Himalayas hotspot encompasses the mountain range in Arunachal Pradesh. However, the Lakshadweep Islands are coral atolls in the Arabian Sea and are not classified as part of the Sundaland hotspot, making this specific pairing incorrect and factually inaccurate.
Q18. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: Endemic species are those that are found exclusively in a particular geographical area and nowhere else.
Statement II: High endemism is a primary requirement for a region to be declared a biodiversity hotspot.
Statement I: Endemic species are those that are found exclusively in a particular geographical area and nowhere else.
Statement II: High endemism is a primary requirement for a region to be declared a biodiversity hotspot.
Explanation
Endemic species are restricted to a specific geographical area and are not naturally found elsewhere. High endemism is one of the two mandatory criteria used to identify global biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, both statements accurately describe the nature of endemism and its fundamental role in determining which regions of the world require urgent and prioritized conservation attention from environmental agencies.
Q19. Which among the following best describes the ecological significance of a biodiversity hotspot?
Explanation
Biodiversity hotspots are biogeographic regions that serve as significant reservoirs of biodiversity. They are defined by the presence of a vast number of endemic species and the fact that the natural habitat is under extreme threat from human exploitation. These areas are prioritized for conservation because they represent the most biologically rich yet most endangered ecosystems on the planet today.
Q20. What is a direct ecological consequence of habitat destruction in a biodiversity hotspot?
Explanation
Habitat destruction in biodiversity hotspots is particularly devastating because these areas contain endemic species that exist nowhere else. When their unique habitats are lost, these species face immediate extinction. Consequently, the degradation of these critical regions leads directly to an accelerated loss of global biodiversity, as the specialized life forms they support cannot survive in significantly altered environments.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (d) Norman Myers |
| 12 | (b) The Vindhyan Range |
| 13 | (a) I and II only |
| 14 | (d) Odisha |
| 15 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 16 | (b) Sundaland |
| 17 | (b) Sundaland Hotspot - Lakshadweep Islands |
| 18 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 19 | (c) A region with high species richness, endemism, and threat of destruction. |
| 20 | (d) Accelerated rate of local and global species extinction |
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.