Q31. Following the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, how many schedules does the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 now contain?
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 31–40 of 179 questions
Q32. Match the following provisions in List I with their descriptions in List II based on the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (post-2022 amendment):
| Provisions under WPA 1972 | Description |
|---|---|
| A. Schedule I | i. Animal species requiring lesser protection |
| B. Schedule II | ii. Animal species requiring the highest level of protection |
| C. Schedule III | iii. Specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES |
| D. Schedule IV | iv. Protected Plant species Options: |
Explanation
Following the 2022 amendment, Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act includes species requiring the highest level of protection. Schedule II covers those requiring lesser protection. Schedule III is dedicated to protected plant species. Schedule IV is a new addition specifically for specimens listed in the Appendices of CITES. This revised structure streamlines the legal protection levels for India’s biodiversity.
Q33. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 empowers the State Government to declare any area as a Sanctuary or National Park.
Statement II: The Central Government cannot declare any area as a Sanctuary or National Park under any circumstances.
Statement I: The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 empowers the State Government to declare any area as a Sanctuary or National Park.
Statement II: The Central Government cannot declare any area as a Sanctuary or National Park under any circumstances.
Explanation
Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, State Governments have the primary power to declare specific areas as Sanctuaries or National Parks. However, the Central Government also retains the authority to declare such protected areas under certain circumstances, particularly when the land is under its control. Thus, the claim that the Centre cannot declare these areas is factually incorrect.
Q34. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, who is the highest statutory authority at the state level responsible for the management of wildlife?
Explanation
The Chief Wildlife Warden is the statutory authority appointed by the State Government under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This official is responsible for the direct management and control of wildlife within the state. Their duties include granting permissions for research, managing protected areas, and addressing issues related to wildlife conservation and human-animal conflict at the state level.
Q35. The following question consists of two statements, Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Select the correct answer from the options given below:
Assertion (A): The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 included a new schedule specifically for CITES listed species.
Reason (R): India is a signatory to CITES and is obligated to implement its provisions to regulate international trade in endangered species.
Assertion (A): The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 included a new schedule specifically for CITES listed species.
Reason (R): India is a signatory to CITES and is obligated to implement its provisions to regulate international trade in endangered species.
Explanation
The 2022 amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act introduced a new schedule specifically to accommodate species listed under CITES.
Q36. All of the following authorities are constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, EXCEPT:
Explanation
The National Board for Wildlife, Central Zoo Authority, and National Tiger Conservation Authority are all statutory bodies established under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The National Green Tribunal, however, was established under a separate act in 2010 to handle environmental disputes. Therefore, it is the only entity in the list not constituted under the original 1972 Act.
Q37. What was the primary effect of eliminating the ‘Vermin’ schedule in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022?
Explanation
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 removed the vermin schedule, and the Central Government can now declare specific species outside Schedules I and II as vermin by notification.
Q38. Prior to the 2022 amendment, which Schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 was specifically dedicated to "Vermin" (animals that could be hunted)?
Explanation
Before the recent amendments in 2022, the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 categorized wild animals into six schedules. Schedule V was specifically dedicated to "Vermin," which included species like common crows, fruit bats, mice, and rats. Animals listed in this schedule could be hunted without a license, as they were not afforded the same level of high legal protection.
Q39. Identify the correct statement regarding the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
Explanation
The National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. It serves as the apex body for all wildlife-related matters in India and is chaired by the Prime Minister. The board’s functions include reviewing all wildlife-related projects and making recommendations on the boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries across the entire country.
Q40. In which year was "Project Tiger" launched in India to promote the conservation of the Bengal Tiger?
Explanation
Project Tiger was officially launched by the Government of India on April 1, 1973. This ambitious conservation program was initiated to ensure a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats. It aimed to protect tigers from extinction and preserve areas of biological importance as a national heritage, marking a significant milestone in India’s wildlife conservation history and efforts.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) Four |
| 32 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 33 | (a) Statement I is correct, and Statement II is incorrect. |
| 34 | (c) The Chief Wildlife Warden |
| 35 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 36 | (c) National Green Tribunal |
| 37 | (b) Central Government can declare specific non-Schedule I/II species as vermin by notification |
| 38 | (d) Schedule V |
| 39 | (a) It is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. |
| 40 | (c) 1973 |
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.