Q51. The MIKE programme, established under CITES, stands for:
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 51–60 of 179 questions
Q52. Match the following Elephant Reserves in List I with their corresponding states in List II:
| Elephant Reserve | State |
|---|---|
| A. Lemru | i. Uttarakhand |
| B. Shivalik | ii. Chhattisgarh |
| C. Nilgiri | iii. Jharkhand |
| D. Singhbhum | iv. Tamil Nadu Options: |
Explanation
Elephant reserves are designated to protect the habitats and migratory paths of elephants. Lemru Elephant Reserve is located in Chhattisgarh, while the Shivalik Elephant Reserve is in Uttarakhand. The Nilgiri Elephant Reserve spans parts of Tamil Nadu and neighboring states. Singhbhum, India’s first elephant reserve, is situated in Jharkhand. Correct geographic mapping is crucial for managing these large-scale habitats.
Q53. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: Asian elephants are listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List.
Statement II: African elephants have higher global populations compared to Asian elephants.
Statement I: Asian elephants are listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List.
Statement II: African elephants have higher global populations compared to Asian elephants.
Explanation
Asian elephants are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to population declines and habitat loss. African elephants, though also threatened, have significantly larger global populations compared to their Asian relatives. Both statements accurately reflect the current conservation status and relative abundance of these two distinct species, highlighting the urgent need for global protection and habitat restoration efforts.
Q54. Identify the incorrect statement regarding elephant conservation in India.
Explanation
In India, the Asian elephant is recognized as the National Heritage Animal. Karnataka holds the largest population of these animals. Project Elephant provides support to states for conservation. Crucially, the trade of ivory is completely banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for all individuals and communities. Claiming that ivory trade is legally permitted is factually incorrect and highly misleading.
Q55. An "Elephant Corridor" is best defined as:
Explanation
An elephant corridor is a narrow strip of land that acts as a bridge between two larger forested habitats. These corridors are essential for the movement of elephants as they migrate between areas in search of food and water. By facilitating safe passage, these strips help maintain genetic flow between populations and minimize the chances of elephants entering human-occupied landscapes.
Q56. All of the following are primary causes of human-elephant conflict in India, EXCEPT:
Explanation
Human-elephant conflict in India is primarily driven by habitat fragmentation, encroachment for agriculture, and linear infrastructure like railways. These factors force elephants out of forests into human settlements. However, elephants have a low reproductive rate and long gestation periods, so overpopulation is not a cause. The conflict arises from the loss of space, not an explosion in elephant numbers.
Q57. The increasing installation of early warning systems and solar electric fences near forest fringes is a direct effect of:
Explanation
The deployment of early warning systems and solar-powered electric fences near forests is a direct response to the increasing frequency of human-elephant conflicts. These measures are designed to detect elephant movements and prevent them from entering agricultural fields. By deterring elephants from raiding crops and entering villages, these technologies help protect human lives and livelihoods while reducing retaliatory killings.
Q58. Project Snow Leopard was launched by the Government of India in which year?
Explanation
Project Snow Leopard was launched by the Government of India in January 2009. This initiative was designed to safeguard the snow leopard and its high-altitude habitat in the Himalayan region. It emphasizes a participatory approach involving local communities in conservation efforts, reflecting the unique ecological and social challenges of protecting this elusive predator across the vast and rugged mountain landscapes.
Q59. Read the following statements regarding the Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica):
I. It is essentially blind and relies on echolocation to navigate and hunt.
II. It is found only in the freshwater river systems of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
III. It is classified as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN.
IV. It was designated as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.
Which combination of the above statements is correct?
I. It is essentially blind and relies on echolocation to navigate and hunt.
II. It is found only in the freshwater river systems of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
III. It is classified as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN.
IV. It was designated as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009.
Which combination of the above statements is correct?
Explanation
The Gangetic Dolphin is essentially blind and uses echolocation to navigate freshwater systems. It was declared India’s National Aquatic Animal in 2009. While it is highly threatened, it is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN, not Critically Endangered. This species is found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems, making it a vital indicator of river health and biodiversity.
Q60. Identify the correct statement regarding Project Dolphin.
Explanation
Project Dolphin was initiated to conserve both freshwater river dolphins and marine dolphins in India’s coastal waters. This project utilizes modern technology for monitoring and emphasizes the involvement of local fishing communities in protection efforts. By addressing the threats in both ecosystems, the project aims to improve the status of these aquatic mammals and the overall health of their diverse habitats.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 51 | (c) Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants |
| 52 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 53 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 54 | (c) Indigenous communities are legally permitted to trade elephant ivory under the WPA 1972. |
| 55 | (a) Narrow land strips connecting larger habitats to allow safe elephant movement between them. |
| 56 | (d) Massive overpopulation caused by the high reproductive rate of elephants. |
| 57 | (b) Rising incidents of human-elephant conflicts and crop raiding |
| 58 | (c) 2009 |
| 59 | (a) I, II and IV only |
| 60 | (b) It focuses on both riverine and marine dolphins and involves community participation. |
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.