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 81–90 of 179 questions
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q81. Arrange the following National Parks/Tiger Reserves of Rajasthan from East to West: I. Ranthambore II. Keoladeo III. Desert National Park Which of the following represents the correct sequence?
Explanation
Geographically, Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur is the easternmost. Moving westward, Ranthambore National Park is located in Sawai Madhopur. Finally, Desert National Park is situated in the far west, spanning the districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer. This sequence correctly reflects the transition from the eastern plains through the central hills to the western desert regions of the state of Rajasthan.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q82. Which of the following is NOT a notified Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan as of 2023?
Explanation
As of 2023, Rajasthan has several notified tiger reserves, including Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, and the recently added Ramgarh Vishdhari. While there have been proposals and discussions regarding the inclusion of Kumbhalgarh as a tiger reserve, it has not yet received the official statutory notification under the Wildlife Protection Act, making it the only site listed that is not a tiger reserve.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q83. Find the odd one out regarding the biodiversity of Rajasthan.
Explanation
Rajasthan’s state symbols include the Khejri tree, the Rohida flower, the Chinkara as the wild state animal, and the Camel as the domestic state animal.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q84. In-situ conservation refers to:
Explanation
In-situ conservation is the practice of protecting and managing wildlife and plant species within their natural surroundings. This approach focuses on maintaining the entire ecosystem and the natural processes that allow species to thrive. By establishing protected areas like national parks and sanctuaries, conservationists ensure that biodiversity is preserved in the environment where it naturally evolved and continues to interact.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q85. Ex-situ conservation is best defined as:
Explanation
Ex-situ conservation involves the protection of biological diversity outside of its natural habitats. This method is often used for species that are critically endangered and cannot survive in the wild due to habitat destruction or other threats. Examples include botanical gardens, zoos, and gene banks, where individuals or genetic materials are maintained under human supervision to prevent complete extinction.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q86. Read the following list of conservation methods: I. Seed Banks II. Botanical Gardens III. Biosphere Reserves IV. Cryopreservation Which combination represents ex-situ conservation methods?
Explanation
Ex-situ conservation methods involve maintaining species outside their natural environments. Seed banks, botanical gardens, and cryopreservation are all examples of this approach, as they involve human-managed storage or cultivation. Biosphere reserves, however, are a form of in-situ conservation because they protect entire ecosystems in their natural state. Therefore, only the seed banks, gardens, and cryopreservation techniques belong to the ex-situ category.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q87. Identify the correct pair of conservation method and its type.
Explanation
Sacred groves are natural forest patches protected by local communities in their original locations, representing a traditional form of in-situ conservation. In contrast, wildlife sanctuaries are also in-situ, while zoological parks and tissue culture are ex-situ methods because they occur outside natural habitats. Therefore, the pairing of sacred groves with in-situ conservation is the only scientifically and technically accurate choice.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q88. Match the following examples in List I with their types of conservation in List II:
Example
Type of Conservation
A. National Park
i. In-situ conservation (Government protected)
B. Gene Bank
ii. Ex-situ conservation (Live aquatic species)
C. Sacred Lake
iii. Ex-situ conservation (Genetic material)
D. Aquarium
iv. In-situ conservation (Community protected) Options:
Explanation
National Parks represent government-protected in-situ conservation. Gene Banks are ex-situ methods for storing genetic material. Sacred Lakes are examples of community-protected in-situ conservation based on cultural traditions. Aquariums serve as ex-situ centers for maintaining live aquatic species. Mapping these examples correctly illustrates the diversity of strategies used to preserve biological resources both within and outside their natural environments.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q89. Identify the incorrect statement regarding seed banks.
Explanation
Seed banks are a vital ex-situ conservation tool designed to preserve genetic diversity. They store seeds for long-term recovery and research, as exemplified by the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. However, the claim that seeds are stored at high temperatures is incorrect. Successful seed preservation actually requires controlled, very low temperatures and low humidity to maintain seed viability and prevent premature germination.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q90. Which of the following is the most appropriate reason for using cryopreservation in biodiversity conservation?
Explanation
Cryopreservation is a sophisticated ex-situ conservation technique used to store biological materials like seeds, pollen, and animal gametes. By using liquid nitrogen to achieve ultra-low temperatures, usually around minus 196 degrees Celsius, genetic material can be preserved for decades without losing its viability. This method provides a "genetic backup" for endangered species that might face sudden extinction in the wild.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
81
(b) II, I, III
82
(c) Kumbhalgarh
83
(a) Sangai (State Animal - Domestic)
84
(d) Conservation of species within their natural ecosystem or habitat.
85
(b) Maintenance and breeding of endangered species outside natural habitats.
86
(c) I, II and IV only
87
(d) Sacred Grove - In-situ conservation
88
(a) A-i, B-iii, C-iv, D-ii
89
(b) Seeds are stored at high temperatures and humidity to ensure survival.
90
(b) To preserve genetic material at ultra-low temperatures without loss of viability.
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.
