Q291. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Health, Environment and Agriculture: RAS Prelims MCQs
662 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on health, environment and agriculture are on this page, in 4 chapters. They cover human health, food, nutrition and public health programmes, environmental and ecological changes and impact assessment, biodiversity and conservation of natural resources, and agriculture, horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry in Rajasthan. Each question has an answer and an explanation.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 291–300 of 662 questions
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Q292. Eco-Mark, a certification mark issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for environment-friendly products, operates under the ambit of which legislation?
Explanation
A voluntary certification system was introduced to help consumers identify products that have a lower environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This program, which uses a characteristic clay pot symbol, is managed by the national standards body but is authorized under the major environmental protection law of the mid-eighties. By encouraging the production and use of more sustainable goods, the initiative helps to reduce the overall environmental footprint of consumer items and promote sustainability.
Q293. What is the fundamental difference between the Environment Protection Act (EPA) 1986 and the Water/Air Acts?
Explanation
While laws for air and water were created earlier and focus on specific types of pollution, the legislation passed in nineteen eighty-six is much broader in its scope. Its most significant feature is that it gives the central government a high degree of power to coordinate and direct environmental protection efforts nationwide. This allows for a more unified and effective approach to complex problems that cross state boundaries or involve many different types of environmental media.
Q294. Consider the following ecological zones of Rajasthan:
A. Hadoti Plateau
B. Arid Western Plain
C. Eastern Plains
D. Aravalli Hills
Which of the following represents the correct sequence in descending order of average annual rainfall?
A. Hadoti Plateau
B. Arid Western Plain
C. Eastern Plains
D. Aravalli Hills
Which of the following represents the correct sequence in descending order of average annual rainfall?
Explanation
The amount of rain received across a large western state varies significantly from one area to another. The highest amounts are found in the southeast, where the landscape is dominated by plateaus and hills. Moving westward, the climate becomes increasingly dry. The central plains receive a moderate amount of moisture, while the vast sandy regions in the far west are characterized by very low and unpredictable rainfall, which has a profound impact on life.
Q295. The degradation of the Aravalli hills in Rajasthan has primarily resulted in:
Explanation
The loss of vegetation and soil on an ancient mountain range in western India has serious environmental consequences for the surrounding regions. These hills have historically acted as a natural barrier to the movement of sand and dust. As they become degraded, this shield is weakened, allowing the dry conditions of the west to move further toward the more fertile areas to the east. This process threatens the health of the land and millions.
Q296. Which mining activity has severely impacted the ecological balance of the Makrana and Rajsamand regions of Rajasthan?
Explanation
Certain regions in a western Indian state are world-famous for their high-quality building stones and decorative materials. However, the intensive and often unscientific extraction of these minerals has led to severe ecological damage. Large-scale quarrying has destroyed the natural landscape, depleted groundwater resources, and generated massive amounts of waste and dust. These changes have disrupted local ecosystems and posed serious health risks to the people living and working in these areas.
Q297. The problem of ‘fluorosis’ in Rajasthan is predominantly caused by:
Explanation
Many people in the arid parts of northern and western India suffer from a chronic condition that affects their teeth and bones. This problem is not caused by pollution from factories or farming, but rather by the natural composition of the local geology. In many areas, the deep groundwater contains high levels of a specific mineral. When this water is used for drinking over a long time, it leads to painful and permanent health issues.
Q298. Regarding the impact of unscientific mining in the Aravallis, consider the following statements:
I. It leads to the destruction of wildlife corridors.
II. It increases the groundwater table in the surrounding areas.
III. It generates enormous quantities of silica dust causing silicosis.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It leads to the destruction of wildlife corridors.
II. It increases the groundwater table in the surrounding areas.
III. It generates enormous quantities of silica dust causing silicosis.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Unscientific extraction activities in a historic mountain range have multiple negative effects on the environment and public health. Beyond destroying the pathways used by wild animals, these activities also release dangerous amounts of fine mineral dust. When people breathe in this dust over many years, it can cause severe lung diseases. Additionally, these mining operations often disrupt the natural flow of water, leading to the depletion of essential groundwater resources in dryland communities.
Q299. Which traditional water harvesting system is widely used in the arid regions of Rajasthan to combat water scarcity?
Explanation
In the dry regions of western India, people have used clever traditional methods to collect and store rainwater for centuries. One common system involves building small, crescent-shaped embankments across seasonal streams. These structures capture the runoff and allow it to slowly seep into the ground, which recharges the local water table and provides a reliable source for people and livestock. These time-tested techniques are increasingly recognized as essential for surviving in a water-scarce environment.
Q300. The Supreme Court of India imposed a blanket ban on mining activities in the Aravalli range in which state(s) to protect its ecology?
Explanation
The Supreme Court imposed a blanket ban on mining in the Aravalli range in Haryana and Rajasthan to protect its ecology.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 291 | (a) It strictly prohibits the establishment of Eco-Sensitive Zones around national parks. |
| 292 | (c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 |
| 293 | (a) Grants overarching powers to Center |
| 294 | (b) A, C, D, B |
| 295 | (b) Expansion of the Thar Desert eastwards |
| 296 | (c) Marble and stone quarrying |
| 297 | (d) High natural fluoride in water |
| 298 | (c) I and III only |
| 299 | (b) Johad |
| 300 | (b) Haryana and Rajasthan |
Key facts from Health, Environment and Agriculture
- The RPSC General Science syllabus includes human health and nutrition, environmental change, biodiversity and the agriculture of Rajasthan.
- Health questions pair a deficiency or a programme with its cause or target, for example iron with anaemia.
- Environment questions cover ecosystems, pollutants, laws and treaties, including carbon markets.
- Rajasthan agriculture questions deal with dryland farming, crops of the arid zones and the State’s agro-climatic zones.
- Science and technology, policies and defence are on the Science and Technology page.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Health, Environment and Agriculture?
This page has 662 practice MCQs on Health, Environment and Agriculture. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does this set cover?
Four chapters: human health, food, nutrition and public health programmes; environmental and ecological changes and their impact assessment; biodiversity, conservation of natural resources and sustainable development; and agriculture, horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry in Rajasthan.
Are health, environment and agriculture part of the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. The General Knowledge and General Science paper includes human health, nutrition, environment, biodiversity and the agriculture sector of Rajasthan, so these topics can be asked every year.
How can I revise this part of the syllabus?
Make short lists of deficiency diseases, pollutants, laws and treaties, and Rajasthan crops and zones. Attempt each chapter, read the explanations of the misses and revisit the lists after a few days.