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 341–350 of 662 questions
Browse Health, Environment and Agriculture chapters
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q341. Arrange the following IUCN Red List categories in order of increasing risk of extinction: I. Endangered (EN) II. Vulnerable (VU) III. Extinct in the Wild (EW) IV. Critically Endangered (CR) Which of the following is the correct sequence?
Explanation
The IUCN Red List categorizes species based on their proximity to extinction. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the medium term. Endangered species face a very high risk in the near future. Critically Endangered species face an extremely high risk immediately. Extinct in the Wild represents the highest risk level, as no living individuals remain outside captivity.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q342. Read the following criteria used by the IUCN: I. An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population size reduction of 90% or more over the last 10 years. II. Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 100 square kilometres. III. Population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals. IV. Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 50% within 10 years. V. Population size estimated to number fewer than 50 mature individuals. Which combination of the above represents criteria that can independently classify a species as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR)?
Explanation
A species is classified as Critically Endangered if it meets any of several quantitative criteria. These include a population reduction of ninety percent over ten years, a range smaller than one hundred square kilometers, a population of fewer than fifty mature individuals, or a fifty percent probability of extinction within a decade. Each of these parameters indicates an extremely high risk.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q343. A wildlife biologist finds that a specific frog species has not been seen in its natural habitat for 60 years, despite exhaustive surveys. However, a small population survives in a research terrarium. Under which IUCN category should this species be listed?
Explanation
A taxon is categorized as Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity, or as a naturalized population well outside its past range. Since the frog species has not been observed in its natural environment for sixty years but still persists in a research terrarium, it fits this specific conservation status precisely and accurately.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q344. Identify the correct pair of species and its general IUCN status (as commonly cited in Indian context):
Explanation
The Pygmy Hog is the world’s smallest and rarest wild suid and is listed as Critically Endangered due to its extremely small and fragmented population. In contrast, the Great Indian Bustard is also Critically Endangered, and the Snow Leopard is Vulnerable. The Olive Ridley Turtle is Vulnerable, and no major Indian megafauna species are currently classified as Extinct.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q345. Match the following IUCN categories in List I with their descriptions in List II:
IUCN Category
Description
A. Extinct (EX)
i. Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future
B. Data Deficient (DD)
ii. Widespread and abundant taxa
C. Near Threatened (NT)
iii. No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died
D. Least Concern (LC)
iv. Inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction Options:
Explanation
Extinct status confirms that the last individual of a species has died. Data Deficient indicates insufficient information to assess extinction risk accurately. Near Threatened identifies taxa likely to qualify for a threatened category soon. Least Concern applies to widespread and abundant species. This mapping ensures that each IUCN Red List category is linked with its standardized global scientific description.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q346. According to the IUCN Red List, a species is classified as "Vulnerable" when it:
Explanation
According to the IUCN Red List criteria, a taxon is categorized as Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets specific thresholds for population size or range decline. This classification signifies that the species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future, requiring conservation attention to prevent further status deterioration.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q347. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the IUCN Red List.
Explanation
The IUCN Red List is a scientifically rigorous system that relies heavily on quantitative criteria. These include measurable data on population size reduction, geographic range size, and probability of extinction. It does not rely solely on qualitative descriptions. Species in the Vulnerable, Endangered, and Critically Endangered categories are collectively identified as Threatened, and the list informs global conservation policies.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q348. The publication documenting the rare and endangered species of animals and plants, maintained internationally, is known as:
Explanation
The Red Data Book is the state document established for documenting rare and endangered species of animals, plants, and fungi. Maintained by the IUCN, it provides comprehensive data on the conservation status of various taxa across the globe. This publication is essential for tracking biodiversity loss and guiding international efforts to protect species that are at risk of extinction.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q349. Which of the following is NOT a recognized category in the IUCN Red List?
Explanation
The official IUCN Red List categories include Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient, and Not Evaluated. These categories provide a standardized framework for assessing the risk of extinction. Ecological Exception is not a recognized term or category within this global system used to evaluate the status of biological species.
RAS PrelimsHealth, Environment and Agriculture · Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Q350. Following the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, how many schedules does the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 now contain?
Explanation
The Wildlife Protection Amendment Act of 2022 significantly rationalized the structure of the original 1972 Act. It reduced the total number of schedules from six to four. These updated schedules now cover animal species with high protection, species with lesser protection, protected plants, and a dedicated new schedule for species listed under the CITES appendices for international trade.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
341
(a) II, I, IV, III
342
(d) I, II, III, IV and V
343
(a) Extinct in the Wild
344
(c) Pygmy Hog - Critically Endangered
345
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
346
(c) Faces a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
347
(b) It relies solely on qualitative data and ignores quantitative criteria like population reduction.
348
(c) The Red Data Book
349
(d) Ecological Exception
350
(a) Four
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.
