60. Which of the following is a Ramsar site in West Bengal?
[WBCS Mains (paper held 2022) – 2021]
(A) Victoria Memorial
(B) East Kolkata Wetlands
(C) Fort William
(D) Purbasthali Wetland
Answer: (B) East Kolkata Wetlands
Explanation: East Kolkata Wetlands was added to the Ramsar List in 2002. Its managed wastewater-fed fisheries and agricultural areas provide ecological services near Kolkata. West Bengal also contains the internationally recognised Sundarban Wetland, designated later.
59. Choose the correctly matched international environmental agreement and subject.
[WBCS Mains (paper held 2022) – 2021]
(A) Basel Convention — biodiversity
(B) Montreal Protocol — global warming
(C) Kyoto Protocol — climate change
(D) Ramsar Convention — groundwater pollution
Answer: (C) Kyoto Protocol — climate change
Explanation: The Kyoto Protocol is linked to the UN climate convention and establishes commitments to limit greenhouse-gas emissions. Basel addresses hazardous waste movements, Montreal protects the ozone layer and Ramsar concentrates on wetlands and their wise use.
58. In which year did Sundarban Wetland receive Ramsar recognition?
[WBCS Prelims – 2021]
(A) 1987
(B) 1972
(C) 2018
(D) 2019
Answer: (D) 2019
Explanation: The Indian Sundarban Wetland was designated a Ramsar site in January 2019. The mangrove landscape protects rich coastal biodiversity and buffers cyclones and storm surges. Its designation differs from Sundarbans National Park’s World Heritage recognition.
57. Which of these Indian regions is a recognised biodiversity hotspot?
[UPPSC RO/ARO – 2021]
(A) Aravalli Hills
(B) Western Ghats
(C) Eastern Ghats
(D) Indo-Gangetic Plains
Answer: (B) Western Ghats
Explanation: The Western Ghats form part of the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot. They contain many endemic plants, amphibians and other species, but have also experienced significant habitat loss. The other listed regions are not independently recognised hotspots.
56. In which state is Loktak Lake situated?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I – 2021]
(A) Odisha
(B) Meghalaya
(C) Manipur
(D) Rajasthan
Answer: (C) Manipur
Explanation: Loktak Lake lies in Manipur and contains floating masses of vegetation called phumdis. The wetland supports fisheries and Keibul Lamjao National Park, home to the sangai deer. Loktak is both a Ramsar site and a wetland under conservation concern.
55. Which Indian tiger reserve received the TX2 Award in 2020 for increasing its tiger population?
[SSC CGL (2020 paper) – 2021]
(A) Periyar
(B) Pilibhit
(C) Ranthambore
(D) Sariska
Answer: (B) Pilibhit
Explanation: Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh received international TX2 recognition for progress in recovering tiger numbers. Its Terai landscape connects forests and grasslands, emphasising the importance of anti-poaching work, habitat continuity and monitoring.
54. Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve is located in which state?
[SSC MTS (2020 paper) – 2021]
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Karnataka
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Telangana
Answer: (A) Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Srivilliputhur is in Tamil Nadu, within the southern Western Ghats landscape. Nearby forest tracts support important elephant movement and biodiversity. The area also became associated with the Srivilliputhur–Megamalai Tiger Reserve notified for additional big-cat protection.
53. The Ramsar-listed Renuka Wetland is in which state?
[SSC MTS (2020 paper) – 2021]
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Himachal Pradesh
(D) Telangana
Answer: (C) Himachal Pradesh
Explanation: Renuka Wetland lies in Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, near Nahan. The lake and its surrounding forest are both ecologically and culturally significant. Wetlands provide habitat, store water and support birds and other freshwater organisms.
52. If a plant was listed in Schedule VI of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what was the consequence under the pre-amendment schedule?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2020]
(A) A licence was needed to cultivate it
(B) Cultivation was absolutely prohibited
(C) It was a genetically modified crop
(D) It was automatically an invasive species
Answer: (A) A licence was needed to cultivate it
Explanation: The former Schedule VI listed certain protected plants for which cultivation required a licence. This checked illegal collection from the wild. The 2022 Wildlife Protection Act amendment reorganised the schedules, so the historical question uses the earlier numbering.
51. Desert National Park:
1. It covers two districts.
2. No humans live within it.
3. It is a natural habitat of the Great Indian Bustard.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2020]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All three
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Desert National Park spans Jaisalmer and Barmer and shelters the Great Indian Bustard. Local settlements and pastoral activities occur within parts of the landscape, so it is incorrect to describe the park as completely uninhabited.
