100. Regarding Madhav National Park, assess:
1. It became a tiger reserve in 2025.
2. Sakhya Sagar, a Ramsar site, lies within it.
3. The park is spread over Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2026]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 3 only
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Madhav National Park lies entirely in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh. It was notified as a tiger reserve in 2025, while Sakhya Sagar is a recognised Ramsar wetland inside the park. Hence statements 1 and 2 alone are valid.
99. For the Western hoolock gibbon, consider:
1. This endangered ape occurs in a sanctuary in northeastern India.
2. It moves by brachiation.
3. It has the heavy body form of a gorilla.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2026]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 3 only
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: The western hoolock gibbon lives in northeastern forests, including Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. Brachiation means swinging beneath branches using long arms. It is a relatively slender lesser ape, unlike heavily built gorillas, making the third assertion inaccurate.
98. About Amur falcons visiting Doyang Lake in Nagaland, consider:
1. Local protection helps safeguard migratory falcons.
2. Tracking devices actively direct their migration.
3. They have become permanent residents of India.
Choose the correct statement(s).
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2026]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 3 only
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: Amur falcons stop in Nagaland on their migration between East Asia and southern Africa. Community action sharply reduced hunting. Tracking transmitters merely record journeys, and the birds do not permanently settle in India. Therefore only the conservation statement holds.
97. About Rhynchostylis retusa (foxtail orchid), assess:
1. It grows as an epiphyte.
2. It is confined naturally to northeastern India.
3. It is the state flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2026]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 3 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 3 only
Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: The foxtail orchid uses other plants for support but does not feed parasitically on them. It grows across parts of South and Southeast Asia, rather than being northeastern India’s exclusive endemic. Both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh recognise it as their state flower.
96. Which statements are correct?
1. Project Elephant began in 1992.
2. Project Tiger began in 1973.
3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is in West Bengal.
4. Keoladeo National Park is in Madhya Pradesh.
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I – 2026]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1, 3 and 4
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (A) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Project Elephant dates to 1992 and Project Tiger to 1973, while Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is in West Bengal. Keoladeo National Park is at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, not Madhya Pradesh. Thus the first three claims are correct.
95. Which statement correctly describes Pitti Island of Lakshadweep?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I – 2026]
(A) It is uninhabited and contains a bird sanctuary
(B) It has active volcanoes
(C) It contains India’s largest military base
(D) It is at the entrance to the Andaman Sea
Answer: (A) It is uninhabited and contains a bird sanctuary
Explanation: Pitti is a small uninhabited coral island in Lakshadweep and a protected nesting place for seabirds, including terns. It has neither active volcanoes nor a major military installation; the archipelago lies in the Arabian Sea.
94. The seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife, held in March 2025, took place at which national park?
[RRB Group D – 2026]
(A) Gir
(B) Bandipur
(C) Kaziranga
(D) Jim Corbett
Answer: (A) Gir
Explanation: The National Board for Wildlife met at Sasan Gir in Gujarat in March 2025. Gir is recognised for conserving the remaining wild Asiatic lions and is a focal point of habitat management and protection against disease and other threats.
93. Sambhar Salt Lake is located in which Indian state?
[SSC MTS (2025 paper, held 2026) – 2026]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Punjab
(C) Gujarat
(D) Haryana
Answer: (A) Rajasthan
Explanation: Sambhar lies in Rajasthan and is India’s largest inland saline lake. Besides salt production, it supports migratory waterbirds including flamingos and is protected as a Ramsar wetland. Its water balance is influenced by evaporation and drainage from surrounding catchments.
92. Regarding the peacock or Gooty tarantula, assess:
I. It is an omnivorous crustacean.
II. Its Indian habitat is restricted to certain forest patches.
III. It normally lives in trees.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2025]
(A) I only
(B) I and II only
(C) II only
(D) II and III only
Answer: (D) II and III only
Explanation: The Gooty tarantula is a vividly coloured spider, hence an arachnid rather than a crustacean. It inhabits restricted forest patches in the Eastern Ghats and lives in trees. Habitat loss and collection for trade contribute to its conservation concern.
91. Similipal, recognised in April 2025 as Odisha’s second national park, is situated in which state?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I – 2025]
(A) Gujarat
(B) Odisha
(C) Madhya Pradesh
(D) Assam
Answer: (B) Odisha
Explanation: Similipal lies in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district and is also associated with tiger and elephant conservation. Its forested hills support rich biodiversity, including a distinctive population of pseudo-melanistic tigers. The national-park notification strengthened formal protection for the landscape.
90. Rajasthan’s Desert National Park extends through which two districts?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I – 2025]
(A) Jaisalmer and Barmer
(B) Phalodi and Jodhpur
(C) Udaipur and Rajsamand
(D) Dholpur and Bharatpur
Answer: (A) Jaisalmer and Barmer
Explanation: Desert National Park spans Jaisalmer and Barmer in western Rajasthan. Its Thar Desert ecosystem includes dunes, rocky terrain and sparse grassland. It is especially important for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard and other desert-adapted wildlife.
89. Chilika Lake and Pulicat Lake both lie on which coast of India?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I – 2025]
(A) West Coast
(B) Malabar Coast
(C) Konkan Coast
(D) East Coast
Answer: (D) East Coast
Explanation: Chilika in Odisha and Pulicat across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are coastal lagoons on India’s east coast. Their brackish ecosystems provide valuable feeding and breeding grounds for fish and large numbers of resident and migratory waterbirds.
88. What is the principal biological basis for identifying biodiversity hotspots?
[UPPSC LT Grade Assistant Teacher – 2025]
(A) Vegetation, particularly endemic plant species
(B) All organisms equally
(C) Diversity of cultivated crops
(D) Animal numbers alone
Answer: (A) Vegetation, particularly endemic plant species
Explanation: A biodiversity hotspot is identified partly by exceptional plant endemism, requiring at least 1,500 endemic vascular-plant species and severe historical habitat loss. This concept, associated with Norman Myers, concentrates conservation attention on threatened areas with irreplaceable biodiversity.
87. In which state is Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve located?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I – 2024]
(A) Himachal Pradesh
(B) Assam
(C) Uttarakhand
(D) Odisha
Answer: (C) Uttarakhand
Explanation: Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve occupies the high Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Its protected landscape includes Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers national parks. Alpine habitats and varied elevations shelter specialised fauna and flora, while UNESCO recognises its international ecological significance.
86. Which name is associated with a publication recording threatened and endangered species and their conservation status?
[SSC MTS – 2024]
(A) Book of Endangered Species
(B) Indian Life Catalogue
(C) Black Book
(D) Red Data Book
Answer: (D) Red Data Book
Explanation: The Red Data Book terminology refers to catalogues of species facing extinction risks, linked to IUCN assessments. Modern IUCN Red List categories include Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable. Such information supports conservation priorities and monitoring.
85. For how many years was the Amrit Dharohar scheme, proposed in 2023 for wetland conservation and livelihoods, initially intended to operate?
[SSC MTS – 2024]
(A) Seven years
(B) Two years
(C) Three years
(D) Five years
Answer: (C) Three years
Explanation: Amrit Dharohar was announced with a three-year implementation period. It aims to conserve Ramsar wetlands while supporting biodiversity, carbon storage, nature-based tourism and livelihood opportunities. Community participation is central to making conservation compatible with local income.
84. Project Tiger was launched in India in which year?
[SSC CGL Tier-I – 2024]
(A) 1985
(B) 1973
(C) 1972
(D) 1970
Answer: (B) 1973
Explanation: Project Tiger began in April 1973 with a network of nine reserves. The programme protects breeding tiger populations and their habitats; the National Tiger Conservation Authority subsequently strengthened oversight and conservation planning through statutory measures.
83. Which organisation produces the globally used assessment of threatened species known as the Red List?
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge – 2024]
(A) IUCN
(B) WWF
(C) UNEP
(D) UNDP
Answer: (A) IUCN
Explanation: The International Union for Conservation of Nature publishes the IUCN Red List, assessing extinction risks using standard categories and scientific criteria. It serves as a conservation guide rather than a list of legally protected sites or a treaty register.
82. Which sanctuary-and-state pair is incorrectly matched?
[UPSC CDS General Knowledge – 2024]
(A) Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary — Uttarakhand
(B) Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary — Assam
(C) Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary — Haryana
(D) Kane Wildlife Sanctuary — Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: (A) Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary — Uttarakhand
Explanation: Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary is associated with Jammu and Kashmir, while Uttarakhand has the town Ramnagar near Corbett. Chakrashila is in Assam, Nahar in Haryana and Kane in Arunachal Pradesh. Similar place names make this a location-based trap.
81. Which animals are correctly described?
1. Lions breed without a fixed seasonal cycle.
2. Cheetahs cannot roar like lions.
3. Male leopards do not use scent marking.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2024]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Lions can reproduce throughout the year, and cheetahs chirp or purr but cannot produce the deep roar typical of some big cats. Male leopards do scent-mark their territories, often with urine or scrapes, so the third statement fails.
80. Consider cashew, papaya and red sanders. How many are native to India?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2024]
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) None
Answer: (A) One
Explanation: Red sanders is native to the southern Eastern Ghats of India. Cashew originated in tropical America, while papaya also came from the Americas. Familiarity with a cultivated plant does not establish Indian origin or natural endemism.
79. Which wildlife sanctuary and district pair in Rajasthan is mismatched?
1. Shergarh—Bundi;
2. Bassi—Chittorgarh;
3. Ramsagar Van Vihar—Dholpur;
4. Sitamata—Pratapgarh.
[RPSC RAS (2023 paper) – 2024]
(A) Pair 1
(B) Pair 2
(C) Pair 3
(D) Pair 4
Answer: (A) Pair 1
Explanation: Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary is in Baran district, so the Bundi pairing is incorrect. Bassi is linked to Chittorgarh, Ramsagar Van Vihar to Dholpur and Sitamata to Pratapgarh. The question tests careful mapping of Rajasthan’s protected areas.
78. George Castle is found within which national park of Madhya Pradesh?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor – 2024]
(A) Madhav
(B) Kanha
(C) Bandhavgarh
(D) Pench
Answer: (A) Madhav
Explanation: George Castle is a historic structure within Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district. The park was once a royal hunting landscape and today provides habitat for leopards, deer and other wildlife. Its location connects natural and cultural heritage.
77. Which organisation houses the Invasive Species Specialist Group responsible for the Global Invasive Species Database?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2023]
(A) IUCN
(B) UNEP
(C) World Commission on Environment and Development
(D) WWF
Answer: (A) IUCN
Explanation: The specialist group works under the IUCN Species Survival Commission. It compiles information on alien invasive species, which can displace native wildlife and alter habitats. In India, examples include lantana and water hyacinth in affected ecosystems.
76. Which creature communicates food direction and distance to its companions through a waggle dance?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2023]
(A) Butterfly
(B) Dragonfly
(C) Honeybee
(D) Wasp
Answer: (C) Honeybee
Explanation: Worker honeybees perform a waggle dance after finding a food source. The angle communicates direction relative to the Sun and the duration conveys approximate distance. This behaviour assists collective foraging and illustrates sophisticated animal communication.
75. Which statement about marsupials is correct?
I. They do not naturally occur in India.
II. They can survive only in predator-free mountain grasslands.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2023]
(A) Both correct, II explains I
(B) Both correct, II does not explain I
(C) I correct, II incorrect
(D) I incorrect, II correct
Answer: (C) I correct, II incorrect
Explanation: Marsupials such as kangaroos and opossums occur naturally in Australasia and the Americas, not India. Their habitats range from forests to deserts, disproving the claim that they require predator-free mountain grasslands. Historical biogeography helps explain their distribution.
74. Match states to biosphere reserves:
Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya;
reserves: Manas, Pachmarhi, Similipal, Nokrek.
Which sequence is correct?
[SSC CHSL Tier-II – 2023]
(A) Assam–Pachmarhi; MP–Nokrek; Odisha–Manas; Meghalaya–Similipal
(B) Assam–Nokrek; MP–Manas; Odisha–Pachmarhi; Meghalaya–Similipal
(C) Assam–Nokrek; MP–Pachmarhi; Odisha–Similipal; Meghalaya–Manas
(D) Assam–Manas; MP–Pachmarhi; Odisha–Similipal; Meghalaya–Nokrek
Answer: (D) Assam–Manas; MP–Pachmarhi; Odisha–Similipal; Meghalaya–Nokrek
Explanation: Manas is in Assam; Pachmarhi is located in Madhya Pradesh; Similipal is in Odisha; and Nokrek occupies Meghalaya’s Garo Hills. Knowing both the reserve names and regional geography prevents mistakes in match-the-column questions.
73. Which reserve was designated India’s sixteenth biosphere reserve in 2009?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I – 2023]
(A) Cold Desert
(B) Seshachalam
(C) Agasthyamalai
(D) Dihang-Dibang
Answer: (A) Cold Desert
Explanation: The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh was declared in 2009. Its high-altitude cold-arid ecosystem supports wildlife adapted to harsh Himalayan conditions, including mountain birds and mammals. Such habitats contrast strongly with tropical biosphere reserves.
72. What was the theme for World Environment Day 2022?
[SSC CHSL (2022 exam held 2023) – 2023]
(A) Only One Earth
(B) Save Environment for Future
(C) Ecosystem Restoration
(D) Nature is Money
Answer: (A) Only One Earth
Explanation: Only One Earth was the 2022 World Environment Day theme, recalling the message of the 1972 Stockholm environmental conference. World Environment Day is observed annually on 5 June to stimulate international participation in environmental protection.
71. On which date is World Environment Day celebrated annually?
[SSC CHSL (2022 exam held 2023) – 2023]
(A) 5 June
(B) 1 January
(C) 29 August
(D) 1 July
Answer: (A) 5 June
Explanation: The United Nations designated 5 June as World Environment Day following its 1972 Stockholm conference. Observance promotes awareness and practical action on pollution, ecosystems and biodiversity; themes and host countries can vary each year.
70. Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary is located in which state?
[SSC MTS (2022 paper) – 2023]
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Karnataka
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (B) Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary lies in Andhra Pradesh near Nellore. It is particularly important for colonial nesting waterbirds, including spot-billed pelicans and other large wetland birds. Protection of water availability and nesting trees sustains these populations.
69. Which Indian national park first adopted a mascot called Bhoorsingh the Barasingha?
[MPPSC State Services (2022 paper) – 2023]
(A) Kanha
(B) Pench
(C) Bandhavgarh
(D) Satpura
Answer: (A) Kanha
Explanation: Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh adopted Bhoorsingh the Barasingha as its conservation mascot. Kanha is well known for recovering the endangered hard-ground barasingha, and the mascot helps communicate why this habitat and species need protection.
68. Match the following wetlands with states:
–Hokera—Punjab;
–Renuka—Himachal Pradesh;
–Rudrasagar—Tripura;
–Sasthamkotta—Tamil Nadu.
How many pairs are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2022]
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
Answer: (B) Two
Explanation: Renuka is in Himachal Pradesh and Rudrasagar in Tripura. Hokera lies in Jammu and Kashmir, not Punjab; Sasthamkotta is in Kerala rather than Tamil Nadu. The correctly matched pair count is therefore two.
67. Concerning wildlife protection law:
1. Every wild animal is government property.
2. Protected wild animals receive legal protection inside and outside protected areas.
3. Mere apprehension of danger always permits killing protected wildlife.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2022]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 2 only
(C) 1 and 3
(D) 3 only
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: A protected species remains protected beyond park boundaries. The law does not automatically make every living wild animal government property, and mere fear is insufficient to justify killing a protected animal. Statutory authorisation and specified conditions are required.
66. For Gucchi, consider:
1. It is a fungus.
2. It grows in Himalayan forests.
3. It is commercially cultivated in northeastern Himalayan foothills.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2022]
(A) 1 only
(B) 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (C) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Gucchi is a wild morel mushroom found in Himalayan forests, especially in the northwest. It is prized as an edible fungus and traditionally collected from nature, rather than being commercially cultivated on the scale suggested by the third statement.
65. Biorock technology is used primarily for which conservation activity?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2022]
(A) Restoring damaged coral reefs
(B) Making construction boards from crop residue
(C) Locating shale-gas deposits
(D) Providing mineral licks to wild animals
Answer: (A) Restoring damaged coral reefs
Explanation: Biorock technology encourages calcium carbonate to deposit on submerged frames using a weak electrical current. Coral fragments can attach and grow on these structures, making the technique relevant to reef restoration in Indian coastal and marine conservation areas.
64. In the Supreme Court’s June 2022 eco-sensitive-zone direction, what minimum distance around protected forest, parks and sanctuaries was specified?
[NDA General Ability Test – 2022]
(A) 1 km
(B) 2 km
(C) 3 km
(D) 5 km
Answer: (A) 1 km
Explanation: The 2022 judgment referred to a minimum one-kilometre eco-sensitive zone around protected areas, subject to legal developments and subsequent clarifications. Such buffer zones seek to control environmentally damaging activities near vulnerable wildlife habitats and protected boundaries.
63. Match biosphere reserves to states: Manas, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi and Pachmarhi. Which sequence is correct?
[UPPSC Combined State Exam – 2022]
(A) Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh
(B) West Bengal, Assam, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh
(C) Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, West Bengal
(D) Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (D) Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh
Explanation: Manas is in Assam, Sundarbans in West Bengal, Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand and Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh. The reserves represent northeastern, deltaic, high-Himalayan and central Indian ecological landscapes, respectively.
62. Corbett Tiger Reserve is located in which state?
[MPPSC State Services (2021 paper) – 2022]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Uttarakhand
(D) West Bengal
Answer: (C) Uttarakhand
Explanation: Corbett Tiger Reserve is in Uttarakhand, centred on the Ramganga river landscape. Its national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. It became one of the first protected areas included in Project Tiger in 1973.
61. A designated area where wildlife and natural ecosystems receive stringent overall protection is termed what in this question?
[RRB Group D – 2022]
(A) Protected area
(B) National park
(C) Wildlife sanctuary
(D) Biosphere reserve
Answer: (B) National park
Explanation: National parks are legally protected landscapes created to safeguard ecosystems and wild species. They are generally more restrictive about resource extraction than sanctuaries. The exam distinguished this specific protected-area designation from the broader terms in the alternatives.
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.
50. Which reserve among Corbett, Ranthambore, Nagarjunsagar–Srisailam and Sundarbans has the largest core critical tiger habitat?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2020]
(A) Corbett
(B) Ranthambore
(C) Nagarjunsagar–Srisailam
(D) Sundarbans
Answer: (C) Nagarjunsagar–Srisailam
Explanation: Nagarjunsagar–Srisailam in the Nallamala landscape has the largest critical tiger habitat among the listed reserves. A core area is managed primarily for wildlife protection, while adjoining buffer landscapes can permit regulated human activity.
49. Which protected areas lie in the Cauvery basin?
1. Nagarhole
2. Papikonda
3. Sathyamangalam
4. Wayanad.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2020]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 3 and 4 only
(C) 1, 3 and 4 only
(D) All four
Answer: (C) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation: Nagarhole and Wayanad are linked to the Kabini system; Sathyamangalam lies in the wider Cauvery drainage. Papikonda instead belongs to the Godavari basin of the Eastern Ghats. Thus 1, 3 and 4 are appropriate.
48. Which habitats are likely to contain musk deer?
1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2020]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 3 and 4 only
(D) 1 and 4 only
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Musk deer inhabit high Himalayan forests and scrub, making Askot and Gangotri plausible habitats. Kishanpur is lower-elevation Terai terrain, while Manas is chiefly an eastern Himalayan foothill landscape. Musk deer have faced intense hunting pressure for musk.
47. On Indian elephants, which statements are correct?
1. Female leads the herd.
2. Gestation may last 22 months.
3. Females breed only until 40 years.
4. Kerala has India’s most elephants.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2020]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 4 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Elephant herds are led by experienced females called matriarchs, and gestation lasts about 22 months. Females may reproduce beyond 40 years, while Karnataka rather than Kerala has historically recorded the largest wild elephant population.
46. Which statements are correct?
1. Asiatic lions occur naturally in the wild only in India.
2. Double-humped camels occur naturally only in India.
3. Greater one-horned rhinos occur naturally only in India.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2019]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All three
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: Wild Asiatic lions are now confined to the greater Gir region of India. Double-humped camels also occur in other Asian countries, and one-horned rhinos live in Nepal as well as India. Thus the first claim alone is valid.
45. Under the Ramsar Convention and Indian wetlands rules, which assertion is correct?
1. Ramsar makes protection of every Indian wetland mandatory.
2. The 2010 rules were issued on Ramsar’s recommendation.
3. Catchment areas may be included within regulatory coverage.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2019]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 3 only
(D) All three
Answer: (C) 3 only
Explanation: Ramsar emphasises wise use of wetlands, not an identical mandatory regime for every wetland. India’s 2010 rules derived legal authority from the Environment Protection Act. Those rules included identified catchment areas, supporting statement three alone.
44. Which national park lies completely in the temperate alpine zone?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2019]
(A) Manas
(B) Namdapha
(C) Neora Valley
(D) Valley of Flowers
Answer: (D) Valley of Flowers
Explanation: Valley of Flowers National Park lies at high Himalayan elevation in Uttarakhand, dominated by temperate alpine and subalpine habitats. The alternatives include parks with substantial lower-altitude tropical or subtropical ecosystems, making their climatic ranges different.
43. Which is the oldest national park in India?
[CGPSC Civil Service – 2019]
(A) Kaziranga
(B) Hemis
(C) Rajaji
(D) Jim Corbett
Answer: (D) Jim Corbett
Explanation: Jim Corbett National Park began in 1936 as Hailey National Park, making it India’s oldest national park. Situated in present-day Uttarakhand, it later became one of the original landscapes selected under Project Tiger in 1973.
42. In which state is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary (Pakke) located?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2018]
(A) Arunachal Pradesh
(B) Manipur
(C) Meghalaya
(D) Nagaland
Answer: (A) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: Pakhui, commonly called Pakke, is in Arunachal Pradesh. It is renowned for hornbills and community-supported nesting protection. Its forests connect with northeastern conservation landscapes and form part of an important tiger habitat.
41. The term sixth mass extinction is primarily linked to which phenomenon?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2018]
(A) Agricultural monoculture alone
(B) Imminent meteorite impact
(C) Genetically modified crops alone
(D) Human-driven habitat destruction, overuse, pollution and climate change
Answer: (D) Human-driven habitat destruction, overuse, pollution and climate change
Explanation: The proposed sixth mass extinction refers to elevated biodiversity losses driven substantially by human activity. Habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species and climate change are major contributors. It is not simply the recurrence of an ancient asteroid catastrophe.
40. Lions were proposed to be translocated from Gujarat to which protected area?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2017]
(A) Corbett
(B) Kuno-Palpur
(C) Mudumalai
(D) Sariska
Answer: (B) Kuno-Palpur
Explanation: Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh was selected as a potential second home for Asiatic lions, whose surviving wild population is concentrated in Gujarat. Establishing a second viable population would reduce the danger of a single disease event or catastrophe.
39. Which protected landscape acts as an ecological link between the Eastern and Western Ghats?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2017]
(A) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
(B) Nallamala Forest
(C) Nagarhole National Park
(D) Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve
Answer: (A) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
Explanation: Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu sits near the meeting zone of the Eastern and Western Ghats. Its forests connect important elephant and tiger habitats with Nilgiri-area reserves, enabling animal movement and wider landscape-scale conservation.
38. The term M-STrIPES refers to a system connected with which activity?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2017]
(A) Captive breeding of wild animals
(B) Monitoring and managing tiger reserves
(C) Satellite navigation for general users
(D) Security of highways
Answer: (B) Monitoring and managing tiger reserves
Explanation: M-STrIPES supports patrol monitoring, wildlife observations and enforcement in tiger reserves. The system helps managers use field data to strengthen habitat protection and identify poaching risks. Its functions are conservation-focused rather than ordinary road security.
37. Where is the Great Indian Hornbill most likely to be encountered in its natural habitat?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2016]
(A) Northwestern sand desert
(B) High Kashmir Himalayas
(C) Salt marshes of Gujarat
(D) Western Ghats
Answer: (D) Western Ghats
Explanation: The Great Hornbill is associated with tropical and subtropical forest, including the Western Ghats and parts of northeastern India. It relies on large nesting trees and fruit resources. Open salt marshes and desert habitats are unsuitable.
36. The Gadgil and Kasturirangan committee reports primarily concerned conservation of which region?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2016]
(A) Constitutional institutions
(B) Ganga Action Plan
(C) River interlinking
(D) Western Ghats
Answer: (D) Western Ghats
Explanation: Both committees examined ecological protection in the Western Ghats. Their recommendations differed over the extent of ecologically sensitive areas and appropriate management rules. The region is internationally important for endemic plants, amphibians and other threatened wildlife.
35. Which Rajasthan lake is included on the Ramsar list?
[RPSC RAS Prelims – 2016]
(A) Jaisamand
(B) Ana Sagar
(C) Rajsamand
(D) Sambhar
Answer: (D) Sambhar
Explanation: Sambhar Salt Lake is a Ramsar wetland near Jaipur, important for flamingos and other migratory waterbirds. Its hypersaline environment differs from the freshwater reservoirs and urban lakes in the other alternatives.
34. What is India’s largest tiger reserve by area among these options?
[RRB NTPC Tier-I – 2016]
(A) Jim Corbett
(B) Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam
(C) Satpura
(D) Sundarbans
Answer: (B) Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam
Explanation: Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve occupies a broad tract of the Nallamala Hills in Andhra Pradesh. Its large forested landscape supports tiger conservation across rugged terrain and illustrates why wildlife management must operate at a regional scale.
33. Which national park consists of a floating swamp vegetation ecosystem?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2015]
(A) Bhitarkanika
(B) Keibul Lamjao
(C) Keoladeo Ghana
(D) Sultanpur
Answer: (B) Keibul Lamjao
Explanation: Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur rests on phumdis, floating masses of vegetation in Loktak Lake. It protects the rare sangai deer and is celebrated as the world’s only floating national park.
32. Which national park ranges through tropical, subtropical, temperate and near-arctic climatic conditions?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2015]
(A) Khangchendzonga
(B) Nanda Devi
(C) Neora Valley
(D) Namdapha
Answer: (D) Namdapha
Explanation: Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh stretches from lowland rainforest to very high Himalayan peaks. The enormous elevation difference creates diverse climate zones and habitats, supporting exceptional mammal and bird diversity within one national park.
31. For dugong, consider:
1. It eats marine vegetation.
2. It is distributed along India’s entire coastline.
3. It has Schedule I wildlife protection.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2015]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 2 only
(C) 1 and 3
(D) 3 only
Answer: (C) 1 and 3
Explanation: Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals dependent on seagrass meadows. Their Indian populations occur in selected coastal areas, not along every shore. They have strong legal protection under the Wildlife Protection Act because of their vulnerability to hunting and habitat loss.
30. What is implied when a Ramsar wetland is entered on the Montreux Record?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2014]
(A) Its ecological character has changed or may change through human impact
(B) Human activity is legally banned within five kilometres
(C) It is protected exclusively for traditional cultural practices
(D) It automatically becomes a World Heritage site
Answer: (A) Its ecological character has changed or may change through human impact
Explanation: The Montreux Record flags Ramsar wetlands undergoing, or at risk of, adverse ecological change. India’s Loktak and Keoladeo have appeared on the list. Inclusion draws attention to problems and possible corrective conservation action.
29. Which pairs are correct?
1. Dampa Tiger Reserve—Mizoram
2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary—Sikkim
3. Saramati Peak—Nagaland.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2014]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All three
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Dampa lies in Mizoram and Saramati Peak in Nagaland. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is in Tripura, not Sikkim. The question requires distinguishing adjacent northeastern states and correctly locating major protected sites.
28. Which conservation category best joins biodiversity protection with traditional human livelihoods?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2014]
(A) Biosphere reserves
(B) Botanical gardens
(C) National parks
(D) Wildlife sanctuaries
Answer: (A) Biosphere reserves
Explanation: Biosphere reserves combine strictly conserved core zones with buffer and transition zones where sustainable local livelihoods may continue. This design allows conservation and human communities to coexist, following UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere approach.
27. Under which law are eco-sensitive zones around protected areas notified, and are all non-agricultural activities prohibited? Evaluate:
1. Wildlife Protection Act creates them.
2. All activities except farming are banned.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2014]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both
(D) Neither
Answer: (D) Neither
Explanation: Eco-sensitive zones are notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Their rules distinguish prohibited, regulated and permitted activities, rather than banning everything apart from agriculture. They aim to buffer national parks and sanctuaries from damaging development.
26. Which location pairs are correct?
1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve—Garo Hills
2. Loktak Lake—Barail Range
3. Namdapha—Dafla Hills.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2013]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) All three
(D) None
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: Nokrek is in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills. Loktak lies in the Manipur valley, not the Barail Range, and Namdapha is in eastern Arunachal Pradesh rather than the Dafla Hills. Only pair one is valid.
25. Which park–river pairs are correct?
1. Corbett—Ganga
2. Kaziranga—Manas
3. Silent Valley—Kaveri.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2013]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 3 only
(C) 1 and 3
(D) None
Answer: (D) None
Explanation: Corbett is closely associated with the Ramganga, Kaziranga with the Brahmaputra and its local channels, and Silent Valley with the Kunthipuzha. None matches the river named in this question, so all three pairs are incorrect.
24. The Palghat Gap separates which hill ranges?
[RPSC RAS Prelims – 2013]
(A) Nilgiris and Cardamom Hills
(B) Nilgiris and Anaimalai Hills
(C) Anaimalai and Cardamom Hills
(D) Cardamom and Palani Hills
Answer: (B) Nilgiris and Anaimalai Hills
Explanation: The Palghat Gap opens between the Nilgiri and Anaimalai hills of the Western Ghats. It is a major natural pass between Kerala and Tamil Nadu and can influence ecological connectivity and species distributions across the range.
23. Which are tiger reserves?
1. Bandipur
2. Bhitarkanika
3. Manas
4. Sundarbans
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2012]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1, 3 and 4 only
(C) 2, 3 and 4 only
(D) All four
Answer: (B) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation: Bandipur, Manas and Sundarbans are tiger reserves. Bhitarkanika in Odisha is a protected mangrove and crocodile habitat, but not a Project Tiger reserve. The question tests similar-sounding categories within India’s network of protected areas.
22. In which category of Indian protected area may local people generally not collect biomass?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2012]
(A) Biosphere reserve
(B) National park
(C) Ramsar wetland
(D) Wildlife sanctuary
Answer: (B) National park
Explanation: National parks are subject to particularly stringent restrictions on extracting plants and other biomass. Sanctuaries and biosphere-reserve transition zones may permit regulated traditional resource use, while Ramsar promotes wise wetland use rather than universal exclusion.
21. Which protected area lies near the confluence of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers close to the Bay of Bengal?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2011]
(A) Bhitarkanika
(B) Chandipur-on-sea
(C) Gopalpur-on-sea
(D) Similipal
Answer: (A) Bhitarkanika
Explanation: Bhitarkanika’s mangrove landscape occupies the Brahmani–Baitarani delta in coastal Odisha. It is famous for saltwater crocodiles and estuarine biodiversity. The other options do not match this distinctive two-river coastal conservation setting.
20. Which is an ex-situ rather than in-situ method for conserving flora?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2011]
(A) Biosphere reserve
(B) Botanical garden
(C) National park
(D) Wildlife sanctuary
Answer: (B) Botanical garden
Explanation: Botanical gardens conserve plants outside their natural habitats, making them ex-situ institutions. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves protect species within functioning habitats, so they are examples of in-situ conservation.
19. What is found in the Red Data Books of IUCN?
1. All endemic species of hotspots
2. Threatened plant and animal species
3. Every protected conservation site
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2011]
(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 3 only
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: IUCN Red Data Books focus on species facing extinction risk. They do not automatically contain every endemic organism or a global registry of all protected sites. Risk categories help prioritise conservation by identifying highly threatened fauna and flora.
18. Which conservation statement is correct?
1. Biodiversity is often greater near the equator.
2. Mountain biodiversity tends to be higher at lower elevations.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2011]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Species richness generally increases from high latitudes towards the tropics and often decreases with elevation. Local exceptions exist, but these broad patterns reflect climate, productivity, habitat variety and evolutionary history, explaining why tropical Indian mountains hold great biodiversity.
17. Assess protected-area statements:
1. National-park boundaries are legislatively defined.
2. Biosphere reserves conserve only a few chosen species.
3. Limited biotic interference may occur in sanctuaries.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2010]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All three
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: National parks have legally defined boundaries, and sanctuaries may allow certain regulated uses. Biosphere reserves protect broad ecosystems and support compatible human activities rather than safeguarding only a handful of designated species. Therefore statements one and three are correct.
16. Which are correctly matched?
1. Bhitarkanika—saltwater crocodile
2. Desert National Park—Great Indian Bustard 3. Eravikulam—hoolock gibbon.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2010]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 only
(D) All three
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Bhitarkanika protects saltwater crocodiles and Desert National Park is a stronghold of the Great Indian Bustard. Eravikulam is in Kerala and is especially known for the Nilgiri tahr, whereas hoolock gibbons inhabit northeastern India.
15. The vulnerable marine animal dugong is classified as which kind of organism?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2009]
(A) Amphibian
(B) Bony fish
(C) Shark
(D) Mammal
Answer: (D) Mammal
Explanation: The dugong is a marine mammal in the order Sirenia and feeds on seagrass. Indian populations occur in protected coastal ecosystems including the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. It breathes air and nurses its young, unlike fishes.
14. In the 2008 UNESCO biosphere-network context, which Indian reserve had not yet been included?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2008]
(A) Gulf of Mannar
(B) Kanchenjunga
(C) Nanda Devi
(D) Sundarbans
Answer: (B) Kanchenjunga
Explanation: Khangchendzonga joined UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves only in 2018. Gulf of Mannar, Nanda Devi and Sundarbans had already joined before 2008. Historical membership questions must be answered for the specified exam year.
13. Which of the following had the most national parks among the listed territories in 2008?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2008]
(A) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Assam
(D) Meghalaya
Answer: (A) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Explanation: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands contained numerous separately notified island and marine national parks, exceeding the counts in the other options at that time. Small island parks protect highly specialised coastal, reef and forest ecosystems.
12. The protected area called Top Slip is associated with which site?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2007]
(A) Similipal National Park
(B) Periyar Sanctuary
(C) Manjira Sanctuary
(D) Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
Answer: (D) Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
Explanation: Top Slip is a well-known entrance and tourism zone of the Anamalai landscape in Tamil Nadu, formerly called Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. It forms part of a species-rich Western Ghats tiger and elephant habitat.
11. Which national park is located in the Bastar region?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2007]
(A) Bandhavgarh
(B) Dandeli
(C) Rajaji
(D) Indravati
Answer: (D) Indravati
Explanation: Indravati National Park is in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. It forms part of a major forest landscape notable for wild buffalo, tigers and other wildlife. Bandhavgarh is in Madhya Pradesh, Dandeli in Karnataka and Rajaji in Uttarakhand.
10. Which one is not an officially designated Indian biosphere reserve?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2005]
(A) Agasthyamalai
(B) Nallamalai
(C) Nilgiri
(D) Pachmarhi
Answer: (B) Nallamalai
Explanation: Nilgiri, Agasthyamalai and Pachmarhi are designated biosphere reserves. Nallamalai is a forested hill region of the Eastern Ghats, associated with tiger landscapes, but not the named biosphere reserve in this list.
9. Match Bondla Sanctuary, Kanger Ghati Park, Orang Sanctuary and Ushakothi Sanctuary to their states. Which mapping is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2005]
(A) Assam, Goa, Tripura, Odisha
(B) Goa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha
(C) Assam, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Goa
(D) Goa, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh
Answer: (B) Goa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha
Explanation: Bondla is in Goa, Kanger Ghati in Chhattisgarh, Orang in Assam and Ushakothi in Odisha. Memorising the regional distribution of protected areas is particularly useful because similar names occur across different conservation designations.
8. Which statement is correct?
1. Pangolins, often called toothless mammals, are absent from India.
2. The gibbon is India’s only native ape.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2004]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both
(D) Neither
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: India has pangolins, including the Indian and Chinese pangolins, so the first statement is false. Hoolock gibbons are the only native apes in India, making the second true. Both are affected by forest loss and illegal wildlife trade.
7. Match these parks to states: Kanger Ghati, Nagarhole, Kugti Sanctuary and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. Which sequence is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2004]
(A) Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka
(B) Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana
(C) Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Haryana
(D) Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka
Answer: (B) Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana
Explanation: Kanger Ghati lies in Chhattisgarh, Nagarhole in Karnataka, Kugti in Himachal Pradesh and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary in Haryana. The original match-the-list question depends on accurately linking four protected areas to their states.
6. Match Similipal, Dihang–Dibang, Nokrek and Khangchendzonga biosphere reserves to their states.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2004]
(A) Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha
(B) Odisha, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Sikkim
(C) Sikkim, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Odisha
(D) Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim
Answer: (D) Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim
Explanation: Similipal is in Odisha; Dihang–Dibang in Arunachal Pradesh; Nokrek in Meghalaya; and Khangchendzonga in Sikkim. They represent very different environments, from central Indian forests to the northeastern and high Himalayan mountain systems.
5. In the context of Indian wildlife, a flying fox is which kind of animal?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2001]
(A) Bat
(B) Kite
(C) Stork
(D) Vulture
Answer: (A) Bat
Explanation: A flying fox is a large fruit-eating bat, not a bird. Indian flying foxes disperse seeds and pollinate flowering plants, making them useful to forest ecosystems. Their name comes from the foxlike appearance of their faces.
4. An Asian animal numbering roughly 20,000–25,000 in the question’s era inhabited moist deciduous forests and ranged from the Himalayan foothills through central and northeastern India to the Western Ghats. Identify it.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1999]
(A) Lion
(B) Elephant
(C) Tiger
(D) One-horned rhinoceros
Answer: (B) Elephant
Explanation: The description refers to the Asian elephant, whose Indian range includes northeastern, central and southern forests. The numerical estimate belongs to the period of the original examination rather than the latest census. Elephants depend on connected habitats and seasonal movement.
3. India’s first marine sanctuary containing coral reefs, dolphins, molluscs, turtles and seabirds was established where?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1999]
(A) Sundarbans
(B) Chilika Lake
(C) Gulf of Kachchh
(D) Lakshadweep
Answer: (C) Gulf of Kachchh
Explanation: The Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat, was India’s first marine sanctuary. Its coral reefs, intertidal areas and rich marine fauna demonstrate why conserving coastal waters requires different measures from inland forest protection.
2. Which Indian region was identified as an ecological hotspot?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1996]
(A) Western Himalayas
(B) Eastern Himalayas
(C) Western Ghats
(D) Eastern Ghats
Answer: (C) Western Ghats
Explanation: The Western Ghats are a recognised biodiversity hotspot because of exceptional plant and animal endemism combined with serious habitat loss. Their moist forests shelter rare amphibians, mammals and birds, demonstrating the need to protect fragmented landscapes.
1. Which was NOT among India’s designated biosphere reserves by 1995?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1995]
(A) Great Nicobar
(B) Sundarbans
(C) Nanda Devi
(D) Gulf of Kachchh
Answer: (D) Gulf of Kachchh
Explanation: Great Nicobar, Sundarbans and Nanda Devi had biosphere reserve status by 1995. The Gulf of Kachchh was not part of that notified list; its marine sanctuary and national park designations should not be confused with biosphere-reserve status.100 previously asked examination questions · Numbered from 100 to 1 without altering the newest-to-oldest order