UPSC Environment & Ecology
These questions have been sourced from GKToday’s “Target 2026 UPSC Prelims” App Exclusive Course in GKToday Android Application which provides more than 40K General Knowledge and General Studies questions with explanations asked in all Competitive Exams of India.
11. Consider the following statements regarding Conservation Reserves in India:
- Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by the Government.
- The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Neither 1 nor 2
[D] Both 1 and 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
Both statements are correct. Conservation Reserves, as per the Wildlife Protection Act, can be declared by State Governments on government-owned land, and the rights of people living within these reserves remain unaffected. Conservation Reserves offer more community participation as compared to stricter protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries or National Parks, facilitating balanced conservation and livelihood.
12. Consider the following statements about the Bio Toilet Project in Indian Railways:
- The bio-toilets are joint initiative of Indian Railways and DRDO
- The human excreta in the bio-toilets is treated through anaerobic digestion process
- The bio toilet reduces the solid human waste to biogas and pure water
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 & 3 Only
[B] 2 Only
[C] 2 & 3 Only
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ 1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
All given statements are correct
The bio-toilets have been developed by Indian Railways with the help of DRDO. The human excreta in the bio-toilets is treated through anaerobic digestion process. The bio toilet reduces the solid human waste to biogas and pure water. World’s first Bio-Vacuum toilet was developed by IR and is being used in Dibrugarh-Rajdhani Express.
13. Consider the following statements regarding the Neelakurinji flower, for which the Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Munnar was established in 2006:
- These flowers blossom only once in twelve years.
- It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
- The Paliyan tribal people of the Nilgiri hills calculate their ages by the blossoms of Neelakurinji.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 2 and 3
[B] Only 1 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 2
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 and 3]
Notes:
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The Neelakurinji flowers blossom only once every twelve years, and the Paliyan tribal people calculate their ages by these blooms. Statement 2 is incorrect because, although the flower is native to the Western Ghats, it has related species found elsewhere, so it is not strictly endemic only to the Western Ghats of India.
14. Consider the following with reference to the challenges for optimum use of renewable sources of energy:
- High waste disposal costs
- Unreliable supply
- High running costs
- High per unit cost of energy
Which of the above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 4
[C] Only 2, 3 and 4
[D] Only 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 and 4]
Notes:
High waste disposal costs are generally minimal for renewables. Unreliable supply and high per unit cost of energy are key challenges, as renewables like solar and wind depend on conditions and have high initial outlays, making their energy costlier per unit. High running costs are usually not a significant concern as operational costs tend to be low.
15. Consider the following statements regarding the roles of zoos, botanic gardens, and wildlife parks in species conservation:
- They provide ex-situ preservation.
- They preserve threatened species from destruction.
- They collect species from remote wilderness areas.
- They participate in captive breeding programs.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 1, 2 & 4
[B] Only 2, 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 3
[D] Only 2 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 2 & 4]
Notes:
Zoos, botanic gardens, and wildlife parks conserve species mainly by preserving threatened species from destruction and by participating in captive breeding programs. While they may provide ex-situ preservation, the question focuses on key roles, which are best reflected in statements 2 and 4. Collecting from remote wilderness is not a primary conservation activity.
16. Which of the following statements regarding “e-Green Watch”, sometimes seen in the news, is/are correct?
- It is a portal for effective communication of air quality in a single number, nomenclature, and colour.
- It is an online system developed under LULUCF to calculate removals by afforestation.
- It is an integrated e-governance portal used for effective online monitoring of works undertaken by State CAMPA.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 3]
Notes:
e-Green Watch is an integrated online portal developed by NIC for effective monitoring of Compensatory Afforestation funds and works carried out by State CAMPA. It visually tracks plantations and assets on satellite imagery. It is not related to air quality indices or LULUCF afforestation removals calculations, nor is it an international certification body for organic products.
17. Consider the following differences between Critical “wildlife” habitats (CWLHs) and Critical “tiger” habitats (CTHs):
- While CTHs are identified under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, CWLHs are defined only in the Forest Rights Act, 2006
- While CTHs are notified by the state government in consultation with expert committee, CWLHs can be notified only after the consent of the respective Gram Sabha
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 Only
[B] 2 Only
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 & 2]
Notes:
Both are correct statements Critical “tiger” habitats (CTHs) are known as core areas of tiger reserves. These are identified under the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), 1972. CTHs are notified by State Governments in consultation with expert committee. CWLHs are defined only in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. They can be notified only after the consultation of Gram Sabha.
18. Consider the following climatic conditions necessary for tropical moist deciduous forests:
- Annual rainfall ranges from 100 to 200 cm.
- Mean annual temperature is about 27°C.
- The average annual relative humidity ranges from 60 to 75 percent.
- Spring and summer seasons remain dry.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1, 2 and 3
[B] Only 2, 3 and 4
[C] Only 1, 3 and 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2, 3 and 4]
Notes:
All four statements are correct. Tropical moist deciduous forests require annual rainfall between 100-200 cm and average temperatures close to 27°C. The relative humidity is typically within 60-75%, and they experience dry spring and summer seasons, which contributes to the shedding of leaves, distinguishing this forest type from evergreen forests.
19. Which of the following statements regarding tropical thorn forests are correct?
- Tropical thorn forests are found in areas with black soil such as North, West, Central, and South India.
- The trees of tropical thorn forests grow beyond 10 metres.
- Spurge, caper, and cactus are typical species of tropical thorn forests.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 1 & 3]
Notes:
Tropical thorn forests are found in regions with black soil including North, West, Central, and South India. Their trees typically remain shorter than 10 metres. Typical species found are spurge, caper, and cactus. Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct, whereas statement 2 is incorrect as these forests do not have tall trees.
20. Which of the following statements are correct about Himalayan Dry temperate Forest?
1) Precipitation is below 100 cm and is mostly in the form of snow.
2) Coniferous forests with xerophytic shrubs.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 & 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 & 2]
Notes:
The Himalayan Dry temperate Forest has low precipitation, which is below 100 cm and is mostly in the form of snow. They consists of Coniferous forests with xerophytic shrubs.
