हिंदी में पढ़ें
Basic Questions
1. What is the theme of the 2018 International Day of Forests?
(a) Forests and Water
(b) Forests and Energy
(c) Forests and Sustainable cities
(d) Forests and Life
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[63rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (c) Forests and Sustainable cities
- In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21st to be International Day of Forests.
- This day is for celebrating and recognizing the importance of all kinds of forests.
- The theme for 2018 was “Forests and Sustainable Cities” while the theme for 2021 is “Forest Restoration: A path to recovery and well-being.”
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2. Which one of the following has an evergreen forest?
(a) Malwa Plateau
(b) Eastern Ghat
(c) Western Ghat
(d) Chhotanagpur Plateau
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) Western Ghat
- Tropical evergreen forests grow in areas with more than 200 cm of rain and temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius.
- They cover about 7% of the Earth’s land and contain more than half of the world’s plants and animals.
- They can be found near the equator, as well as in the Western Ghats of India, Northeast India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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3. Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/ characteristics of equatorial forests?
1. The presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy.
2. Co-existence of a large number of species.
3. The presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) All of these
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (d) All of these
- Equatorial forests are located in tropical areas that get more than 200 cm of rain per year.
- These forests are full of tall, closely packed trees with a canopy that supports lots of plants and animals.
- Around 80% of all the animal and plant species in the world live in equatorial forests.
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4. Consider the following States:
1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram
In which of the above States do ‘Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests’ occur?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) 1 and 3 only
- Tropical evergreen forests are found in places that get more than 200 cm of rain and have temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius.
- These forests cover about 7% of the Earth and have more than half of the world’s plants and animals.
- In India, they are found in the western part of the Western Ghats in states like Kerala and Karnataka.
- They are also found in Jaintia and Khasi hills in Meghalaya, while Himachal Pradesh is mainly covered by sub-tropical pine forests and Himalayan moist temperate forests.
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5. The minimum land area recommended for forest cover to maintain proper ecological balance in India is:
(a) 25%
(b) 33%
(c) 43%
(d) 53%
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]
Ans. (b) 33%
- According to the National Forest Policy of 1988, the goal of the country should be to have at least 33% of its land area covered in forests or trees.
- For mountain and hill regions, the aim should be to keep two-thirds of the area covered in forests to prevent erosion and land degradation and to maintain the fragile ecosystem.
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6. The national forest policy aims at maintaining how much of the total geographical area under forests:
(a) One-fourth
(b) Half
(c) One-fifth
(d) One-third
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (d) One-third
- The National Forest Policy of 1988 states that the country should work towards having 33% of its land area covered in forests or trees.
- For mountainous and hilly regions, it is recommended that two-thirds of the area be covered in forests in order to prevent erosion and protect the environment.
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7. Which of the following has not been categorized as forest under the National Forest Policy (1952)?
(a) National Forests
(b) National Park
(c) Protected Forests
(d) Village Forests
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (b) National Park
- In India, the National Forest Policy (1952) has divided forests into four groups: Protected forests, National forests, Village forests, and Tree-lands.
- It is clear that National Parks are not part of these categories.
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8. What is the percentage of forest area in the total geographical area of India?
(a) 24.62 %
(b) 21 %
(c) 20 %
(d) 22 %
[45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]
Ans. (a) 24.62 %
- The India State of Forest Report 2017, released in February 2018, stated that India is in 10th place in the world, with 24.4% of its land covered by forests and trees.
- 21.54% of the land was forest cover and 2.85% was tree cover.
- The ISFR 2019 report showed that the total forest cover is 712,249 km2, which is 21.67% of India’s total land area.
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9. According to the India State of Forest Report 2017, what percentage of the total geographical area of the country is under forest?
(a) 20.34
(b) 22.34
(c) 21.54
(d) 23.54
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) 21.54
- The India State of Forest Report from 2017 and 2019 say that India has around 21.54% and 21.67% of its land covered in forests
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10. According to data obtained from a satellite survey, what percentage of India’s area is a forest?
(a) 32
(b) 28
(c) 19
(d) 15
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (c) 19
- It is likely that option (c) is the right answer based on the explanation given.
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11. How much of Indian land is forest area?
(a) 33.5 percent
(b) 22.7 percent
(c) 44.7 percent
(d) 17.7 percent
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) 22.7 percent
- According to the India State of Forest Report 2017, about 21.67% of the total area is covered with forests and trees combined. The most likely answer is option (b).
- The data from 2019 shows that 21.67% of the area is covered with forests and trees.
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12. According to “India State of Forest Report 2017” what percentage of the total geographical area of the country is under forest cover?
(a) 21.04
(b) 21.54
(c) 20.54
(d) 20.04
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (b) 21.54
- The India State of Forest Report 2017 showed that around 21.54% of India’s land area was covered by forests and 2.85% by tree cover (for a total of 24.40%).
- The most likely answer is option (b). The latest data (ISFR, 2019) for this question is 21.67
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13. Which of the following States has the largest area under forests?
(a) Kerala
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Rajasthan
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (c) Madhya Pradesh
- The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 states that Madhya Pradesh has the most forest area at 77,482 square kilometers, followed by Rajasthan at 16,630 square kilometers, Kerala at 21,144 square kilometers, and Uttar Pradesh at 14,806 square kilometers.
- Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
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14. The percentage of forest cover concerning the total geographical area is highest in
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Meghalaya
(c) Mizoram
(d) Nagaland
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
Ans. (c) Mizoram
- The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) from 2017 and 2019 showed that the percentage of area covered by forest in the states of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya was 86.27%, 79.96
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15. As part of the New Forest Inventory Design implemented in 2016, the revisit time has been reduced to –
(a) 5 years
(b) 2 years
(c) 6 months
(d) 10 years
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (a) 5 years
- In 2016, the New Forest Inventory Design was put in place, which cut the time it takes to re-examine forests from 20 years to 5 years.
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16. The National Mission for Green India has been initiated in the following States by the Government of India with the aim to improve the density of existing forests
(a) Jharkhand
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Both States
(d) None of the above
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) Jharkhand
- The National Action Plan on Climate Change includes the National Mission for Green India, which recognizes how forests can help improve the environment, provide water and food security, and protect biodiversity.
- In October 2015, the National Executive Council of National Mission for Green India approved plans for schemes and operations from four states: Mizoram, Manipur, Kerala, and Jharkhand.
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17. Which of the following is not the impact of deforestation in India?
(a) Drying of water sources in Himalayas
(b) Loss of biodiversity
(c) Urbanization
(d) Soil erosion
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006, M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) Urbanization
- Urban growth is a cause of deforestation, not a result.
- As cities and towns become bigger, they take up more land, which can lead to the loss of forests and the species that rely on them.
- The consequences of deforestation include drying water sources in the Himalayas, the disappearance of wildlife, and soil erosion.
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18. In India the State with the largest area under very dense forests is –
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Odisha
[U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (a) Arunachal Pradesh
- The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 states that the amount of very dense forest for the following states are: Arunachal Pradesh 21058 square kilometers, Madhya Pradesh 6665 square kilometers, Maharashtra 8734 square kilometers, and Odisha 7213 square kilometers.
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19. Which amongst the following States/UTs in India has the largest percentage of its geographical area under forest cover?
(a) Tripura
(b) Andaman and Nicobar
(c) Nagaland
(d) Mizoram
[U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (d) Mizoram
- According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the five states/union territories with the most forest cover are Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
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20. Among the following which statement is not correct?
(a) Madhya Pradesh has maximum forest area.
(b) Arunachal Pradesh has a maximum dense forest area.
(c) Nagaland is the most forest-covered State of India.
(d) Haryana is the least forest-covered State of India.
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (c) Nagaland is the most forest-covered State of India.
- The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 states that Madhya Pradesh has the biggest forest area, and Arunachal Pradesh has the most dense forest.
- Mizoram is the Indian state with the most forest cover as a percentage, not Nagaland. Haryana is the state with the least forest cover in terms of area and percentage.
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21. Tree cover is maximum in –
(a) East Deccan
(b) Northern Plains
(c) West Coast
(d) East Coast
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (a) East Deccan
- India has 95,748 square kilometers of tree-covered land, which is 2.91% of the total land area.
- The 2021 India State of Forest Report does not include this kind of geographic information.
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22. Assertion (A): Forests are a renewable resource.
Reason (R): They enhance the quality of the environment
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004, U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- Renewable resources are things that can be used again.
- Forests are a type of renewable resource because they can be used over and over again if used carefully.
- Forests help improve the environment by taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen.
- Statement (A) and reason (R) are both correct, but (R) does not explain (A) correctly.
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23. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Natural resources are those that exist in a region and can also be used in the future.
Reason (R): The development of an actual natural resource depends upon the technology and cost of production.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) correctly explains (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) does not correctly explain (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) does not correctly explain (A).
- Natural resources can be divided into four categories based on their development stage: Potential, Actual, Reserve, and Stock.
- Potential resources are those that exist in a certain area and can be used in the future.
- Actual resources are ones that have been surveyed and their amount and quality have been determined, and they are already being used.
- To develop an actual resource, technology and production cost are needed.
- Both the assertion and reason are correct, though the reason does not explain the assertion.
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24. In India, the percentage coverage of dense forests to the total geographical area is about
(a) 8 percent
(b) 10 percent
(c) 12 percent
(d) 14 percent
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (c) 12 percent
- India has 12.37% of its total area covered by dense forests.
- The India State of Forest Report 2021 divides the dense forests into two categories: very dense (3.04%) and medium dense (9.33%).
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25. According to the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) which of the following states has its maximum area covered by forest?
(a) Himachal Pradesh
(b) Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Sikkim
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (b) Arunachal Pradesh
- The area of land covered in forest is called forest cover.
- The Forest Survey of India (FSI) released a State of Forest Report that is based on data gathered from remote sensing.
- In 2019 and 2021, the percentage of forest in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh was 79.63%, 76.33%, 47.10%, and 27.72%, respectively.
- Arunachal Pradesh has the highest percentage of forest-covered areas.
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26. Consider the following statements:
1. The forest cover in India constitutes around 20% of its geographical area. Out of the total forest cover, dense forest constitutes around 40%.
2. The National Forestry Action Programme aims at bringing one-third of the area of India under tree/ forest cover.
Which of these statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (b) Only 2
- The Indian State Forest Report states that about 21.71% of India (7,13,789 square Km) is covered in forest.
- 57% of this (407750 square Km) is made up of dense forest, not 40%.
- The National Forestry Action Programme’s goal is to have a third of India’s land covered in trees or forest.
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27. According to the India State of Forest Report 2019, in which one of the following districts, a very dense forest area is minimum?
(a) Jaisalmer
(b) Jodhpur
(c) Alwar
(d) Jaipur
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (b) Jodhpur
- IFSR 2019 and IFSR 2021 both show that Jodhpur district has no very dense forest area.
- Therefore, option 2 is correct.
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28. Which one of the following groups of States has forest coverage of more than 75% of the total geographical area:
(a) Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland
(b) Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland
(c) Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland
(d) Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995]
Ans. (b) Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland
- According to the ISFR 2019 & 2021, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have the most forest coverage with more than 75%.
- Assam and Madhya Pradesh have 36.11% and 25.14% of forest coverage respectively.
- Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
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29. Which of the following states in India has the maximum number of tribal districts as per “India State of Forest Report 2019”?
(a) Nagaland
(b) Meghalaya
(c) Mizoram
(d) Manipur
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (a) Nagaland (b) Meghalaya
- According to the India State Forest Report 2019, both Nagaland and Meghalaya have 11 districts, all of which are tribal and hilly.
- Therefore, both options (a and b) are correct.
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30. Which one of the following States has the highest percentage of area under forests?
(a) Himachal Pradesh
(b) Assam
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Arunachal Pradesh
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[63rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (d) Arunachal Pradesh
- According to the India State Forest Report 2019, both Nagaland and Meghalaya have 11 districts, which are all tribal and hill districts.
- Therefore, both options (a and b) are correct.
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31. Among the following states, which has the highest forest density in India?
(a) Nagaland
(b) Mizoram
(c) Assam
(d) Gujrat
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (b) Mizoram
- Mizoram has the highest forest density in India among the given states, with a forest cover of 84.53% as a percentage of its total geographical area.
- Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in India, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
- The other states in the top five for forest cover are Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), Meghalaya (76.00%), Manipur (74.34%) and Nagaland (73.90%).
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32. Consider the following States:
1. Chhattisgarh
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Maharashtra
4. Odisha
With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of the percentage of forest cover to the total area of the State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
(a) 2-3-1-4
(b) 2-3-4-1
(c) 3-2-4-1
(d) 3-2-1-4
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (c) 3-2-4-1
- In Maharashtra, 16.511% of the land is made up of forests, 25.14% in Madhya Pradesh, 33.50% in Odisha, and 41.21%
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33. Which State has more than 80% of its area covered by forest?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Kerala
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) West Bengal
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (a) Arunachal Pradesh
- According to ISFR 2019 and 2021, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest percentage of forest cover at 79.63% and 79.33%, respectively.
- Kerala and Madhya Pradesh follow with 54.42% and 25.14%, respectively.
- West Bengal has the lowest percentage of forest cover at 19.04% and 18.96%.
- None of the given states has more than 80% of their area covered by forest.
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34. The second largest mangrove area in India is found along the coast of –
(a) Andaman and Nicobar
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Gujarat
(d) Odisha
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (c) Gujarat
- According to the India State of Forest Report 2021, the following states/union territories have the highest amount of mangroves: West Bengal (2114 square kilometers), Gujarat (1175 square kilometers), Andaman and Nicobar (616 square kilometers), and Andhra Pradesh (405 square kilometers). Mangroves are plants that grow near coastal areas with salty water.
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35. Mangrove (Tidal Forests) vegetation in India is mostly found in –
(a) Malabar coast
(b) Sundarbans
(c) Rann of Kachchh
(d) Dandakaranya
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (b) Sundarbans
- Mangroves are a type of ecosystem found in areas like deltas, estuaries, lagoons, and islands near the ocean.
- The trees in this type of ecosystem have adapted to the tough conditions there.
- Most mangrove forests are located in the Sundarban Delta and the Sundari trees are the most popular species there.
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36. Which one of the following has a protected mangrove region?
(a) Eastern Ghats
(b) Western Ghats
(c) Goa
(d) Chandra Tal
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (c) Goa
- Goa’s Chorao Island is an area of mangroves that is kept safe.
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37. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest, and deciduous forest?
(a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
(b) South-West Bengal
(c) Southern Saurashtra
(d) Andaman and Nicobar Island
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (d) Andaman and Nicobar Island
- Andaman and Nicobar Island has three types of forests: Mangrove Forest, Evergreen Forest and Deciduous Forest.
- The Indian State of Forest Report 2021 states that Andaman & Nicobar Island covers 616 sq.
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38. Fill in the blank with the correct choice:
The recorded forest area of U.P. in 2011 was around …. of its area :
(a) 3%
(b) 5%
(c) 7%
(d) 9%
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
Ans. (c) 7%
- The Indian State of Forest Report 2017 & 2019 states that Uttar Pradesh has 16582 square kilometers of recorded forest area, which is almost 7% of the state’s total area.
- Of this, 73% is reserved forest, 7% is protected forest, and 20% is unclassified forest.
- The satellite data shows that the total forest cover of Uttar Pradesh is 14,818.65 square kilometers, which is 6.15% of its total geographic area (according to the 2021 ISFR).
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39. Nagaland mountains are becoming increasingly barren mountains mainly due to –
(a) Insurgency
(b) Urbanization
(c) Shifting cultivation
(d) Rapid population growth
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (c) Shifting cultivation
- The Nagaland Mountains are becoming more and more empty because of the practice of shifting cultivation.
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40. Which among the following States has launched the ‘Apna Van Apna Dhan’ scheme?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Arunachal Pradesh
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) Himachal Pradesh
- The Himachal Pradesh government has launched the ‘Apna Van Apna Dhan’ scheme to encourage reforestation.
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41. Which of the following plant, grown in non-forest areas has been omitted from the definition of trees in the Indian Forest (Amendment) Act, 2017?
(a) Palm
(b) Canes
(c) Bamboo
(d) Banana
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) Bamboo
- Bamboo that grows in areas that are not forests has been taken out of the definition of trees in India’s Forest (Amendment) Act 2017.
- This allows tribal people and poor farmers to use it for their own financial gain.
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42. In which year the Wildlife Protection Act was introduced in India?
(a) 1962
(b) 1970
(c) 1972
(d) 1982
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) 1972
- In 1972, the Parliament passed a law concerning the protection of wildlife and the President approved it on September 9th.
- This law was called The Wild Life (Protection) Act.
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43. In which year was the Wildlife Protection Act enforced in India?
(a) 1972
(b) 1980
(c) 1970
(d) 1975
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) 1972
- A law called the Wildlife Protection Act was put into effect in India on September 9, 1972.
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44. The Wildlife Protection Act was passed in the year?
(a) 1965
(b) 1970
(c) 1972
(d) 1975
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) 1972
- The Parliament of India passed a law called the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972 to help protect plants and animals.
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45. In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, what does it imply?
(a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
(b) It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection and now it is impossible to prevent its extinction.
(c) It is endemic to a particular region of India.
(d) Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
- The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 had a lot of rules to protect wildlife.
- It listed the animals that were protected, and it is important to note that tigers were in the first category.
- This means that if a species of tortoise was added to the first category, they would be given the same protection as tigers.
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46. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law?
1. Gharial
2. Indian wild ass
3. Wild buffalo
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, hunting Gharial, Indian Wild Ass and Wild Buffalo is not allowed, unless certain legal rules are followed.
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47. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. What is the implication?
(a) A license is required to cultivate that plant.
(b) Such a plant cannot be cultivated under any circumstances.
(c) It is a Genetically Modified crop plant.
(d) Such a plant is invasive and harmful to the ecosystem
[I.A.S. (Pre.) 2020]
Ans. (a) A license is required to cultivate that plant.
- The Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972 prohibits the cultivation of certain plant species listed under Schedule VI, unless a license is granted by the Chief Wildlife Warden or an authorized officer of the state government.
- The species listed under Schedule VI are Beddomes Cycad, Blue Vanda, Kuth, Slipper Orchids, Pitcher Plant, and Red Vanda.
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48. When was the Forest (Conservation) Act enacted?
(a) 1978
(b) 1979
(c) 1980
(d) 1981
[U. P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) 1980
- The Forest Conservation Act was passed on December 27, 1980.
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49. The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) was set up by Government of India in the year :
(a) 1987
(b) 1992
(c) 1995
(d) 1998
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Re-Exam) (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (b) 1992
- In 1992, the Indian Government created the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB).
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50. When was ‘Project Tiger’ launched in India?
(a) 1968
(b) 1973
(c) 1984
(d) 1993
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (b) 1973
- The Indian government started a program called Project Tiger on April 1, 1973 to protect tigers. The state of Madhya Pradesh has the most tigers in India.
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51. Arrange the following events in chronological order of their commencement and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
I. Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972
II. Biological Diversity Act 2002
III. Project Tiger 1973
IV. Project Elephant 1992
Code :
(a) I, II, I, IV
(b) I, III, IV, II
(c) II, III, IV, I
(d) II, III, I, IV
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) I, III, IV, II
- The correct order of the events by year is Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, Project Tiger 1973, Project Elephant 1992, and Biological Diversity Act 2002.
|
52. Forest Research Institute is located at –
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Nainital
(c) Solan
(d) Dehradun
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (d) Dehradun
- The Forest Research Institute is an important forestry research institution in India, located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
- It was established a long time ago and in 1991 was given the status of a university by the University Grants Commission.
|
53. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has signed a MoU with TIFAC for supporting forest-based communities. Where is the headquarters of ICFRE located?
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Bengaluru
(c) Allahabad
(d) Dehradun
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[63rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (d) Dehradun
- The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is the top organization in the country for forest research and extension activities.
- It is based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
|
54. Which of the following institutions is not related to the environment?
(a) Centre for Science and Environment
(b) Botanical Survey of India
(c) Indian Wildlife Institute
(d) Survey of India
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Survey of India
- The Survey of India is a government agency that creates maps for the country.
- It was established in 1767 and does not have anything to do with the environment.
|
55. In world wildlife, India accounts for:
(a) 5 percent
(b) 2 percent
(c) 8 percent
(d) 4 percent
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (c) 8 percent
- India only takes up 2.4% of the world’s total land area, but contains 8% of the world’s known species.
- According to J.R.B. Alfred’s book, ‘Faunal Diversity of India’, 7.28% of all animals in the world are found in India.
|
56. India’s largest fish is:
(a) Stonefish
(b) Whale shark
(c) Marlin
(d) Hilsa
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Whale shark
- The Whale Shark is the biggest fish in the world, potentially reaching up to 50 meters in length.
- It lives off the coasts of Australia and South Africa, but every March it swims to the coasts of Gujarat.
- In 2004, a program was created to help protect the Whale Sharks that visit Gujarat.
|
57. Which animal is the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund:
(a) Tiger
(b) Giant Panda
(c) Hornbill
(d) White Bear
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2001, U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2002 , U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (b) Giant Panda
- Since it began in 1961, the World Wildlife Fund chose the Giant Panda as its logo.
- Its scientific name is ‘Ailuropoda melanoleuca’. It lives in a temperate forest with broad leaves.
|
58. Gavialis Crocodilia are found plenty in –
(a) Ganga
(b) Godavari
(c) Krishna
(d) Cauvery
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (a) Ganga
- The Gavialis, commonly called the gavial, is a type of crocodile that eats fish and is native to the northern part of the Indian Sub-continent, found mainly in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.
|
59. Consider the following animals of India:
1. Crocodile
2. Elephant
Which of these is/are an endangered species?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (c) Both 1 and 2
- The Indian and Asian Crocodile and Elephant species have been marked as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
|
60. ‘Chipko’ movement was basically against –
(a) Water pollution
(b) Noise pollution
(c) Deforestation
(d) Cultural pollution
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]
Ans. (c) Deforestation
- The Chipko Movement was a campaign against cutting down trees.
- Chandi Prasad Bhatt and Sundarlal Bahuguna were the two main people leading the movement.
|
61. Who among the following is considered as the leader of the Chipko Movement?
(a) Medha Patekar
(b) Baba Amte
(c) Sundarlal Bahuguna
(d) Kiran Bedi
[M.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2014]
Ans. (c) Sundarlal Bahuguna
- The Chipko Movement started in 1970 and was led by Sundarlal Bahuguna.
- Its purpose was to stop the cutting down of trees.
|
62. Who is the protagonist of the Chipko Movement?
(a) Medha Patkar
(b) M.S. Swaminathan
(c) Sunderlal Bahuguna
(d) Chandi Prasad Bhatt
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Chandi Prasad Bhatt
- Chandi Prasad Bhatt was the main person behind the Chipko Movement.
- In 1964, he created the ‘Dasoli Gram Swaraj Mandal’, which was the base for the Chipko Movement starting in 1973 to protect forests from being cut down.
- Sundarlal Bahuguna was another important figure in this movement and Chandi Prasad Bhatt was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1982.
- Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission gave an incorrect answer to a question about this.
|
63. Under whose leadership the movement against deforestation was launched in the Raini village of Chamoli?
(a) Sunder Lal Bahuguna
(b) Chandi Prasad Bhatt
(c) Gaura Devi
(d) Kalyan Rawat
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) Gaura Devi
- In 1974, the Forest Department sold off around 680 hectares of forest in Raini Village of Joshimath.
- Gaura Devi then led hundreds of women in protesting the cutting down of the trees by holding on to them.
|
64. ‘World Wild Life Day’ is observed on:
(a) 3rd March
(b) 2nd May
(c) 5th June
(d) 21st June
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. 3rd March
- World Wildlife Day is celebrated at different times in different places.
- In the US, it’s celebrated on Dec. 4, while in India, it’s celebrated during Wildlife Week from Oct.
- 2 – 8. World Environment Day is on June 5, and World Forest Day is on March 21.
- In 2013, the 16th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species suggested celebrating World Wildlife Day on March 3.
- Later that same year, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day.
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65. In which of the following years, was the Environment (Protection) Act passed by the Government of India?
(a) 1982
(b) 1986
(c) 1990
(d) 1992
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (c) 1990
- The Environment (Protection) Act was passed in 1986 to protect and make the environment better.
- It gives the Central Government the ability to create organizations to stop pollution and address environmental issues that are unique to different areas.
- The Act was changed in 1991.
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66. The pugmark technique is used –
(a) For bird watching in forests
(b) For breeding rare wildlife in captivity
(c) For estimation of population of various wild animals
(d) For tattooing wildlife to distinguish one species from
the other
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (c) For estimation of population of various wild animals
- Pugmark is a word used for the footprint of animals, especially large animals.
- This word comes from Hindi and means “foot”.
- Each animal has a unique pugmark, so it is used to identify them.
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67. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): The loss of forest cover in India has been directly associated with Demographic Transition in India.
Reason (R): The forest cover is negatively related to population growth.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) explains (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) does not explain (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) explains (A).
- As the number of people increases, the demand for food rises.
- This leads to more forests being used for farming.
- Demographic elements such as population size, how densely people are spread out, people moving to new places, and cities getting bigger are all major causes of deforestation.
- Both of these statements are correct and the second one explains the first one.
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68. The main causes of the forest loss are –
(a) Road Development
(b) River Valley projects
(c) Industrial Development
(d) Agricultural Development
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (c) Industrial Development
- Industrialization is the main reason for the destruction of forests.
- Cities are growing and this is leading to deforestation as the previously wooded areas are now being used for farming.
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69. Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Award is given to:
(a) Educational and Research Institutions
(b) Forest and wildlife officers
(c) Wildlife conservationists
(d) All the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (d) All the above
- The Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Conservation Award is a yearly prize given to people who have done important work in preserving wildlife.
- Two awards of Rupees One Lakh are given to education and research institutions, organizations, forest and wildlife officers/scholars/scientists/wildlife conservationists.
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70. Which of the following statements regarding Project Elephant launched by the Government of India is NOT correct?
(a) It was launched in 1991-92
(b) It addresses issues of man-animal conflict
(c) The welfare of only wild elephants is taken care off
(d) It was launched as a centrally sponsored scheme.
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (c) The welfare of only wild elephants is taken care off
- Project Elephant was started in February 1992 and was sponsored by the government.
- The main goals were to protect elephants, their homes, and the pathways they use, to deal with issues between people and animals, and to look after domestic elephants.
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71. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is situated at–
(a) New Delhi
(b) Kolkata
(c) Mumbai
(d) Chennai
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (a) New Delhi
- The National Bureau of Plant Introduction, created in 1976, was changed to the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in January 1977.
- It is based in New Delhi and functions as a central agency for introducing and improving plant varieties.
- It has ten regional branches located in Shimla, Jodhpur, Thrissur, Akola, Shillong, Bhowali, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Ranchi, and Srinagar.
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72. National Research Centre for Agroforestry is located at:
(a) Agra
(b) Jhansi
(c) Kanpur
(d) Lucknow
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (b) Jhansi
- The National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF), which is part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, was founded in 1988.
- It is located 10km away from Jhansi Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh, and is commonly known as “KRISHIVANIKI”.
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73. The greatest diversity of plants and animals is characteristic of :
(a) Temperate deciduous forests
(b) Tropical moist forests
(c) Savana
(d) Temperate grasslands
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (b) Tropical moist forests
- Tropical moist forests have the most different types of plants and animals.
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74. In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
(a) Tropical moist deciduous forest
(b) Tropical rainforest
(c) Tropical thorn scrub forest
(d) Temperate forest with grasslands
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) Tropical moist deciduous forest
- Tropical moist deciduous forests are found in areas that get between 100 and 200 cm of rain per year.
- During the spring and early summer, the trees in these forests lose their leaves for about 6-8 weeks because there isn’t enough moisture for the leaves.
- Teak trees are the most common trees in these forests.
- Other important trees found here are bamboo, Sal, Shisham, Sandalwood, Khair, Kusum, Arjun, and Mulberry.
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High-Level Questions
1. Which of the following forests is known as the “lungs of the planet Earth”?
(a) Rainforests of North-East India
(b) Taiga forest
(c) Tundra forest
(d) Amazon rainforest
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (d) Amazon rainforest
- The Amazon, sometimes referred to as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a type of forest that takes up a lot of space in South America.
- It is like a big air machine that takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, which is why it is often called the “Lungs of the Earth.”
- It is thought that the Amazon produces around 20% of the oxygen in the world.
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2. Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss?
1. Hard and waxy leaves
2. Tiny leaves
3. Thorns instead of leaves
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- In order to survive in the desert, plants need to adapt structurally.
- Leaves of desert plants are coated with wax which reduces water loss from evaporation.
- The leaves are also smaller which further decreases water loss.
- Many desert plants also have thick, hard coatings or sharp spines to prevent water loss.
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3. In which of the following continents, the tropical deciduous forests are most extensive?
(a) Africa
(b) Asia
(c) Australia
(d) South America
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (b) Asia
- Tropical deciduous forests are full of trees that shed their leaves every year.
- These forests are found in warm, wet places with mild winters.
- They are mostly located in the North, in places like Eastern North America, East Asia, and Europe.
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4. Among the following districts, which one has a larger area under dense deciduous forest cover?
(a) Paschim Champaran
(b) Gaya
(c) Kaimur
(d) Nawada
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Paschim Champaran
- Paschim Champaran has more area with thick trees that lose their leaves each year compared to the other choices.
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5. Consider the following programs:
1. Afforestation and development of wastelands
2. Reforestation and replantation in existing forests
3. Encouraging the wood substitutes and supplying other types of fuel
4. Promotion of the wide use of insecticides and pesticides to restrict the loss of forest area from degradation caused by pests and insects.
The National Forest Policy of 1988 includes:
(a) 1,2,3 and 4
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1996]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- The National Forest Policy 1988 includes planting new trees in forests, replanting trees in existing forests, and encouraging people to use alternatives to wood for fuel.
- It does not encourage the use of insecticides and pesticides.
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6. With reference to ‘Red Sanders’ sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a tree species found in a part of South India.
2. It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rainforest areas of South India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) 1 only
- Red Sanders is a type of tree found in the Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India.
- It is special because its wood is a very rich red color.
- It is found in the Palkonda and Seshachalam mountain range in Andhra Pradesh.
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7. Consider the following statements
1. The definition of “Critical Wildlife Habitat” is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, of 2006.
2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights.
3. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (a) 1 and 2 only
- The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of the Forest Rights) Act, 2006 defines what critical wildlife habitat is.
- This is the first time in India that the Baigas have been given habitat rights.
- The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs is responsible for deciding habitat rights for primitive and vulnerable tribal groups in any part of India.
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8. Which of the following is NOT a major cause of Wildlife Extinction?
(a) Loss of natural habitat
(b) To make fire in the forest
(c) Illegal commercial trade of wildlife
(d) Fast pace of population growth
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (d) Fast pace of population growth
- The main causes of wildlife extinction are the destruction of natural habitats, the illegal trading of animals, and the setting of fires in the forest.
- Population growth is not a major cause of wildlife extinction, however, it does increase the competition for food and shelter.
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9. Consider the following statements :
1. As per a recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, of 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboo grown in forest areas.
2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.
3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (b) 2 and 3 only
- Recently, the Indian Forest Act of 1927 has been changed, so that bamboo that grows in non-forest areas is not considered a tree.
- This means that it is now legally allowed to cut and move bamboo that grows in non-forest areas. Statement 1 is incorrect. Statement 2 is correct because Minor Forest Produce (MFP) includes bamboo and other non-timber plants.
- Statement 3 is also correct because the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of 2006 allows forest dwellers to own the minor forest produce.
- Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
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10. What were the main objectives of the National Forest Policy?
1. To ensure ecological balance.
2. To promote social forestry.
3. One-third of the country’s total land is to be forested.
4. Encouraging public community participation in forest management.
Choose the correct answer by using the codes given below-
Codes :
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (c) 1 and 4
- The National Forest Policy should have the following goals: restoring ecological balance, preserving natural forests with their variety of plants and animals, controlling soil erosion and sand dunes, planting new trees, providing fuel-wood, fodder, small timber to the rural areas, increasing productivity of forests, and using forest produce efficiently.
- To achieve these goals, people should be encouraged to get involved, especially women.
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11. Arrange the following States of India in descending order of their cover (percent of forest area to total area) and select the correct answer from codes.
1. Haryana
2. Maharashtra
3. Manipur
4. Orissa
Code :
(a) 3, 4, 2, 1
(b) 3, 2, 4, 1
(c) 1, 4, 3, 2
(d) 4, 3, 2, 1
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
Ans. (a) 3, 4, 2, 1
- The Indian states with the highest to lowest percentage of forest area compared to total area in 2019 and 2021, according to ISFR, are Manipur (75.46% in 2019 and 74.34% in 2021), Odisha (33.15% in 2019 and 33.50% in 2021).
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12. Arrange the following States of India in descending order of their Forest-area and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Chhattisgarh
4. Odisha
Codes:
(a) 1, 3, 4, 2
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(c) 4, 3, 1, 2
(d) 2, 1, 4, 3
[U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (a) 1, 3, 4, 2
- We looked at the recorded forest cover in sq. km of four States (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh) in 2017 and 2019.
- Before Andhra Pradesh was divided, the recorded forest area of Andhra Pradesh was 63814 sq. km.
- This means that option (a) is the correct answer to the question.
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13. Which of the following cities of India is specialized in the plantation?
(a) Vijayawada
(b) Chandigarh
(c) Shillong
(d) Valparai
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]
Ans. (d) Valparai
- Valparai is a city in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India.
- It is known for its plantations.
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14. Which country has the highest percentage of its geographical area under forest?
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Indonesia
(d) Japan
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2013]
Ans. (d) Japan
- The CIA’s World Factbook (Recent) says that Japan has 68.6% of its land covered by forests, while Indonesia has 51.7%, India 23.1%, and China 22.3%.
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15. Which of the following countries has passed a resolution to maintain forest on 60% land of its geographical area?
(a) Maldives
(b) Nepal
(c) Bhutan
(d) Afghanistan
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (c) Bhutan
- The government of Bhutan has decided to keep 60% of its land as forests.
- Right now, 84% of Bhutan’s land is made up of forests.
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16. Assertion (A): Aluminium is a green metal.
Reason (R): It substitutes wood for saving the forest.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
(d) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (d) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
- Aluminium is called a green metal because it is environmentally friendly and can be renewed.
- It can be used instead of wood, but this is not really for the purpose of saving forests.
- Choice A is correct and choice R is not.
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17. Which one of the following eco-regions of India is not correctly matched?
(a) South-Western Ghats – Moist forests
(b) Tarai Duar – Broadleaf forests
(c) Rann of Kachchh – Grasslands
(d) Eastern Deccan Plateau – Moist forests
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (d) Eastern Deccan Plateau – Moist forests
- The Eastern Ghats have dry deciduous forests, not wet forests.
- All of the other choices fit correctly.
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18. Monoculture of commercially viable trees is destroying the unique natural profile of – Thoughtless exploitation of timber, deforesting vast tracts for palm cultivation, destruction of mangroves, illegal logging by tribals, and poaching only compound the problem. Freshwater pockets are fast drying up due to deforestation and destruction of mangroves”. The place referred to as this quotation is:
(a) Sunderbans
(b) Kerala coast
(c) Orissa coast
(d) Andaman and Nicobar Island
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]
Ans.(a) Sunderbans
- The location referenced in the question is close to the Sundarban area.
- Efforts are being made to protect the mangroves in the Sundarban region.
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19. The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge?
(a) The mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture out
(b) The mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disaster.
(c) The mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as an excellent shelter during a cyclone or Tsunami
(d) The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots
- Mangrove trees provide a strong protection against disasters that happen near the coast.
- Their deep roots keep them from being knocked down by strong winds and high tides.
- Therefore, option (d) is the right answer.
|
20. Assertion (A): Coastal Odisha is a most cyclone-prone area of India.
Reason (R): There is a large amount of deforestation of Mangroves in the Mahanadi delta area.
Choose the correct answer in the given codes :
Code :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
(d) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (a)
- Odisha’s coastline is the most vulnerable area to cyclones from the Bay of Bengal, as it experiences them more often than other states.
- This is why Assertion (A) is correct.
- Mangroves can be a good defense against disasters that happen near the coast.
- Recently, lots of trees were cut down in the Mahanadi delta area, which makes the risks from cyclones even higher.
- Both the assertion and reason are correct, and the reason explains the assertion correctly.
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21. Consider the following statements about Bhitarkanika Mangroves:
1. It is located in the deltaic region of the Vansadhara and Subarnarekha rivers.
2. It lies in the state of West Bengal. Of these?
(a) Only 1 is correct.
(b) Only 2 is correct.
(c) 1 and 2 both are correct
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct.
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct.
- Odisha’s coastal region faces the most danger from cyclones from the Bay of Bengal, making Assertion (A) accurate.
- Mangrove forests could help protect against disasters close to the coast.
- Unfortunately, many trees have been cut down in the Mahanadi delta region, making the risk from cyclones higher.
- Both the assertion and the reason given are correct and the reason backs up the assertion.
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22. Consider the following statements:
1. The Taxus tree naturally found in the Himalayas
2. The Taxus tree is listed in the Red Data Book.
3. A drug called ‘taxol’ is obtained from the Taxus tree and is effective against Parkinson’s disease.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- The Taxus tree is native to the Himalayas and is included in the Red Data Book.
- Taxol, a drug used in treatments for breast and lung cancer and Parkinson’s disease, is derived from this tree, making all the statements true.
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23. Consider the following statement :
1. The Worldwide Fund for Nature was established in 1961.
2. The death of 13 lions in Nandan Forest Sanctuary of Odisha in July 2000 was due to trypanosomiasis disease.
3. The tree eucalyptus is named as eco-friend.
4. The biggest aquarium in India is situated in Kolkata.
Of these statements?
(a) 1, 2, and 3 are correct
(b) 2, 3, and 4 are correct
(c) 1, 2, and 4 are correct
(d) 1 and 2 are correct
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
Ans. (c) 1, 2 and 4 are correct
- In June and July of 2000, 13 tigers died in the Nandan Kanan Zoo in Eastern India due to a disease called Trypanosomiasis.
- The biggest aquarium in India is located in Kolkata.
- Eucalyptus is not a good friend to the environment, so option (c) is the right answer.
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24. Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC) :
1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (b) 2 only
- TRAFFIC is a non-profit organization that works to make sure that the trading of wild plants and animals does not hurt nature.
- It was started in 1976 and is a partnership between WWF and IUCN.
- It is not part of UNEP.
|
25. Consider the following:
1. Star Tortoise
2. Monitor lizard
3. Pygmy hog
4. Spider monkey
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) All of these
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) 1, 2 and 3
- Spider monkeys are located in tropical forests of Central and South America, from Mexico to Brazil.
- All the rest are found in India.
- Therefore, (a) is the right answer.
|
26. Match List-I (Indian Wild Life species) with List-II (Scientific names) and select the correct answer using codes given below:
| List – I |
List-II |
| (Indian Wild Life Species) |
(Scientific Names) |
| A. Asiatic Wild Ass |
1. Boselaphus tragocamelus |
| B. Barasingha |
2. Cervus Duracell |
| C. Chinkara |
3. Equus hemionus |
| D. Nilgai |
4. Gazella Benetty |
Code :
A B C D
(a) 2 3 1 4
(b) 3 2 4 1
(c) 2 3 4 1
(d) 3 2 1 4
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (b) 3 2 4 1
| List – I |
List-II |
| (Indian Wild Life Species) |
(Scientific Names) |
| A. Asiatic Wild Ass |
3. Equus hemionus |
| B. Barasingha |
2. Cervus duvauceli |
| C. Chinkara |
4. Gazella Benetty |
| D. Nilgai |
1. Boselaphus tragocamelus |
|
27. In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Manipur
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Nagaland
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (a) Arunachal Pradesh
- Pakhui is a protected area that is home to tigers and is located in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh. It is also known as the Pakke Tiger Reserve.
|
28. Consider the following fauna of India :
1. Gharial
2. Leatherback turtle
3. Swamp deer
Which of the above is/are endangered?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 3
(c) All of these
(d) None of these
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) All of these
- Gharial, Leatherback turtle,s and Swamp deer are all considered to be endangered species.
|
29. What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India?
1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometers in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) 1 and 2 only
- Kharai Camel, also known as Swimming Camel, can only be found in the Bhuj area of Gujarat.
- It is a unique breed among the nine camel breeds in India and is being conserved more carefully.
- These camels can swim up to three kilometers in the sea to eat mangroves, which is their main food.
- They are able to live in both coastal and dry environments and are very popular among the graziers of Kachchh’s arid coast.
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30. Which country has the largest percentage of its total area under forests?
(a) Japan
(b) Indonesia
(c) Suriname
(d) Guyana
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (c) Suriname
- The World Factbook of the CIA has stated that the countries with the most forests compared to their total area are Suriname with 94.6%, Guyana with 77.4%, Japan with 68.5%, and Indonesia with 51.7%.
|
31. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Mangroves are very specialized forest ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions bordering certain sea coasts.
Reason (R): They stabilize the shoreline and act as a bulwark against encroachments by sea.
In the context of the above two statements which one of the following is correct?
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1996]
Ans. (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- Mangroves are special forests that are found in tropical and subtropical areas near the coast.
- They help protect the land from the sea and the government is trying to preserve the Sundarban mangrove.
- Both the statement and the explanation are correct.
|
32. Amrita Devi Smriti Award is given for:
(a) Best afforestation efforts
(b) Protection of forests and wildlife
(c) Best literature on forest protection
(d) Beautification of Parks
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2003]
Ans. (b) Protection of forests and wildlife
- The Government of Rajasthan gives an Amrita Devi Bishnoi award to people or organizations that have made an important contribution to preserving wildlife.
- They also receive a cash prize of one lakh rupees.
|
33. The World Tiger Summit, 2010 was held at –
(a) Bangkok
(b) Nairobi
(c) New Delhi
(d) Petersburg
[U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) Petersburg
- In 2010, a summit for tigers was held from the 21st to the 24th of November in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
|
34. As a part of wildlife conservation efforts in Nepal and India, a new association by the name ‘SAVE’ was launched recently. The objective of SAVE is to conserve
(a) Vultures
(b) Tigers
(c) Parrots
(d) Elephants
[U.P.P.C.S (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (b) Tigers
- Recently, India and Nepal launched a new organization called SAVE to help protect tigers.
- Tibetan Buddhists have been hunting more tigers to use their skin for decorations and prayer mats, which is why SAVE was created in July 2010.
- Its goal is to not only conserve tigers, but also to increase the number of tigers in the wild.
|
35. If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally grow there.
1. Oak
2. Rhododendron
3. Sandalwood
Select the correct answer using the Code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (a) 1 and 2 only
- Subtropical forests are common in the northwest of India, excluding Kashmir, as well as the Khasi Hills, Nagaland, and Manipur.
- The main tree is pine, although in more humid areas it’s possible to see broad-leaved oaks.
- Shrubs such as rhododendrons are also common in these regions.
- However, sandalwood trees, which are tropical deciduous trees, cannot be found in the Himalayas.
- If you want to see sandalwood trees, you have to travel further south in India.
|
36. In Uttarakhand, Oak-Rhododendron are characteristic plants of
(a) Sub-tropical forest
(b) Sub-alpine forest
(c) Temperate forest
(d) All of the above
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) Temperate forest
- In Uttarakhand, Oak and Rhododendron trees are common in temperate forests.
- Trees like Banj Oak, Burans, Kaphal, Aynor, Ilex dipyrena, and Kharsu Oak are some examples found in this region.
|
37. Every year, a month-long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/ tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/ tribes?
(a) Bhutia and Lepcha
(b) Gond and Korku
(c) Irula and Toda
(d) Sahariya and Agariya
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (b) Gond and Korku
- The Gond and Korku tribes plant a tree that produces fruit every year for a month-long environmental celebration.
|
38. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique living root bridges’ are found in
(a) Meghalaya
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Tamil Nadu
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) Meghalaya
- People from the Khasi and Jaintia tribes in the southern part of the Shillong Plateau in the Northeast Indian State of Meghalaya make living root bridges.
- These bridges are made from the aerial roots of rubber trees and are a special form of tree shaping.
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39. Consider the following statements:
The Environment Protection Act, of 1986 empowers the Government of India to :
1. state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection and the procedure and manner in which it is sought
2. lay down the standards for the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (b) 2 only
- The Environment Protection Act of 1986 does not give the Indian government the authority to say how public involvement should be used for protecting the environment.
- Statement 1 is wrong.
- The Act does state the standards for how much pollution is allowed from different sources.
- Statement 2 is right.
- So, option (b) is the correct answer.
|
40. Consider the following statements :
1. The Animal Welfare Board of India was established under the Environment (Protection) Act, of 1986.
2. The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. The National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 1 is wrong because The Animal Welfare Board of India was created in 1962 under a law to help animals and stop cruelty.
- Statement 2 is right because the National Tiger Conservation Authority is a government body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- Statement 3 is correct because the National Ganga River Basin Authority was set up in 2009 and the Prime Minister chairs it.
- Its members include the Union Ministers and the Chief Ministers of the states where the Ganga flows.
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41. Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer using the code given below –
| List-I |
List-II |
| (Name of the Act in India) |
(Year) |
| (A) Forest Conservation Act |
(1) 1980 |
| (B) The Environment Protection Act |
(2) 1986 |
| (C) The Air (Prevention and |
(3) 1981 |
| (D) The Water Pollution |
(4) 1974 |
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 1 4 2 3
(c) 4 3 2 1
(d) 1 2 3 4
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (d) 1 2 3 4
| List-I |
List-II |
| (Name of the Act in India) |
(Year) |
| (A) Forest Conservation Act |
(1) 1980 |
| (B) The Environment Protection Act |
(2) 1986 |
| (C) The Air (Prevention and |
(3) 1981 |
| (D) The Water Pollution |
(4) 1974 |
|
