Protected areas, wildlife and wetlands — UPSC Prelims PYQs

With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. 2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees. 3. They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers. Select the answer using the code given below:

With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in India in 2025. 2. Sakhya Sagar, which is designated as a Ramsar Site, is situated within this National Park. 3. Its area is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience? 1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts. 2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones. 3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities. Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct? 1. It is the largest desert lake in the world. 2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert. 3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'. Select the answer using the code given below:

Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct? 1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds. 2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites. 3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes. Select the answer using the code given below:

Consider the following pairs: State — Description I. Arunachal Pradesh — The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks II. Nagaland — The State came into existence on the basis of a Constitutional Amendment Act III. Tripura — Initially a Part 'C' State, it became a centrally administered territory with the reorganization of States in 1956 and later attained the status of a full-fledged State How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following statements: 1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season. 2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar. 3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements: Once the Central Government notifies an area as a ‘Community Reserve’. 1. The Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest. 2. Hunting is not allowed in such area. 3. People of such areas are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce. 4. People of such areas are allowed traditional agricultural practices. How many of the above statements are correct?

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India. Statement-II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following fauna: 1. Lion-tailed Macaque 2. Malabar Civet 3. Sambar Deer How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset?

“If rainforests and tropical forests are lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.” Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statements?

Consider the following pairs: Wetland/Lake - Location 1. Hokera Wetland - Punjab 2. Renuka Wetland – Himachal Pradesh 3. Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura 4. Sasthamkotta Lake - Tamil Nadu How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. 3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? 1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Gangotri National Park 3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 4. Manas National Park Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National park 2. Papikonda National Park 3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve 4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It is spread over two districts. 2. There is no human habitation inside the Park. 3. It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

Consider the following statements: 1. Asiatic lions are naturally found in India only. 2. Double-humped camels are naturally found in India only. 3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine:

Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in 1. Blue-finned Mahseer: Cauvery River 2. Irrawaddy Dolphin: Chambal River 3. Rusty-spotted Cat: Eastern Ghats Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Which one of the following is an artificial lake?

Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up the recent past due to human activities? 1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea 3. Lake Baikal Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five states only. 2. Western Ghats are spread over five states only. 3. Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats?

If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?

The term ‘M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

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?

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:

In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?

‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to

The FAO accords the status of ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)’ to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative? 1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity. 2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities. 3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identifies GIAHS. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Which of the following statements is/are correct? Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to: 1. protection of biodiversity 2. resilience of forest ecosystems 3. poverty reduction Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a herbivorous marine animal. 2. It is found along the entire coast of India. 3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

With reference to a conservation organisation called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is an intergovernmental organisation formed by the countries which are signatories to the Ramsar Convention. 2. It works at the field level to develop and mobilise knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following statements: 1. Animal Welfare Board of India was established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 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?

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

Consider the following pairs: 1. Dampa Tiger Reserve: Mizoram 2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary: Sikkim 3. Saramati Peak: Nagaland Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins? 1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers 2. An increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers. 3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally 4. Use of synthetic fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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?

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in those zones except agriculture. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following pairs: National Park River flowing through the Park 1. Corbett National Park Ganga 2. Kaziranga National Park Manas 3. Silent Valley National Park Kaveri Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following fauna and India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?

Consider the following pairs: 1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve - Garo Hills 2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake - Barail Range 3. Namdapha National Park - Dafla Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?

Consider the following: 1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying squirrel 4. Snow leopard Which of the above are naturally found in India?

In which one among the following categories of protected areas in India are local people not allowed to collect and use the biomass?

With reference to the wetlands of India, consider the following statements: 1. The country’s total geographical area under the category of wetlands is recorded more in Gujarat as compared to other States. 2. In India, the total geographical area of coastal wetlands is larger than that of inland wetlands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A particular State in India has the following characteristics: 1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan. 2. It has over 80% of its area under forest cover. 3. Over 12% of forest cover constitutes the Protected Area Network in this State. Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics?

Consider the following protected areas: 1. Bandipur 2. Bhitarkanika 3. Manas 4. Sunderbans Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?

With reference to India, consider the following Central Acts: 1. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947 2. Mining and Mineral development (Regulation) Act, 1957 3. Customs Act, 1962 4. Indian Forest Act, 1927 Which of the above Acts have relevance to/bearing on the biodiversity conservation in the country?

The “Red Data Books” published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN) contain lists of 1. Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots. 2. Threatened plant and animal species. 3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Two important rivers- one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha- merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area. Which one of the following could be this?