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45 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on Biodiversity & Conservation (Environment & Ecology). Spanning from 1996 to 2025. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
45
Questions
20
Years
22
Easy
21
Moderate
Based on 45 questions across 20 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of Biodiversity & Conservation within the broader Environment & Ecology syllabus. The questions range from factual recall to application-based analysis.
Recent trends show UPSC moving towards statement-based questions that combine multiple aspects of Biodiversity & Conservation. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Q: ‘फिनिक च्यूला (ग्रीट फिंचुला)’ के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : I. यह एक सर्वभक्षी पक्षी-प्रवासी (प्रेशरियटिक) है। II. इसका प्राकृतिक आवास भारत में केवल कुछ वर्षों तक ही सीमित है। III. अपने प्राकृतिक आवास में यह एक दुर्लभ जाति है। उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/कौन-से सही है/हैं?
Q: Consider the following pairs: Plant — Description I. Cassava : Woody shrub II. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem III. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber IV. Mint : Annual shrub V. Papaya : Woody shrub How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Q: निम्नलिखित पर विचार कीजिए: 1. केटल्स बॉटल्स 2. कांतर (सेंटिपीड्स) 3. मक्खियाँ 4. दीमक 5. बर्ट (आर्ट्स) उपरोक्त जीवों के कितने प्रकार में परजीवीय जातियाँ (पैरासिटिक स्पीशीज़) पाई जाती हैं?
Q: निम्नलिखित पौधों पर विचार कीजिए: 1. मूँगफली 2. कुल्थी (हॉर्स-ग्राम) 3. सोयाबीन उपयुक्त में से कितने मटर कुल (फेबिली) के हैं?
Q: The organisms "Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater" are:
Q: Consider the following trees: 1. Cashew 2. Papaya 3. Red Sandalwood How many of the above trees are native to India?
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : कथन-I : स्फैग्नम-नस्ती (Peat moss) प्राकृतिक रूप से भारत में नहीं पाई जाती। कथन-II : स्फैग्नम-नस्ती केवल एसिड-रहित पर्वतीय आर्द्र प्रदेशों में ही पनप सकती है। उपरोक्त कथनों के बारे में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक सही है?
Q: With reference to "Gucchi" sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements : 1. It is a fungus. 2. It grows in some Himalayan forest areas. 3. It is commercially cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of north-eastern India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Q: Which of the following is not a bird ?
Q: भारत की जैव-विविधता के संदर्भ में, सीटोनाफ्रेमन्ज, कॉन्फरेनीयम वायलेट, रिलिक्टेलिफ इन्टेग्रेट क्या हैं ?
Q: Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of
Q: The term “sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction” is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of
Q: प्रोसोपिस जूलिफ्लोरा नामक पादप प्रायः क्यों समाचारों में उल्लेखित होता है ?
Q: TRAFFIC (Trade‐Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce) के सन्दर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : 1. TRAFFIC, संयुक्त राष्ट्र पर्यावरण कार्यक्रम (UNEP) के अन्तर्गत एक ब्यूरो है। 2. TRAFFIC का उद्देश्य यह सुनिश्चित करना है कि वन्य पौधों और जन्तुओं का व्यापार प्रकृति के संरक्षण के लिये खतरा न बने। उपरोक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सही है/हैं ?
Q: What is/are unique about 'Kharai camel', a breed found in India? 1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres 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 code given below:
Q: Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?
Q: 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 rain forest areas of South India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?
Q: 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.
Q: Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
Q: 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. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers 3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally 4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: Consider the following animals: 1. Sea cow 2. Sea horse 3. Sea lion Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?
Q: In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala 3. Karnataka 4. Andhra Pradesh Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Q: Consider the following fauna of India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are endangered?
Q: Government of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant? 1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification. 2. It is a rich source of biodiesel. 3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes. 4. Its timber is of great commercial value. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
Q: Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? 1. Global warming 2. Fragmentation of habitat 3. Invasion of alien species 4. Promotion of vegetarianism Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
Q: What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?
Q: Vultures, which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago, are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to
Q: Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: 1. Species richness 2. Vegetation density 3. Endemism 4. Ethno-botanical importance 5. Threat perception 6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?
Q: The Himalayan Range is very rich in species diversity. Which one among the following is the most appropriate reason for this phenomenon?
Q: Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?
Q: The "Red Data Books" published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (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:
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes. 2. Along the mountain gradients, biodiversity is normally greater in the lower altitudes as compared to the higher altitudes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions. 2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Q: 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 Taxus tree is effective against Parkinson’s disease. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: The marine animal called dugong which is vulnerable to extinction is a/an
Q: Consider the following regions: 1. Eastern Himalayas 2. Eastern Mediterranean region 3. North-western Australia Which of the above is/are Biodiversity Hotspot(s)?
Q: The Panda belongs to the same family as that of
Q: Among the following, which one is not an ape?
Q: Consider the following animals of India: 1. Crocodile 2. Elephant Which of these is/are endangered species?
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The common blue green algae Spirogyra and Ulothrix are found in both fresh water ponds and oceans. 2. The chameleon can look ahead with one eye, and at the same time look behind with another. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q: A tree species in Mauritius failed to reproduce because of the extinction of a fruit-eating bird. Which one of the following was that bird?
Q: Which one of the following regions of India is now regarded as an 'ecological hot spot'?
Q: Ecologists have so far found and certified a large number of species in the plant and animal kingdoms. In terms of members, the largest group identified so far is among the
UPSC has asked 45 questions on Biodiversity & Conservation in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1996 and 2025. This sub-topic falls under Environment & Ecology.
Questions on Biodiversity & Conservation have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1996. The topic has appeared in 20 out of 31 years.
Among 45 questions on Biodiversity & Conservation: 22 are easy, 21 are moderate, and 2 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.
