Sanctuary/Biosphere Reserve

31. Which one among the following is the largest tiger reserve of India in

Which one among the following is the largest tiger reserve of India in terms of area of the core/critical tiger habitat ?

Join Our Telegram Channel
Manas
Pakke
Nagarjunasagar Srisailam
Periyar
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2018
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is (C) Nagarjunasagar Srisailam. The Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has the largest core/critical tiger habitat area among the options listed and in India. Its core area is approximately 2595 square kilometers.
Tiger reserves in India are categorized into core/critical tiger habitat and buffer areas. The core area is legally protected and managed for tiger conservation, free from human activities.
The core areas of the other listed reserves are significantly smaller: Manas (Assam) – approx. 950 sq km, Pakke (Arunachal Pradesh) – approx. 683 sq km, Periyar (Kerala) – approx. 925 sq km. The total area (core + buffer) of Nagarjunasagar Srisailam is also very large, making it the largest tiger reserve overall in India by total area as well.

Subscribe on YouTube

32. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched ? (National Park

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched ?
(National Park) : (Famous for)

1. Ranthambhore : Tiger
2. Periyar : Elephant
3. Manas : Lion
4. Gir : Rhinoceros

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Join Our Telegram Channel
1, 2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 4 only
2 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2016
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is B) 1 and 2 only.
– Pair 1 (Ranthambhore : Tiger) is correctly matched. Ranthambhore National Park in Rajasthan is renowned for its tiger population and conservation efforts.
– Pair 2 (Periyar : Elephant) is correctly matched. Periyar National Park in Kerala is famous for its elephant reserve and tiger reserve.
– Pair 3 (Manas : Lion) is incorrectly matched. Manas National Park in Assam is known for tigers, pygmy hogs, elephants, and rhinos, but not lions. Asiatic Lions are primarily found in Gir National Park.
– Pair 4 (Gir : Rhinoceros) is incorrectly matched. Gir National Park in Gujarat is famous as the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion. Rhinoceroses (especially the Indian single-horned rhino) are found in parks like Kaziranga and Manas in Assam.
National Parks are areas designated for the protection and conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Each park often has specific flagship species it is particularly known for, although they host a variety of flora and fauna.

Subscribe on YouTube

33. Keibul Lamjao National Park is located in which one of the following w

Keibul Lamjao National Park is located in which one of the following wetlands ?

Subscribe on YouTube
Chilika Lagoon of Odisha
Loktak Lake of Manipur
Deepor Beel of Assam
Gurudongmar Lake of Sikkim
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Keibul Lamjao National Park is located in Manipur, specifically on the southeastern part of Loktak Lake. It is famous as the world’s only floating national park and is the last natural refuge of the Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer), a highly endangered species.
Keibul Lamjao National Park is situated on Loktak Lake in Manipur.
Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. Chilika Lagoon is a brackish water lagoon in Odisha. Deepor Beel is a wetland in Assam. Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in Sikkim.

Join Our Telegram Channel

34. Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated by :

Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated by :

Subscribe on YouTube
UNEP
WWF
Greenpeace
MAB Programme of UNESCO
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated by the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The MAB programme started in the early 1970s and launched the concept of Biosphere Reserves as sites combining conservation with sustainable development.
– UNESCO MAB Programme: An intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
– Biosphere Reserves: Areas designated by UNESCO’s MAB programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems.
– Other options: UNEP (UN Environment Programme) is a leading global environmental authority. WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) is a major conservation organization. Greenpeace is an environmental NGO. While these organizations work on environmental issues, the Biosphere Reserve programme is a specific initiative under UNESCO’s MAB.
Biosphere Reserves have three interconnected zones: a core area (strictly protected), a buffer zone (activities compatible with conservation), and a transition area (sustainable development practices). There is a World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the MAB programme.

Join Our Telegram Channel

35. Which one among the following is not in-situ conservation?

Which one among the following is not in-situ conservation?

Join Our Telegram Channel
Wildlife sanctuary
Botanical garden
Biosphere reserve
National park
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
In-situ conservation refers to the conservation of species within their natural habitat. Wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, and national parks are all examples of in-situ conservation methods, protecting ecosystems and species within their natural environments. A botanical garden, on the other hand, is a controlled collection of plants cultivated for scientific, educational, or aesthetic purposes, representing conservation *outside* the natural habitat. This is an example of ex-situ conservation.
– In-situ conservation = in the natural habitat.
– Ex-situ conservation = outside the natural habitat.
– Wildlife sanctuary, National park, Biosphere reserve are in-situ.
– Botanical garden, Zoological park, Seed bank are ex-situ.
Conservation strategies are broadly classified into in-situ and ex-situ methods. Both approaches are crucial for biodiversity conservation. While in-situ conservation is ideal as it preserves entire ecosystems, ex-situ methods are important for species that are highly endangered or require specific controlled environments.

Subscribe on YouTube

36. Which of the following tiger reserves is/are not situated in the state

Which of the following tiger reserves is/are not situated in the state of Rajasthan?

Subscribe on YouTube
  • 1. Mukundra Hills
  • 2. Ramgarh Vishdhari
  • 3. Kawal
  • 4. Bhadra

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Join Our Telegram Channel
1 only
1 and 2
3 and 4
4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The question asks which tiger reserves are *not* situated in Rajasthan. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve are both located in Rajasthan. Kawal Tiger Reserve is located in Telangana. Bhadra Tiger Reserve is located in Karnataka. Therefore, Kawal and Bhadra are the tiger reserves not situated in Rajasthan.
– Mukundra Hills TR: Rajasthan.
– Ramgarh Vishdhari TR: Rajasthan.
– Kawal TR: Telangana.
– Bhadra TR: Karnataka.
Project Tiger was launched in India in 1973 to conserve tigers and their habitats. Tiger reserves are designated protected areas established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and are managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

37. Which of the following pairs is/are not correctly matched? (Ramsa

Which of the following pairs is/are not correctly matched?

(Ramsar site)(State)
1. Kolleru lakeTelangana
2. Satkosia gorgeOdisha
3. Kanjli lakePunjab
4. Pala wetlandMizoram

Select the answer using the code given below:

Join Our Telegram Channel
1 only
1 and 2
2 and 3
4 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The question asks for the pairs that are *not* correctly matched. Kolleru Lake is located in Andhra Pradesh, not Telangana. Satkosia Gorge is in Odisha. Kanjli Lake is in Punjab. Pala Wetland is in Mizoram. Therefore, only the first pair, Kolleru lake – Telangana, is incorrectly matched.
– Kolleru Lake is a large freshwater lake located between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
– Kolleru Lake is a designated Ramsar site and a wildlife sanctuary.
Ramsar sites are wetlands designated as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. India has numerous Ramsar sites spread across its states and Union Territories, recognized for their ecological significance.

Subscribe on YouTube

38. Which one of the following was recently considered to be a suitable si

Which one of the following was recently considered to be a suitable site for introducing African cheetah in India?

Join Our Telegram Channel
Bandhavgarh National Park
Dudhwa National Park
Kuno National Park
Manas National Park
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is (C) Kuno National Park.
Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was identified as the most suitable site for the reintroduction of African cheetahs in India after detailed site surveys and evaluations.
The project to reintroduce cheetahs into India began in 2022 with the translocation of cheetahs from Namibia and later South Africa to Kuno National Park. India’s native cheetah species (Asiatic cheetah) was declared extinct in 1952.

Subscribe on YouTube

39. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest an

According to a recent report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, how much of India’s total geographic area is covered as protected areas?

Subscribe on YouTube
About 5%
About 7%
About 10%
About 15%
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
According to reports by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), India’s total geographic area covered as protected areas is about 5%.
– Protected Areas (PAs) in India include National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves.
– As of recent years (e.g., reports around 2020-2021), the total area covered by these categories is slightly over 5% of India’s total geographical area. For instance, data often cites figures around 5.03% to 5.2% depending on the exact count and declared area at the time of the report.
– The given option “About 5%” is the closest and most accurate representation among the choices.
– India has significantly increased its protected area network over the years.
– The protected areas play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation and habitat protection.

Join Our Telegram Channel

40. Which one of the following biosphere reserves comprises islands with e

Which one of the following biosphere reserves comprises islands with estuaries, beaches, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves ?

Subscribe on YouTube
Sunderban biosphere reserve
Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve
Nilgiri biosphere reserve
Nandadevi biosphere reserve
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is B) Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve.
The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is located in the southeastern tip of India and encompasses a chain of 21 islands, coral reefs, estuaries, seagrass beds, and mangroves along the coastline. It is one of the most ecologically sensitive regions in India.
The Sunderban Biosphere Reserve is primarily known for its vast mangrove forests and deltaic region. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is located in the Western Ghats and is primarily a terrestrial ecosystem of forests and grasslands. The Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve is in the Himalayas and is known for alpine ecosystems. Only the Gulf of Mannar uniquely comprises the mix of islands, estuaries, beaches, coral reefs, salt marshes, and mangroves described.

Join Our Telegram Channel
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5