This set covers wetland conservation under the Ramsar Convention, the biosphere reserve concept and well-known protected areas and species of India. UPSC Prelims often asks questions that match parks with states and flagship species.
How to practise: read each question and tap the option you think is correct. You will see right away whether you got it, along with a short explanation, and your score is tracked at the bottom of the screen. This set has 15 questions.
Topics covered in this set
- Ramsar Convention and the Montreux Record
- Biosphere reserves and their zones
- National parks, sanctuaries and community reserves
- Flagship species and their habitats
- Marine and riverine species of India
- Species recovery and reintroduction efforts
UPSC Environment MCQs with answers and explanations
Q1. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971 in:
a) Brazil
b) Switzerland
c) Iran
d) Kenya
Q2. World Wetlands Day is observed every year on:
a) 2 February
b) 22 April
c) 5 June
d) 16 September
Q3. The Montreux Record under the Ramsar Convention is:
a) A list of the largest wetlands in the world
b) A register of Ramsar sites where ecological changes have occurred or are likely to occur
c) A list of wetlands newly added each year
d) A fund for wetland restoration
Q4. Which two wetlands were the first in India to be designated as Ramsar sites in 1981?
a) Wular Lake and Sambhar Lake
b) Loktak Lake and Ashtamudi Lake
c) Sundarbans and Pulicat Lake
d) Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park
Q5. In a biosphere reserve, which zone allows human settlements, agriculture and other sustainable economic activities?
a) Core zone
b) Buffer zone
c) Transition zone
d) Restricted zone
Q6. Which was the first biosphere reserve established in India?
a) Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
b) Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
c) Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
d) Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
Q7. Which of the following pairs of national park and state is correctly matched?
a) Kaziranga : West Bengal
b) Gir : Rajasthan
c) Silent Valley : Tamil Nadu
d) Keibul Lamjao : Manipur
Q8. The Sangai, or brow-antlered deer, is found in the wild mainly in:
a) Dachigam National Park
b) Keibul Lamjao National Park
c) Kanha National Park
d) Periyar Tiger Reserve
Q9. Which of the following statements about the Great Indian Bustard is correct?
a) It is a wetland bird found mainly in the Sundarbans
b) It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN
c) It is listed as Critically Endangered and is threatened by collisions with overhead power lines
d) It is found only in the Western Ghats
Q10. Which animal was declared the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009?
a) Gangetic river dolphin
b) Olive Ridley turtle
c) Gharial
d) Dugong
Q11. Gahirmatha in Odisha is internationally known for:
a) Breeding of Asiatic lions
b) Mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles
c) Wintering of Siberian cranes
d) Wild populations of one-horned rhinoceros
Q12. Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is especially known for the conservation of:
a) Asiatic lion
b) Snow leopard
c) Hangul
d) Lion-tailed macaque
Q13. Which of the following statements about national parks and wildlife sanctuaries under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is correct?
a) Grazing of livestock is not permitted in a national park
b) A national park can be declared only by the Central Government
c) Wildlife sanctuaries have stricter protection than national parks
d) Private land cannot be part of a sanctuary under any condition
Q14. Conservation reserves and community reserves were introduced as new categories of protected areas by:
a) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
b) The Forest Rights Act, 2006
c) The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002
d) The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Q15. In 2022, cheetahs brought from Namibia were released into which protected area of India?
a) Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh
b) Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan
c) Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand
d) Bandipur National Park, Karnataka
Quick revision notes
- The Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran, and World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February.
- Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake are the Indian sites on the Montreux Record.
- A biosphere reserve has a core zone, a buffer zone and a transition zone, under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986) was India's first biosphere reserve.
- Keibul Lamjao in Manipur is a floating national park on Loktak Lake and the home of the Sangai deer.
- The Gangetic river dolphin is India's National Aquatic Animal and Gahirmatha is a major Olive Ridley nesting site.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a national park and a biosphere reserve?
A national park is a protected area declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act with strict limits on human activity. A biosphere reserve is a larger landscape under UNESCO's MAB Programme that combines conservation in a core zone with sustainable use by people in outer zones.
Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands store water, recharge groundwater, reduce floods and filter pollutants. They also support rich biodiversity, including many migratory birds and fish.
How many Ramsar sites does India have?
The number keeps rising as new sites are designated, so it is best to check the latest figure on the Ramsar Convention or Ministry of Environment websites before the exam. UPSC questions on this topic often test concepts such as the Montreux Record rather than exact counts.
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