UPSC Environment & Ecology Questions

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment describes the following major categories of ecosystem services: provisioning, supporting, regulating, and cultural. Which on…

What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?

Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage. In the context of global climate change, which of the above…

What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason? 1. The ocean as a carbon sink would be adversely affected. 2. The food c…

Vultures used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to

To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on thorium as the future fuel of nuclear energy. In this…

What are the reasons for the people's resistance to the introduction of BT brinjal in India? 1. BT brinjal has been created by inserting a gene from a soil fun…

Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bat 2. Bee 3. Bird. Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?

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. …

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

Regular intake of fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended in the diet since they are a good source of antioxidants. How do antioxidants help a person maintai…

Salinization occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the…

Consider the following statements: 1) Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes. 2) Along the mountain gradien…

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…

Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?

Recently, "oilzapper" was in the news. What is it?

Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the following ways: 1) Soil formation 2) Prevention of soil erosion 3) Recycling of waste 4) Pollination of …

With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1) Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced. 2) It is the only means of irr…

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 s…

What is the difference between asteroids and comets? 1) Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are made of ice, dust and rocky material. 2) Asteroid…