UPSC CSE · Subject
UPSC Prelims Environment and Ecology PYQs (2011–2026): Topic-wise with Answers – Page 3
283 UPSC Prelims questions on Environment and Ecology from 2011–2026, grouped by topic with the newest year first. The most-asked topics are Climate Change (43), Biodiversity (41), Pollution (40). Difficulty: 18% easy, 53% medium and 29% hard.
Pollution 4 questions
- Photochemical SmogPhotochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among
- CFC Uses Ozone DepletionConsider the following statements:
- Harmful Algal BloomsThere is a concern over the increase in harmful algal blooms in the seawaters of India. What could be the causative factors for this phenomenon?
- Bio Asphalt BenefitsIn the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material?
Species 38 questions
- Foxtail OrchidConsider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):
- Western Hoolock GibbonWith respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Amur Falcons Doyang LakeWhich of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?
- Gooty TarantulaRegarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements:
- Cicada Froghopper Pond SkaterThe organisms 'Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater' are:
- Big Cats BreedingConsider the following statements:
- Poisonous Butterflies Fish FrogsConsider the following:
- Indian Flying FoxConsider the following statements:
- Marsupials in IndiaConsider the following statements:
- Nocturnal FaunaConsider the following fauna:
- Indian SquirrelsConsider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels:
- Orangutan Tool UseWhich one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?
- Golden MahseerWhich of the following is not a bird?
- Lemongrass Mosquito RepellentWhich one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
- Predator Defence Hedgehog PangolinConsider the following animals:
- Filter Feeders OysterWhich one of the following is a filter feeder?
- Moringa and TamarindConsider the following statements:
- Indian ElephantsWith reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:
- Birds of India SpeciesWith reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are
- Musk Deer HabitatWhich of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?
- Asiatic Lion Endemic IndiaConsider the following statements:
- Herbivore Turtles Fish MarineConsider the following statements:
- Mahseer Irrawaddy Dolphin Rusty Spotted CatConsider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in — River/Location
- Himalayan NettleRecently, 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…
- Prosopis JulifloraWhy is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in news?
- Schedule I Species HuntingAccording to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law?
- Kharai CamelWhat is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India?
- Red SandersWith reference to ‘Red Sanders’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
- Dugong ProtectionWith reference to 'dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- National Aquatic AnimalWhich one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
- Gharial Leatherback Swamp DeerConsider the following fauna and India:
- Lion Tailed MacaqueIn which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat?
- Sea BuckthornGovernment of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant?
- Endangered Species GroupsWhich one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
- Oryx vs ChiruWhat is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?
- Cheetah Snow Leopard Native SpeciesConsider the following:
- Vulture Decline DiclofenacVultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to
- Indian Wild AssA sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no predators in that area but its existence is threatened due to the…
Ecology and Ecosystem 18 questions
- Mangrove Climate ResilienceWhich of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?
- Rainforest vs Ocean OxygenWith reference to the planet Earth, consider the following statements:
- Fig Wasp CoevolutionWhich one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is the only insect that can pollinate this tree?
- Largest Tropical PeatlandOne of the following regions has the world's largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the…
- Parasitoid SpeciesConsider the following:
- Wetlands Kidneys of Earth"If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys." Which one of the following functions of wetlands best…
- Nitrogen Fixing PlantsWhich of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants?
- Primary Producers OceansConsider the following kinds of organisms:
- Phosphorus CycleIn case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?
- Detritivores OrganismsWhich of the following are detritivores?
- Symbiotic RelationshipsWhich of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?
- Savannah VegetationThe vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept…
- Biological Oxygen DemandBiological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for
- Butterfly Population DeclineDue to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences?
- Gadgil Kasturirangan Western Ghats‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to
- Ecosystem DefinitionWhich one of the following is the best description of the term 'ecosystem'?
- Food Chain SequenceWhich one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain?
- Montreux RecordIf a wetland of international importance is brought under the 'Montreux Record', what does it imply?