12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.
Q1Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2025
Consider the following pairs:
Plant - Description
1. Cassava : Woody shrub
2. Ginger : Herb with pseudostem
3. Malabar spinach : Herbaceous climber
4. Mint : Annual shrub
5. Papaya : Woody shrub
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- AOnly two
- BOnly threeCorrect
- COnly four
- DAll the five
Explanation
Correct. Cassava is a woody shrub, ginger is an herb with a pseudostem, and Malabar spinach is a herbaceous climber. Mint is a perennial herb (not an annual shrub), and papaya is a herbaceous tree-like plant (not a woody shrub).
Q2Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2025
Consider the following fruits:
1. Papaya
2. Pineapple
3. Guava
How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
- AOnly one
- BOnly two
- CAll the threeCorrect
- DNone
Explanation
Correct. Papaya, pineapple and guava are all native to tropical America and were introduced to India by the Portuguese during the 16th-17th centuries through their maritime trade routes.
Q3Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2024
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the 'vermin' category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Statement II: The Indian Flying Fox feeds on the blood of other animals.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- CStatement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrectCorrect
- DStatement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. The Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius) has been listed under the vermin category of the Wildlife Protection Act. However, it is a fruit bat feeding on fruits and flower nectar, not a blood-feeder.
Q4Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2024
Consider the following:
1. Cashew
2. Papaya
3. Red sanders
How many of the above trees are actually native to India?
- AOnly oneCorrect
- BOnly two
- CAll three
- DNone
Explanation
Correct. Only Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is native to India, endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats. Cashew is native to Brazil and papaya to tropical America; both were introduced by the Portuguese.
Q5Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2023
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I
- CStatement I is correct but Statement II is incorrectCorrect
- DStatement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. Marsupials are not naturally found in the Indian subcontinent due to plate tectonic and biogeographical history. Statement II is wrong because marsupials occupy a wide range of habitats globally, not just montane grasslands.
Q6Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2023
Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels:
1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground.
2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground.
3. They are omnivorous.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- AOnly one
- BOnly twoCorrect
- CAll three
- DNone
Explanation
Correct. Indian squirrels store nuts and seeds in the ground (statement 2) and are omnivorous, eating fruits, nuts, insects and eggs (statement 3). However, they build dreys (nests of twigs and leaves) in trees, not burrows in the ground (statement 1 is incorrect).
Q7Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2023
Consider the following trees:
1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)
How many of the above are deciduous trees?
- AOnly one
- BOnly twoCorrect
- CAll three
- DNone
Explanation
Correct. Mahua and teak are deciduous trees that shed their leaves in the dry season. Jackfruit is an evergreen tree that retains its foliage throughout the year.
Q8Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2022
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?
- A1 only
- B3 only
- C1 and 2Correct
- D2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Gucchi is a wild morel mushroom (fungus) that grows in Himalayan forest areas. It has not been commercially cultivated due to its complex symbiotic relationship with forest soil and trees.
Q9Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2022
Which of the following is not a bird?
- AGolden MahseerCorrect
- BIndian Nightjar
- CSpoonbill
- DWhite Ibis
Explanation
Correct. Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora) is a large freshwater fish found in Himalayan rivers and is prized in sport fishing. It is not a bird.
Q10Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2021
Which one of the following is a filter feeder?
- ACatfish
- BOctopus
- COysterCorrect
- DPelican
Explanation
Correct. Oysters are sessile bivalve molluscs that filter large volumes of water through their gills to trap plankton and suspended organic particles for nutrition.
Q11Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2021
Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
- ACongress grass
- BElephant grass
- CLemon grassCorrect
- DNut grass
Explanation
Correct. Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) contains citronella oil, which is a well-established natural mosquito repellent used in candles, sprays and topical formulations.
Q12Environment·BiodiversityPYQ 2020
With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are:
- ABirdsCorrect
- BPrimates
- CReptiles
- DAmphibians
Explanation
Correct. All four are bird species found in India. Ceylon frogmouth belongs to Podargidae, Coppersmith barbet to Megalaimidae, Gray-chinned minivet to Campephagidae, and White-throated redstart to Muscicapidae.