Previous year UPSC questions – Species in News

1. Consider the following pairs:

  Country        –    Animal found in its natural habitat

1. Brazil       –  Indri
2. Indonesia   –   Elk
3. Madagascar   –  Bonobo

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

2. Consider the following:

1. Butterflies
2. Fish
3. Frogs

How many of the above have poisonous species among them? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

3. Consider the following statements: 

1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season.
2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.
3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking.

Which of the statements given above are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

4. Consider the following:

1. 1. Carabid beetles
   2. Centipedes
   3. Flies
   4. Termites
   5. Wasps

Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

5. 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? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

6. Which 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? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

7. The organisms “Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater” are: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]

8. Which of the following organisms perform a waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

9. Consider the following statements:

1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
2. Some mushrooms have psycho-active properties.
3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.

How many of the above statements are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

10. Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

11. 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? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

12. Consider the following fauna:

1. Lion-tailed Macaque
2. Malabar Civet
3. Sambar Deer

How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

13. Consider the following statements:

Statement-1: Marsupials are not naturally found in India.

Statement-II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]

14. Which of the following is not a bird? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

15. Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants?

1. Alfalfa
2. Amaranth
3. Chickpea
4. Clover
5. Purslane (Kulfa)
6. Spinach

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

16. 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? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

17. Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

18. In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil?

1. Fern
2. Lichen
3. Moss
4. Mushroom

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

19. Which of the following have species that can establish symbiotic relationship with other organisms?

1. Cnidarians
2. Fungi
3. Protozoa

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

20. Which of the following are detritivores?

1. Earthworms
2. Jellyfish
3. Millipedes
4. Seahorses
5. Woodlice

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

21. Which one of the following is a filter feeder? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

22. Consider the following kinds of organisms:

1. Copepods
2. Cyanobacteria
3. Diatoms
4. Foraminifera

Which of the above are primary producers in the food chains of oceans? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

23. Consider the following animals:

1. Hedgehog
2. Marmot
3. Pangolin

To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

24. Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?

1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

25. With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned miniyet and White-throated redstart are [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

26. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

27. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]

28. Recently, 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 of [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

29. Consider the following statements:

1. Some species of turtles are herbivores.
2. Some species of fish are herbivores.
3. Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.
4. Some species of snakes viviparous.

Which of the statements given above arc correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

30. Consider the following statements:

1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

31. Consider the following pairs

Which of the pairs given correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

32. Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

33. Which of the following leaf modifications occur (s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss?

1. Hard and waxy leaves
2. Tiny leaves
3. Thorns instead of leaves

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

34. Consider the following statements:

1. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters.
2. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines.
3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

35. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law?

1. Gharial
2. Indian wild ass
3. Wild buffalo

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

36. Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences?

1. Pollination of some plants could be adversely affected.
2. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal infections of some cultivated plants.
3. It could lead to a fall in the population of some species of wasps, spiders and birds.

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

37. If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

38. In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

39. Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

40. What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’ a breed found in India?

1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

41. Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

42. In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

43. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

44. With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act; 1972.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

45. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

46. Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?

1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in rivers
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally
4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the vicinity of rivers

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

47. Consider the following:

1. Bats
2. Bears
3. Rodents

The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

48. Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of the other three? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]

49. In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2013 Prelims]

50. Consider the following:

1. Star tortoise
2. Monitor lizard
3. Pygmy hog
4. Spider monkey

Which of the above are naturally found in India? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2013 Prelims]

51. In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat?

1. Tamil Nadu
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra Pradesh

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2013 Prelims]

52. Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

53. Government of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant?

1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in preventing desertification:
2. It is a rich source of bio-diesel.
3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to live in cold areas of high altitudes.
4. Its timber is of great commercial value.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

54. Consider the following:

1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard

Which of the above are naturally found in India? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

55. How does National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting the Indian agriculture?

1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects the indigenous and traditional genetic resources.
2. NBA directly monitors and supervises the scientific research on genetic modification of crop plants.
3. Application for intellectual Property Rights related to genetic/biological resources cannot be made without the approval of NBA.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

56.

1. Consider the following kinds of organisms: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]
2. Bat
3. Bee
4. Bird

Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?

57. Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

58. A 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 destruction of its habitat. Which one of the following could be that animal? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2011 Prelims]

59. 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 species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
2. Threatened plant and animal species.
3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below; [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2011 Prelims]