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MP Forest Guard practice questions

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Question 1General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which river forms the northern boundary of Madhya Pradesh for a long stretch before entering Uttar Pradesh?

  1. Betwa
  2. Narmada
  3. Chambal Correct answer.
  4. Tapti

Explanation

The Chambal rises in the Vindhyas and flows north-east, forming a long stretch of Madhya Pradesh's boundary with Rajasthan and then Uttar Pradesh. The Narmada and Tapti flow west through the state's interior rather than marking its northern edge.

Question 2General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Kanha National Park, famous as an inspiration for a well-known jungle book setting, lies mainly in which division of Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Indore division
  2. Gwalior division
  3. Sagar division
  4. Jabalpur division Correct answer.

Explanation

Kanha National Park is located in the Mandla and Balaghat districts, which fall under the Jabalpur division of Madhya Pradesh. The park's sal and bamboo forests form the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve.

Question 3General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

The Tropic of Cancer passes through which of these Madhya Pradesh cities?

  1. Bhopal Correct answer.
  2. Ujjain
  3. Indore
  4. Gwalior

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at roughly 23.5 degrees north latitude passes close to Bhopal, which is why the state capital is often cited among Indian cities on the line. Gwalior, Indore and Ujjain lie either clearly north or south of it.

Question 4General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which dynasty built the Khajuraho temples, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Solanki
  2. Paramara
  3. Chandela Correct answer.
  4. Tomara

Explanation

The Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela rulers of Bundelkhand between roughly the tenth and twelfth centuries. They are celebrated for their nagara-style architecture and intricate stone sculpture.

Question 5General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following is the highest peak in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Dhupgarh Correct answer.
  2. Amarkantak
  3. Chauragarh
  4. Kalinjar

Explanation

Dhupgarh, near Pachmarhi in the Satpura range, is the highest point in Madhya Pradesh at about 1,350 metres. Amarkantak and Chauragarh are notable hill sites but are lower.

Question 6General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

The Narmada Valley Development project is chiefly aimed at which of the following?

  1. Irrigation and hydropower through a series of dams Correct answer.
  2. Developing coastal shipping terminals
  3. Building expressways along the river
  4. Expanding coal mining in the Satpura foothills

Explanation

The Narmada Valley Development Authority plans a cascade of dams on the Narmada for irrigation, drinking water and hydropower. Major projects such as Sardar Sarovar and Indira Sagar are part of this scheme.

Question 7General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which tribal community, among the largest in Madhya Pradesh, is particularly associated with the Betul and Chhindwara districts?

  1. Gond Correct answer.
  2. Baiga
  3. Bhil
  4. Sahariya

Explanation

The Gond are the largest tribal group in Madhya Pradesh and are concentrated in the southern districts including Betul and Chhindwara. The Bhil are more numerous in the western districts, while the Baiga and Sahariya are smaller groups.

Question 8General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

The headquarters of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, is located in which city?

  1. Jabalpur
  2. Indore
  3. Bhopal Correct answer.
  4. Gwalior

Explanation

The state forest headquarters and the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests are located in Bhopal, the state capital. Field formations are then organised under circles and divisions across the state.

Question 9General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of these protected areas in Madhya Pradesh is a biosphere reserve recognised under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme?

  1. Bandhavgarh
  2. Satpura
  3. Pachmarhi Correct answer.
  4. Pench

Explanation

The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, notified in 1999, was included in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It covers the Pachmarhi hills and adjoining forests in the Satpura range.

Question 10General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

In Madhya Pradesh's forest administration, a 'coupe' refers to which of the following?

  1. A nursery raised for fodder species
  2. A register of grazing permits
  3. A demarcated unit of forest marked for felling in a given period Correct answer.
  4. A boundary trench dug to check fire

Explanation

A coupe is a defined compartment or block of forest scheduled for harvesting within a working plan period. Coupes are laid out in advance so that felling is regulated and regeneration is assured.

Question 11General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following best describes 'joint forest management' as practised in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Villagers are paid wages only for fire watching
  2. Village communities share responsibilities and benefits with the forest department Correct answer.
  3. The forest department leases forest land to private companies
  4. Forest produce is auctioned exclusively to urban traders

Explanation

Joint forest management brings village institutions into partnership with the forest department for protection and regeneration, with a share of produce such as fuelwood and grass. Madhya Pradesh was among the early states to institutionalise this through village forest committees.

Question 12General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard finds that a patch of reserved forest has been cleared for cultivation. Under Indian forest law, this act is best described as which offence?

  1. Forest fire negligence
  2. Timber theft
  3. Illegal grazing
  4. Encroachment on forest land Correct answer.

Explanation

Clearing forest land for cultivation amounts to encroachment, which is punishable under the Indian Forest Act and state forest rules. The guard should record the extent of clearing and report it for eviction proceedings.

Question 13General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following is the correct sequence of forest types found as one moves from the sal forests of Kanha towards the drier Bundelkhand region?

  1. Dry deciduous to evergreen to thorn forest
  2. Thorn forest to moist deciduous to dry deciduous
  3. Evergreen to thorn forest to moist deciduous
  4. Moist deciduous to dry deciduous to thorn forest Correct answer.

Explanation

Moist deciduous sal forests of the Kanha belt give way to dry deciduous teak and mixed forests and finally to thorny scrub in the drier Bundelkhand tracts. The gradient follows declining rainfall from south to north-west.

Question 14General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following is the primary purpose of a fire line maintained in a forest division?

  1. To serve as a path for timber transport
  2. To channel rainwater into a stream
  3. To stop the spread of ground fire by removing combustible material Correct answer.
  4. To mark the boundary between two villages

Explanation

A fire line is a strip cleared of inflammable material so that a ground fire loses fuel and cannot cross. Fire lines are laid and maintained before the fire season as a preventive measure.

Question 15General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of these is a characteristic feature of the Bhimbetka rock shelters, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Colonial-era hill forts
  2. Prehistoric paintings on sandstone shelters Correct answer.
  3. Rock-cut Buddhist monasteries
  4. Tenth-century Jain temples

Explanation

Bhimbetka, in the Raisen district, contains sandstone rock shelters with prehistoric paintings depicting hunting and daily life. The site was inscribed as a World Heritage Site for its evidence of early human settlement.

Question 16General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

The Madhya Pradesh government's 'Ladli Laxmi Yojana' is primarily intended to support which group?

  1. Forest dwellers displaced by projects
  2. Senior citizens without pension
  3. Landless farm labourers
  4. Girl children from birth through education Correct answer.

Explanation

Ladli Laxmi Yojana provides financial assistance linked to the birth, immunisation and education of girl children in Madhya Pradesh. The scheme aims to improve the status of the girl child and discourage child marriage.

Question 17General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which forest division in Madhya Pradesh is best known for the successful reintroduction of the gaur (Indian bison) after local extinction?

  1. Sanjay-Dubri Correct answer.
  2. Satpura
  3. Kanha
  4. Panna

Explanation

Gaur were reintroduced into the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve in the Sidhi district after the species had disappeared from the area. The reintroduction involved translocating animals from Kanha and Bandhavgarh.

Question 18General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

In Madhya Pradesh, the 'nistar' rights of forest villagers generally relate to which of the following?

  1. Ownership of reserved forest land
  2. Exemption from forest offences
  3. Permission to fell teak for sale
  4. Concessional supply of minor forest produce and grazing Correct answer.

Explanation

Nistar rights allow recognised villages to obtain small timber, fuelwood, fodder and grazing from specified forests at concessional rates. These rights are recorded in working plans and are distinct from ownership of the land.

Question 19General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following correctly pairs a Madhya Pradesh tiger reserve with its district?

  1. Kanha Tiger Reserve - Shahdol
  2. Panna Tiger Reserve - Panna Correct answer.
  3. Pench Tiger Reserve - Gwalior
  4. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve - Balaghat

Explanation

Panna Tiger Reserve lies in Panna district in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. The other pairings place the reserves in districts where they are not located.

Question 20General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

The Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh became prominent in the news for which conservation initiative?

  1. Translocation of wild elephants
  2. Breeding of the great Indian bustard
  3. Reintroduction of cheetahs from Africa Correct answer.
  4. Reintroduction of the snow leopard

Explanation

Kuno National Park in Sheopur district was selected as the site for reintroducing cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa from 2022 onwards. The project aims to establish a viable cheetah population in India after the species was declared extinct in the country.

Question 21General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard notices that a working plan prescribes selection felling in a compartment, but the local contractor wants to clear-fell it. What is the correct course of action?

  1. Refer the matter to the contractor's engineer for a decision
  2. Permit clear-felling if the compartment is far from a village
  3. Allow clear-felling since the contractor holds a permit
  4. Follow the prescription of the sanctioned working plan and report the deviation Correct answer.

Explanation

The working plan is the sanctioned instrument governing silvicultural operations in a division, and felling must follow its prescriptions. Any request that departs from it should be refused and reported to the controlling authority.

Question 22General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following statements about the forest cover of Madhya Pradesh is most accurate?

  1. It has the smallest forest area of any Indian state
  2. Its forests are almost entirely alpine
  3. It has among the largest forest areas of any Indian state, with teak and sal as prominent species Correct answer.
  4. Its forests are predominantly mangrove

Explanation

Madhya Pradesh consistently ranks among the states with the largest forest cover in India, dominated by teak in the north and sal in the south. The state's forest wealth underpins its timber and wildlife economy.

Question 23General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard must estimate the number of trees in a compartment quickly without a full census. Which method is most appropriate?

  1. Questioning villagers about tree numbers
  2. Complete clear-felling
  3. Aerial photography of the whole division
  4. Sample plot enumeration Correct answer.

Explanation

Sample plot enumeration counts trees in representative plots and extrapolates the result to the whole compartment. It gives a reliable estimate at a fraction of the cost of a full census.

Question 24General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which authority is primarily responsible for initiating the recognition of individual and community forest rights?

  1. The Gram Sabha Correct answer.
  2. The State Pollution Control Board
  3. The District Collector alone
  4. The Divisional Forest Officer

Explanation

The Forest Rights Act makes the Gram Sabha the authority that initiates the process of recognising forest rights and constitutes the Forest Rights Committee. The claims then move upward through sub-divisional and district level committees for final approval.

Question 25General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following best explains why the Satpura range is significant for the drainage pattern of Madhya Pradesh?

  1. It marks the boundary between the Chambal and the Betwa basins
  2. It diverts the Narmada eastwards into the Bay of Bengal
  3. It separates the Narmada basin to the north from the Tapti basin to the south Correct answer.
  4. It forms the watershed between the Ganga and the Brahmaputra

Explanation

The Satpura range acts as a watershed, with the Narmada flowing west along its northern side and the Tapti draining the southern slopes. This gives Madhya Pradesh its characteristic west-flowing river system.

Question 26General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which river is known as the 'lifeline of Madhya Pradesh' and flows through a major rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges?

  1. Betwa
  2. Narmada Correct answer.
  3. Tapti
  4. Chambal

Explanation

The Narmada rises from Amarkantak and flows west through the Narmada rift valley, which separates the Vindhya range to the north from the Satpura range to the south. Because it drains a large share of the state and supports irrigation and power projects, it is popularly called the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh. The other rivers follow different courses and do not occupy this rift valley.

Question 27General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

In Madhya Pradesh, which of the following is the state animal, a species that forest guards frequently record during wildlife patrols in the state's deciduous forests?

  1. Chital
  2. Nilgai
  3. Blackbuck
  4. Barasingha Correct answer.

Explanation

The barasingha, or swamp deer, is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh and is especially associated with Kanha, where hard-ground populations were saved from near extinction. Forest staff monitoring grasslands and sal forests record it as a priority species. The other animals occur in the state but do not hold the status of state animal.

Question 28General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following festivals is celebrated in Madhya Pradesh to mark the traditional new year and is associated with the Malwa region's calendar?

  1. Bhagoria Correct answer.
  2. Lokrang
  3. Akshaya Tritiya
  4. Gudi Padwa

Explanation

Bhagoria is a well-known festival of the Bhil and Bhilala communities in the Malwa-Nimar belt of Madhya Pradesh, held before Holi and linked to a traditional marriage fair. It reflects the tribal cultural calendar of the state. The other options are festivals celebrated elsewhere or of different significance.

Question 29General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department's administrative hierarchy places the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests at the top. Immediately below the PCCF in a circle, which officer typically heads forest administration?

  1. Forest Guard
  2. Range Forest Officer
  3. Forester
  4. Chief Conservator of Forests Correct answer.

Explanation

The forest administration runs from the PCCF at state level down through Chief Conservators of Forests, Conservators of Forests, Deputy Conservators, Sub-Divisional Officers, Range Forest Officers, foresters and guards. A Chief Conservator of Forests heads a circle-level unit under the PCCF. Range officers and below function at field level, not at circle command.

Question 30General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard in a division of Madhya Pradesh notices that a patch of forest has been set on fire deliberately to facilitate illegal grazing. Under the applicable forest law, such intentional burning of reserved forest is best described as which of the following?

  1. A matter to be settled by the village panchayat alone
  2. A forest offence punishable with imprisonment and fine Correct answer.
  3. An administrative lapse requiring only a warning
  4. A permissible practice if grazing rights exist

Explanation

Setting fire to reserved forest, or kindling fire without authorisation, is a forest offence under Indian forest law and attracts imprisonment, fine or both. Grazing rights such as nistar do not authorise burning, and panchayats cannot legalise an offence. The guard's duty is to report and help prosecute the offence.

Question 31General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following best describes the role of a 'buffer zone' around a tiger reserve such as those in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. It is a zone where wildlife protection laws do not apply
  2. It is an area where all human presence is permanently prohibited
  3. It permits regulated human use while protecting the core from disturbance Correct answer.
  4. It is reserved exclusively for commercial timber extraction

Explanation

A tiger reserve has a core critical tiger habitat kept free of incompatible human activity and a buffer or peripheral area where regulated land use, tourism and community rights continue with conservation safeguards. The buffer thus balances protection with local livelihoods. It is neither a no-entry zone nor an area exempt from wildlife law.

Question 32General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard must record the arrival of monsoon rainfall for plantation planning. Which of the following statements about rainfall in Madhya Pradesh is most accurate?

  1. Most rain comes from the south-west monsoon between June and September Correct answer.
  2. Most rain comes from the retreating monsoon in December and January
  3. The state receives almost all its rain from western disturbances in summer
  4. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year across the state

Explanation

Madhya Pradesh receives the bulk of its annual rainfall from the south-west monsoon, roughly June to September, with July and August being the wettest months. This timing governs planting and fire-season planning in forest divisions. Winter rain from western disturbances is small and localised.

Question 33General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following is the correct description of 'compensatory afforestation' as applied to forest land diverted for a development project in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. Levying a grazing fee on cattle entering the diverted area
  2. Shifting the affected villagers to a new forest village
  3. Felling extra trees in the same compartment to meet timber demand
  4. Raising forest on alternative land to offset the loss of diverted forest Correct answer.

Explanation

When forest land is diverted for non-forest use, the user agency must fund afforestation on equivalent non-forest land, along with other conditions, so that the loss of forest cover is offset. This is termed compensatory afforestation and is monitored by the forest department. It does not authorise extra felling or relocation of villagers.

Question 34General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard observes that a plantation site has been damaged by free-grazing cattle. Which of the following is the most appropriate field response consistent with departmental practice?

  1. Ignore the damage because grazing is always permitted
  2. Collect a personal fine from the cattle owner without any record
  3. Immediately fell the remaining saplings to avoid further loss
  4. Report the damage and strengthen protection measures such as fencing or watch and ward Correct answer.

Explanation

The correct response is to record and report the incident and to reinforce protection through fencing, trenching or watch and ward as prescribed. Grazing is regulated, not universally permitted, and unauthorised grazing can attract penalties. Personal fines without record and destruction of saplings are improper.

Question 35General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard needs a quick estimate of growing stock in a compartment without a full tree census. Which method is most appropriate?

  1. Laying sample plots and multiplying average values by the area Correct answer.
  2. Counting every tree individually across the whole compartment
  3. Asking villagers to report the number of trees they remember
  4. Estimating from the number of stumps left by previous fellings

Explanation

Sampling by randomly or systematically laid plots gives a statistically valid estimate of density and volume that can be extrapolated to the compartment area. A full census is accurate but slow, and stump counts or villagers' recollections are not reliable. Sampling is the standard field shortcut.

Question 36General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following best explains the significance of the Satpura range for the drainage of Madhya Pradesh?

  1. It blocks all rivers from reaching the sea
  2. It causes the state's rivers to flow only eastwards
  3. It is the source of the Ganga at Gangotri
  4. It forms a major watershed separating the Narmada basin from the Tapti and Godavari basins Correct answer.

Explanation

The Satpura range acts as a divide: rivers north of it, led by the Narmada, flow west, while streams to the south drain towards the Tapti and the Godavari system. This watershed shapes the state's drainage and water resource planning. The Ganga originates in the Himalayas, and MP rivers flow in different directions.

Question 37General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following is the correct pairing of a Madhya Pradesh city with its well-known industrial or mineral association?

  1. Jhabua with coal mining
  2. Balaghat with petroleum refining
  3. Panna with diamond mining Correct answer.
  4. Singrauli with bauxite mining

Explanation

Panna is famous for its diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes and the only organised diamond mine in India. Jhabua is associated with manganese and dolomite rather than coal, Singrauli with coal and thermal power rather than bauxite, and Balaghat with manganese and copper rather than petroleum refining.

Question 38General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

A forest guard finds that a working plan prescribes thinning in a compartment, but a local contractor offers money to fell additional marked trees beyond the prescription. What is the most appropriate course of action?

  1. Ignore the offer and let the contractor proceed without checking
  2. Refuse the offer and report the attempted inducement to the superior officer Correct answer.
  3. Accept the money and allow felling within the compartment
  4. Allow the extra felling and record it later as wind damage

Explanation

Felling must strictly follow the working plan and marking rules, and accepting a bribe for extra felling is both a forest offence and corruption. The guard should refuse and report the inducement so that the matter is investigated. Allowing or ignoring unauthorised felling makes the guard complicit.

Question 39General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which body is primarily responsible for initiating the recognition of individual forest rights in a village?

  1. The District Court
  2. The Gram Sabha Correct answer.
  3. The Forest Corporation
  4. The State Pollution Control Board

Explanation

The Forest Rights Act makes the Gram Sabha the authority that initiates the process of recognising individual and community forest rights, with claims later verified by sub-divisional and district level committees. Courts, pollution boards and forest corporations have no role in initiating recognition. This decentralised process is central to the Act's implementation in Madhya Pradesh.

Question 40General Knowledge and Current Affairs (including Madhya Pradesh-specific affairs)

Which of the following best describes the ecological significance of the Kanha-Achanakmar landscape linkage for wildlife in Madhya Pradesh?

  1. It is an area reserved only for medicinal plant cultivation
  2. It is a barrier that isolates tiger populations from one another
  3. It provides a corridor allowing gene flow between tiger and other wildlife populations Correct answer.
  4. It is a zone where forest laws are suspended for industry

Explanation

Corridors such as the Kanha-Achanakmar linkage connect source populations, allowing movement, gene flow and recolonisation, which reduces inbreeding and local extinction risk. They are not barriers, and they do not suspend forest law or serve only for medicinal plants. Maintaining such linkages is a key conservation priority for the state.

Question 41Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Which forest type in India is dominated by Sundari trees and occurs in the saline tidal swamps of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta?

  1. Alpine scrub
  2. Tropical dry deciduous forest
  3. Montane temperate forest
  4. Mangrove forest Correct answer.

Explanation

Mangrove forests grow in saline tidal zones where species tolerate waterlogged, salty soil; the Sundarbans is named after the Sundari tree. Dry deciduous, temperate montane, and alpine formations occur on very different soils and elevations.

Question 42Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Sal and teak are characteristic tree species of which broad forest category in India?

  1. Himalayan moist temperate forest
  2. Littoral and swamp forest
  3. Tropical deciduous forest Correct answer.
  4. Tropical thorn forest

Explanation

Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak (Tectona grandis) are the dominant timber species of India's tropical deciduous forests, which shed leaves in the dry season. Thorn forests, swamp forests and temperate Himalayan forests have different characteristic species.

Question 43Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Which protected area is India's first national park, established in 1936 in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand?

  1. Kanha National Park
  2. Corbett National Park Correct answer.
  3. Kaziranga National Park
  4. Bandipur National Park

Explanation

Corbett National Park, originally named Hailey National Park when created in 1936, is recognised as India's oldest national park. Kanha, Bandipur and Kaziranga were established later.

Question 44Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in which year?

  1. 1991
  2. 1952
  3. 1973 Correct answer.
  4. 1962

Explanation

Project Tiger began in 1973 to protect tiger habitat through designated tiger reserves. The earlier years relate to other programmes, and 1991 is associated with Project Elephant.

Question 45Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which schedule gives the highest protection to species such as the tiger and the elephant?

  1. Schedule III
  2. Schedule I Correct answer.
  3. Schedule V
  4. Schedule IV

Explanation

Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act lists endangered species afforded the strictest protection, including the tiger and elephant. Schedules III and IV cover less threatened species, and Schedule V listed vermin.

Question 46Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Which of the following is a biosphere reserve located in the Western Ghats and known for the lion-tailed macaque?

  1. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
  2. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
  3. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Correct answer.
  4. Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

Explanation

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India's first, spans the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka and shelters the lion-tailed macaque. The other reserves lie in the Himalaya, the delta and Odisha respectively.

Question 47Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Which agency is the statutory authority for approval of diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980?

  1. Central Government (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) Correct answer.
  2. National Green Tribunal
  3. State Revenue Department
  4. District Panchayat

Explanation

The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 requires prior approval of the Central Government before forest land is diverted to non-forest use. State departments and local bodies may recommend or process proposals, but the statutory approval rests with the Centre.

Question 48Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is best known for conserving which species?

  1. Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros Correct answer.
  2. Snow leopard
  3. Nilgiri tahr
  4. Asiatic lion

Explanation

Kaziranga in Assam holds the largest population of the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros and is a World Heritage Site. The Asiatic lion lives in Gir, the snow leopard in high Himalaya, and the Nilgiri tahr in the Western Ghats.

Question 49Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

In the classification of Indian forests by Champion and Seth, which type occurs in areas receiving rainfall generally between 70 and 100 cm with a marked dry season?

  1. Tropical wet evergreen forest
  2. Tropical dry deciduous forest Correct answer.
  3. Sub-alpine forest
  4. Tropical moist deciduous forest

Explanation

Tropical dry deciduous forests occupy regions with roughly 70 to 100 cm of annual rainfall and a pronounced dry season, shedding leaves for part of the year. Moist deciduous forests receive more rain, evergreen forests more still, and sub-alpine forests occur at high elevation.

Question 50Forest, Wildlife and Environmental Awareness (Indian forest types, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation law basics)

A forest guard finds a person carrying a freshly killed wild boar in a protected area. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which action is most appropriate?

  1. Ignore the matter because wild boar is not listed in any schedule
  2. Confiscate the weapon and return it after verbal warning
  3. Release the person after collecting a small fine at the spot
  4. Seize the animal and register a case, since wild boar is a protected species under the Act Correct answer.

Explanation

The Act protects scheduled wild animals and empowers forest and police officers to seize wildlife and property and to initiate prosecution. Spot fines and verbal warnings are not lawful substitutes for registering a case.