UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Dragonfly, damselfly species missing in the Western Ghats’

Question 1

The 2026 peer-reviewed study titled 'Western Ghats Odonata Odyssey', which reported that only about 65% of historically known dragonfly and damselfly species could be relocated in a recent two-year field survey, was led by a researcher affiliated with which one of the following institutions?

Accepted Answer

MIT-World Peace University, Pune

Answer

Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata

Answer

Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai

Answer

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

Question 2

The Western Ghats Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment, which covered around 1,146 freshwater species (including Odonata) and serves as the principal benchmark for current dragonfly–damselfly diversity gap analyses in the region, was conducted under the aegis of which one of the following bodies?

Accepted Answer

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Answer

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Answer

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Answer

Ramsar Convention Secretariat

Question 3

With reference to the 2021–2023 Western Ghats Odonata survey vis-à-vis earlier historical records, consider the following statements:
1. The recent survey recorded 143 Odonata species, whereas the historical baseline for the Western Ghats stood at roughly 220 species.
2. The recent survey documented around 40 endemic species, against approximately 95 species historically considered endemic to the Western Ghats.
3. The recent survey was conducted across six states of the Western Ghats, while the UNESCO World Heritage inscription of 2012 covers only five states.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

The recent (2021–2023) field survey on dragonflies and damselflies of the Western Ghats, whose findings were highlighted in 2026, was conducted across how many Indian states?

Accepted Answer

Five

Answer

Four

Answer

Six

Answer

Seven

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Dragonfly, damselfly species missing in the Western Ghats’

Q1. The 2026 peer-reviewed study titled 'Western Ghats Odonata Odyssey', which reported that only about 65% of historically known dragonfly and damselfly species could be relocated in a recent two-year field survey, was led by a researcher affiliated with which one of the following institutions?

Q4. The recent (2021–2023) field survey on dragonflies and damselflies of the Western Ghats, whose findings were highlighted in 2026, was conducted across how many Indian states?