UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

Q1. The institutional architecture of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) is organised into how many tiers?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q2. The Governing Board of the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), its apex tier, is chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. The Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
  • B. The Union Minister of Rural Development
  • C. The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog
  • D. The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q3. With reference to the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), consider the following statements: 1. It is headquartered at New Delhi and operates regional stations in different phyto-geographical zones. 2. It maintains the National Gene Bank for conservation of plant genetic resources. 3. It carries out quarantine of imported plant germplasm meant for research. 4. It is the statutory authority empowered to notify Biodiversity Heritage Sites. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is headquartered at New Delhi and operates regional stations in different phyto-geographical zones.
  2. It maintains the National Gene Bank for conservation of plant genetic resources.
  3. It carries out quarantine of imported plant germplasm meant for research.
  4. It is the statutory authority empowered to notify Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q4. Consider the following statements distinguishing ICAR-NBPGR from other bodies: 1. The National Gene Bank at ICAR-NBPGR conserves germplasm ex-situ, whereas the Borjuli project conserves wild rice in-situ. 2. ICAR-NBPGR is headquartered at New Delhi, whereas the National Biodiversity Authority is headquartered at Chennai. 3. ICAR-NBPGR functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, whereas the NRAA functions under the Ministry of Rural Development. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Gene Bank at ICAR-NBPGR conserves germplasm ex-situ, whereas the Borjuli project conserves wild rice in-situ.
  2. ICAR-NBPGR is headquartered at New Delhi, whereas the National Biodiversity Authority is headquartered at Chennai.
  3. ICAR-NBPGR functions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, whereas the NRAA functions under the Ministry of Rural Development.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) notified in India: 1. Arittapatti — Tamil Nadu 2. Canary Pahad — Jharkhand 3. Borjuli — Assam 4. Nameri — Assam Which of the above are correctly identified as Biodiversity Heritage Sites?

  1. Arittapatti — Tamil Nadu
  2. Canary Pahad — Jharkhand
  3. Borjuli — Assam
  4. Nameri — Assam
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Which one of the following was declared as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site of the State of Jharkhand?

  • A. Canary Pahad, Hazaribag
  • B. Arittapatti, Madurai
  • C. Borjuli, Sonitpur
  • D. Nallur Tamarind Grove, Bengaluru

Q7. Oryza rufipogon, the wild rice conserved at the Borjuli site, belongs to which genome group of the genus Oryza — the same group as cultivated Asian rice, Oryza sativa?

  • A. AA genome group
  • B. BB genome group
  • C. CC genome group
  • D. BBCC genome group

Q8. Consider the following methods of biodiversity conservation: 1. Biosphere reserves 2. Biodiversity Heritage Sites 3. The National Gene Bank at ICAR-NBPGR 4. Sacred groves Which of the above are correctly identified as in-situ conservation methods?

  1. Biosphere reserves
  2. Biodiversity Heritage Sites
  3. The National Gene Bank at ICAR-NBPGR
  4. Sacred groves
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. The Borjuli wild rice site lies in Sonitpur district of Assam. Which one of the following rivers forms the southern border of Sonitpur district?

  • A. Brahmaputra
  • B. Barak
  • C. Subansiri
  • D. Teesta

Q10. The Borjuli site was notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the provisions of which one of the following laws?

  • A. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • B. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • C. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • D. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

Q11. Within India's three-tier biodiversity governance structure, which authority actually notifies an area as a Biodiversity Heritage Site in the official gazette?

  • A. The State Government, in consultation with local bodies
  • B. The National Biodiversity Authority
  • C. The State Biodiversity Board
  • D. The Biodiversity Management Committee