UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Mizoram’s Natural History Museum notified as India’s 21st Designated Repository under Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Q1. With reference to the institutional architecture of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The National Biodiversity Authority is the apex body established under Section 8 of the Act.
  2. State Biodiversity Boards are constituted by State Governments under Section 22 of the Act.
  3. Biodiversity Management Committees are set up by every local body exclusively to regulate access to biological resources by foreign nationals.
  4. Designated Repositories are notified under Section 39 of the Act.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 establishes a biodiversity governance framework consisting of how many tiers?

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

Q3. The formal notification designating an institution as a 'Designated Repository' under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is issued by which authority, acting on the recommendation of the National Biodiversity Authority?

  • A. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Central Government)
  • B. The Ministry of Science and Technology
  • C. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • D. The Ministry of Earth Sciences

Q4. The National Biodiversity Authority was established in which year and under which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002?

  • A. 2003, under Section 8
  • B. 2002, under Section 8
  • C. 2003, under Section 22
  • D. 2004, under Section 18

Q5. With reference to Designated Repositories under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. They are notified by the Central Government in consultation with the National Biodiversity Authority under Section 39.
  2. They keep in safe custody biological material, including voucher specimens.
  3. They are empowered to grant approval for access to biological resources by foreign entities.
  4. Institutions of the Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India are among those holding designated repositories.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, a 'Designated Repository' primarily functions as which one of the following?

  • A. An official depository for the safe custody of biological material, including voucher and type specimens of newly described taxa
  • B. A body that grants prior informed consent for access to biological resources
  • C. A committee that prepares People's Biodiversity Registers at the village level
  • D. A State-level board that regulates the commercial utilisation of biological resources

Q7. With reference to the notification of the Natural History Museum (NHM), Mizoram University as a Designated Repository, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. With its designation, the number of Designated Repositories in India rose from 20 to 21.
  2. The NHM functions under Mizoram University, a Central University, and had preserved over 500 specimens before its designation.
  3. The NHM was designated under Section 8 of the Act — the same section that establishes the National Biodiversity Authority.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. With reference to Mizoram University, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It is a Central University established under a Central Act.
  2. It is located at Aizawl in Mizoram.
  3. It was established in the year 2001.
  4. The Natural History Museum functioning under it was set up in the year 2015.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to India's biodiversity hotspots, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India has four biodiversity hotspots — the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Sundaland.
  2. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must have at least 1,500 species of endemic vascular plants and must have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.
  3. Within India, the Sundaland hotspot is represented by the Andaman Islands, while the Nicobar Islands fall within the Indo-Burma hotspot.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The requirement that voucher specimens of any newly discovered taxon be notified to, and deposited with, a Designated Repository derives from which provision of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002?

  • A. Section 39
  • B. Section 8
  • C. Section 22
  • D. Section 41