MCQs on “Conservation of Himalayan Ecosystems: Importance and Challenges”
1. What percentage of India’s geographical area is covered by the Himalayan region?
A) 10%
B) 16.2%
C) 18.5%
D) 21%
Answer: B) 16.2%
2. Which of the following is a primary source of freshwater for the Himalayan region?
A) Groundwater
B) Glaciers
C) Lakes
D) Rainwater
Answer: B) Glaciers
3. Which of these rivers does NOT originate in the Himalayas?
A) Ganga
B) Yamuna
C) Krishna
D) Brahmaputra
Answer: C) Krishna
4. What is the main reason for biodiversity richness in the Himalayan region?
A) High population density
B) Varied altitudes and climates
C) Abundant rainfall
D) Low human interference
Answer: B) Varied altitudes and climates
5. Which of these is NOT a challenge to the Himalayan ecosystem?
A) Deforestation
B) Glacial retreat
C) Population migration
D) Soil erosion
Answer: C) Population migration
6. The Chipko Movement, focused on forest conservation, originated in which Himalayan state?
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Uttarakhand
C) Jammu and Kashmir
D) Sikkim
Answer: B) Uttarakhand
7. Which of the following species is considered endangered in the Himalayan region?
A) Snow Leopard
B) Indian Cobra
C) Bengal Tiger
D) Olive Ridley Turtle
Answer: A) Snow Leopard
8. Which initiative aims to promote sustainable development in the Himalayan region?
A) National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
B) Project Tiger
C) Namami Gange Programme
D) Green India Mission
Answer: A) National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
9. Which Indian state has the largest area under the Himalayan region?
A) Jammu and Kashmir
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Arunachal Pradesh
D) Uttarakhand
Answer: C) Arunachal Pradesh
10. The Himalayan region contributes significantly to which renewable energy source in India?
A) Wind Energy
B) Biomass
C) Hydropower
D) Solar Power
Answer: C) Hydropower
11. The practice of shifting cultivation in the northeastern Himalayas is also known as:
A) Jhum Cultivation
B) Terrace Farming
C) Plantation Agriculture
D) Intensive Farming
Answer: A) Jhum Cultivation
12. Which international convention focuses on the conservation of wetlands, including Himalayan lakes?
A) Paris Agreement
B) Ramsar Convention
C) Kyoto Protocol
D) Stockholm Declaration
Answer: B) Ramsar Convention
13. Which glacier in the Himalayas is retreating at an alarming rate due to global warming?
A) Siachen Glacier
B) Gangotri Glacier
C) Zemu Glacier
D) Milam Glacier
Answer: B) Gangotri Glacier
14. The Himalayan ecosystem plays a critical role in regulating which of the following?
A) Ocean Currents
B) Monsoon Patterns
C) Global Trade Routes
D) Earthquake Frequencies
Answer: B) Monsoon Patterns
15. Which of the following is a key challenge to the Himalayan forests?
A) Urbanization
B) Overgrazing
C) Sand Mining
D) Industrial Pollution
Answer: B) Overgrazing
16. Which Himalayan state was the first to ban plastic bags in India?
A) Sikkim
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Jammu and Kashmir
D) Uttarakhand
Answer: B) Himachal Pradesh
17. The Himalayan rivers contribute to the livelihoods of how many people in the Indian subcontinent?
A) 200 million
B) 500 million
C) 700 million
D) 1 billion
Answer: C) 700 million
18. What is the approximate number of medicinal plants found in the Himalayan region?
A) 500
B) 1500
C) 2000
D) 3000
Answer: D) 3000
19. The Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in which state?
A) Sikkim
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Arunachal Pradesh
D) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: B) Himachal Pradesh
20. Which of the following is a natural hazard frequently occurring in the Himalayan region?
A) Tsunamis
B) Earthquakes
C) Volcanic Eruptions
D) Cyclones
Answer: B) Earthquakes
21. The Himalayan region is crucial for which of the following environmental services?
A) Carbon Sequestration
B) Air Filtration
C) Ozone Layer Protection
D) Desertification Prevention
Answer: A) Carbon Sequestration
22. What percentage of India’s forest cover lies in the Himalayan region?
A) 20%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 50%
Answer: C) 40%
23. Which endangered bird is native to the Himalayan region?
A) Great Indian Bustard
B) Himalayan Monal
C) Sarus Crane
D) Indian Skimmer
Answer: B) Himalayan Monal
24. In which year was the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change established in India?
A) 1980
B) 1985
C) 1990
D) 1995
Answer: A) 1980
25. The Himalayan region is known for which type of ecosystem?
A) Tropical Rainforest
B) Alpine and Subalpine
C) Savannah Grassland
D) Tundra
Answer: B) Alpine and Subalpine
26. What is the purpose of creating biosphere reserves in the Himalayan region?
A) Urban Development
B) Industrial Growth
C) Wildlife Conservation
D) Tourism Promotion
Answer: C) Wildlife Conservation
27. Which mountain range acts as a climatic barrier influencing rainfall patterns in India?
A) Vindhyas
B) Aravallis
C) Himalayas
D) Satpuras
Answer: C) Himalayas
28. The Himalayan glaciers are a critical water source for how many river basins in South Asia?
A) 5
B) 8
C) 10
D) 12
Answer: B) 8
29. Which NGO is actively involved in Himalayan biodiversity conservation?
A) Greenpeace
B) WWF-India
C) Oxfam
D) CARE
Answer: B) WWF-India
30. Which of the following programs addresses the conservation of Himalayan medicinal plants?
A) Green Skill Development Programme
B) National Medicinal Plants Board
C) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
D) CAMPA
Answer: B) National Medicinal Plants Board
