UPSC Indian Forest Service Examination

India · Union Public Service Commission · civil-service · unverified source

117practice questions written to this syllabus
10subjects

Format

Prelims shared with the Civil Services Prelims; mains with two general papers and two optional subjects (two papers each); interview.

Sections

Over the years

No Environmental Science optional exists; environmental graduates usually take Botany, Zoology, Forestry or Agriculture. The main entry for this exam belongs to the Forestry track; it is listed here because it is a common career route for this track's graduates. Built from general knowledge.

Official source: https://upsc.gov.in/

Subjects this exam draws on

Ecology & Ecosystem Science2 questionsEarth Systems & Environmental Geoscience2 questionsBiodiversity Science & Conservation12 questionsLandscape Ecology, Protected Areas & Human-Wildlife Interactions16 questionsWetlands, Coastal Ecosystems & Blue Carbon12 questionsAgroforestry & Trees on Farms for Sustainability47 questionsLivestock & the Environment1 questionsCarbon Markets, Offsets & Payments for Ecosystem Services3 questionsSustainable Agri-food Supply Chains & Deforestation-free Sourcing3 questionsEnvironmental Law, Policy & International Agreements19 questions

Five practice questions, worked

Original questions written to this exam's published syllabus and pattern. Not past papers.

1. In a sal forest, the IVIs of all species sum to what value?

  1. 1000
  2. 200
  3. 300
  4. 100
Answer and working

C. 300

Each relative measure sums to 100 across species, so IVIs sum to 300.

Ecology & Ecosystem Science · Community structure, diversity and dominance

2. Which is the world's largest delta?

  1. Mekong
  2. Mississippi
  3. Nile
  4. Ganga-Brahmaputra
Answer and working

D. Ganga-Brahmaputra

The Sundarbans lie on it. The Nile, Mississippi and Mekong deltas are smaller.

Earth Systems & Environmental Geoscience · Geomorphic processes and landforms

3. Which biodiversity hotspot does NOT include any part of India?

  1. Himalaya
  2. Indo-Burma
  3. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
  4. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
Answer and working

D. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands

India includes parts of the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands) hotspots. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands hotspot lies off Africa.

Biodiversity Science & Conservation · Biogeographic realms and biodiversity hotspots

4. According to the environment ministry's 2023 report, how many elephant corridors were identified in India?

  1. 15
  2. 150
  3. 1500
  4. 50
Answer and working

B. 150

The 2023 'Elephant Corridors of India' report identified 150 corridors.

Landscape Ecology, Protected Areas & Human-Wildlife Interactions · Connectivity and wildlife corridors

5. According to India's National Wetland Atlas (2011), wetlands cover roughly what share of the country's area?

  1. About 0.5 %
  2. About 15 %
  3. About 46 %
  4. About 4.6 %
Answer and working

D. About 4.6 %

The atlas mapped about 15.3 million ha, around 4.6 % of India's area. 15 is the area in million hectares, not the percentage.

Wetlands, Coastal Ecosystems & Blue Carbon · Wetland definitions and classification

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