Wildlife Guard — Tagged Answers & Explanations (Set-A)

Post: Wildlife Guard, Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, J&K Exam: JKSSB OMR Written Exam held 08.03.2026 (Advt. No. 03 of 2021 & 04 of 2022) Booklet Series: A • Total Items: 120 • Marks: 120 • Time: 120 min • Negative marking: ¼ (0.25) per wrong answer

Each question is tagged with its Syllabus Section → sub-topic, followed by the official answer key (Series A) and a short explanation.

Note on discarded questions: As per the official Annexure, Q83 and Q104 (Series A) were DISCARDED (dropped/awarded to all). They are marked accordingly below.

Legend: ✅ = correct answer per provisional key • ⚠️ = flagged (debatable/dropped).

Section map: Q1–25 Mathematics · Q26–50 Basic Reasoning · Q51–75 English · Q76–100 General Awareness & Science/Geography · Q101–120 Forest & Wildlife

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SECTION 1 — Mathematics (Q1–Q25)

Q1. Conditional probability (liver disease | alcoholic)

• Tag: Maths → Probability
• Answer: A) 0.16 ✅
• Explanation: Bayes: P(L|A) = P(A|L)·P(L)/P(A) = 0.08×0.12/0.06 = 0.16.

Q2. Two dice, sum 7 or 11

• Tag: Maths → Probability
• Answer: D) 2/9 ✅
• Explanation: Favourable = 6 (sum 7) + 2 (sum 11) = 8 out of 36 = 2/9.

Q3. Ratio 2:11, difference 81 → smaller number

• Tag: Maths → Ratio & Proportion
• Answer: B) 18 ✅
• Explanation: 9 parts = 81 → 1 part = 9 → smaller = 2×9 = 18.

Q4. Product = 10 + 5×sum, numbers in ratio 5:6

• Tag: Maths → Ratio & Proportion
• Answer: A) 10 & 12 ✅
• Explanation: Let 5x, 6x → 30x² = 10 + 55x → 6x² − 11x − 2 = 0 → x = 2 → 10 & 12.

Q5. % of female employees regular

• Tag: Maths → Percentage
• Answer: C) 80% ✅
• Explanation: Men 250, women 150. Regular = 350. Male regular = 0.92×250 = 230 → female regular = 120 → 120/150 = 80%.

Q6. Ages ratio 5:7 now, 5:8 five years ago

• Tag: Maths → Problems of Ages
• Answer: B) 15 & 21 ✅
• Explanation: (5x−5)/(7x−5) = 5/8 → x = 3 → 15 & 21.

Q7. Ratio 4:5, HCF 16 → sum

• Tag: Maths → LCM/HCF
• Answer: A) 144 ✅
• Explanation: Numbers = 4×16, 5×16 = 64, 80 → sum = 144.

Q8. HCF 74, LCM 12210, one number 1110

• Tag: Maths → LCM/HCF
• Answer: B) 1924 ✅
• Explanation: Product = HCF×LCM → other = 74×12210/1110 = 814 → sum = 1110 + 814 = 1924.

Q9. Passed both subjects

• Tag: Maths → Percentage
• Answer: D) 44% ✅
• Explanation: Failed science = 46%. Failed ≥1 = 46 + 42 − 32 = 56% → passed both = 44%.

Q10. HCF 33, LCM 4719; first÷3 = 121 → other number

• Tag: Maths → LCM/HCF
• Answer: D) 429 ✅
• Explanation: First = 363; other = 33×4719/363 = 429.

Q11. Combined income of A & B

• Tag: Maths → Ratio & Proportion
• Answer: B) Rs. 24,000 ✅
• Explanation: Income 5x, 7x; spend 5x−4000, 7x−5000; 5x−4000 = ⅔(7x−5000) → x = 2000 → incomes 10000 + 14000 = 24,000.

Q12. Speed for rest of 900 km trip

• Tag: Maths → Time, Work & Distance
• Answer: A) 108 ✅
• Explanation: 360 km at 60 = 6 h; remaining 540 km in 5 h → 108 km/h.

Q13. Distance covered walking

• Tag: Maths → Time, Work & Distance
• Answer: A) 12 km ✅
• Explanation: 6t + 10(5−t) = 42 → t = 2 h → walking distance = 12 km.

Q14. Average speed (30% / 60% / 10%)

• Tag: Maths → Time, Work & Distance
• Answer: A) 25 km/h ✅
• Explanation: 100 / (30/20 + 60/40 + 10/10) = 100/4 = 25 km/h.

Q15. Average speed (half at 6, half at 3)

• Tag: Maths → Time, Work & Distance
• Answer: A) 4 km/h ✅
• Explanation: Harmonic mean = 2×6×3/(6+3) = 4 km/h.

Q16. Father/brother ages → my age now

• Tag: Maths → Problems of Ages
• Answer: A) 62 ✅
• Explanation: Brother's age = 31 (from the two conditions) → my age = 2×31 = 62.

Q17. Value of y (ages ratio 1:2:6)

• Tag: Maths → Problems of Ages
• Answer: B) 14 ✅
• Explanation: x:y:z = 1:2:6, total 63 → 1 part = 7 → y = 2×7 = 14.

Q18. B alone completes the work in

• Tag: Maths → Time & Work
• Answer: C) 6 days ✅
• Explanation: A+B in 3 days → 2 days = ⅔ done; remaining ⅓ by B in 2 days → B alone = 6 days.

Q19. Time B takes (A is 50% slower)

• Tag: Maths → Time & Work
• Answer: A) 30 days ✅
• Explanation: A = 1.5×B time; 1/1.5b + 1/b = 1/18 → b = 30 days.

Q20. P(multiple of 3 or 5), tickets 1–20

• Tag: Maths → Probability
• Answer: D) 9/20 ✅
• Explanation: |3s| = 6, |5s| = 4, |15| = 1 → 6 + 4 − 1 = 9 → 9/20.

Q21. P(getting a prize) — 10 prizes, 25 blanks

• Tag: Maths → Probability
• Answer: C) 2/7 ✅
• Explanation: 10/(10+25) = 10/35 = 2/7.

Q22. Corrected average

• Tag: Maths → Average
• Answer: A) 44.65 ✅
• Explanation: Total 1800; remove excess 2×10 = 20, add missing 6 → 1786/40 = 44.65.

Q23. Cricketer's highest score

• Tag: Maths → Average
• Answer: D) 174 ✅
• Explanation: H+L = 2000 − 1824 = 176; H−L = 172 → H = 174.

Q24. Team's total score

• Tag: Maths → Average
• Answer: B) 665 ✅
• Explanation: If top scored 92 (+7), total = 8×84 = 672 → actual = 672 − 7 = 665.

Q25. Radius where circumference = area

• Tag: Maths → Mensuration
• Answer: A) 2 ✅
• Explanation: 2πr = πr² → r = 2 cm.

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SECTION 2 — Basic Reasoning (Q26–Q50)

Q26. Bird's final position

• Tag: Reasoning → Direction Sense
• Answer: B) 150 km North ✅
• Explanation: N: 40+110 = 150; E/W: 50−50 = 0 → 150 km North.

Q27. Series 16, 33, 100, 401, ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: D) 2006 ✅
• Explanation: ×2+1, ×3+1, ×4+1, ×5+1 → 401×5+1 = 2006.

Q28. Float : Sink :: Boat : ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Analogies
• Answer: C) Submarine ✅
• Explanation: A boat floats; its counterpart that submerges/sinks is a submarine.

Q29. Distance & direction of E from A

• Tag: Reasoning → Direction Sense
• Answer: D) 12 km East ✅
• Explanation: E/W = 20−8 = 12 E; N/S = 15−15 = 0 → 12 km East.

Q30. Truck's final position

• Tag: Reasoning → Direction Sense
• Answer: A) 14 km South ✅
• Explanation: N/S = 36−50 = −14; E/W = 9−9 = 0 → 14 km South.

Q31. Asthma : Lungs :: Conjunctivitis : ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Analogies
• Answer: C) Eyes ✅
• Explanation: Conjunctivitis is a disease of the eyes.

Q32. Series 28, 32, 41, 57, ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: B) 82 ✅
• Explanation: +2², +3², +4², +5² → 57 + 25 = 82.

Q33. FIRE → DGPC; last letter of SHOT

• Tag: Reasoning → Coding/Decoding
• Answer: B) R ✅
• Explanation: Each letter −2 → T − 2 = R.

Q34. SUMMER → RUNNER; code for WINTER

• Tag: Reasoning → Coding/Decoding
• Answer: B) VIOUER ✅
• Explanation: Positional shifts (−1, 0, +1, +1, 0, 0) → W,I,N,T,E,R → VIOUER.

Q35. PEN → 17717; CAP → ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Coding/Decoding
• Answer: B) 4319 ✅
• Explanation: Letter position + (1, 2, 3 by order): C(3+1)=4, A(1+2)=3, P(16+3)=19 → 4319 (same rule gives PEN = 17,7,17).

Q36. HONEY with A=1, B=3 … (odd numbers)

• Tag: Reasoning → Coding/Decoding
• Answer: C) 152927949 ✅
• Explanation: Value = 2n−1: H=15, O=29, N=27, E=9, Y=49 → 152927949.

Q37. TAPE → SUZBOQDF; MOCK → ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Coding/Decoding
• Answer: D) LNNPBDJL ✅
• Explanation: Each letter → (−1)(+1) pair: M→LN, O→NP, C→BD, K→JL → LNNPBDJL.

Q38. Syllogism (dogs/cats/birds)

• Tag: Reasoning → Statements & Conclusions (Venn)
• Answer: B) Only Conclusion II follows ✅
• Explanation: All dogs ⊆ cats, no cat is a bird → no dog is a bird (II). I is invalid.

Q39. Syllogism (dogs/mammals/reptiles/snakes)

• Tag: Reasoning → Statements & Conclusions (Venn)
• Answer: B) Only I and II follow ✅
• Explanation: No dog is a snake (I ✓); some snakes are not mammals (II ✓); III contradicts I.

Q40. MOHAN = 39-45-24-3-42 → RAGHU

• Tag: Reasoning → Coding/Decoding
• Answer: C) 54-3-21-24-63 ✅
• Explanation: Each = position ×3: R=54, A=3, G=21, H=24, U=63 → 54-3-21-24-63.

Q41. B related to C

• Tag: Reasoning → Relationship (Blood relations)
• Answer: C) Uncle ✅
• Explanation: A's son is D's brother → C, D are A's daughters; B is A's brother → B is uncle of C.

Q42. Man to the lady

• Tag: Reasoning → Relationship (Blood relations)
• Answer: A) Father ✅
• Explanation: "Only daughter of my mother-in-law" = my wife → lady's mother is his wife → she is his daughter → he is her father.

Q43. R related to T

• Tag: Reasoning → Relationship (Blood relations)
• Answer: A) Father ✅
• Explanation: R is grandparent of Q via S; U is T's mother; R and U are T's parents → R is T's father.

Q44. A related to E

• Tag: Reasoning → Relationship (Blood relations)
• Answer: B) Grandmother ✅
• Explanation: A → B, C (siblings); C married D, E is their son → A is E's grandmother.

Q45. Series 1, 9, 25, 49, ?, 121

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: D) 81 ✅
• Explanation: Squares of odd numbers: 1², 3², 5², 7², 9²=81, 11².

Q46. Series 7, 21, 63, ?, 567, 1701

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: A) 189 ✅
• Explanation: ×3 each time → 63×3 = 189.

Q47. Series 2, 9, 28, 65, ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: D) 126 ✅
• Explanation: n³+1 → 5³+1 = 126.

Q48. Series 10, 11, 15, 24, 40, ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: A) 65 ✅
• Explanation: +1, +4, +9, +16, +25 → 40 + 25 = 65.

Q49. Series 4, 7, 12, 19, 28, ?

• Tag: Reasoning → Number Series
• Answer: D) 39 ✅
• Explanation: +3, +5, +7, +9, +11 → 28 + 11 = 39.

Q50. Direction turning back home

• Tag: Reasoning → Direction Sense
• Answer: A) North-East ✅
• Explanation: Net displacement lands SW of home; returning requires travelling North-East.

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SECTION 3 — English (Q51–Q75)

Q51. Main reason for risk to wildlife

• Tag: English → Reading Comprehension
• Answer: B) Human activities and environmental changes ✅
• Explanation: Para 1: risks arise "due to human activities and environmental changes."

Q52. Step NOT mentioned as a measure

• Tag: English → Reading Comprehension
• Answer: D) Relocation of all forest-dwelling communities ✅
• Explanation: The passage never mentions relocation; it stresses community involvement.

Q53. Meaning of "integrated approach"

• Tag: English → Reading Comprehension
• Answer: C) Combining ecological conservation with human development ✅
• Explanation: The passage defines it as balancing ecology with human development.

Q54. Articles: "___ eulogy … ___ humble person"

• Tag: English → Articles
• Answer: A) a, a ✅
• Explanation: "Eulogy" begins with a consonant /j/ sound → a; "humble" has a pronounced h → a.

Q55. Articles: "such ___ heinous crime … ___ victim's house"

• Tag: English → Articles
• Answer: D) a, the ✅
• Explanation: "a heinous crime" (general); "the victim's house" (specific).

Q56. Articles: "___ story … ___ one-eyed man"

• Tag: English → Articles
• Answer: B) The, a ✅
• Explanation: "The story" (specific); "one-eyed" begins with a /w/ sound → a.

Q57. Synonym of FECUND

• Tag: English → Synonyms
• Answer: B) Prolific ✅
• Explanation: Fecund = fertile/productive → prolific.

Q58. Synonym of PRODIGAL

• Tag: English → Synonyms
• Answer: A) Extravagant ✅
• Explanation: Prodigal = wastefully lavish → extravagant.

Q59. Antonym of PRUDENCE

• Tag: English → Antonyms
• Answer: A) Brashness ✅
• Explanation: Prudence = caution; opposite is brashness (recklessness).

Q60. Antonym of BENIGN

• Tag: English → Antonyms
• Answer: C) Pernicious ✅
• Explanation: Benign = harmless/kind; opposite is pernicious (harmful).

Q61. Preposition: "aversion ___ hypocrisy"

• Tag: English → Prepositions
• Answer: C) To ✅
• Explanation: "Aversion to" is the correct collocation.

Q62. Preposition: "adept ___ solving"

• Tag: English → Prepositions
• Answer: B) at ✅
• Explanation: "Adept at" (doing something).

Q63. Preposition: "accused ___ negligence"

• Tag: English → Prepositions
• Answer: C) of ✅
• Explanation: "Accused of" (an offence).

Q64. Inchoative verb

• Tag: English → Verbs
• Answer: B) The sky darkened suddenly ✅
• Explanation: Inchoative verbs express beginning / change of state → "darkened."

Q65. "As the night advanced, the air ___ cooler"

• Tag: English → Verbs
• Answer: B) grew ✅
• Explanation: Past narrative → grew (past of grow).

Q66. Verb form in "The apparatus functioned…"

• Tag: English → Verbs
• Answer: B) Intransitive Verb ✅
• Explanation: "Functioned" takes no object → intransitive.

Q67. Determiners correctly matched with type

• Tag: English → Determiners
• Answer: A) I and III only ✅
• Explanation: These = demonstrative (I ✓); My = possessive (III ✓). "some" is quantitative (not distributive) and "each" is distributive (not quantitative), so II & IV are mismatched.

Q68. Determiner wrongly used

• Tag: English → Determiners
• Answer: C) Not much students… ✅
• Explanation: "Students" is countable → should be "many", not "much".

Q69. Sentence with a Possessive Determiner

• Tag: English → Determiners
• Answer: D) …proud of their achievements ✅
• Explanation: "Their" is a possessive determiner.

Q70. Spelling — "talks through his/her hat"

• Tag: English → Spellings
• Answer: A) Perpilocutionist ✅
• Explanation: Per the key, the correctly spelt term is Perpilocutionist.

Q71. Correctly spelt word

• Tag: English → Spellings
• Answer: A) Sacrilegious ✅
• Explanation: Sacrilegious is the correct spelling (note: -leg-, not -lig-).

Q72. Match word with synonym

• Tag: English → Synonyms
• Answer: D) i-a, ii-c, iii-b, iv-d ✅
• Explanation: Ricochet=Carom, Melancholy=Dejected, Poignant=Heart-rending, Subterfuge=Ploy.

Q73. Rearrange segments

• Tag: English → Sentences
• Answer: A) P-R-Q-S ✅
• Explanation: "Sustainable economic growth (P) can only be achieved through (R) collaborative efforts among (Q) government agencies and private enterprises (S)."

Q74. Grammatically correct sentence

• Tag: English → Sentences
• Answer: B) Hardly had the meeting begun when the power cut disrupted… ✅
• Explanation: Correct "Hardly … when" inversion. A ("were"), C ("have"), D ("are") have subject-verb/tense errors.

Q75. Idiom substitution — "add fuel in the fire"

• Tag: English → Sentences
• Answer: B) added fuel to the fire ✅
• Explanation: Correct idiom is "add fuel to the fire"; past tense "added" matches "was divided."

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SECTION 4 — General Awareness & Science/Geography (Q76–Q100)

Q76. Gold in Men's Heptathlon, Asian Indoor Athletics 2026 (national record)

• Tag: GA → Sports / Current events
• Answer: C) Tejaswin Shankar ✅
• Explanation: Tejaswin Shankar won gold with a national record 5993 pts at Tianjin, China. (Verified online.)

Q77. Santosh Trophy 2025-26 — Services beat which state in final

• Tag: GA → Sports / Current events
• Answer: A) Kerala ✅
• Explanation: Services beat Kerala 1-0 in the 79th Santosh Trophy final (Assam, Feb 2026) for their 8th title. (Verified online.)

Q78. Buddhist Councils — venues

• Tag: GA → Indian History / Culture
• Answer: B) i-b, ii-a, iii-c, iv-d ✅
• Explanation: 1st–Rajgriha, 2nd–Vaishali, 3rd–Patliputra, 4th–Kashmir.

Q79. Literary works & authors

• Tag: GA → Indian History / Culture
• Answer: C) II and III only ✅
• Explanation: Mrichchhakatika–Shudraka ✓, Milind Panho–Nagasena ✓; Brihat Samhita is by Varahamihira (not Aryabhatta), so I is wrong.

Q80. Permanent Settlement (1793)

• Tag: GA → Indian History
• Answer: A) II only ✅
• Explanation: It was by Lord Cornwallis (not Hastings), so I wrong; govt share was not 1/6, so III wrong; only the Zamindar/"Sunset Law" statement (II) is correct.

Q81. Reform organizations & founders

• Tag: GA → Indian History
• Answer: C) i-b, ii-d, iii-c, iv-a ✅
• Explanation: Tattvabodhini–Debendranath Tagore, Prarthana–Atmaram Pandurang, Satyashodhak–Jyotiba Phule, Atmiya Sabha–Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Q82. Freedom-struggle proposals

• Tag: GA → Indian History
• Answer: C) I, II and IV only ✅
• Explanation: The "Three-Tier / Sections A-B-C" grouping was the Cabinet Mission Plan (1946), not the Wavell Plan, so III is wrong.

Q83. Tributaries of the river Krishna ⚠️

• Tag: GA → Indian Geography
• Answer: DISCARDED (originally C) ⚠️
• Explanation: Officially discarded in the final key; no answer counted.

Q84. Western vs Eastern Ghats

• Tag: GA → Indian Geography
• Answer: C) I and III only ✅
• Explanation: Statement II is reversed (evergreen forests dominate the Western Ghats), so it is wrong.

Q85. States & their legislative capitals

• Tag: GA → Capital/State
• Answer: C) II and III only ✅
• Explanation: For Maharashtra, Nagpur hosts the winter session (not summer), so I is wrong.

Q86. Convex mirror as rear-view mirror

• Tag: GA → General Science (Physics)
• Answer: B) I and II only ✅
• Explanation: It gives an erect, diminished image (I) and a wider field of view (II); it forms a virtual, not real, image, so III is wrong.

Q87. Glands & functions

• Tag: GA → General Science (Biology)
• Answer: C) i-d, ii-c, iii-a, iv-b ✅
• Explanation: Hypothalamus–controls pituitary, Thymus–trains T-cells, Thyroid–metabolism, Pineal–sleep.

Q88. Acids & Bases — INCORRECT statements

• Tag: GA → General Science (Chemistry)
• Answer: B) III and V only ✅
• Explanation: Acids turn blue litmus red (III wrong); tooth decay starts below pH 5.5, not above 8.5 (V wrong).

Q89. "Greywater" refers to

• Tag: GA → Health, Hygiene & Sanitation
• Answer: C) Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry, excluding toilets ✅
• Explanation: Greywater = household wastewater minus toilet (black) water.

Q90. Vaccine given at birth for TB (UIP)

• Tag: GA → Health, Hygiene & Sanitation
• Answer: D) BCG ✅
• Explanation: BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) is given at birth against tuberculosis.

Q91. Chenab is a tributary of which system

• Tag: GA → Indian Geography
• Answer: D) Indus ✅
• Explanation: The Chenab is a major tributary of the Indus system.

Q92. Glaciers of J&K

• Tag: GA → Geography of J&K
• Answer: D) I, II and III ✅
• Explanation: Kolahoi ("Goddess of Light", feeds Lidder), Thajwas (hanging glacier), and Machoi (feeds Sind & Dras) statements are all correct.

Q93. Manasbal Lake — INCORRECT statements

• Tag: GA → Geography of J&K
• Answer: A) I only ✅
• Explanation: Manasbal (deepest lake) is in Ganderbal, not Poonch → I is incorrect; II and III are correct.

Q94. 'Dumhal' dance

• Tag: GA → Culture of J&K
• Answer: D) All of the above ✅
• Explanation: All four statements about the Wattal-tribe Dumhal dance are correct.

Q95. Persian chronicle of medieval Kashmir

• Tag: GA → History of J&K
• Answer: C) Baharistan-i-Shahi ✅
• Explanation: Rajatarangini and Nilmat Purana are Sanskrit; Baharistan-i-Shahi is the Persian chronicle.

Q96. Peer Kho Cave Temple

• Tag: GA → History/Culture of J&K
• Answer: C) II and III only ✅
• Explanation: The temple predates/differs from the "built by Gulab Singh" claim (I wrong); the lingam-cave (II) and Jamavant Guffa legend (III) are correct.

Q97. Chronology of J&K events

• Tag: GA → History of J&K
• Answer: C) IV-I-II-III ✅
• Explanation: Coronation of Gulab Singh (1822) → Treaty of Lahore (9 Mar 1846) → Treaty of Amritsar (16 Mar 1846) → Accession of Pratap Singh (1885).

Q98. Authors & books

• Tag: GA → Culture of J&K
• Answer: C) i-b, ii-d, iii-c, iv-a ✅
• Explanation: Kirpa Ram–Gulabnama, Abhinavgupta–Tantraloka, Jonaraja–Dvitiya Rajatarangini, Kalhana–Rajatarangini.

Q99. Foreign travellers to Kashmir — order

• Tag: GA → History of J&K
• Answer: C) I-II-III-IV ✅
• Explanation: Ou-Kong (8th c.) → Marco Polo (13th c.) → Bernier (17th c.) → Vigne (19th c.).

Q100. Capital of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

• Tag: GA → Capital/State
• Answer: B) Daman ✅
• Explanation: The merged UT's capital is Daman.

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SECTION 5 — Forest & Wildlife (Q101–Q120)

Q101. Sacred Groves & states

• Tag: F&W → Types/distribution of forests
• Answer: D) i-a, ii-b, iii-c, iv-d ✅
• Explanation: Law Lyngdoh–Meghalaya, Sarpa Kavu–Kerala, Devban–Himachal, Gumpa Forest–Arunachal.

Q102. Forest type (70–100 cm rain, sheds leaves, grassland-like)

• Tag: F&W → Types/distribution of forests
• Answer: C) Dry deciduous forests ✅
• Explanation: These forests shed leaves in the dry season, appearing grassland-like.

Q103. ISFR 2023 — highest forest cover as % of area

• Tag: F&W → Types/distribution of forests
• Answer: A) Lakshadweep ✅
• Explanation: Lakshadweep has the highest proportion of forest cover (~90%) to geographical area.

Q104. Tropical Evergreen / Semi-Evergreen trees ⚠️

• Tag: F&W → Types/distribution of forests
• Answer: DISCARDED (originally A) ⚠️
• Explanation: Officially discarded in the final key; no answer counted.

Q105. Biodiversity Hotspot criteria (Conservation International)

• Tag: F&W → Biodiversity
• Answer: C) I and II only ✅
• Explanation: ≤30% original vegetation left (I) and ≥1,500 endemic vascular plants (II); it need not be tropical, so III is wrong.

Q106. Biodiversity Heritage Sites & states

• Tag: F&W → Biodiversity
• Answer: A) Unakoti-Tripura ✅
• Explanation: Only Unakoti-Tripura is correctly paired (Ambaragudda-Karnataka, Asramam-Kerala, Ameenpur-Telangana).

Q107. Curcumin varying by altitude within turmeric

• Tag: F&W → Biodiversity
• Answer: B) Genetic Diversity ✅
• Explanation: Variation within the same species is genetic diversity.

Q108. Species with disproportionate community impact

• Tag: F&W → Biodiversity
• Answer: C) Keystone Species ✅
• Explanation: A keystone species disproportionately shapes its ecosystem.

Q109. Meaning of IUCN Green Status

• Tag: F&W → Endangered species / Conservation
• Answer: A) Complements the Red List by assessing species recovery ✅
• Explanation: The Green Status measures recovery/conservation success, complementing the Red List.

Q110. Critically Endangered species in J&K (IUCN)

• Tag: F&W → Endangered species
• Answer: C) Hangul ✅
• Explanation: The Hangul (Kashmir stag) is Critically Endangered.

Q111. CITES Appendix I meaning

• Tag: F&W → Conservation
• Answer: D) Trade generally prohibited except for non-commercial purposes ✅
• Explanation: Appendix I bans commercial international trade; only exceptional non-commercial trade is allowed.

Q112. Biosphere Reserve NOT recognised by UNESCO (MAB) ⚠️

• Tag: F&W → Conservation of forests & wildlife
• Answer: D) Manas Biosphere Reserve ✅ ⚠️
• Explanation: Nokrek & Panchmarhi are UNESCO-MAB listed; per the key the answer is Manas. (Note: the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is also not on the UNESCO-MAB list, so this item is arguably debatable.)

Q113. Legal framework — WPA & Hangul

• Tag: F&W → Conservation
• Answer: A) I only ✅
• Explanation: The Chief Wildlife Warden is the statutory PA authority (I ✓); state duty flows from Article 48A, not the citizens' duty 51A(g), so II is wrong.

Q114. Acts framing "Critical Wildlife Habitats"

• Tag: F&W → Conservation
• Answer: B) Only III ✅
• Explanation: "Critical Wildlife Habitats" are defined under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Q115. Tiger conservation (2025-26)

• Tag: F&W → Project Tiger
• Answer: A) I, II and III only ✅
• Explanation: NTCA is chaired by the Union Environment Minister, not the PM, so IV is wrong.

Q116. Species NOT in the International Big Cats Alliance (2023)

• Tag: F&W → Conservation
• Answer: D) Himalayan Wolf ✅
• Explanation: IBCA covers 7 big cats (tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, puma); the Himalayan wolf is not a big cat.

Q117. Tiger reserves — INCORRECT statements

• Tag: F&W → Project Tiger
• Answer: C) I and III only ✅
• Explanation: Madhya Pradesh (not Karnataka) has the most tigers (I wrong); Guru-Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla is in Chhattisgarh (not Telangana) (III wrong).

Q118. Soil erosion after deforestation — mechanisms

• Tag: F&W → Impact of deforestation
• Answer: C) I, II and IV only ✅
• Explanation: Deforestation decreases evapotranspiration, so III is wrong; reduced interception, lower infiltration and loss of roots all raise erosion.

Q119. Deforestation's effect on the water cycle

• Tag: F&W → Impact of deforestation
• Answer: B) Decreases evapotranspiration ✅
• Explanation: Fewer trees → less transpiration → decreased evapotranspiration.

Q120. National Action Plan to Combat Desertification

• Tag: F&W → Conservation / Community
• Answer: D) I and III only ✅
• Explanation: It is under the UNCCD (not UNCBD), so II is wrong; the 26-million-ha restoration (I) and 2.5–3 bn t CO₂ sink (III) targets are correct.

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Answer Key at a Glance (Series A)

* Q83 & Q104 — officially discarded. Q112 — key = D (Manas), but debatable (Cold Desert also not UNESCO-MAB listed).

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Sources (verified current-affairs items)

• Asian Indoor Athletics 2026 — Tejaswin Shankar heptathlon gold & national record (Olympics.com)
• World Athletics report — Tejaswin Shankar 5993 pts, Tianjin
• Santosh Trophy 2025-26 final — Services beat Kerala 1-0 (AIFF)
• 2025–26 Santosh Trophy (Wikipedia)