Biodiversity — Study Resources & PYQs
Biodiversity hotspots in India, threats to biodiversity and in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
- Estimated study time: 90 minutes
Study resources
- UNIT 4: Biodiversity - UGC official textbook (Erach Bharucha) (PDF) — The single best source for this entire topic: hotspots, threats (habitat loss, poaching, man-wildlife conflict), and in-situ and ex-situ conservation in separate sections. Read this first.
- India as a Megadiversity Nation (SlideShare) (Article) — Covers India's four hotspots - Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats and Sundaland - plus Norman Myers' two qualifying criteria. Exactly what gets asked.
- India's 4 Biodiversity Hotspots Explained - NEXT IAS (short) (Video) — One-minute short naming all four Indian hotspots with the key statistic (India holds about 8% of recorded species on 2.4% of land area). Fast memory aid.
- Four Biodiversity Hotspots of India - Roundglass Sustain (short) (Video) — Second short on the same four hotspots with good visuals of each region. Useful as a quick recap the day before the exam.
- Biodiversity conservation: in-situ and ex-situ (Video) — Explains both methods side by side with Indian examples - biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries vs zoos, botanical gardens, seed banks.
- Ex-situ conservation: strategies and success (Video) — Dedicated lecture on ex-situ methods including cryopreservation and gene banks. Watch if you need more than the one-line definition.
- Biodiversity and Conservation - NCERT-based guide (Anantam IAS) (Article) — Adds the Indian legal and institutional context: IUCN Red List categories, 18 biosphere reserves, Project Tiger. Gives your answers extra specifics.
- ClarityUPSC - Biodiversity Hotspots India: Western Ghats, Himalayas (UPSC Notes) (Article) — Covers India's 4 biodiversity hotspots (Himalayas, Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, Sundaland) with criteria and threats - a good overview of biodiversity generally.
- LegacyIAS - Biodiversity Conservation: In-situ & Ex-situ, Protected Areas (UPSC Notes) (Article) — Detailed notes covering biodiversity, its threats and both in-situ and ex-situ conservation in India.
Taught in these subjects
- ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT — BCET11 · Government College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu
- ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES — BCET21 · Government College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu