✅ Answer: A) Jim Corbett National Park (1936)Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand was the first national park in India, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park (renamed after Jim Corbett in 1957). It was also the first tiger reserve under Project Tiger (1973). It is located in the Himalayan foothills along the Ramganga river. It is famous for Bengal tigers, elephants, and leopards. India now has 106 national parks covering about 1.23% of India’s geographical area.

✅ Answer: C) 1973Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973 by PM Indira Gandhi. The first tiger reserve was Jim Corbett National Park. India now has 54 tiger reserves. India has ~3,167 tigers (2022 census) — about 75% of the world’s wild tiger population. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) manages tiger reserves. India’s tiger population has increased from ~1,800 (1973) to ~3,167 (2022) — a conservation success story.

✅ Answer: B) Gir Forest National Park, GujaratGir Forest National Park in Gujarat is the only habitat of the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) in the world. The lion population has grown from ~177 (1968) to ~674 (2020). The Asiatic Lion is classified as Endangered by IUCN. India is planning to establish a second population at Kuno National Park (MP) to reduce extinction risk. Gir is also home to leopards, hyenas, and various bird species.

✅ Answer: B) WetlandsThe Ramsar Convention (1971) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It was signed in Ramsar, Iran. India has 75 Ramsar sites (2023) — the largest number in Asia. The first two Ramsar sites in India (1981) were Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan). Wetlands provide ecosystem services: water purification, flood control, carbon storage, biodiversity habitat.

✅ Answer: A) Schedule ISchedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 provides the highest level of protection. Species in Schedule I cannot be hunted, poached, or traded. Violations attract the highest penalties. Examples: Tiger, lion, elephant, one-horned rhino, snow leopard, gharial, great Indian bustard. Schedule V lists vermin (can be hunted). Schedule VI lists protected plants. The Act was amended in 2022 to align with CITES obligations.

✅ Answer: A) One-horned RhinocerosKaziranga National Park in Assam is famous for the Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). It has the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinos (~2,613 as of 2018). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kaziranga also has the highest density of tigers in the world. It is located on the banks of the Brahmaputra river. The park is flooded annually during monsoon, which is important for its ecology.

✅ Answer: A) Keibul Lamjao National Park, ManipurKeibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur is the world’s only floating national park. It is located on floating islands (phumdis) in Loktak Lake. It is the last natural habitat of the Sangai deer (Cervus eldi eldi) — the state animal of Manipur. The park is part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India and a Ramsar site.

✅ Answer: A) Kuno National Park, Madhya PradeshCheetahs were reintroduced in India at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh in September 2022. Cheetahs had become extinct in India in 1952. The first batch of 8 cheetahs came from Namibia; a second batch came from South Africa. This is the world’s first intercontinental cheetah translocation project. PM Modi released the first cheetahs. The project aims to establish a viable cheetah population in India.

✅ Answer: A) Hemis National Park, LadakhHemis National Park in Ladakh is the largest national park in India by area (~4,400 sq km). It is famous for the snow leopard. It is also the highest altitude national park in India. The smallest national park in India is South Button Island National Park in Andaman & Nicobar Islands (~0.03 sq km). Desert National Park in Rajasthan is the largest national park in terms of area in mainland India and is famous for the Great Indian Bustard.

✅ Answer: B) Three (Core, Buffer, and Transition)A Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s MAB (Man and Biosphere) Programme has three zones: Core Zone (strictly protected, no human activity), Buffer Zone (limited research and education activities), and Transition Zone (human settlements allowed, sustainable development). India has 18 biosphere reserves; 12 are UNESCO-recognised. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986) was India’s first; it was UNESCO-recognised in 2000. Khangchendzonga (2018) is the latest UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserve.