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Topic Bioaccumulation
Asked 6 times across 3 UPSC exams over 37 years (1987–2024), peaking in 2017.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 3 of 6 PYQs
- Most asked in 2017
- Recurs across 5 years (1987–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1987 → CDS 2017 → CAPF 2017
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (4 of 6) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CSE2024
With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements
- PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials
- PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment
- Persistent exposure to PFAS can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A 1 and 2 only
- B 2 and 3 only
- C 1 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3 ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Waste
CDS2018
Statement IBioaccumulation is a process of progressive accumulation of heavy metals and pesticides in an organism
Statement IILarge fishes of the pond are found to have higher concentration of pesticides than planktons of the same pond
- A Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I ✓
- B Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
- C Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- D Statement I is false but Statement II is true
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Waste
CAPF2017
The term Biomagnification is referred to as
- A increase in the body weight
- B uncontrolled growth of harmful organisms
- C accumulation of increasing amount of non-degradable pollutant through food chain ✓
- D increase in the number of bacteria in a culture medium
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Waste
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