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Topic Biomagnification
Asked 4 times across 3 UPSC exams over 21 years (1997–2018), peaking in 1997.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 2 of 4 PYQs
- Most asked in 1997
- Recurs across 4 years (1997–2018)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1997 → CAPF 2017 → CDS 2018
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (2 of 4) predate 2016, and it still returns.
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.
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
CSE2010
A pesticide which is a chlorinated hydrocarbon is sprayed on a food crop. The food chain is: Food crop - Rat- Snake - Hawk. In this food chain, the highest concentration of the pesticide would accumulate in which one of the following? (2010)
- A Food crop
- B Rat
- C Snake
- D Hawk ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystems
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