Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct?
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The Desert National Park is one of India’s largest national parks and is located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan.
It covers approximately 3,162 square kilometres and was established in 1980.
Statement 1 is correct: The Desert National Park extends across two districts of Rajasthan—Jaisalmer and Barmer.
Most of the park is situated in Jaisalmer district, while a comparatively smaller portion lies in Barmer district.
Its landscape includes sand dunes, rocky surfaces, gravel plains, saline lake beds and sparse desert grasslands.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Human settlements and villages are present inside the Desert National Park and its wider landscape.
Local communities depend on this desert landscape for livestock rearing and other traditional livelihood activities.
Therefore, it is incorrect to state that there is no human habitation inside the national park.
Statement 3 is correct: The Desert National Park is one of the most important natural habitats and last major strongholds of the Great Indian Bustard.
The scientific name of the Great Indian Bustard is Ardeotis nigriceps, and it inhabits open grasslands, scrublands and semi-arid landscapes.
It is a heavy-bodied flying bird and the State bird of Rajasthan.
Its population has declined drastically due to habitat loss, conversion of grasslands, historical hunting pressure and collisions with overhead power-transmission lines.
The Desert National Park also provides habitat to chinkara, desert fox, desert cat, Indian fox, wolf and several resident and migratory birds.
Despite low rainfall, the desert ecosystem supports specialised plants and animals adapted to extreme temperatures and water scarcity.