UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and D are correct because they reflect the role of communities and ecological functions of forests. A captures the participatory nature of JFM, B points to the multiple ecological and livelihood services provided by forests and D notes how community management can help conserve biodiversity. Statement C is incorrect since deforestation does affect the hydrological cycle, influencing rainfall, runoff and water availability. Therefore, the correct answer is the combination that includes A, B and D only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only A and B and leaves out D. While A and B are true, D is also correct in recognising that community-based management supports biodiversity conservation. Omitting a correct statement makes this combination incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it joins A and D but excludes B. Statement B is a core idea about ecosystem services of forests, so leaving it out fails to represent the full set of correct statements about forest resources. As a result, this option is not satisfactory.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it identifies that A, B and D are all valid statements while C is false. It maintains the link between forests, ecological services and community-based conservation approaches. By excluding C, it preserves internal consistency with ecological science.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes B, C and D and thus accepts C as correct. Since C wrongly minimises the impact of deforestation on water cycles, the combination cannot be chosen despite including B and D.

Large-scale deforestation reduces canopy interception and evapotranspiration, so more rainfall becomes quick surface runoff, increasing erosion and altering streamflow patterns.

Option A:
Incorrect; removal of forests typically decreases infiltration because soils become compacted and less protected by roots and litter.

Option B:
Incorrect; deforestation generally increases, rather than eliminates, the risk of floods by speeding runoff.

Option C:
Correct; it summarises the common pattern of higher surface runoff, reduced evapotranspiration and greater soil erosion after deforestation.

Option D:
Incorrect; significant forest loss almost always changes the hydrological balance, so claiming no change is unrealistic.