UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, D and E are correct because agrobiodiversity covers crops, livestock and associated species, genetic diversity improves resilience, on-farm conservation preserves varieties and dietary diversity relies on a range of species and products. Statement C is wrong since monocultures often reduce resilience by narrowing genetic bases, and F is wrong because seed and gene banks are central ex situ tools for conserving agricultural biodiversity. Thus, the correct combination must include A, B, D and E while excluding C and F.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it lists only A, B and D and omits E, thereby ignoring the important link between diversity on farms and diversity on plates. Since dietary diversity is a widely recognised outcome of agrobiodiversity, leaving out E makes the answer incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes C, which wrongly asserts that monocultures always enhance resilience, and omits E. Accepting C contradicts evidence that genetically uniform systems can be highly vulnerable to shocks, so this combination mixes valid and invalid statements.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it gathers all four true statements about the roles and implications of agrobiodiversity and excludes the two that misrepresent monoculture effects and the role of gene banks. It provides a balanced view encompassing production, resilience, conservation and nutrition.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes F, which treats gene banks as irrelevant, even though they are key institutions for conserving genetic resources, and omits A, which defines agricultural biodiversity itself. As a result, this option fails both on definition and on conservation mechanisms.

Statements A, B and D are correct and together emphasise the importance of diversity in agricultural systems. Agro-biodiversity spans genes, species and ecosystems related to agriculture, conserving traditional varieties can improve resilience and farmers’ on-farm practices help maintain this diversity. Statement C is incorrect because long-term sustainability often suffers under extensive monoculture, which can increase vulnerability and degrade ecosystems. Therefore, the combination A, B and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D, which rightly highlights the role of farmers in maintaining agro-biodiversity through their management and selection practices. Excluding this statement gives an incomplete view of conservation strategies.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes only B and D and leaves out A, which defines agro-biodiversity and is essential for understanding the concept. Without A, the answer loses clarity about the scope of agro-biodiversity.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it gathers all the true statements A, B and D and excludes the misleading assertion in C about monoculture always aiding sustainability. It aligns with agro-ecological thinking that values diversity for long-term resilience and productivity.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it treats all four statements as correct, thereby endorsing C. This would imply that monoculture invariably improves sustainability, which contradicts evidence from many farming systems.