What is RhoDIS India?
RhoDIS stands for Rhino DNA Index System.
It is a wildlife forensic tool designed to use DNA profiling for the identification of individual rhinoceroses.
🧪 Objective:
- To create a DNA database of Indian rhinos.
- To aid in wildlife crime investigations, especially poaching and illegal trade of rhino horns.
- To support the scientific management of rhino populations.
🛠️ Launched by (2016):
- Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- In collaboration with:
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
- WWF India
- Forest Departments of Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh
🔍 How it works:
- DNA is extracted from rhino horn or tissue.
- A unique genetic profile is generated.
- This profile is stored in a central RhoDIS DNA library.
- Profiles can link seized horns to specific rhinos or poaching events.
🔬 Latest Update (2025):
- Genetic analysis of 2,573 rhino horns has been initiated.
- These will be added to the RhoDIS India database.
- The MoEFCC-approved protocol will be followed for standardised DNA profiling.
🧬 Composition of Rhino Horn:
- Made of keratin, not bone.
- Contains sulphur-rich amino acids like cysteine.
Structurally similar to:
- Horse hooves
- Turtle beaks
- Cockatoo bills
🌿 Significance:
- Strengthens legal evidence in poaching cases.
- Helps track illegal wildlife trade routes.
- Maintains genetic records for population health.
- Supports compliance with CITES and other international agreements.
📚 Prelims Pointers:
- RhoDIS = Wildlife forensic tool
- Focus species = Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
- Managed by MoEFCC + WII
- First launched in 2016
- Based on DNA indexing of rhinos
📝 Mains Relevance (GS3):
- Wildlife conservation and forensic science
- Use of biotechnology in environmental governance
- Role of institutions like WII
- Issues related to poaching and biodiversity loss
✅ UPSC-Level MCQs on RhoDIS India Programme
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the RhoDIS India Programme:
- It is a database system used for the genetic indexing of Indian rhinos.
- It was jointly initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
- It is used primarily for ecological restoration in rhino habitats.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: ✅ A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: RhoDIS is a DNA indexing system used to uniquely identify rhinos and help in crime investigation. While it is launched by MoEFCC in collaboration with WII, its main focus is not ecological restoration, but forensic analysis for conservation and legal action.
Q2. The RhoDIS India Programme employs DNA profiling in wildlife conservation. Which of the following are potential benefits of such an approach?
- Identification of individual rhinos in poaching cases
- Monitoring genetic diversity within the population
- Tracing illegal international trade routes
- Mapping ecological corridors using AI-generated landscape data
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1, 2 and 3 only
B) 1, 3 and 4 only
C) 2 and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: ✅ A) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation: RhoDIS helps in identifying individual rhinos (wildlife forensics), maintaining population genetics data, and supporting legal cases involving illegal trade. AI-based landscape mapping is not a direct part of RhoDIS.
Q3. With reference to the chemical composition of rhino horns, consider the following statements:
- Rhino horns are composed primarily of collagen, similar to bone.
- They contain sulphur-rich amino acids like cysteine.
- Their structural composition is similar to that of horse hooves and turtle beaks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: ✅ B) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Rhino horns are made of keratin, not collagen. They contain amino acids like cysteine and structurally resemble keratinous parts like hooves and beaks.
Q4. In the context of wildlife conservation in India, which of the following statements about RhoDIS India is/are correct?
- It enhances the evidentiary value of seizures related to rhino poaching.
- It replaces the need for direct field tracking of rhinos by forest officials.
- It is aligned with international conventions on wildlife trade like CITES.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: ✅ B) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: RhoDIS improves forensic investigation and helps India comply with international norms like CITES. However, it does not replace the need for field patrolling or tracking by forest officials.
Q5. Which of the following best describes the role of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in the RhoDIS India Programme?
A) Regulatory authority overseeing all wildlife crime in India
B) Database custodian for DNA of endangered plant species
C) Scientific partner providing technical and forensic expertise
D) Field-level enforcement agency for anti-poaching operations
Answer: ✅ C) Scientific partner providing technical and forensic expertise
Explanation: WII acts as the technical agency supporting MoEFCC in DNA analysis, genetic profiling, and research under RhoDIS.
Q6. Why is the inclusion of 2,573 rhino horn samples into the RhoDIS India database significant from a policy perspective?
A) It meets India’s target under the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD).
B) It provides a comprehensive database for identifying all living rhinos in India.
C) It enhances the legal credibility of DNA-based wildlife forensics in Indian courts.
D) It allows the export of rhino horns for medicinal use under government supervision.
Answer: ✅ C) It enhances the legal credibility of DNA-based wildlife forensics in Indian courts.
Explanation: The DNA profiling of rhino horns provides admissible and scientifically validated evidence in courts, aiding prosecution in wildlife crime cases.
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