SSC Selection Post 2023 PYQ — Question 34

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Input of solar energy 

The input of solar energy is fundamentally the basic requirement for an ecosystem to function and sustain. It's the ultimate source of energy for almost all life on Earth. Photosynthetic organisms (producers like plants and algae) capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy, forming the base of the food web. This stored energy is then transferred through various trophic levels, supporting all other life forms (consumers and decomposers). Without solar energy, the continuous flow of energy that drives ecosystem processes would cease.