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Environment & Ecology

385 questions asked in UPSC Prelims.

2019 · Q58Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationeasy

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought 2. lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(b) 2 only

2019 · Q59Environment & EcologyPollution & Waste Managementmoderate

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. (a)Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.
  2. (b)The Rules are applicable to notified urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only.
  3. (c)The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.
  4. (d)It is mandatory on the part of waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.
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Official answer(c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.

2019 · Q68Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationmoderate

Consider the following statements : 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State levels. 2. People’s participation is mandatory in the compensatory afforestation programmes carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(a) 1 only

2018 · Q4Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationmoderate

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government. 2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(b) 2 only

2018 · Q35Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015. 2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations. 3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1 and 3 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)2 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 2 only

2018 · Q59Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture ? 1. Avoiding the monoculture practices 2. Adopting minimum tillage 3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops 4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface 5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1, 3 and 4
  2. (b)2, 3, 4 and 5
  3. (c)2, 4 and 5
  4. (d)1, 2, 3 and 5
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Official answer(c) 2, 4 and 5

2018 · Q60Environment & EcologyBiodiversity & Conservationmoderate

The term "sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction" is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of

  1. (a)Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.
  2. (b)Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs.
  3. (c)Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.
  4. (d)Mankind's over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.
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Official answer(d) Mankind's over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.

2018 · Q65Environment & EcologyClimate Change & Greenhouse Gaseseasy

Which of the following statements best describes "carbon fertilization" ?

  1. (a)Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
  2. (b)Increased temperature of Earth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
  3. (c)Increased acidity of oceans as a result of increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
  4. (d)Adaptation of all living beings on Earth to the climate change brought about by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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Official answer(a) Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

2018 · Q83Environment & EcologyInternational Environmental Treaties & Summitseasy

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at

  1. (a)The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg
  2. (b)The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro
  3. (c)The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris
  4. (d)The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi
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Official answer(b) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro

2018 · Q87Environment & EcologyEcosystems & Ecology Conceptsmoderate

Consider the following statements : 1. Most of the world's coral reefs are in tropical waters. 2. More than one-third of the world's coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines. 3. Coral reefs host far more number of animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3

2018 · Q98Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Governance & Legislationmoderate

Consider the following statements : 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(a) 1 and 2 only

2018 · Q100Environment & EcologySustainable Agriculture & Forestrymoderate

With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements : 1. ‘The National Programme for Organic Production’ (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development. 2. ‘The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’ (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP. 3. Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 2 and 3 only

2017 · Q6Environment & EcologyBiodiversity & Conservationmoderate

Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC) : 1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(b) 2 only

2017 · Q10Environment & EcologyProtected Areas & Wildlifemoderate

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017 ? 1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme for developing every city of our country into Smart Cities in a decade. 2. It is an initiative to identify new digital technology innovations for solving the many problems faced by our country. 3. It is a programme aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1 and 3 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)3 only
  4. (d)2 and 3 only
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Official answer(b) 2 only

2017 · Q21Environment & EcologyEcosystems & Ecology Conceptsmoderate

Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences ? 1. Pollination of some plants could be adversely affected. 2. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal infections of some cultivated plants. 3. It could lead to a fall in the population of some species of wasps, spiders and birds. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(c) 1 and 3 only

2017 · Q25Environment & EcologyClimate Change & Greenhouse Gasesmoderate

In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, which of the following can be the potential sites for carbon sequestration ? 1. Abandoned and uneconomic coal seams 2. Depleted oil and gas reservoirs 3. Subterranean deep saline formations Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(d) 1, 2 and 3