ENVIRONMENT Previous Year Questions www.laex.in Page No. 1 https://elearn.laex.in www.laex.in ENVIRONMENT Previous Year Questions www.laex.in Page No. 1 https://elearn.laex.in www.laex.in Environment UPSC Previous Year Questions ENVIRONMENT UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS INDEX No. of Page No. S.No. Topic Qns From To 01. Act and Policies 13 1 12 02. Organization /Bodies/ NGOs 7 12 16 03. Bio-Diversity 50 17 37 04. Animal Bio-Diversity 48 37 53 05. Ecology and Environment 21 55 64 06. Global Environmental Issues 9 64 68 07. Global Level Efforts to Fight Climate Change 20 69 79 08. Pollution 14 79 85 www.laex.in https://elearn.laex.in n www.laex.in Environment UPSC Previous Year Questions I Act and Policies (b) The Rules are applicable to notified urban 1. Pollution Related local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only. 1.1 Environment Protection Act 1986 (c) The rules provides for exact and elaborate 1. Consider the following statements: criteria for the identification of sites for The Environment Protection Act, 1986 landfills and waste processing facilities empowers the Government of India to (d) It is mandatory on the part of waste 1) State the requirement of public generator that the waste generated in one participation in the process of district cannot be moved to another environmental protection, and the district. procedure and manner in which it is 1.3 E-Waste sought. (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 2) Lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from 4. In India, 'extended producer various sources. responsibility' was introduced as an Which of the statements given above is/are important feature in which of the correct? following? (a) 1 only a. The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling)Rules,1998 (b) 2 only b. The Recycled Plastic (Manufacturing and (c) Both 1 and 2 Usage)Rules,1999 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 c. The e-Waste (Management and Handling) 2. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Rules, 2011 Committee is constituted under the d. The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, (a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 2011 (b) Geographical Indications of Goods 1.4 National Green Tribunal Act (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 2010 (c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 5. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 was enacted in consonance with which 1.2 Solid Waste Management of the following provisions of the Rules, 2016 Constitution of India? 3. As per the Solid Waste Management 1) Right to healthy environment, construed as Rules, 2016in India, which one of the a part of Right to life under Article 21. following statements is correct? 2) Provision of grants for raising the level of (a) Waste generator has to segregate waste administration in the Scheduled Areas for into five categories. www.laex.in Page No. 1 https://elearn.laex.in n www.laex.in Environment UPSC Previous Year Questions the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under d. Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in Article 275(1). this context. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 2.2 The Scheduled Tribes and other a. 1 only Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition b. 2 only of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 c. Both 1 and 2 8. Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other d. Neither 1 nor 2 Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition 2. Conservation Related of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be 2.1 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of 6. According to the Wildlife (Protection) individual or community forest rights or Act, 1972, which of the following both? animals cannot be hunted by any person a. State Forest Department except under some provisions provided b. District Collector/Deputy Commissioner by law? c. Tahsildar/Block Development Officer 1) Gharial /Mandal Revenue Officer 2) Indian wild ass d. Gram Sabha 3) Wild buffalo Select the correct answer using the code 9. Consider the following statements: given below 1) The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" a. 1 only is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, b. 2 and 3 only 2006. c. 1 and 3 only 2) For the first time in India, Biogas has been d. 1,2 and 3 given Habitat Rights. 3) Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and 7. In India, if a species of tortoise is Climate Change officially decides and declared protected under Schedule I of declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of does it imply? India. a. It enjoys the same level of protection as the Which of the statements given above is/are tiger. correct? b. It no longer exists in the wild, a few a. 1 and 2 only individuals are under captive protection; b. 2 and 3 only and now it is impossible to prevent its c. 3 only extinction. d. 1, 2 and 3 c. It is endemic to a particular region of India. www.laex.in Page No. 2 https://elearn.laex.in n www.laex.in Environment UPSC Previous Year Questions 10. Consider the following statements: a. 1 and 2 only 1) As per recent amendment to the Indian b. 2 and 3 only Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the c. 3 only right to fell the bamboos grown on the d. 1,2 and 3 forest areas. 3. Water 2) As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other 12. If National Water Mission is properly Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of and completely implemented, howwill it Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a impact the country? minor forest produce. 1. Part of the water needs of urban areas will 3) The Scheduled Tribes and Other be met through recycling of waste-water. Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of 2. The water requirements of coastal cities Forest Rights) Act, 2003 allows ownership with inadequate alternative sources of of minor forest produce to forest dwellers. water will be met by adopting appropriate Which of the statements given above is/are technologies that allow for the use of ocean correct? water a. 1 and 2 only 3. All the rivers of Himalayan origin will be b. 2 and 3 only linked to the rivers of peninsular India c. 3 only 4. The expenses incurred by farmers for d. 1, 2 and 3 digging bore- wells and for installing 2.3 Wetlands motors and pump-sets to draw ground- (Conservation and Management) Rules, water will be completely reimbursed by the 2010 Government 11. Consider the following statements: Select the correct answer using the codes 1) Under Ramsar convention, it is mandatory a. 1 only on the part of the government of India to b. 1 and 2 only protect and conserve all the wetlands in c. 3 and 4 only the territory of India. d. 1, 2, 3 and 4 2) The wetlands (conservation and 4. Miscellaneous management) rules, 2010 were framed by 13. With reference to India, consider the Government of India based on the following Central Acts: recommendations of Ramsar convention. 1) Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947 3) The wetlands (Conservation and 2) Mining and Mineral Development (Regulation) Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass Act, 1957 the drainage area or catchment regions of 3) Customs Act, 1962 the wetlands as determined by the 4) Indian Forest Act, 1927 authority Which of the above Acts have relevance Which of the statements given above is/are to/bearing on the biodiversity conservation in correct? the country? www.laex.in Page No. 3 https://elearn.laex.in n www.laex.in Environment UPSC Previous Year Questions a. 1 and 3 only environment. Hence, all the Environmental b. 2, 3 and 4 only legislations of Indian parliament becomes c. 1, 2, 3 and 4 important. One such act is Environmental d. None of the above Acts Protection Act of 1986. Key and Explanations 2. Key: C Explanation: Genetic Engineering Appraisal 1. Pollution Related Committee 1.1 Environment Protection Act 1986 The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee 1. Key: B (GEAC) was constituted under the Ministry of Explanation: Environment Protection Act Environment, Forest and Climate Change 1986 (MoEFCC) as the apex body under the ‘Rules for In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of government of India enacted the Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989’ in To protect and improve environmental accordance with the Environment Protection qualities. Act, 1986. To establish an authority to study, plan Hence answer is option C and implement long term requirements of About GEAC environmental safety. The ministry’s Special Secretary/Additional Section 3: Central Government shall have the Secretary is the Chairman of the GEAC. power to take all such measures as it deems Currently, the GEAC has twenty-four necessary or expedient for the purpose of members and meets once every month to protecting and improving the quality of the carry out its prescribed activities. environment and preventing, controlling and Functions abating environmental pollution. To appraise activities involving the large-scale The act does not mention about requirement use of hazardous microorganisms and of public participation. Hence option 1 is recombinants in research and industrial wrong. (however, sec 3 can be close to option production from the environmental angle. 1 as it empowers central government to do To appraise proposals relating to release of so. Hence need to wait for the official key) genetically engineered organisms and Section 3-2 (iv) Central Government may lay products into the environment including down standards for emission or discharge of experimental field trials.