Previous Year Questions (PYQs) from UPSC CSE Prelims (2013–2025) on Environment

Previous Year Questions (PYQs) from UPSC CSE Prelims (2013–2025) on Environment Law, Environmental Governance, Climate Treaties, Biodiversity Acts, Pollution Control, and Environmental Principles such as Precautionary Principle, Polluter Pays Principle, and Sustainable Development. 

Answers are provided in bracket form at the end of each question.

1. Which of the following principles forms the basis of environmental jurisprudence in India — Precautionary Principle, Polluter Pays Principle, and Sustainable Development? (Answer: All of the above)

2. The ‘Polluter Pays Principle’ was recognised by the Supreme Court of India primarily in which case? (Answer: Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India)

3. Which Act empowers the Central Government to lay down standards for the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants? (Answer: Environment Protection Act, 1986)

4. Which of the following global conventions is related to biodiversity conservation? (Answer: Convention on Biological Diversity)

5. Public Trust Doctrine in India is related to which Article of the Constitution? (Answer: Article 21 – Right to Life)

6. The National Green Tribunal was established under which Act? (Answer: National Green Tribunal Act, 2010)

7. Which of the following pollutants is most closely associated with photochemical smog? (Answer: Nitrogen Oxides and Ozone)

8. Basel Convention deals with which of the following? (Answer: Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes)

9. Stockholm Declaration (1972) is often regarded as the Magna Carta of Environmental Law. (Answer: Correct)

10. Montreal Protocol is related to the protection of which layer? (Answer: Ozone Layer)

11. Which Indian Act regulates wildlife protection, including endangered species? (Answer: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972)

12. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, provides for the creation of which authority? (Answer: National Biodiversity Authority)

13. Forest Rights Act, 2006 primarily recognises the rights of which communities? (Answer: Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers)

14. The Kyoto Protocol is associated with which issue? (Answer: Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions)

15. The Climate Change Performance Index is released by which organisation grouping? (Answer: Germanwatch and partners)

16. Which pollutant is a major cause of acid rain? (Answer: Sulphur dioxide)

17. Ramsar Convention deals with the conservation of which ecological feature? (Answer: Wetlands)

18. Carbon Sequestration refers to which process? (Answer: Capture and storage of atmospheric CO2)

19. Compensatory Afforestation Fund was created under which legislation? (Answer: CAMPA Act)

20. Bio-magnification is associated with increasing concentration of toxins where? (Answer: Along the food chain)

21. Which species protection treaty regulates international trade of wildlife products? (Answer: CITES)

22. Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules are notified under which Act? (Answer: Environment Protection Act, 1986)

23. The term ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities’ is associated with which agreement? (Answer: UNFCCC)

24. India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) consists of how many missions? (Answer: Eight)

25. Which of the following gases is not a greenhouse gas? (Answer: Nitrogen)

26. Chipko Movement was primarily associated with the protection of which resource? (Answer: Forests)

27. Fly ash produced in thermal power plants is classified under which category? (Answer: Hazardous industrial waste – regulated)

28. Carbon Credit trading is associated with which climate agreement mechanism? (Answer: Kyoto Protocol – CDM)

29. EIA Notification in India is issued under which Act? (Answer: Environment Protection Act, 1986)

30. Article 48A of the Constitution deals with which subject? (Answer: Protection and improvement of environment – Directive Principles)

31. Article 51A(g) imposes a duty on citizens to do what? (Answer: Protect and improve the natural environment)

32. Persistent Organic Pollutants are regulated globally under which treaty? (Answer: Stockholm Convention)

33. Which of the following pollutants is most harmful to human lungs due to small particle size? (Answer: PM2.5)

34. Which mission under NAPCC focuses on the promotion of solar energy? (Answer: National Solar Mission)

35. The National Air Quality Index (AQI) in India is monitored by which body? (Answer: Central Pollution Control Board)

36. Great Indian Bustard is listed under which conservation status? (Answer: Critically Endangered – IUCN)

37. Joint Forest Management primarily promotes which approach? (Answer: Community participation in forest conservation)

38. Which among the following acts regulates coastal aquaculture in India? (Answer: Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act)

39. Eco-Sensitive Zones are declared around which areas? (Answer: Protected Areas)

40. Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme relates to which sector? (Answer: Marine and coastal ecosystem management)

41. Green Tax or Environmental Cess is associated with which principle? (Answer: Polluter Pays Principle)

42. Which court case in India strengthened the concept of Absolute Liability for hazardous industries? (Answer: M.C. Mehta v. Union of India – Oleum Gas Leak case)

43. Which organisation publishes the ‘Living Planet Report’? (Answer: WWF)

44. Convention on Migratory Species is also known as which convention? (Answer: Bonn Convention)

45. Which ecological concept explains multiple species sharing a common habitat by niche differentiation? (Answer: Resource Partitioning)

46. Environmental Impact Assessment primarily falls under which governance function? (Answer: Preventive Environmental Governance)

47. National Mission for Green India focuses on which objective? (Answer: Afforestation and increasing forest cover)

48. Which international agreement recognises transboundary air pollution cooperation? (Answer: CLRTAP – Europe)

49. India’s National Clean Air Programme primarily aims to reduce which pollutant? (Answer: PM10 and PM2.5)

50. Bio-remediation refers to which process? (Answer: Using microorganisms to remove pollutants)

51. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is mostly applied in the management of which waste? (Answer: Plastic and e-waste)