Basic Questions
1. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and other as the Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : Sustainable development is important
for well being of human society.
Reason (R) : Sustainable development is a kind of
development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.
Codes :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)
- Sustainable development is necessary for human society to thrive.
- Different definitions of sustainable development exist, but the most common one is from the Brundtland Report which states that it is development that meets the current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
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2. Arrange the following events in chronological order and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
I. Rio Earth Summit
II. Publication of Brundtland Commission Report
III. Enforcement of Montreal Protocol
IV. Publication of ‘The Limit to Growth’ Report
Codes:
(a) I, IV, III, II
(b) IV, II, III, I
(c) IV, III, II,I
(d) IV, I, III, II
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) IV, II, III, I
- In 1972, the report called ‘The Limit to Growth’ was released.
- In August 1987, the Brundtland Commission Report was published.
- The Montreal Protocol started being enforced in January 1989, and the Rio Earth
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3. The discussion on ‘Sustainable Development’ was started after submitting a report on environment to the United Nations in 1987. That report was:
(a) First Report on Climate Change
(b) Our Common Future
(c) Second Report on Climate Change
(d) Fifth Assessment Report
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) Our Common Future
- In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) published a report called “Our Common Future” or the “Brundtland Report,” which began the conversation about “Sustainable Development.”
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4. Environment refers to:
(a) The natural world of land, water, air, plants and animals that exist around it.
(b) The sum total of conditions which surround human beings at a given point of time.
(c) The interacting system of physical, biological and cultural elements which are interlinked.
(d) All the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (d) All the above
- The word ‘environment’ comes from the French word ‘Environ’, which means to surround or encircle.
- It includes everything that affects a living organism over its lifetime, like social, biological, physical, and chemical elements that make up nature and man-made places.
- It’s a combination of conditions that exist around someone at a certain place and time.
- The environment is defined as the social, cultural and physical factors that influence the survival, growth and development of people, animals and plants.
- The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 states that the environment includes water, air and land, and the connections between them, humans, other living beings, plants, microorganisms and property.
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5. Which of the following is not related to environmental protection?
(a) Sustainable Development
(b) Poverty Alleviation
(c) Air Conditioning
(d) Use of Paper Bags
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) Poverty Alleviatio
- Using paper bags and sustainable development are good for the environment, while air conditioning harms the environment by damaging the ozone layer.
- Poverty can have either a positive or negative effect on the environment.
- Poverty is indirectly linked to the environment, while the other things directly affect it.
- Therefore, if we consider the positive effects of poverty alleviation, option (c) might be the correct answer.
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6. The Environment (Protection) Act of India was enacted in–
(a) 1981
(b) 1986
(c) 1995
(d) 2000
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) 1986
- The Indian Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986 and applies to the whole country.
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7. Environment is a composite state of –
(a) Biotic factors
(b) Physiographic factors
(c) Abiotic factors
(d) All of the above.
[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) All of the above.
- The environment can be divided into two parts: living things and physical things.
- The living things, also known as biotic factors, are all the living organisms in the environment.
- The physical things, or abiotic factors, are things like temperature, light, and water that affect living organisms.
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8. Generally, environment can be classifi ed as following categories. Which among the following is NOT a part of such category?
(a) Operational Environment
(b) Physical Environment
(c) Cultural Environment
(d) Biological Environment
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (a) Operational Environment
- Environment can be divided into three categories – physical, cultural, and biological.
- Physical environment is made up of things like landforms, water, climate, soil, rocks, etc.
- Biological environment includes plants, animals, and microorganisms.
- Cultural environment is created by humans and includes economic, social, and political elements.
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9. Sustainable development is a matter of intergenerational sensibility in respect of the use of?
(a) Natural resources
(b) Material resources
(c) Industrial resources
(d) Social resources
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2012]
Ans. (a) Natural resources
- The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) stressed the importance of sustainable development, which is making sure the needs of the current generation are met without affecting the future generations’ ability to do the same.
- The main goal of sustainable development is to make sure natural resources are used in a fair and wise way.
- This idea was discussed in the World Commission on Environment and Development report of 1987 titled “Our Common Future,” and was supported in the Agenda-21 (Rio Declaration) of the Earth Summit in 1992.
- The United Nations identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that need to be achieved by 2030.
- A Sustainable Development Index has also been established to measure progress towards these goals.
- India was ranked 120 out of 165 countries in the 2021 Sustainable Development Index.
- Finland was ranked first, Sweden was second, Denmark third, Germany fourth, and Belgium fifth.
- Pakistan was ranked 129th.
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10. What is blue carbon?
(a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
(b) Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils
(c) Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas
(d) Carbon present in atmosphere
[I.A.S (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
- Coastal ecosystems such as sea grasses, mangroves and salt marshes capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it for a long time, which is known as blue carbon.
- Even though these ecosystems are much smaller than forests, they are able to capture carbon more quickly and lock it away for millions of years.
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11. ‘Saving energy and other resources for the future without sacrificing people’s comfort in the present’ is the definition of which of the following concepts?
(a) Economic growth
(b) Economic development
(c) Sustainable development
(d) Human development
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) Sustainable development
- Coastal habitats like sea grasses, mangroves and salt marshes trap carbon from the air and keep it for a long time, which is called blue carbon.
- Even though these areas are much smaller than forests, they can grab carbon faster and hold it away for millions of years.
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12. Which of the following Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) will target the water availability for all and its permanent management upto 2030 in India?
(a) SDG – 6
(b) SDG – 7
(c) SDG – 8
(d) SDG – 9
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) SDG – 6
- The United Nations has set 17 goals to be achieved by 2030.
- One of these goals, SDG-6, is to make sure everyone has access to clean water and proper sanitation.
- Unfortunately, today, over 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and more than 4.2 billion people don’t have enough sanitation.
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13. The Decade of Sustainable Energy for all is the initiative of:
(a) United Nations
(b) India
(c) Germany
(d) World Bank
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (a) United Nations
- Renewable energy is a type of energy that doesn’t damage the environment or use up natural resources.
- The UN has set a goal to make sure everyone has access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy by 2030.
- To help reach this goal, the UN has started a campaign called Sustainable Energy for All.
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14. Which of the following is a Nodal Institution for implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in India?
(a) Planning Commission
(b) Disinvestment Commission
(c) NITI Aayog
(d) Finance Commission
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (c) NITI Aayog
- NITI Aayog is the main organization in India responsible for making sure that the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved.
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15. World Environment Day is celebrated on:
(a) 21 March
(b) 23 September
(c) 5 June
(d) 25 May
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013, Uttarakhand Lower (Sub.) (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (c) 5 June
- Every year on June 5th, people around the world celebrate World Environment Day.
- In 2019, China was the host of the event and the theme was “Air Pollution”.
- The theme of World Environment Day 2021 was ‘Ecosystem Restoration’.
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16. The book ‘Silent Spring’ published in 1962 which set the tone for an environmental movement in the world, was written by:
(a) Carolyn Merchant
(b) Karl Marx
(c) Rachel Carson
(d) Rajgopalan
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) Rachel Carson
- In 1962, an American biologist and ecologist named Rachel Carson published an environmental science book called ‘Silent Spring’.
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17. A country’s natural capital included all of the following except:
(a) Forest
(b) Water
(c) Roads
(d) Minerals
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) Roads
- Natural capital includes all the things that nature gives us, like air, water, land, minerals, and forests.
- These things come from nature, not people, so things like roads don’t count as part of the natural capital.
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18. What is the theme for ‘World Environment Day 2018’?
(a) Connecting People to Nature
(b) One World, Our Environment
(c) Beat Plastic Pollution
(d) Save Water for Future
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (c) Beat Plastic Pollution
- In 2018, India held the World Environment Day, with the theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
- The following year, China hosted it, and the theme was “Air Pollution”.
- 2020’s theme was “Biodiversity”, and in 2021, Pakistan was the global host, with the theme of “Ecosystem Restoration”.
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19. The main role of solar radiation is in –
(a) Carbon cycle
(b) Hydrogen cycle
(c) Water cycle
(d) Nitrogen cycle
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl.) (Pre) 2004, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
Ans. (c) Water cycle
- The sun’s energy powers the water cycle.
- This energy causes water from the oceans, lakes, rivers, and soil to evaporate and turn into water vapor and clouds.
- The water droplets in the clouds get bigger and eventually fall back to earth.
- The water cycle is a system that always has the same amount of water.
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20. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute is situated at:
(a) Bangaluru
(b) Hyderabad
(c) Nagpur
(d) New Delhi
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012, U.P.P.C.S (Mains) 2011, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010,U.P.P.C.S (Mains) 2005, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (c) Nagpur
- NEERI is a research institute funded by the Indian government.
- It was created in Nagpur in 1958 to research water supply, sewage disposal, and diseases caused by them, as well as industrial pollution.
- It is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and has 5 satellite labs in Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
- It is part of the Ministry of Science and Technology of India.
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21. When and where the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) was established?
(a) 1970, Dhanbad
(b) 1958, Nagpur
(c) 1956 ,New Delhi
(d) 1960, Chennai
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (b) 1958, Nagpur
- The sun’s energy makes the water cycle work.
- It heats up water from the ocean, lakes, rivers, and soil and turns it into vapor and clouds.
- The clouds get full of water droplets which fall back to the earth.
- The water cycle is a process that always has the same amount of water.
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22. What is important for Sustainable Development?
(a) Conservation of biological diversity
(b) Prevention and Control of Pollution
(c) Decreasing poverty
(d) All of these.
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (d) All of these.
- It is important to protect nature, stop pollution, and reduce poverty if we want to have Sustainable Development. To reach our goal, we need to have knowledge about the environment and ecology. Sustainable Development is now an alternative to traditional development theories. Information is necessary for creating policies to promote Sustainable Development.
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23. The ‘Common Carbon Metric’ supported by UNEP, has been developed for
(a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world
(b) enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading
(c) enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries
(d) assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time
[I.A.S (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world
- Experts from all over the world have developed a way to measure the amount of greenhouse gases coming from buildings in different climates.
- This measurement is called the Common Carbon Metric and it is used to calculate, report, and verify the amount of emissions from building operations.
- Although it is not a rating system, it is similar to other methods used to evaluate a building’s environmental performance, like the WBCSD and WRI GHG Protocol.
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24. Which one of the following is not the objective of smart city development?
(a) Good governance
(b) Clean green city
(c) Stabilizing quality of life
(d) Smart mobility
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (c) Stabilizing quality of life
- The Government of India has come up with a fresh and modern idea called the Smart City Mission.
- This plan is meant to help people by increasing economic growth and making life better.
- To do this, the government will use technology to create benefits for citizens.
- The mission includes providing access to water, electricity, sanitation, transportation, housing, internet, e-governance, environment safety, health, and education.
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25. ‘Earth Summit’ was held at:
(a) Cairo
(b) Rio-de-Janeiro
(c) Durban
(d) Kyoto
[Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (b) Rio-de-Janeiro
- In 2012, the United Nations held another Earth Summit in Rio-de-Janeiro, also known as “Rio+20” or the “Rio Earth Summit 2012”.
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26. What was the title of the Rio -20 declaration?
(a) The future we want
(b) The future we seek
(c) The future we have
(d) The future we seek
(e) None of these
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) The future we want
- The UNCSD, which is also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20, or the Earth Summit 2012, was a meeting held in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil.
- The main outcome was a plan called “The Future We Want”, a 49-page document that has no binding agreement.
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27. The first ‘Earth Summit’ was held at-
(a) Washington
(b) Geneva
(c) Rio-de-Janeiro
(d) Buenos Aires
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre), 1998]
Ans. (c) Rio-de-Janeiro
- The UNCSD, also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20, or the Earth Summit 2012, was a meeting held in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil.
- The main result of the meeting was a 49-page plan called “The Future We Want”, but it did not include any legally binding commitments
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28. International Conference held in Rio-de-Janeiro was:
(a) United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
(b) Environment and Pollution Summit
(c) International new Economics
(d) None of these
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]
Ans. (a) United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
- In 1992, the United Nations held a conference in Rio-de-Janeiro about sustainability.
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29. What is the thin layer of gases around the earth called?
(a) Biosphere
(b) Water particle
(c) Atmosphere
(d) Hydrosphere
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
Ans. (c) Atmosphere
- The air that is around the Earth is called the atmosphere.
- Most of the air is made up of Nitrogen, with a bit of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide.
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30. Air is a/an:
(a) Compound
(b) Element
(c) Mixture
(d) Electrolyte
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (c) Mixture
- Air is made up of different gases.
- Most of the air is nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with other gases like carbon dioxide, argon, methane, ozone, and water vapour present in small amounts.
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31. Percentage of Nitrogen in dry air –
(a) 21%
(b) 27%
(c) 50%
(d) 78%
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
Ans. (d) 78%
- The air around us is made up mostly of Nitrogen and Oxygen, with smaller amounts of water vapor, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and very tiny amounts of other gases.
- The percentages of the different gases in the air are Nitrogen (78.08%), Oxygen (20.95%), Argon (0.93%), Carbon Dioxide (0.036%), Neon (0.
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32. Which of the following is considered to be the optimum concentration of Carbon-Dioxide for natural balance in atmosphere?
(a) 0.02 percent
(b) 0.03 percent
(c) 0.04 percent
(d) 0.05 percent
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (b) 0.03 percent
- The air we breathe is mostly composed of Nitrogen and Oxygen, with small amounts of water vapor, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases.
- Nitrogen makes up 78.08%, Oxygen is 20.95%, Argon is 0.93%, Carbon Dioxide is 0.036%, and Neon is 0.
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33. Which one of the following Noble Gases is not present in the air?
(a) Helium
(b) Argon
(c) Radon
(d) Neon
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (c) Radon
- The air we breathe is mostly made up of Nitrogen (78.08%) and Oxygen (20.95%), and there are tiny amounts of water vapor, Argon (0.93%), Carbon Dioxide (0.036%), and trace amounts of other gases such as Neon.
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34. In the atmosphere, the highest percentage is of:
(a) Oxygen
(b) Carbon dioxide
(c) Nitrogen
(d) Hydrogen
Uttrakhand U.D.A./LDA (Mains) 2007
Ans. (c) Nitrogen
- The air we breathe is mostly Nitrogen (78.08%) and Oxygen (20.95%).
- There is also small amounts of water vapor, Argon (0.93%), Carbon Dioxide (0.036%), and some other gases like Neon in very small amounts
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35. If all the plants and trees vanish from the earth, the gas which will decrease is –
(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Nitrogen
(c) Water vapour
(d) Oxygen
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2012]
Ans. (d) Oxygen
- We need oxygen to live and trees give us this oxygen.
- Trees make food using photosynthesis, which is a process of taking in carbon dioxide from the air and letting out oxygen.
- Therefore, option (d) is correct.
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36. Which of the following is not a function of the tree?
(a) Absorption of carbon dioxide
(b) Absorption of noise
(c) Air pollution
(d) Releasing oxygen
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (c) Air pollution
- Trees help the environment in many ways, like giving us oxygen, making the air better, making the climate better, saving water, keeping the soil healthy, and giving animals a place to live.
- They don’t cause air pollution – they help clean it. They also reduce sound pollution around roads by 10 to 15 decibels.
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37. Consider the following :
1. Photosynthesis 2. Respiration
3. Decay of organic matter 4. Volcanic action
Which of the above add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on Earth?
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
[I.A.S (Pre) 2014, I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (c) 2, 3 and 4
- Organic matter breaking down, volcanoes erupting, breathing, and burning fossil fuels all add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle.
- Plants don’t add carbon dioxide, but they do use it in photosynthesis.
- They also release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide.
- Carbon also comes in three forms: fullerene, graphite, and diamond.
- As a compound, it exists as carbon dioxide, carbonate, and hydrogen carbonate.
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38. The concept of weathering relates to –
(a) Deposition of decomposed material
(b) Change in weather conditions day to day
(c) Natural process leading to the decomposition of rocks
(d) None of the above
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (c) Natural process leading to the decomposition of rocks
- Weathering is when rocks break down due to different parts of the weather like climate and elements.
- This process is affected by different types of things such as geology, climate, land, and plants.
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39. The Headquarter of World Meteorological Organization is located at –
(a) Geneva
(b) Rome
(c) Sidney
(d) Tokyo
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (a) Geneva
- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was created to help different countries work together to improve meteorology and hydrology.
- It started in 1873 as the International Meteorological Organization (IMO).
- In 1951, it officially became a part of the United Nations.
- The World Meteorological Convention was implemented on 23 March, and the WMO has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
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40. The headquarter of U.N.E.P. is located at –
(a) Geneva
(b) Kathmandu
(c) Nairobi
(d) New Delhi
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010, U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
Ans. (c) Nairobi
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was created in 1972 and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Inger Andersen from Denmark is the current Executive Director of UNEP.
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41. Where was the 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) held recently?
(a) Paris-France
(b) Ulaanbaatar-Mongolia
(c) Beijing – China
(d) Nairobi-Kenya
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) Nairobi-Kenya
- The UNEA-4 happened in Nairobi, Kenya from 11-15 March 2019 and focused on finding creative solutions to environmental issues and sustainable consumption/production.
- The UNEA-5 took place online in February 2021 with the theme of strengthening actions for nature to achieve the SDGs.
- The UNEA-5 will be held in person from 28 February-2 March 2022.
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42. What does EPA stand for –
(a) Environment Pollution Agency
(b) Environmental Prohibition Agency
(c) Environment Protection Agency
(d) None of these
[Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (c) Environment Protection Agency
- The EPA is a part of the US Federal Government created to keep people and the environment safe.
- It was created on December 2nd, 1970 and makes sure laws passed by Congress are followed.
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43. In which of the following institutes, the Environmental Information System (ENVIS)’s ‘Centre on Population and Environment’ is located?
(a) I.I.T. Kharagpur
(b) I.I.T. New Delhi
(c) I.I.P.S. Mumbai
(d) N.I.R.S. Dehradun
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (c) I.I.P.S. Mumbai
- The Centre on Population and Environment, part of the Environmental Information System (ENVIS), is based at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai.
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44. N.E.A. Stands for:
(a) National Enquiry Act
(b) National Environment Authority
(c) National Examination Agency
(d) National Event Association
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
Ans. (b) National Environment Authority
- The National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA), also known as NEA, was created by the Ministry of Environment and Forest to deal with cases where environmental permission was needed in certain restricted areas.
- It was started by the National Environment Appellate Authority Act 1997 to look at appeals about areas where industries, operations and processes can or cannot be done, with certain protections from the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
- The NEAA was dissolved when the National Green Tribunal was set up on 18th October 2010, under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
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45. The headquarters of the Green Peace International is located at –
(a) Amsterdam
(b) Canberra
(c) Ottawa
(d) Nagasaki
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (a) Amsterdam
- Greenpeace is an international organization that works to protect the environment.
- It has offices in more than 55 countries and is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- The mission of Greenpeace is to make sure the planet is able to sustain life in all its forms.
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46. Eco-Mark is given to an Indian product which is –
(a) Pure and unadulterated
(b) Rich in protein
(c) Environment-friendly
(d) Economically viable
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) Environment-friendly
- Eco-mark is a special sign given by the National Standards Organization of India to products that meet certain standards to help protect the environment.
- This marking system began in 1991.
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47. To label environment-friendly consumer products, the Government has introduced:
(a) Agmark
(b) Eco mark
(c) ISI Mark
(d) Watermark
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (b) Eco mark
- The Government of India created the Eco Mark scheme to label products that are friendly to the environment.
- The Bureau of Indian Standards is responsible for managing the scheme.
- It covers products like food, oil, packaging materials, paints, batteries, electronics, food additives, wood alternatives, cosmetics, aerosols, plastics, textiles, fire extinguishers, leather, and coir products.
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48. According to ‘Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) India Index, 2019’ recently released by NITI Aayog, which State holds the first position?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Bihar
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Kerala
[U.P.B.E.O. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) Kerala
SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) India Index 2019-20,
released by NITI Aayog, was launched on December 30th,
2019. Kerala achieved the fi rst rank in the Index with a score
of 70 followed by Himachal Pradesh (69). Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana and Tamil Nadu were ranked at the third position
with the score of 67. In July 2021, the third edition of SDG
India Index 2020-21 was released, with a composite score
of 75, Kerala topped the NITI Aayog’s Index. Second and
third position was obtained by Tamil Nadu and Himachal
Pradesh respectively.
49. Which of the following states is NOT in the list of top five states on the Sustainable Development Goals Index, 2019-20 India?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Tamil Nadu
[U.P.B.E.O. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Gujarat
- NITI Aayog’s Index-2019 showed that the top five states, ranked in order from highest to lowest score, were Kerala (70), Himachal Pradesh (69), Andhra Pradesh
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50. Sustainable agriculture means:
(a) Self-sufficiency
(b) To be able to export and import under WTO norms
(c) To utilize land so that its quality remains intact
(d) To utilize Wasteland for agricultural purposes
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2001]
Ans. (c) To utilize land so that its quality remains intact
- Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming that works to protect the environment, people’s health, communities, and animal welfare.
- It means using land in a way that doesn’t damage the environment and keeps it healthy.
- Too much use of chemicals has hurt the soil, so the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was created to help increase farming productivity, use water more efficiently, manage nutrients, and help people create new sources of income by following sustainable development paths.
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51. Which one of the following States in India has recently introduced the ‘Greenhouse Farming’:
(a) Haryana
(b) Punjab
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Uttar Pradesh
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2003, U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2001]
Ans. (b) Punjab
- Markfed of Punjab and Sayag Group of Israel signed a deal on April 21, 2001 to grow crops inside covered structures made of transparent or semi-transparent material.
- This method is called Greenhouse Farming.
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52. Given below are two statements –
Assertion (A) : Natural vegetation is the true index of climate.
Reason (R) : Water-loving plants are found in a moist climate.
In the context of the above, which one of the following is correct?
Codes :
(a) Both statements are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both statements are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (a) Both statements are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
- The amount of carbon dioxide in the air has an impact on the kind of plants that grow in a certain climate.
- Plants that prefer lots of water, like those found near ponds, grow best in moist climates.
- When the air moisture decreases, these plants don’t survive.
- So, both the statement (A) and the explanation (R) are correct.
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53. Urbanization and industrialization are harmful-
(a) For balanced development
(b) Environment and ecology
(c) For biodiversity conservation
(d) For all the above.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
Ans. (d) For all the above.
- Urbanization and industrialization that is too intense can be bad for growth, the environment, and preserving nature.
- Therefore, option (d) is correct.
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High-Level
1. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India?
1. Right to a healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to Life under Article 21.
2. Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1).
3. Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243
(A). Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (a) Only 1
- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was started on 18th October 2010.
- It was created to quickly solve cases related to the protection of the environment and forests.
- This was done to make sure everyone has the right to a healthy environment, which is part of the Right to Life in the Indian Constitution. Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta was the first chairperson, and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel is the current one.
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2. The author of ‘Green Development’ is –
(a) M.J. Bradshaw
(b) M. Nicolson
(c) R.H. Whittaker
(d) W.M. Adams
[U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) W.M. Adams
- William M. Adams wrote the book Green Development: Environment and Sustainability in a Developing World.
- It was first printed in 1990.
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3. What is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
(a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
(b) It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization.
(c) It is a Conference of the Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change.
(d) It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
- Rio+20 was the name for a United Nations meeting about making sure the environment is taken care of.
- It took place in Brazil in June 2012 which was 20 years after the 1992 UN conference in Rio-de-Janeiro and 10 years after the 2002 WSSD summit in Johannesburg.
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4. In the year 1997, the World Environment Conference was organised in?
(a) Reo-de-Janeiro
(b) Nairobi
(c) Kyoto
(d) New York
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (c) Kyoto
- In 1997, a conference about the environment was held in Kyoto, Japan.
- The Kyoto Protocol, part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was made at this conference and it started in 2005 on February 16th.
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5. The Earth Summit + 5 was held in?
(a) 2005
(b) 2000
(c) 1999
(d) 1997
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (d) 1997
- In 1992, more than 100 world leaders gathered in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil for the first International Earth Summit.
- This meeting was to discuss ways to protect the environment and improve society.
- They signed agreements, made promises, and created the Commission on Sustainable Development to keep track of what was happening.
- In 1997, the United Nations held a meeting to see how well the leaders had done on their promises from the Earth Summit.
- This was called the Earth Summit +5. Two other summits happened in 2002 and 2012 to review progress.
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6. Consider the following statements:
1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (b) 2 only
- In 2012, the Sustainable Development Goals were proposed at Rio+20.
- This set of seventeen goals, also known as the “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” includes 169 targets. Statement 2 is correct.
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7. Who has propounded the concept of ‘Limits to Growth’?
(a) Club of Rome
(b) UNESCO
(c) Brundtland Commission
(d) Agenda 21
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Club of Rome
- In April 1968, a group of 30 people made up of scientists, teachers, economists, humanists, businesspeople, and government officials gathered at the Academia dei Lincei in Rome.
- This meeting resulted in the formation of a group called the ‘Club of Rome’.
- The Club of Rome suggested the idea of ‘Limits to Growth’.
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8. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and other as the Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : There is a positive relation between Human Development Index (HDI) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ranking of Indian State.
Reason (R) : The underlying dimension of SDG targets are closely related to education and health aspect.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is correct explanation of (A)
- It is clear that education and health are important parts of the SDG goals.
- This is supported by the fact that states with higher Human Development Index (HDI) rankings usually also rank higher for SDG goals.
- Both statements (A) and (R) are true and (R) explains (A).
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9. With reference to the ‘Global Alliance for ClimateSmart Agriculture (GACSA)’, which of the following statement 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:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (b) 2 only
- Statement (1) is wrong because the idea of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) was created by FAO in 2010 in the document “Climate Smart Agriculture: Policies, Practices and Financing for food security, Adaptation and Mitigation”.
- In 2014, the GASCA (Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture) was created to focus on this topic.
- Statement (2) is right because joining the Alliance doesn’t make anyone obligated to do anything.
- Statement (3) is wrong because India is only a signatory.
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10. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards a greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at?
(a) The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg.
(b) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro.
(c) The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris.
(d) The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi.
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (b) The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro.
- In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development happened in Brazil and the result was a document called “The Future We Want,” which asked governments, businesses, and the UN to help countries start using a “green economy.
- ” The UN’s direct answer to this was to create an organization called PAGE (Partnership for Action on Green Economy).
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11. With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.
Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) 1 only
- Agenda 21 is a plan from the United Nations for Sustainable Development that people can choose to follow.
- It was created at a UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.
- Only the first statement is true.
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12. Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because:
(a) The new soil does not contain favourable minerals
(b) Most of the root hairs grip the new soil too hard
(c) Most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation
(d) Leaves get damaged during transplantation
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (c) Most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation
- When seedlings are transplanted, they often fail to grow because most of their root hairs have been lost.
- Root hairs absorb water and nutrients from the soil, and transport them to the other parts of the plant.
- They are made of cellulose and pectin, which helps them stick to the soil.
- Fertilizers can also raise the concentration of the soil, making it difficult for plants to absorb water, which can lead to the leaves turning brown.
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13. Environmental degradation means –
(a) Overall degradation of environmental attributes.
(b) Adverse changes brought in by human activities.
(c) Ecological imbalance because of ecological diversity.
(d) All the above.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (d) All the above.
- Environmental degradation is when the environment gets worse due to a lack of resources like air, water, and soil.
- This can be caused by natural causes or by humans.
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14. Which of the following is related to Protection of Ecological Balance?
1. Forest Policy
2. Environment (Protection) Act
3. Industrial Policy
4. Educational Policy
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 & 2
(b) 2 & 3
(c) 1,2 & 3
(d) All the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
Ans. (d) All the above
- The Forest Policy, Environmental Protection Act, Industrial Policy, and Education Policy are all connected to maintaining the ecological balance.
- These four policies help to protect the environment.
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15. Concerning ‘Global Environment Facility’, which ofthe following statement/s is/are correct?
(a) It serves as the fi nancial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’
(b) It undertakes scientifi c research on environmental issues at the global level
(c) It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with a specific aim to protect their environment
(d) Both (a) and (b)
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]
Ans. (a) It serves as the fi nancial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’
- The Global Environment Facility was started before the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 in order to help with environmental problems.
- It is an international group of 184 countries and 18 agencies who focus on global environmental issues.
- It provides money to support five international agreements related to the environment, such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the UN Convention on Climate Change.
- It helps to protect nature and build green cities, and also to make sure everyone has enough food.
- Carlos Manuel Rodriguez is the leader of the Global Environment Facility.
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16. Plachimada which has been in the news for immense damage to its environment lies in –
(a) Karnataka
(b) Konkan
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl.) (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (c) Kerala
- Plachimada is a village located in Palakkad district of Kerala.
- In 2000, the Perumatty Panchayat in the Chittur block allowed Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL) to produce Coke and other drinks like Fanta, Limca, Thums Up, Sprite, and Kinley.
- Unfortunately, the chemical waste dumped by the company polluted the area’s groundwater, causing local people to launch a protest against the company.
- This protest was later supported by the Panchayat authorities and gained national and international recognition, becoming an example of other similar protests around the world.
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17. Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) is also known as:
(a) Umbrella Legislation
(b) Chhadi Mubarak
(c) Environment Legislation
(d) Eco Safety Law
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) Umbrella Legislation
- The Environment (Protection) Act 1986 is known as the Umbrella Legislation.
- This law was created by the Government of India after the Bhopal disaster using Article 253 of the Constitution.
- The Act functions like an “umbrella” and it provides the Central Government with the ability to oversee the operations of different Central and State bodies established by previous laws, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
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18. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the:
(a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
(b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
(c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
(d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee was set up under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
- It was renamed on 22 July, 2010.
- It is the highest body in the Ministry of Environment and Forest that follows the rules for creating, using, importing, exporting and storing dangerous microorganisms and genetically engineered organisms or cells (1989) under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
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19. With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture”
assumes signifi cance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture?
1. Avoiding monoculture practices.
2. Adopting minimum tillage.
3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops.
4. Using crop residues to cover the soil surface.
5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing / crop rotations.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 3 and 4
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 5
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) 2, 4 and 5
- Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a way of farming that helps protect the environment while still making money and producing high yields.
- It involves minimal plowing, keeping the soil covered with crop residue or other plants, rotating crops, and planting multiple crops in the same area.
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20. As a result of their annual survey, the National Geographic Society and an international polling firm Globe Scan gave India top rank in Greendex 2009 score. What is this score?
(a) It is a measure of eff orts made by diff erent countries in adopting technologies for reducing the carbon footprint
(b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in diff erent countries
(c) It is an assessment of programs/schemes undertaken by different countries for improving the conservation of natural resources
(d) It is an index showing the volume of carbon credits sold by different countries
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in diff erent countries
- In 2008, National Geographic did its first Greendex survey of 14 countries.
- This survey looked at how environmentally sustainable the average consumer’s behavior was in each country.
- India was at the top of the rankings in 2009 and kept its position in 2014.
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21. Which one of the following is the best strategy for environment-friendly sustainable development in Indian agriculture?
(a) Expansion of cultivable land, increased use of superphosphate, urea and eff ective biocides
(b) Wider popularization of high-yielding crop varieties, better aid, more frequent irrigation and increased frequency of aerial span of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides
(c) Mixed cropping, organic manures, nitrogen-fixing plants and pest-resistant crop varieties
(d) Improved farm implements and machinery, use of potent insecticides to minimize post-harvest grain losses and monoculture cropping practices
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (c) Mixed cropping, organic manures, nitrogen-fixing plants and pest-resistant crop varieties
- The best way to achieve sustainable growth in Indian agriculture in an eco-friendly way is to grow different crops together, use natural fertilizers, plant things that can draw nitrogen from the air, and choose crops
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22. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A) : India is a case of an over-urbanised country.
Reason (R) : Most of the large cities in India do not have adequate infrastructure.
Codes:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) explains (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) does not explain (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
- The 2011 census showed that around 121 crore people (68.9%) lived in rural areas, while 37.7 crore people (31.1%) lived in urban areas.
- Even though the rate of urbanization in India is high, there are not enough solutions to provide basic amenities like drinking water, transport, sanitation, and electricity.
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23. The investigator of Natural Farming was-
(a) Masanobu Fukuoka
(b) M.S. Randhawa
(c) M.S. Swaminathan
(d) Norman Borlaug
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (a) Masanobu Fukuoka
- Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer and philosopher who was well-known for practicing natural farming and restoring deserts.
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24. Which country introduced the Green Army for Environment conservation?
(a) Japan
(b) China
(c) Australia
(d) Egypt
[M.P.C.S.(Pre) 2014]
Ans. (c) Australia
- The Green Army was a program that ran for 6 months and was for young people aged 17-24 in Australia.
- They were trained to work on projects to help the environment, such as restoring native plants, protecting animal habitats and restoring wetlands.
- The Green Army Programme ended on June 30, 2018.
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25. During the mid 80’s decade of twentieth century, the negative aspects of development were discussed at
large. Which one among the following was NOT such important?
(a) Degradation of natural resources
(b) Environment pollution
(c) Politics and Development
(d) Displacement and Rehabilitation of masses
[U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) Politics and Development
- In the 1980s, people talked a lot about the bad effects of development such as damaging natural resources, polluting the environment, and forcing people to move from their homes.
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