1. The main objective of sustainable tourism is :
(a) To increase the number of tourists
(b) To manage mass-scale tourism and small-scale travel
(c) To manage tourism and the environment while maintaining cultural integrity and ecological processes
(d) None of the above
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) To manage tourism and the environment while maintaining cultural integrity and ecological processes
- Sustainable tourism involves considering the economic, social, and environmental effects of tourism now and in the future, taking into account the needs of people who visit, the tourism industry, the environment, and the communities hosting tourists.
- The aim of sustainable tourism is to balance tourism with the environment while preserving the local culture and natural processes.
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2. Which of the following is a Nodal Institution for the 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 responsible for making sure India follows the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030).
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3. What is India’s rank in the 2016 Sustainable Development Goal Index?
(a) 110th
(b) 88th
(c) 63rd
(d) 129th
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[60-62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
Ans. (a) 110th
- In 2016, India was ranked 110th out of 149 countries on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index.
- In June 2021, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released their 6th Sustainable Development Report, and India was ranked 120th out of 165 countries, with a score of 60.1.
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4. What is India’s rank in the 2017 Sustainable Development Goal Index?
(a) 116th
(b) 125th
(c) 108th
(d) 95th
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
Ans. (a) 116th
- In 2017, India was ranked 116th out of 157 countries on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index.
- In 2020, India was ranked 117th out of 166 countries and in 2021, its rank has dropped to 120th out of 165 countries.
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5. According to the Report released by NITI Aayog in December 2019 on ‘Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2019-20’, the Uttar Pradesh is grouped under which of the following categories?
(a) Aspirant
(b) Performer
(c) Front runner
(d) Achiever
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) Performer
- The NITI Aayog released the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2019 in December 2019 which placed Uttar Pradesh in the “Performer” category. The same report released on June 3, 2021 also listed Uttar Pradesh in the “Performer” category with 60 points.
- Kerala was the highest ranking state in both reports.
- In the 2019 report, the top ranking states were Kerala (70), Himachal Pradesh (69), and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu (67 each).
- The 2020-21 report listed Kerala (75), Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (74 each), Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand (72 each), Sikkim (71), and Maharashtra (70) as the top ranking states.
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6. As per SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020-21 published by the NITI Aayog, which one of the following States was NOT among the top five States in their performance regarding SDGs in the country?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Goa
(d) Tamil Nadu
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (a) Gujarat
- According to the NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2019 and 2020-21, Uttar Pradesh has been placed in the ‘Performer’ category with a score of 60 points.
- Kerala topped the overall ranking in both reports.
- In the 2019 Index, the top ranking States were Kerala (70), Himachal Pradesh (69), and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu (67 each).
- In the 2020-21 Index, the top ranking States were Kerala (75), Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (74 each), Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand (72 each), Sikkim (71), and Maharashtra (70).
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7. According to the ‘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
- According to the NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2019 and 2020-21, Uttar Pradesh was placed in the ‘Performer’ category both times with 60 points in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
- Kerala topped the ranking among all states in both reports.
- In the 2019 report, the top ranking states were Kerala (70), Himachal Pradesh (69), and Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu (67 each).
- In the 2020-21 report, the top ranking states were Kerala (75), Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (74 each), and Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand (72 each), Sikkim (71), and Maharashtra (70).
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8. Which of the following States is NOT on the list of top five States on the Sustainable Development Goals Index 2019-20 in India?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Tamil Nadu
[U.P. B.E.O. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (a) Gujarat
- Gujarat isn’t one of the five best states when it comes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index for 2019-20 in India.
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9. NITI Aayog has developed a composite index for each state/ UT, which aggregates progress towards each Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), and classifies States in achievers, front-runners, performers and aspirants. On the basis of this composite index which of the following State is not a Front-Runner?
(a) Kerala
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Gujarat
(d) Himachal Pradesh
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
Ans. (*)
- The 2019 SDG India Index put Gujarat in the “Performer” category with 64 points. But in the 2020-21 Index, Gujarat moved up to the “Front-Runner” category with 69 points.
- The “Front-Runner” states for the 2020-21 Index are Kerala (75), Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (74 each), Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Uttarakhand (72 each), Sikkim (71), Maharashtra (70), Gujarat and Telangana (69 each), Punjab (68), Haryana (67) and Tripura (65).
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10. Which of the following Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) will target to water availability for all and its permanent management up to 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 UN has named 17 goals that need to be reached by 2030. SDG-6 is about making sure everyone has access to clean water and proper sanitation by 2030.
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11. Who has propounded the concept of ‘Limit 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, 30 people from 10 different countries, such as scientists, teachers, economists, humanists, industrialists, and government officials, gathered at the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome and founded “The Club of Rome”.
- This organization brought forward the concept of ‘Limit to Growth’. In 1972, this report was published and its computer simulations showed that economic growth couldn’t keep going forever because of the depletion of resources.
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12. According to Meadows (1972), if the present trends in world population, industrialization, pollution, food production and resource depletion continue unchanged, the ‘Limits to Growth’ on our planet will be reached in the next :
(a) 50 years
(b) 100 years
(c) 150 years
(d) 200 years
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (b) 100 years
- Donella Meadows, an author of the book ‘Limits to Growth’ published in 1972, predicted that if the world population, industry, pollution, food production, and resource depletion continue as they have been, the growth of the world will be limited in the next 100 years.
- This would bring the risk of hunger, economic and social risks. In 2004, Meadows reduced this prediction to 30 years.
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13. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and other as the Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Sustainable development is important for
the 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.
Select the correct answer using the codes below :
Codes :
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the 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 the correct explanation of (A)
- Sustainable development is when we meet our needs today without stopping future generations from having their own needs met.
- It means using resources in a way that will not be harmful to people in the future.
- This means that sustainable development is important to make sure that people in the future will be okay.
- Both of these statements are true and the second one explains the first one correctly.
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14. ‘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
- Sustainable development is making sure we use resources such as energy in a way that won’t be harmful for future generations.
- The idea of sustainable development comes from the Brundtland Report in 1987, which is all about allowing people to have a good life without damaging the environment.
- Sustainable development is a way to meet our needs while still protecting the environment.
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15. Sustainable development is described as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this perspective, inherently the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with which of the following concepts?
(a) Social justice and empowerment
(b) Inclusive Growth
(c) Globalization
(d) Carrying capacity
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (d) Carrying capacity
- The idea of sustainable development is linked with the idea of how much a certain area can support.
- Carrying capacity is the maximum amount of people, creatures, or plants that a certain environment can sustainably support.
- This means that the carrying capacity of an area is the highest amount of people that an environment can provide resources for. Sustainable development brings together the idea of the carrying capacity of nature and the challenges that people face.
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16. The base of sustainable development is –
(a) Social approach
(b) Economic Approach
(c) Environmental approach
(d) None of the above
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) Environmental approach
- Sustainable development is the process of keeping the environment healthy while still having enough resources for future generations.
- This concept was first introduced in the 1987 Brundtland Report ‘Our Common Future’.
- Sustainable development looks not only at the environmental protection aspect but also at economic and social development.
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17. Sustainable development is a case of inter-generational sensibilities in respect of use of –
(a) Natural resources
(b) Material resources
(c) Industrial resources
(d) Social resources
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) Natural resources
- Sustainable development is the practice of preserving natural resources and the environment.
- It is based on the idea that we can use resources without damaging them.
- The modern idea of sustainable development was created in the 1987 Brundtland Report, but it comes from earlier ideas about protecting nature.
- Now, it focuses on economic, social, and environmental protection for the future.
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18. What do we mean by sustainable economic development?
(a) Future economic development with the development of present generation
(b) Only economic development of present generation
(c) Industrial development
(d) Agriculture development
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) Future economic development with the development of present generation
- Sustainable economic development means using natural resources in a way that allows them to be used by future generations.
- It is a way of having economic growth that meets our current needs without damaging our environment.
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19. Neemrana, a model of sustainable economic development, is located in
(a) Haryana
(b) Punjab
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Uttar Pradesh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (c) Rajasthan
- Neemarana is situated in Alwar, Rajasthan.
- The projects created here are based on an economic system that is environmentally friendly.
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20. The task force of blue economy for sustainable development is a collaboration between India and which country?
(a) Switzerland
(b) Norway
(c) Sweden
(d) France
[M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (b) Norway
- The Indian Prime Minister and the Norwegian Prime Minister launched the India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development together during the Norwegian Prime Minister’s visit to India in January 2019.
- This task force works to come up with and keep track of joint projects between the two countries.
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21. In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital?
(a) The proportion of literates in the population
(b) The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure and machines
(c) The size of population in the working age group
(d) The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society
- Social capital is the value of relationships and networks that help a country’s economic growth.
- It includes how people in a society interact with each other, their shared identity, understanding, norms, values, trust, cooperation, and how they look out for each other.
- In other words, it measures the level of trust and harmony in a country.
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22. Consider the following statements :
Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables :
1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.
2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.
3. accumulation of tangible wealth.
4. accumulation of intangible wealth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) 2 and 4
- Building up human capital is the act of getting more people with the knowledge, schooling and experience that are necessary for the growth of a nation, economically and politically.
- This is why statement 2 is true. A country’s intangible wealth is made up of its skilled people, human resources, culture, art, etc., which is why statement 4 is also true.
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong because they are a part of the total capital formation (GCF) which is about physical capital.
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23. Skill development programme enhances :
(a) Human Capital
(b) Physical Capital
(c) Working Capital
(d) Fixed Capital
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (a)Human Capital
- Human capital is the abilities, knowledge and experience that a person or population has, seen as valuable or costly to a company or nation.
- Skill development programmes improve human capital.
- In India, 12 million people are added to the workforce each year.
- By 2030, one-third of the world’s working population will come from India.
- There are 711 million people between 15-59 years old in India who need new or extra skills to stay productive and helpful in social and economic growth.
- India is the youngest and most ambitious country which puts skill and human capital development at the top of the list.
- To help this, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the main scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
- This skill certification scheme helps many young Indians get industry-relevant training so they can get a good job.
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24. Which one of the following will not have a direct impact on human capital formation?
(a) Education
(b) Medical Care
(c) Training
(d) Irrigation
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]
Ans. (d) Irrigation
- Human capital formation is the process of getting and increasing the number of people with the necessary skills, education, and experience to help a country develop economically and politically.
- Human capital can be improved by giving people better education, training, and healthcare.
- Irrigation will not directly affect the development of human capital.
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25. Increasing investment in human capital leads to –
(a) Proper use of resources
(b) Increase in productivity
(c) Skill development
(d) All of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam.) 2015]
Ans. (d) All of the above
- Investing more in people will result in higher output.
- This can be seen in an increase in skills, using resources wisely, and higher productivity.
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26. Which of the following countries has topped in the Human Capital Index, 2020?
(a) Japan
(b) South Korea
(c) Singapore
(d) Hong Kong
(e) None of the above / More than one of the above
[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]
Ans. (c) Singapore
- The Human Capital Index (HCI) measures how well countries are doing in terms of their human capital.
- The World Bank released the HCI in 2018 and updated it in 2020.
- Singapore was the top performer with a score of 0.88. India was ranked 116th out of 174 economies with a score of 0.49, up from 115th place with a score of 0.44 in 2018.
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27. Inclusive growth would necessitate :
(a) Development of infrastructural facilities
(b) Revival of agriculture
(c) Increased availability of social services such as education and health
(d) All of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (d) All of the above
- Inclusive growth means making sure that everyone has access to resources and opportunities.
- It means that economic growth is spread out evenly and everyone has the chance to benefit.
- This means that all options (a), (b) and (c) are correct.
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28. Inclusive growth is not expected to increase from which one of the following?
(a) High growth rate of National Income
(b) Rural develoment
(c) Agriculture development
(d) Adequate credit to farmers
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (a) High growth rate of National Income
- Inclusive development means improving all aspects of life, like education, health, jobs and infrastructure.
- Its main goal is to reduce poverty.
- High national income alone won’t lead to inclusive development.
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29. Which of the following can be said to be essentially the parts of Inclusive Governance?
1. Permitting the Non-Banking Financial Companies to do banking
2. Establishing effective District Planning Committees in all the districts
3. Increasing the government spending on public health
4. Strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (c) 2, 3 and 4 only
- Inclusive governance means that everyone in society should get the same level of services from the government.
- This includes setting up strong District Planning Committees in all districts, spending more money on healthcare, and strengthening the Mid-day Meal Scheme.
- Allowing Non-Banking Financial Companies to do banking is not part of inclusive governance.
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30. Which of the following can aid in furthering the Government’s objective of inclusive growth?
1. Promoting Self-Help Groups.
2. Promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
3. Implementing the Right to Education Act.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Inclusive growth is when resources are shared equally among everyone in society, especially those who are less fortunate.
- To reach this goal, Self-Help Groups and small businesses can be encouraged, and disadvantaged children can access education through the Right to Education Act, which will help to create an inclusive society.
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31. A new chapter on sustainable development and climate change was first introduced in the Economic Survey of :
(a) 2004-05
(b) 2011-12
(c) 2012-13
(d) 2013-14
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2015]
Ans. (b) 2011-12
- In 2011-12, the Economic Survey included a new section related to sustainable development and climate change for the first time.
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32. Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if :
(a) industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural output
(b) agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial output
(c) poverty and unemployment increase
(d) imports grow faster than exports
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (c) poverty and unemployment increase
- Economic growth is a way to measure a nation’s output, while economic development is more of an ideal.
- It means that people in the nation have access to things like clean water, better medical care, education, and jobs.
- If a nation has economic growth but also increases in poverty and unemployment, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have higher levels of economic development.
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