UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MPs demand stricter enforcement of laws to tackle air pollution

Question 1

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), which Members of Parliament demanded be made more autonomous during the March 2026 Rajya Sabha debate, derives its statutory authority from which one of the following enactments?

Accepted Answer

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021

Answer

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

Answer

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Answer

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Question 2

Which one of the following Union Ministries is the nodal/parent Ministry for the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM)?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Earth Sciences

Answer

Ministry of Science and Technology

Question 3

With respect to enforcement of air quality measures in the National Capital Region, which one of the following bodies is the apex statutory authority whose orders override those of the State Governments, the Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards?

Accepted Answer

Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM)

Answer

Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA)

Answer

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Answer

National Green Tribunal (NGT)

Question 4

In the context of air pollution management in the National Capital Region, the term 'Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)' most appropriately refers to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A set of emergency response measures progressively invoked in stages on the basis of prevailing and forecast Air Quality Index levels in the NCR

Answer

A long-term sectoral abatement policy assigning state-wise PM2.5 reduction targets to be achieved by 2026

Answer

A judicially supervised compensation mechanism under the 'polluter-pays' principle for industries violating emission norms

Answer

A market-based emissions trading scheme for particulate matter operated by SPCBs in the NCR

Question 5

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), in its currently extant form notified by the CAQM for the NCR, operates through how many progressively stringent stages?

Accepted Answer

Four

Answer

Three

Answer

Five

Answer

Six

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MPs demand stricter enforcement of laws to tackle air pollution

Q1. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), which Members of Parliament demanded be made more autonomous during the March 2026 Rajya Sabha debate, derives its statutory authority from which one of the following enactments?

Q2. Which one of the following Union Ministries is the nodal/parent Ministry for the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM)?

Q3. With respect to enforcement of air quality measures in the National Capital Region, which one of the following bodies is the apex statutory authority whose orders override those of the State Governments, the Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards?

Q4. In the context of air pollution management in the National Capital Region, the term 'Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)' most appropriately refers to which one of the following?

Q5. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), in its currently extant form notified by the CAQM for the NCR, operates through how many progressively stringent stages?