UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Sufferers of poor AQI contribute to the problem too: SC on air pollution

Q1. Under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, consider the following States listed as 'adjoining areas' falling within the Commission's jurisdiction: 1. Haryana 2. Punjab 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Uttar Pradesh Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. Haryana
  2. Punjab
  3. Himachal Pradesh
  4. Uttar Pradesh
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q2. As reviewed at the 27th Full Commission meeting of CAQM (February 20, 2026), the Supreme Court-mandated meta-analysis on PM2.5 source apportionment in Delhi was prepared by a panel of how many domain experts?

  • A. 21
  • B. 27
  • C. 33
  • D. 40

Q3. Under the CAQM Act, 2021, the Selection Committee that recommends the appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Commission for Air Quality Management is headed by the Union Minister of:

  • A. Housing and Urban Affairs
  • B. Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Science and Technology
  • D. Road Transport and Highways

Q4. With reference to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) and the erstwhile Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA), consider the following statements: 1. EPCA was constituted under a Supreme Court order, whereas CAQM is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament. 2. CAQM's jurisdiction covers the NCT of Delhi and adjoining areas in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. 3. In case of conflict between directions of CAQM and orders of a State Pollution Control Board, the orders of the State Pollution Control Board prevail. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. EPCA was constituted under a Supreme Court order, whereas CAQM is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament.
  2. CAQM's jurisdiction covers the NCT of Delhi and adjoining areas in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
  3. In case of conflict between directions of CAQM and orders of a State Pollution Control Board, the orders of the State Pollution Control Board prevail.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. In the context of the CAQM expert panel's source-apportionment report on Delhi's PM2.5, the term 'secondary particulates' refers to particulate matter that is:

  • A. directly emitted from tailpipes of diesel vehicles and is finer than 1 micron in diameter
  • B. formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions of gaseous precursors such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, ammonia and volatile organic compounds
  • C. generated by re-suspension of road dust due to vehicular movement on unpaved surfaces
  • D. produced by open burning of agricultural residue and municipal solid waste in and around the NCR