UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC asks Bhopal NGO to move HC on disposal of residual ash

Q1. The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 — under which the Pithampur facility handling the residual ash from the Union Carbide site is regulated — have been notified under which one of the following parent statutes?

  • A. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • B. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  • C. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
  • D. The Factories Act, 1948

Q2. Which is the nodal Union ministry that administers the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, the framework governing the disposal of UCIL residual ash at Pithampur?

  • A. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • D. Ministry of Jal Shakti

Q3. With reference to the Supreme Court's order of March 16, 2026 in the matter of disposal of residual ash from the Union Carbide India Ltd. site, consider the following statements: 1. The petitioner before the Supreme Court was the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti. 2. The Supreme Court redirected the petitioner to the Madhya Pradesh High Court. 3. The Common Hazardous Waste TSDF where the residual ash is sought to be disposed of is located in Dhar district. 4. The order under challenge was a December 2025 order of the National Green Tribunal permitting disposal at Pithampur. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The petitioner before the Supreme Court was the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti.
  2. The Supreme Court redirected the petitioner to the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
  3. The Common Hazardous Waste TSDF where the residual ash is sought to be disposed of is located in Dhar district.
  4. The order under challenge was a December 2025 order of the National Green Tribunal permitting disposal at Pithampur.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q4. Approximately how many tonnes of hazardous waste from the defunct Union Carbide India Ltd. plant in Bhopal were transferred to the Pithampur incinerator for processing in early 2025, the act that produced the residual ash now in litigation?

  • A. About 126 tonnes
  • B. About 337 tonnes
  • C. About 500 tonnes
  • D. About 900 tonnes

Q5. In the petition before the Supreme Court on March 16, 2026 concerning residual ash from the incinerated UCIL waste at Pithampur, which single contaminant was the primary focus of the leakage apprehension raised by the petitioner NGO?

  • A. Methyl isocyanate
  • B. Phosgene
  • C. Mercury
  • D. Hexachlorobutadiene