UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC closes suo motu case on polluted rivers after 5 years of near inaction
Q1. As per the information shared in Parliament in August 2025 by the Central Pollution Control Board, how many polluted river stretches have been identified in India under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme?
- A. 296 stretches on 271 rivers
- B. 311 stretches on 279 rivers
- C. 351 stretches on 323 rivers
- D. 445 stretches on 351 rivers
Q2. With reference to the Supreme Court's decision of February 2026 closing the suo motu case on remediation of polluted rivers, consider the following statements:
1. The suo motu cognisance had been taken by the Supreme Court on 13 January 2021.
2. The case originated from the Delhi Jal Board's plea against Haryana on Yamuna pollution.
3. The Bench closing the proceedings was headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
4. The Supreme Court transferred continued monitoring of the matter to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The suo motu cognisance had been taken by the Supreme Court on 13 January 2021.
- The case originated from the Delhi Jal Board's plea against Haryana on Yamuna pollution.
- The Bench closing the proceedings was headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
- The Supreme Court transferred continued monitoring of the matter to the Central Pollution Control Board.
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q3. In February 2026, while closing its suo motu proceedings on remediation of polluted rivers, the Supreme Court of India directed which one of the following bodies to continue monitoring the matter through its parallel pending case?
- A. Central Pollution Control Board
- B. National Mission for Clean Ganga
- C. National Green Tribunal
- D. Central Water Commission
Q4. In the context of the Supreme Court's 2021 proceedings on polluted rivers, the expression 'suo motu' cognisance most accurately refers to:
- A. Cognisance taken by a court on its own motion, without a formal petition from any party
- B. A public interest litigation filed by a recognised environmental NGO
- C. An appeal preferred by the Union Government against a tribunal's order
- D. A presidential reference seeking the Court's advisory opinion under Article 143
Q5. With reference to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), to which the Supreme Court redirected the polluted-rivers matter in February 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
2. It functions under the administrative aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
3. The parallel pending case on polluted river stretches before it is registered as O.A. No. 673 of 2018.
4. Its Chairperson is, ex officio, the Chief Justice of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
- It functions under the administrative aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- The parallel pending case on polluted river stretches before it is registered as O.A. No. 673 of 2018.
- Its Chairperson is, ex officio, the Chief Justice of India.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only