UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What are safer fireworks alternatives?
Q1. Under India's regulatory framework for firecrackers, which single body is the primary authority that prescribes the ambient/emission noise standards for firecrackers notified under the Environment (Protection) Act?
- A. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- B. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)
- C. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)
- D. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Q2. Consider the following statements comparing firecracker noise standards and green crackers:
1. Conventional firecrackers produce sound of around 160 dB, whereas green crackers produce roughly 110-125 dB, making them about 30% less noisy.
2. The firecracker noise standard prohibits crackers generating noise exceeding 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C)pk.
3. Under the standard, the prescribed noise level is measured at a distance of 1 metre from the point of bursting.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Conventional firecrackers produce sound of around 160 dB, whereas green crackers produce roughly 110-125 dB, making them about 30% less noisy.
- The firecracker noise standard prohibits crackers generating noise exceeding 125 dB(AI) or 145 dB(C)pk.
- Under the standard, the prescribed noise level is measured at a distance of 1 metre from the point of bursting.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. In the context of CSIR-NEERI's green crackers, what does the category name 'SWAS' precisely denote?
- A. Safe Water Releaser — releases water vapour on bursting to suppress particulate
- B. Sound Wave Absorbing System — a coating that muffles the burst
- C. Smoke-free Aerial Sparkler — an aluminium-free aerial shell
- D. Sulphur-Water Additive Salt — a chemical that replaces potassium nitrate
Q4. As per the specifications for green crackers, how many metals are specifically banned from their composition (namely lithium, arsenic, lead, mercury and barium)?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. Five
- D. Six
Q5. With reference to cold spark ('cold pyrotechnic') fountains used as a fireworks alternative, consider the following:
1. They work by heating titanium-based metallic granules and ejecting them, rather than burning gunpowder.
2. The emitted sparks are essentially smokeless and odourless.
3. They rely primarily on potassium nitrate as the oxidiser to sustain the effect.
4. The metallic granules typically consist of titanium with a small proportion of zirconium.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- They work by heating titanium-based metallic granules and ejecting them, rather than burning gunpowder.
- The emitted sparks are essentially smokeless and odourless.
- They rely primarily on potassium nitrate as the oxidiser to sustain the effect.
- The metallic granules typically consist of titanium with a small proportion of zirconium.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 1, 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q6. Inside a cold spark machine, to approximately what temperature is the metallic (titanium-based) powder heated before it is ejected?
- A. About 100-150°C
- B. About 560-580°C
- C. About 1200-1300°C
- D. Above 2000°C
Q7. Under the Supreme Court's October 2025 order relaxing the firecracker ban in Delhi-NCR, over how many consecutive days was the sale of NEERI-listed green crackers permitted?
- A. Two days
- B. Three days
- C. Five days
- D. Seven days
Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the Supreme Court's 2018 firecracker order with its October 2025 order:
1. The 2018 order restricted the bursting of firecrackers to the 8 pm-10 pm window.
2. The October 2025 order permitted NEERI-listed green crackers only in the Delhi-NCR region on a temporary basis.
3. The 2018 order imposed a total and absolute ban on every category of firecracker across India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2018 order restricted the bursting of firecrackers to the 8 pm-10 pm window.
- The October 2025 order permitted NEERI-listed green crackers only in the Delhi-NCR region on a temporary basis.
- The 2018 order imposed a total and absolute ban on every category of firecracker across India.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. In the context of the caparisoned elephants at Thrissur Pooram, the term 'nettipattam' refers specifically to which one of the following?
- A. The decorative golden headdress/caparison adorning the elephant's forehead
- B. The entire fireworks display conducted on the Pooram night
- C. The ritual of rhythmically exchanging ornamental parasols
- D. The percussion ensemble that always accompanies the procession
Q10. Following Diwali 2025, Delhi's PM2.5 concentration was reported to be approximately how many times the WHO's recommended annual guideline?
- A. About 30 times
- B. About 45 times
- C. About 59 times
- D. About 77 times
Q11. With reference to the Sivakasi fireworks industry, consider the following:
1. Sivakasi is located in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.
2. Sivakasi accounts for nearly 80% of India's fireworks production.
3. Over 8 lakh workers depend directly and indirectly on the fireworks trade in and around Sivakasi.
4. Sivakasi produces nearly 80% of the world's green crackers exclusively for export.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Sivakasi is located in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu.
- Sivakasi accounts for nearly 80% of India's fireworks production.
- Over 8 lakh workers depend directly and indirectly on the fireworks trade in and around Sivakasi.
- Sivakasi produces nearly 80% of the world's green crackers exclusively for export.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q12. As of 2025-26, drone light shows have been incorporated as part of the official celebrations of which national event, held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, as a pollution-free alternative complementing traditional displays?
- A. The Republic Day Parade
- B. The Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort
- C. The Beating Retreat at Vijay Chowk only
- D. The Gandhi Jayanti observance at Rajghat