UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A decentralised solution for waste crisis

Q1. With reference to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, consider the following waste streams in which a generator is mandated to segregate solid waste at source: 1. Wet (biodegradable) waste 2. Dry (recyclable) waste 3. Hazardous industrial chemical waste 4. Special care waste (e.g. expired medicines, bulbs, paint cans) Which of the above are correctly identified as the mandated streams of source-segregation under the Rules?

  1. Wet (biodegradable) waste
  2. Dry (recyclable) waste
  3. Hazardous industrial chemical waste
  4. Special care waste (e.g. expired medicines, bulbs, paint cans)
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q2. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, an establishment is classified as a 'Bulk Waste Generator' if its daily solid waste generation is at least how many kilograms?

  • A. 50 kg per day
  • B. 100 kg per day
  • C. 200 kg per day
  • D. 500 kg per day

Q3. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 have been notified by which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • D. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Q4. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 have been notified under which one of the following parent statutes?

  • A. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  • B. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  • C. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • D. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Q5. In the context of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, the term 'Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR)' refers to:

  • A. The obligation on municipalities to extend door-to-door waste collection services to all bulk generators within their jurisdiction
  • B. The accountability mechanism making bulk waste generators responsible for managing the solid waste they generate, including on-site processing of wet waste or obtaining an EBWGR certificate where on-site processing is not feasible
  • C. The producer's obligation to take back end-of-life plastic packaging sold to bulk consumers under the EPR framework
  • D. The extension of the polluter-pays principle to small household generators that collectively produce more than 100 kg of mixed waste per day