UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Nepal disaster impact: HC initiates PIL on climate justice

Q1. Alongside the Border Roads Organisation, which one of the following central agencies was directed by the High Court of Sikkim, in follow-up to its 2026 suo motu climate justice proceedings, to be brought into a high-level review of climate-resilient road infrastructure in the State?

  • A. National Highways Authority of India, the statutory body that develops and manages national highways
  • B. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, a central PSU for roads in the North-East and border areas
  • C. Central Public Works Department, the principal construction organisation of the Union Government
  • D. IRCON International Ltd, a transport-infrastructure PSU that also executes highway contracts

Q2. The Division Bench that initiated the September 2026 suo motu climate justice proceedings in the High Court of Sikkim was presided over by the Chief Justice of that Court. Who was he?

  • A. Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan
  • B. Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai
  • C. Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque
  • D. Justice Biswanath Somadder

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the High Court of Sikkim and its September 2026 climate justice proceedings: 1. Its writ jurisdiction over such a matter flows from Article 226 of the Constitution. 2. The matter was taken up on the Court's own motion, without any petitioner approaching it. 3. The matter was heard by a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan. 4. The proceedings were triggered by a glacial lake outburst at South Lhonak Lake in September 2026. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Its writ jurisdiction over such a matter flows from Article 226 of the Constitution.
  2. The matter was taken up on the Court's own motion, without any petitioner approaching it.
  3. The matter was heard by a Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan.
  4. The proceedings were triggered by a glacial lake outburst at South Lhonak Lake in September 2026.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. In the Teesta basin flood of October 2023 caused by the South Lhonak Lake outburst, how many bridges were destroyed?

  • A. 8
  • B. 13
  • C. 21
  • D. 31

Q5. The Glacial Lake Atlas of Indian Himalayan River Basins (2023), on whose basis a large set of Himalayan glacial lakes is now kept under routine monitoring, was published by which one of the following?

  • A. Central Water Commission, the only body in India empowered to map and classify glacial lakes
  • B. Geological Survey of India, which alone carries out all Himalayan cryosphere surveys in the country
  • C. National Disaster Management Authority, which exclusively maintains every hazard database in India
  • D. National Remote Sensing Centre, a centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation

Q6. Which one of the following serves as the interim trustee of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage and also hosts its dedicated secretariat?

  • A. The World Bank
  • B. The Green Climate Fund Secretariat at Songdo
  • C. The United Nations Environment Programme
  • D. The Global Environment Facility Secretariat

Q7. Consider the following statements about the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage: 1. The agreement to take the Fund forward was reached at COP28 by 198 Parties. 2. The Philippines was selected as the host country of the Fund's Board at the Board's second meeting held in Songdo, Republic of Korea. 3. The World Bank's own Board of Executive Directors decides resource mobilisation, funding allocation and eligibility for the Fund. 4. The World Bank's hosting arrangement for the Fund is for an interim period of four years. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The agreement to take the Fund forward was reached at COP28 by 198 Parties.
  2. The Philippines was selected as the host country of the Fund's Board at the Board's second meeting held in Songdo, Republic of Korea.
  3. The World Bank's own Board of Executive Directors decides resource mobilisation, funding allocation and eligibility for the Fund.
  4. The World Bank's hosting arrangement for the Fund is for an interim period of four years.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. A 2020 ICIMOD-UNDP assessment identified 47 potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Consider the following statements about that assessment: 1. The lakes are distributed across the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river basins. 2. Twenty-five of the potentially dangerous lakes lie in China. 3. Twenty-one of the potentially dangerous lakes lie in Nepal. 4. The single remaining potentially dangerous lake lies in Bhutan. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The lakes are distributed across the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river basins.
  2. Twenty-five of the potentially dangerous lakes lie in China.
  3. Twenty-one of the potentially dangerous lakes lie in Nepal.
  4. The single remaining potentially dangerous lake lies in Bhutan.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q9. Of the glacial lakes inventoried in the Teesta basin of the Sikkim Himalaya, how many have been classified as potentially dangerous?

  • A. 6
  • B. 26
  • C. 14
  • D. 72

Q10. Consider the following statements about the 2026 Nepal flood disaster: 1. It was set off by a glacier and ice-rock collapse in the Langtang-Lirung region. 2. The destruction of settlements, bridges and roads propagated along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system. 3. The event permanently drained every glacial lake in Nepal's Koshi basin, eliminating all future outburst risk in the country. 4. Nepal sought an initial claim of about $20 million from the UN Loss and Damage Fund. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was set off by a glacier and ice-rock collapse in the Langtang-Lirung region.
  2. The destruction of settlements, bridges and roads propagated along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system.
  3. The event permanently drained every glacial lake in Nepal's Koshi basin, eliminating all future outburst risk in the country.
  4. Nepal sought an initial claim of about $20 million from the UN Loss and Damage Fund.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q11. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the State Executive Committee constituted to assist a State Disaster Management Authority is chaired ex officio by which one of the following?

  • A. The Chief Secretary to the State Government
  • B. The Chief Minister, who also heads the State Disaster Management Authority
  • C. The Union Home Secretary, who also heads the National Executive Committee
  • D. The State Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, under the Revenue Department