UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A national environmental survey whose time came

Q1. With reference to the timeline and design of India's principal environmental laws, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was enacted earlier than the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
  2. The Central Pollution Control Board was first constituted under the Air Act, 1981, and only later brought under the Water Act, 1974.
  3. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is umbrella legislation, unlike the sector-specific Water and Air Acts that preceded it.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 empowers the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environmental quality. Which one of the following Union ministries is the nodal ministry that administers this Act?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • D. Ministry of Earth Sciences

Q3. With reference to sources of environmental data in India, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The State of India's Environment (SoE) report is a governmental publication released annually by the Central Pollution Control Board.
  2. The National Air Quality Index was launched as a government initiative under the 'Swachh Bharat' framework.
  3. The Sameer app, which gives citizens real-time access to air-quality data, is maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following statements best describes India's National Air Quality Index (AQI)?

  • A. A composite index that converts the concentrations of several pollutants into a single value with an associated colour and descriptor category
  • B. A legally binding ambient standard that prescribes maximum permissible limits for each pollutant
  • C. An index that measures only ground-level ozone concentrations in metropolitan cities
  • D. A ranking of Indian cities by their total annual industrial emission load

Q5. The decennial Census of India is conducted under the statutory authority of which one of the following?

  • A. The National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Census Act, 1948
  • C. The National Statistical Commission under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008
  • D. NITI Aayog under an executive resolution of the Union Cabinet

Q6. Comparing the Census of India with the National Sample Survey (NSS) as models for a periodic national survey, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Census is conducted decennially, whereas National Sample Surveys are conducted in rounds that need not follow a ten-year cycle.
  2. Both the Census and the National Sample Survey are administered by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  3. The Census is the only demographic data-collection exercise ever undertaken in independent India.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to India's greenhouse-gas emissions profile as reflected in recent global assessments, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. India is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.
  2. India recorded the highest absolute increase in greenhouse-gas emissions globally during 2023-24, as per the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025.
  3. India has the lowest per capita emissions among the major economies.
  4. India is the largest cumulative historical emitter of carbon dioxide.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q8. With reference to India's climate commitments and reporting under the UNFCCC, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India is a party to the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC.
  2. India has submitted its Fourth Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC.
  3. India's annual per capita carbon emission is about one-third of the global average.
  4. India met its updated NDC submission deadline of 30 September 2025.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q9. The Yale School of the Environment survey (conducted December 2024–February 2025) cited in the case for a National Environmental Survey covered approximately how many Indian respondents?

  • A. 2,178
  • B. 4,619
  • C. 10,751
  • D. 18,300

Q10. With reference to the Yale environmental survey invoked in the argument for a National Environmental Survey, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The survey covered only urban residents of India's metropolitan cities.
  2. It was conducted by the Yale School of the Environment.
  3. It surveyed more than 10,000 Indian respondents.
  4. A majority of respondents reported having experienced at least one extreme environmental event.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q11. Which one of the following statements about World Environment Day 2026 is correct?

  • A. It was hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan with a focus on urgent climate action.
  • B. It was hosted by India on the theme of land restoration and desertification.
  • C. It is observed annually on 22 April and is coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization.
  • D. It was first instituted in 2015 alongside the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

Q12. Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, prior environmental clearance for a Category 'A' project is granted by which one of the following?

  • A. The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)
  • B. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on the recommendation of the Expert Appraisal Committee
  • C. The concerned State Pollution Control Board
  • D. The National Green Tribunal