UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Thai lawmakers vote to revive clean air Bill
Q1. Thailand's landmark 2026 revival vote on the Clean Air Bill, carried by 611 votes to 3 with one abstention, was passed by which one of the following?
- A. The Senate (upper house)
- B. The House of Representatives (lower house)
- C. The Council of Ministers (Cabinet)
- D. The Constitutional Court
Q2. Under Thailand's legislative process, after Senate scrutiny the Clean Air Bill requires final endorsement by which authority before it can become law?
- A. The King
- B. The Constitutional Court
- C. The Speaker of the House of Representatives
- D. The UN Environment Programme
Q3. In Thailand's bicameral National Assembly, how many members constitute the House of Representatives (the lower house)?
Q4. With reference to the two houses of Thailand's National Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The Senate has 200 members while the House of Representatives has 500 members.
2. Ordinary legislation originates in the House of Representatives, and the Senate may modify or reject it.
3. The Prime Minister is constitutionally required to be a member of the Senate rather than the House of Representatives.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Senate has 200 members while the House of Representatives has 500 members.
- Ordinary legislation originates in the House of Representatives, and the Senate may modify or reject it.
- The Prime Minister is constitutionally required to be a member of the Senate rather than the House of Representatives.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. With reference to the Polluter Pays Principle, consider the following statements:
1. It was adopted by the OECD Council in 1972.
2. Under it, the general taxpayer, rather than the polluter, bears the cost of pollution-control measures.
3. It was later expanded to cover the remediation of past pollution and compensation to those harmed.
4. It requires the polluter to bear the cost of pollution prevention and control measures set by public authorities.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- It was adopted by the OECD Council in 1972.
- Under it, the general taxpayer, rather than the polluter, bears the cost of pollution-control measures.
- It was later expanded to cover the remediation of past pollution and compensation to those harmed.
- It requires the polluter to bear the cost of pollution prevention and control measures set by public authorities.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 3 and 4 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 3 only
Q6. Comparing the Polluter Pays Principle as originally adopted with its later evolution, consider the following statements:
1. As adopted by the OECD in 1972, the principle allocated the costs of pollution prevention and control to the polluter.
2. In its original 1972 form, the principle already mandated compensation to the victims of past pollution.
3. The subsequent extension of the principle added liability for remediating past pollution damage.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- As adopted by the OECD in 1972, the principle allocated the costs of pollution prevention and control to the polluter.
- In its original 1972 form, the principle already mandated compensation to the victims of past pollution.
- The subsequent extension of the principle added liability for remediating past pollution damage.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. With reference to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, consider the following statements:
1. It was signed by ASEAN states in 2002.
2. It is a legally binding agreement.
3. Indonesia was the last ASEAN state to ratify it.
4. India is a signatory party to the Agreement.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- It was signed by ASEAN states in 2002.
- It is a legally binding agreement.
- Indonesia was the last ASEAN state to ratify it.
- India is a signatory party to the Agreement.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. In the WHO 2021 global air quality guidelines, the recommended annual mean guideline level for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is:
- A. 5 µg/m³
- B. 10 µg/m³
- C. 40 µg/m³
- D. 60 µg/m³
Q9. Comparing India's air quality indexing with WHO benchmarks, consider the following statements:
1. India's National Air Quality Index was launched in 2015 by the Central Pollution Control Board.
2. The WHO 2021 guidelines lowered the annual PM2.5 guideline from 10 µg/m³ to 5 µg/m³.
3. India's National Air Quality Index was introduced before the WHO issued any air quality guidelines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India's National Air Quality Index was launched in 2015 by the Central Pollution Control Board.
- The WHO 2021 guidelines lowered the annual PM2.5 guideline from 10 µg/m³ to 5 µg/m³.
- India's National Air Quality Index was introduced before the WHO issued any air quality guidelines.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. The Secretariat of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), which works to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, is hosted by which one of the following organizations?
- A. UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
- B. World Health Organization (WHO)
- C. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- D. UNFCCC Secretariat
Q11. With reference to crop residue (stubble) burning management in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Crop Residue Management Scheme supports Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
2. In 2025, Punjab and Haryana collectively recorded over a 90% reduction in stubble-fire incidents compared with 2022.
3. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) oversees stubble-burning action in the NCR region.
4. Stubble burning in northern India peaks during the summer monsoon months of June–July.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- The Crop Residue Management Scheme supports Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
- In 2025, Punjab and Haryana collectively recorded over a 90% reduction in stubble-fire incidents compared with 2022.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) oversees stubble-burning action in the NCR region.
- Stubble burning in northern India peaks during the summer monsoon months of June–July.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4