UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What is Karnataka’s objection to the ESA?

Question 1

With reference to the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), consider the following statements:
1. It was chaired by Madhav Gadgil and submitted its report in 2011.
2. It recommended declaring about 37 per cent of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive.
3. It divided the hill range into three zones: ESZ-1, ESZ-2 and ESZ-3.
4. It was set up to review the recommendations of the High Level Working Group.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

2 and 4

Answer

2 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Answer

1 and 3

Question 2

The High Level Working Group on the Western Ghats, set up to review the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel's report, submitted the recommendations that underpin the ESA draft notifications in which year?

Accepted Answer

2013

Answer

2014

Answer

2011

Answer

2018

Question 3

Consider the following statements comparing the Western Ghats ESA proposal under consideration in 2026 with earlier reference points:
1. Like the High Level Working Group's recommendation, the current proposal covers the same six States, including Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
2. The area proposed for ESA in the current drafts (about 56,825 sq km) is larger than the roughly 59,940 sq km recommended by the High Level Working Group.
3. The first ESA draft notification came in 2014; the July 2026 draft is the seventh, and Karnataka's September 2026 legislative resolution was the seventh time the State rejected the draft.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 4

In the Western Ghats ESA proposal under consideration in 2026 (about 56,825 sq km across six States), which State has the largest proposed ESA, and roughly what share of the total does it hold?

Accepted Answer

Karnataka, accounting for a little over one-third of the proposed ESA

Answer

Maharashtra, accounting for a little over one-third of the proposed ESA

Answer

Karnataka, accounting for more than half of the proposed ESA

Answer

Kerala, accounting for a little over one-third of the proposed ESA

Question 5

Which of the following are correctly identified as the legal or policy basis that MoEFCC cites for declaring eco-sensitive zones around protected areas?
1. Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
2. Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
3. The Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002, which proposed notifying areas within 10 km of national park and sanctuary boundaries
4. The National Forest Policy, 1988, which first proposed a 10 km eco-fragile belt around protected areas
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 6

Consider the following pairs relating to the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) framework:
1. Nature of ESZ notifications — prohibitive, barring local agriculture and house construction within the zone
2. Zonal Master Plan — prepared by the State Government within two years of the ESZ notification
3. National Wildlife Action Plan, 2002 — formal MoEFCC guidelines with indicative lists of prohibited, regulated and permitted activities
4. Default 10 km zone — prior environmental clearance for projects near protected areas where an ESZ is not yet notified
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2 and 4

Answer

3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

Under the Western Ghats ESA draft notifications, whose classification decides which 'Red' category industries are banned, and by when must existing mines be phased out?

Accepted Answer

Pollution control boards; within five years of the final notification or on expiry of the mining lease, whichever is earlier

Answer

State Biodiversity Boards; within five years of the final notification or on expiry of the mining lease, whichever is earlier

Answer

Pollution control boards; within five years of the first draft notification of March 2014, irrespective of the lease tenure

Answer

Expert Appraisal Committee of MoEFCC; within five years of the first draft notification of March 2014, irrespective of lease tenure

Question 8

Under the Western Ghats ESA draft notifications, which activity faces the strictest regime: a complete ban, with even existing operations to be phased out within a fixed period?

Accepted Answer

Mining, quarrying and sand mining

Answer

Thermal power generation

Answer

Large building and township construction

Answer

Agriculture and plantations in ESA villages

Question 9

Consider the following statements about the Western Ghats:
1. The range extends northward to the Tapti river and southward almost to Cape Comorin.
2. The Palghat Gap separates the Western Ghats proper from the Southern Ghats, and Anai Mudi, the range's highest peak, lies north of this gap.
3. The Krishna, Godavari and Kaveri, which have their headwaters in the Western Ghats, form their deltas on the Arabian Sea coast.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 10

In Indian physical geography, the term 'Sahyadri' refers to:

Accepted Answer

the north–south chain of mountains and hills marking the western edge of the Deccan plateau

Answer

the chain marking the eastern edge of the Deccan plateau, broken by rivers into discontinuous hills

Answer

the Nilgiri massif, where the Western and Eastern Ghats converge in the south

Answer

the Satpura range, which forms the northern boundary of the Deccan tableland

Question 11

According to UNESCO's description of the Western Ghats World Heritage property, which of the following groups has the highest proportion of endemic species?

Accepted Answer

Amphibians (up to 179 species recorded)

Answer

Reptiles (157 species recorded)

Answer

Tree species (nearly 650 recorded)

Answer

Freshwater fishes (219 species recorded)

Question 12

The Western Ghats ESA that the Karnataka Legislature objected to in September 2026 would be finalised as a notification by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Union Environment Ministry under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, after considering objections received from States

Answer

The Karnataka Forest Department, which alone can notify any ESA falling within the State's territory

Answer

The National Green Tribunal, which exclusively issues all ESA notifications after hearing affected parties

Answer

The National Board for Wildlife, but only after the unanimous consent of all six Western Ghats States

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What is Karnataka’s objection to the ESA?

Q2. The High Level Working Group on the Western Ghats, set up to review the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel's report, submitted the recommendations that underpin the ESA draft notifications in which year?

Q4. In the Western Ghats ESA proposal under consideration in 2026 (about 56,825 sq km across six States), which State has the largest proposed ESA, and roughly what share of the total does it hold?

Q7. Under the Western Ghats ESA draft notifications, whose classification decides which 'Red' category industries are banned, and by when must existing mines be phased out?

Q8. Under the Western Ghats ESA draft notifications, which activity faces the strictest regime: a complete ban, with even existing operations to be phased out within a fixed period?

Q10. In Indian physical geography, the term 'Sahyadri' refers to:

Q11. According to UNESCO's description of the Western Ghats World Heritage property, which of the following groups has the highest proportion of endemic species?

Q12. The Western Ghats ESA that the Karnataka Legislature objected to in September 2026 would be finalised as a notification by which of the following?