UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC sets aside order against Art of Living for Yamuna event

Q1. Consider the following statements comparing the National Green Tribunal with the Central Administrative Tribunal: 1. An appeal against an award, decision or order of the National Green Tribunal lies to the Supreme Court, whereas decisions of the Central Administrative Tribunal are subject to scrutiny by a Division Bench of the High Court within whose jurisdiction the Tribunal falls. 2. The Central Administrative Tribunal was set up under a law traceable to a provision inserted in the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment, while the National Green Tribunal was created by a Central Act of 2010. 3. An appeal to the Supreme Court against an order of the National Green Tribunal may be filed on any one or more of the grounds specified in Section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. An appeal against an award, decision or order of the National Green Tribunal lies to the Supreme Court, whereas decisions of the Central Administrative Tribunal are subject to scrutiny by a Division Bench of the High Court within whose jurisdiction the Tribunal falls.
  2. The Central Administrative Tribunal was set up under a law traceable to a provision inserted in the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment, while the National Green Tribunal was created by a Central Act of 2010.
  3. An appeal to the Supreme Court against an order of the National Green Tribunal may be filed on any one or more of the grounds specified in Section 100 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to the bench structure of the National Green Tribunal, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. Its Principal Bench sits at New Delhi, and the Tribunal in addition holds sittings at Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai
  • B. Its Principal Bench sits at New Delhi, and each of its four other benches is presided over by the Chairperson in rotation
  • C. Its Principal Bench sits at Bhopal, with its other benches located at New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai
  • D. Its Principal Bench sits at New Delhi, and appeals from its other benches lie to the Principal Bench for final decision

Q3. Consider the following statements about the judicial evolution of environmental doctrines in India: 1. In Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court accepted the precautionary principle as part of the law of the land. 2. In M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, the Supreme Court applied the public trust doctrine, treating the Government as trustee of natural resources meant for public use and enjoyment. 3. In Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India (2000), the Supreme Court reaffirmed inter-generational equity as a binding norm while holding the precautionary principle inapplicable to Indian conditions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court accepted the precautionary principle as part of the law of the land.
  2. In M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath, the Supreme Court applied the public trust doctrine, treating the Government as trustee of natural resources meant for public use and enjoyment.
  3. In Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India (2000), the Supreme Court reaffirmed inter-generational equity as a binding norm while holding the precautionary principle inapplicable to Indian conditions.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Delhi Development Authority, constituted under the Delhi Development Act, 1957, promulgated the first Master Plan for Delhi in which one of the following years?

  • A. 1957
  • B. 1962
  • C. 1972
  • D. 1981

Q5. In the land-use scheme of the Master Plan for Delhi, the designation 'Zone O' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The river zone, comprising the Yamuna and its floodplain, where construction and residential development are prohibited
  • B. The Ridge tract of Delhi, comprising notified reserved forest where non-forest activity is prohibited
  • C. The Lutyens' Bungalow precinct, a low-density heritage area where building heights are strictly capped
  • D. The influence belt along Metro corridors, earmarked for high-density transit-oriented development

Q6. In its order of 22 August 2026 setting aside the National Green Tribunal's liability finding, the Supreme Court directed the Delhi Development Authority to refund the environmental compensation deposited by the foundation within a period of how many weeks?

  • A. Two weeks
  • B. Four weeks
  • C. Eight weeks
  • D. Twelve weeks

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's August 2026 decision in the Yamuna floodplains matter and the National Green Tribunal order it dealt with: 1. The Supreme Court set aside the Tribunal's 2017 finding that the foundation was responsible for the damage to the floodplains. 2. Notwithstanding that, the Court directed the Delhi Development Authority to continue the work of rehabilitating the Yamuna floodplains as directed by the Tribunal. 3. The appeal decided by the Court had been filed by the Delhi Development Authority against the Tribunal's refusal to enhance the compensation payable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Supreme Court set aside the Tribunal's 2017 finding that the foundation was responsible for the damage to the floodplains.
  2. Notwithstanding that, the Court directed the Delhi Development Authority to continue the work of rehabilitating the Yamuna floodplains as directed by the Tribunal.
  3. The appeal decided by the Court had been filed by the Delhi Development Authority against the Tribunal's refusal to enhance the compensation payable.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Ahead of the March 2016 World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains, the National Green Tribunal permitted the event subject to a deposit of ₹5 crore as interim environmental compensation. With which one of the following bodies was that amount required to be deposited?

  • A. The Central Pollution Control Board, the apex body under the Water Act, 1974
  • B. The Delhi Development Authority, the land-owning agency under the Delhi Development Act, 1957
  • C. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the consent-granting body for the National Capital Territory
  • D. The Delhi Jal Board, the water supply and sewerage utility for the National Capital Territory

Q9. The expert committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal put the ecological rehabilitation of the affected Yamuna floodplains at about ₹42 crore, split into a 'physical' and a 'biological' component. Which one of the following correctly describes one of these two components?

  • A. The physical component, estimated at about ₹28.73 crore, was to be completed in two years
  • B. The physical component, estimated at about ₹13.29 crore, was to be completed in ten years
  • C. The biological component, estimated at about ₹28.73 crore, was to be completed in two years
  • D. The biological component, estimated at about ₹13.29 crore, was to be completed in two years

Q10. With reference to the office of the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. On a vacancy arising, a Judicial Member authorised by the Central Government by notification acts as Chairperson until a new one is appointed
  • B. On a vacancy arising, the senior-most Expert Member invariably succeeds to the office for the entire residue of the unexpired term
  • C. The Chairperson and every other Member of the Tribunal hold office for a term of three years, which is in no case renewable
  • D. All Judicial and Expert Members of the Tribunal are appointed directly by the Chief Justice of India without any Selection Committee

Q11. In India's environmental regulatory framework, the instrument known as 'Consent to Establish' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A prior permission granted by the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee before a unit is set up in that State or Union territory
  • B. A prior permission granted by the Central Pollution Control Board before a unit of any category is set up anywhere in the country
  • C. An approval granted by the Union environment ministry acting on the recommendation of an Expert Appraisal Committee at the central level
  • D. An approval granted by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority after public consultation in respect of Category B1 projects