UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — During the period 2018-2025, Delhi witnessed its lowest average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration levels in the current year, barring COVID year 2020.

Q1. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) — the first statutory commission to be vested with exclusive jurisdiction over air quality management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas — was constituted as a permanent statutory body through a notification issued in:

  • A. October 2020
  • B. April 2021
  • C. January 2019
  • D. November 2017

Q2. With reference to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), consider the following statements: 1. Within the NCR, the CAQM enjoys exclusive jurisdiction over matters covered by its Act, overriding other bodies for those matters. 2. The CAQM's directions are binding on the State Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, in addition to the Government of NCT of Delhi. 3. The CAQM, like every other pollution-control body in the country, derives its powers solely from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Within the NCR, the CAQM enjoys exclusive jurisdiction over matters covered by its Act, overriding other bodies for those matters.
  2. The CAQM's directions are binding on the State Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, in addition to the Government of NCT of Delhi.
  3. The CAQM, like every other pollution-control body in the country, derives its powers solely from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following authorities notifies the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), including the annual and 24-hour limits for PM10 and PM2.5?

  • A. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • B. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
  • C. National Green Tribunal (NGT)
  • D. India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Q4. Under the framework currently in force, the authority empowered to enforce and periodically revise the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region is the:

  • A. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), under the CAQM Act, 2021
  • B. Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), under a Supreme Court order
  • C. Central Pollution Control Board, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • D. Delhi Pollution Control Committee, under the Air Act, 1981

Q5. Under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR, Stage IV ('Severe+') is triggered when Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI):

  • A. crosses 450
  • B. lies between 401 and 450
  • C. lies between 301 and 400
  • D. crosses 500

Q6. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019 as a time-bound national strategy to reduce particulate pollution, was launched by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
  • B. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. Central Pollution Control Board acting independently

Q7. With reference to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), consider the following statements: 1. It covers 131 non-attainment and Million-Plus cities across 24 States/UTs. 2. Its baseline year for measuring reduction in PM10 concentrations is 2017-18. 3. Its revised target is a reduction of up to 40% in PM10 levels by 2025-26. 4. It legally binds every covered city to attain the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 microgram per cubic metre. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It covers 131 non-attainment and Million-Plus cities across 24 States/UTs.
  2. Its baseline year for measuring reduction in PM10 concentrations is 2017-18.
  3. Its revised target is a reduction of up to 40% in PM10 levels by 2025-26.
  4. It legally binds every covered city to attain the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 microgram per cubic metre.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q8. The official declaration in January 2026 that 2025 was Delhi's cleanest year for particulate matter since 2018 (barring COVID-year 2020) was made by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
  • B. Commission for Air Quality Management, independently of the Union Government
  • C. Central Pollution Control Board alone
  • D. Government of NCT of Delhi

Q9. Excluding the COVID-affected year 2020, which year in the 2018-2025 period recorded Delhi's lowest annual average PM2.5 concentration, at 97 microgram per cubic metre?

  • A. 2025
  • B. 2024
  • C. 2023
  • D. 2018

Q10. Regarding the transition from the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), consider the following statements: 1. The EPCA, dissolved upon the CAQM's creation, had itself been established for the NCR in 1998. 2. The CAQM was first brought into existence through an Ordinance promulgated in October 2020, later replaced by the CAQM Act, 2021. 3. Unlike the EPCA, which was set up pursuant to a Supreme Court order, the CAQM draws its authority from a statute enacted by Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The EPCA, dissolved upon the CAQM's creation, had itself been established for the NCR in 1998.
  2. The CAQM was first brought into existence through an Ordinance promulgated in October 2020, later replaced by the CAQM Act, 2021.
  3. Unlike the EPCA, which was set up pursuant to a Supreme Court order, the CAQM draws its authority from a statute enacted by Parliament.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3