UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — New Solid Waste Management Rules Notified; To Come into Force from April 1, 2026

Q1. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, Bulk Waste Generators are primarily required to process which one of the four source-segregation streams on-site through composting or bio-methanation?

  • A. Wet waste
  • B. Dry waste
  • C. Sanitary waste
  • D. Special care waste

Q2. With reference to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. They are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 2. They were notified by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 3. They supersede the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. 4. They come into force from 1 April 2026. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. They are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  2. They were notified by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  3. They supersede the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
  4. They come into force from 1 April 2026.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q3. With reference to the notification of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. They derive rule-making authority from the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 2. They were notified in the year 2026. 3. They supersede the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. 4. They came into effect immediately on the date of their notification. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. They derive rule-making authority from the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  2. They were notified in the year 2026.
  3. They supersede the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
  4. They came into effect immediately on the date of their notification.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q4. With reference to the evolution of India's solid waste management regulations, consider the following statements: 1. The 2016 Rules applied only to urban local bodies, notified towns and industrial townships, whereas the 2026 Rules extend duties to rural local bodies. 2. Both the 2016 and the 2026 Rules were notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 3. The Municipal Solid Wastes Rules, 2000, unlike the 2016 Rules, already covered industrial areas. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The 2016 Rules applied only to urban local bodies, notified towns and industrial townships, whereas the 2026 Rules extend duties to rural local bodies.
  2. Both the 2016 and the 2026 Rules were notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  3. The Municipal Solid Wastes Rules, 2000, unlike the 2016 Rules, already covered industrial areas.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. In the context of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, the term 'biomining' of legacy dumpsites most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Scientific excavation and processing of accumulated old (legacy) waste at dumpsites to recover recyclables and reclaim the land
  • B. Using engineered microbes to generate electricity directly from freshly collected municipal waste
  • C. Bacterial extraction of metals from mine tailings and ore deposits
  • D. In-situ soil capping of dumpsites to trap methane without disturbing the buried waste

Q6. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, industries such as cement and waste-to-energy plants using solid fuel must progressively raise their Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) substitution from the current 5% to what level over a six-year period?

  • A. 10%
  • B. 15%
  • C. 25%
  • D. 50%

Q7. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, environmental compensation based on the polluter-pays principle is actually levied by which authority?

  • A. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • B. State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees
  • C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • D. National Green Tribunal

Q8. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, an entity is classified as a Bulk Waste Generator if it meets any one of how many alternative quantitative thresholds?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q9. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, Bulk Waste Generators are mandatorily required to register on the Centralised Online Portal developed by which authority?

  • A. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • B. NITI Aayog
  • C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • D. National Mission for Clean Ganga

Q10. The 'Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites' initiative, with which the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 are aligned, is a component of which one of the following flagship missions?

  • A. Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
  • B. AMRUT 2.0
  • C. Smart Cities Mission
  • D. Namami Gange Programme