Environment MCQs for UPSC Prelims — January 2026
Q1. The Solid Waste Management Rules, which provide the statutory basis for mapping and time-bound bioremediation of legacy dumpsites, are notified under which one of the following Acts?
- A. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- B. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
- C. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- D. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
Q2. In the context of legacy dumpsite remediation, which one of the following best describes 'biomining'?
- A. Excavating aged legacy waste and spreading it in windrows so that aeration and microbial bio-cultures accelerate its decomposition and stabilisation, after which it is screened into reusable fractions
- B. Incinerating mixed municipal solid waste at high temperature to generate electricity
- C. Sealing fresh mixed municipal waste in an engineered, lined landfill to prevent leachate and methane escape
- D. Composting only segregated wet, biodegradable waste into manure for agricultural use
Q3. Once the Centre sanctions legacy waste remediation funds for a state under Lakshya Zero Dumpsite, the actual on-ground execution of the remediation projects is carried out primarily by which one of the following?
- A. Urban Local Bodies
- B. NITI Aayog
- C. Central Pollution Control Board
- D. State Pollution Control Boards
Q4. Under 'Lakshya Zero Dumpsite', the Government of India approved a ₹433.74 crore legacy waste remediation proposal for which one of the following states?
- A. Maharashtra
- B. Andhra Pradesh
- C. Rajasthan
- D. Telangana
Q5. Which one of the following is the dedicated flagship vertical of SBM-U 2.0 specifically aimed at scientifically remediating legacy waste dumpsites and reclaiming the land?
- A. Lakshya Zero Dumpsite
- B. Used (Grey) Water Management
- C. Garbage Free Cities star-rating protocol
- D. ODF+ / ODF++ certification
Q6. 'Lakshya Zero Dumpsite' operates as a flagship vertical of a parent urban mission that was launched in which year?
- A. 2014
- B. 2021
- C. 2019
- D. 2022
Q7. For a period of how many years was Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 launched in 2021?
- A. Three years
- B. Five years
- C. Seven years
- D. Ten years
Q8. Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0, under which legacy dumpsites are being remediated, is implemented by which one of the following ministries?
- A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- C. Ministry of Jal Shakti
- D. Ministry of Rural Development
Q9. The Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme, aimed at achieving 'Zero Dumpsites', is being carried out as an accelerator vertical under which one of the following flagship missions?
- A. Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0
- B. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0
- C. Smart Cities Mission
- D. National Mission for Clean Ganga
Q10. With reference to the distribution of Ramsar sites in India, consider the following statements:
1. Tamil Nadu has the largest number of Ramsar sites among the Indian States.
2. Uttar Pradesh has the second-largest number of Ramsar sites in India.
3. Chhari-Dhand is Gujarat's fifth Ramsar site.
4. Patna Bird Sanctuary is located in the State of Bihar.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- Tamil Nadu has the largest number of Ramsar sites among the Indian States.
- Uttar Pradesh has the second-largest number of Ramsar sites in India.
- Chhari-Dhand is Gujarat's fifth Ramsar site.
- Patna Bird Sanctuary is located in the State of Bihar.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q11. World Wetlands Day is observed on 2 February because that date marks the anniversary of which one of the following events?
- A. The adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971
- B. India's accession to the Ramsar Convention in 1982
- C. The entry into force of the Ramsar Convention in 1975
- D. The establishment of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat at Gland, Switzerland
Q12. With reference to World Wetlands Day, consider the following statements:
1. It is observed on 2 February each year.
2. It commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention in 1971.
3. The theme for World Wetlands Day 2026 is 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage'.
4. World Wetlands Day 2026 was the first occasion on which the day was observed anywhere in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It is observed on 2 February each year.
- It commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention in 1971.
- The theme for World Wetlands Day 2026 is 'Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage'.
- World Wetlands Day 2026 was the first occasion on which the day was observed anywhere in the world.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 and 4
Q13. With reference to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 as compared with the earlier 2010 Rules, consider the following statements:
1. The 2017 Rules replaced the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
2. Unlike the 2010 Rules, the 2017 Rules shifted primary regulatory responsibility from a Central authority to State/UT Wetland Authorities.
3. The 2017 Rules are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The 2017 Rules replaced the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
- Unlike the 2010 Rules, the 2017 Rules shifted primary regulatory responsibility from a Central authority to State/UT Wetland Authorities.
- The 2017 Rules are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q14. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 have been notified under the provisions of which one of the following parent statutes?
- A. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- B. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- C. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- D. Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Q15. With reference to Chhari-Dhand, added to the Ramsar List in 2026, which one of the following descriptions is correct?
- A. It is Gujarat's fifth Ramsar site and a seasonal saline/brackish wetland
- B. It is Gujarat's first Ramsar site and a permanent freshwater lake
- C. It is Gujarat's third Ramsar site and a coastal mangrove wetland
- D. It is Gujarat's fifth Ramsar site and a permanent freshwater reservoir
Q16. The two wetlands added to India's Ramsar List ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026 — Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand — lie respectively in which pair of States?
- A. Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat
- B. Bihar and Gujarat
- C. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
- D. Bihar and Rajasthan
Q17. As of World Wetlands Day 2026, India's network of 98 Ramsar sites is correctly described as being:
- A. the largest in Asia and the third largest in the world by number of sites
- B. the largest in Asia and also the largest in the world by number of sites
- C. the second largest in Asia after China and the largest in the world
- D. the largest in the world by total wetland area but only second in Asia by number of sites
Q18. The designation of India's Ramsar sites and the implementation of the Ramsar Convention within India are carried out by which one of the following?
- A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
- C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
- D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Q19. In which years, respectively, was the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands adopted and did it enter into force?
- A. Adopted in 1971 and entered into force in 1975
- B. Adopted in 1975 and entered into force in 1982
- C. Adopted in 1971 and entered into force in 1971
- D. Adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1986
Q20. The Ramsar Convention (1971) requires parties to promote the 'wise use' of all wetlands in their territory. In the context of the Convention, the term 'wise use' is best defined as the:
- A. maintenance of the ecological character of wetlands, achieved through ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development
- B. complete prohibition of all human economic activity within the boundaries of a designated wetland
- C. conversion of ecologically degraded wetlands into agricultural or aquaculture land to raise productivity
- D. exclusive reservation of wetlands for the conservation of migratory waterfowl to the exclusion of other biodiversity
Q21. Which one of the following pairs correctly identifies India's first two designated Ramsar sites?
- A. Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park
- B. Sambhar Lake and Wular Lake
- C. Loktak Lake and Harike Wetland
- D. Sundarban Wetland and Bhitarkanika Mangroves
Q22. Which one of the following initiatives, announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, is specifically aimed at promoting the unique conservation values of Ramsar sites while supporting local livelihoods?
- A. Amrit Dharohar
- B. Mission Sahbhagita
- C. Namami Gange
- D. Save Wetlands Campaign
Q23. India's national event to commemorate World Wetlands Day 2026 was held at which one of the following venues?
- A. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
- B. Keoladeo National Park
- C. Sultanpur National Park
- D. Okhla Bird Sanctuary
Q24. Under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, the State Wetland Authority is to include one expert each drawn from how many specified specialist fields (such as wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socioeconomics)?
Q25. Chhari-Dhand's inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance is processed and notified by which Union ministry as the nodal ministry?
- A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
- C. Ministry of Tourism
- D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
Q26. With reference to the Chhari-Dhand wetland, consider the following statements:
1. It is a seasonal saline desert wetland lying between the Banni grasslands and the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
2. It was notified as Gujarat's first Conservation Reserve in 2008 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. It lies on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and is chiefly a breeding ground for the Lesser Florican.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is a seasonal saline desert wetland lying between the Banni grasslands and the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
- It was notified as Gujarat's first Conservation Reserve in 2008 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- It lies on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway and is chiefly a breeding ground for the Lesser Florican.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q27. Which one of the following distinctions is correctly associated with the Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah district?
- A. It is the smallest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh
- B. It is the largest freshwater lake in Uttar Pradesh
- C. It is the oldest national park in India
- D. It is the highest-altitude wetland in the Indo-Gangetic plain
Q28. Following its Ramsar designation, day-to-day conservation and 'wise-use' management of the Patna Bird Sanctuary is operationalised primarily through which of the following bodies?
- A. The State Wetland Authority, Uttar Pradesh
- B. The National Biodiversity Authority
- C. The Wildlife Institute of India
- D. The Central Zoo Authority
Q29. In the context of the recent additions to India's Ramsar network, what precisely is meant by a site being designated a 'Ramsar Site' (Wetland of International Importance)?
- A. A wetland designated under the Ramsar Convention on account of its international ecological significance, as per agreed criteria
- B. A wetland inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its natural value
- C. A wetland notified as a Conservation Reserve under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- D. A wetland recognised as a UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve
Q30. With the designation of Patna Bird Sanctuary and Chhari-Dhand announced ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026, India's Ramsar network grew to 98 sites. From how many sites in 2014 did this network expand to reach that figure?