Environment MCQs for UPSC Prelims — February 2026
Q1. Consider the following statements comparing India's big cat conservation efforts:
1. Project Tiger was launched in 1973, decades before Project Cheetah, which commenced in 2022.
2. Both Project Tiger and Project Cheetah are anchored solely at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
3. The Asiatic lion, the focus of India's lion conservation, is confined in the wild to the Gir landscape of Gujarat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Project Tiger was launched in 1973, decades before Project Cheetah, which commenced in 2022.
- Both Project Tiger and Project Cheetah are anchored solely at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
- The Asiatic lion, the focus of India's lion conservation, is confined in the wild to the Gir landscape of Gujarat.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. Which one of the following statutory bodies coordinates the technical and regulatory aspects of the 2026 Botswana cheetah translocation under Project Cheetah?
- A. National Tiger Conservation Authority
- B. Central Zoo Authority
- C. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
- D. National Biodiversity Authority
Q3. With reference to the international conservation status of the cheetah and related big cats, consider the following:
1. The cheetah is listed on Appendix I of CITES.
2. The Asiatic lion is assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
3. The cheetah is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).
4. The cheetah is categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The cheetah is listed on Appendix I of CITES.
- The Asiatic lion is assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- The cheetah is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).
- The cheetah is categorised as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 3 only
Q4. In the context of Project Cheetah, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is described as the 'second home' for cheetahs. This description primarily means that it is:
- A. An additional reintroduction/release site meant to establish a further free-ranging cheetah population and ease pressure on Kuno
- B. A captive-breeding zoo facility set up exclusively to rear India-born cheetah cubs
- C. A dedicated rescue and veterinary centre for injured cheetahs shifted out of Kuno
- D. A trans-boundary sanctuary jointly managed with Rajasthan for cheetah tourism
Q5. Project Cheetah is carried out under which one of the following Union ministries as its nodal ministry?
- A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- B. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- C. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- D. Ministry of Science and Technology
Q6. With reference to the legal and institutional framework of Project Cheetah, consider the following:
1. The Supreme Court, in 2020, permitted the experimental introduction of the African cheetah.
2. The Wildlife Institute of India serves as a scientific/technical partner.
3. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the statutory basis.
4. The Central Zoo Authority is the nodal implementing agency for the project.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?
- The Supreme Court, in 2020, permitted the experimental introduction of the African cheetah.
- The Wildlife Institute of India serves as a scientific/technical partner.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 provides the statutory basis.
- The Central Zoo Authority is the nodal implementing agency for the project.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 only
Q7. With reference to cheetah taxonomy and biogeography, consider the following:
1. The cheetah is the only surviving species of the genus Acinonyx.
2. The African cheetah has a thicker coat and a more powerful neck than the Asiatic cheetah.
3. The African and Asiatic cheetah lineages are estimated to have diverged tens of thousands of years ago.
4. Iran hosts the world's last surviving wild population of the Asiatic cheetah.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The cheetah is the only surviving species of the genus Acinonyx.
- The African cheetah has a thicker coat and a more powerful neck than the Asiatic cheetah.
- The African and Asiatic cheetah lineages are estimated to have diverged tens of thousands of years ago.
- Iran hosts the world's last surviving wild population of the Asiatic cheetah.
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the cheetah subspecies:
1. The cheetahs introduced under Project Cheetah belong to Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, the African subspecies, and not the Asiatic subspecies formerly native to India.
2. Compared with the Asiatic cheetah, the African cheetah is generally larger and has a comparatively thinner coat.
3. The Asiatic cheetah is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the same category as the African cheetah.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The cheetahs introduced under Project Cheetah belong to Acinonyx jubatus jubatus, the African subspecies, and not the Asiatic subspecies formerly native to India.
- Compared with the Asiatic cheetah, the African cheetah is generally larger and has a comparatively thinner coat.
- The Asiatic cheetah is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, the same category as the African cheetah.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. The Kuno river, which drains Kuno National Park, is a tributary of which one of the following, the principal river of the region into which it flows?
- A. Chambal
- B. Betwa
- C. Ken
- D. Sindh
Q10. With reference to Kuno National Park, consider the following:
1. It lies in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
2. It is largely devoid of human settlements.
3. It falls within the Western Ghats landscape.
4. It was originally developed as an alternative reintroduction site for the Asiatic lion.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It lies in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It is largely devoid of human settlements.
- It falls within the Western Ghats landscape.
- It was originally developed as an alternative reintroduction site for the Asiatic lion.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q11. Which one of the following was the very first source country from which cheetahs were translocated to India under Project Cheetah?
- A. Namibia
- B. South Africa
- C. Botswana
- D. Kenya
Q12. Under Project Cheetah, cheetahs have been sourced from three African countries up to the February 2026 translocation. Taking the three source-country consignments together, how many cheetahs have in total been imported into India?
Q13. Who heads the high-powered expert committee constituted by the Supreme Court to independently re-examine the definition and delineation of the Aravalli hill range?
- A. The Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
- B. The Chairman of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)
- C. The Director General, Forest Survey of India (FSI)
- D. The Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Q14. In which year did the Supreme Court of India accept a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges and bar the grant of fresh mining leases across the Aravalli States pending experts' reports?
- A. 2023
- B. 2024
- C. 2025
- D. 2026
Q15. The 'Harit Sagar' Green Port Guidelines, 2023, aimed at reducing carbon intensity at ports, were issued by which of the following?
- A. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- D. Ministry of Earth Sciences
Q16. The three ports of Paradip, Deendayal (Kandla) and V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) were formally recognised as Green Hydrogen Hubs by which Union Ministry?
- A. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- C. Ministry of Power
- D. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
Q17. The recognition of Paradip, Deendayal and V.O. Chidambaranar ports as 'Green Hydrogen Hubs' under the National Green Hydrogen Mission implies that:
- A. they are recognised by MNRE without direct financial assistance, thereby facilitating access to incentives available under other central or state schemes
- B. they each receive a direct capital grant of ₹19,744 crore from MNRE for hydrogen infrastructure
- C. they are exempted from the provisions of the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021
- D. their administration is transferred from MoPSW to the respective State Maritime Boards
Q18. With reference to the outcomes targeted under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to be achieved by 2030, consider the following statements:
1. Green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT per annum.
2. Associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW.
3. Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of CO2 emissions per annum.
4. Creation of over 60 lakh jobs.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT per annum.
- Associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW.
- Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of CO2 emissions per annum.
- Creation of over 60 lakh jobs.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 4 only
Q19. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, with an initial outlay of ₹19,744 crore, was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year?
- A. 2021
- B. 2022
- C. 2023
- D. 2024
Q20. With reference to the first cluster of CCU testbeds for the cement industry (2025), which of the following are correctly identified as knowledge partners (research institutions)?
- Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
- National Council for Cement and Building Materials
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q21. Who chairs the High-Powered Committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal to re-examine the environmental clearance granted to the Great Nicobar Island Project — the committee whose report was submitted to the NGT in a sealed cover in October 2025?
- A. Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, National Green Tribunal
- B. Leena Nandan, former Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- C. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment
- D. Ashok Lavasa, former Election Commissioner of India
Q22. With reference to the exemptions and permissible activities introduced by the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 — relevant to Justice Deepak Gupta's critique at AAD 2026 of weakened ecological scrutiny — consider the following: 1. Forest land located within 100 km of international borders required for national security projects is exempt from prior Central Government approval. 2. Roadside amenities up to 0.10 hectare on public roads providing access to a habitation are exempt. 3. Government-owned zoos and eco-tourism facilities are listed as permissible non-forest activities. 4. Commercial extraction of timber by private parties on notified forest land is included as a permissible activity. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Forest land located within 100 km of international borders required for national security projects is exempt from prior Central Government approval.
- Roadside amenities up to 0.10 hectare on public roads providing access to a habitation are exempt.
- Government-owned zoos and eco-tourism facilities are listed as permissible non-forest activities.
- Commercial extraction of timber by private parties on notified forest land is included as a permissible activity.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q23. With reference to the High-Powered Committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal to re-examine the environmental clearance granted to the Great Nicobar Island Project — whose report was submitted to the NGT in a sealed cover in October 2025 — consider the following as members of the committee: 1. Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration 2. Botanical Survey of India 3. Director, Wildlife Institute of India 4. Central Pollution Control Board Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration
- Botanical Survey of India
- Director, Wildlife Institute of India
- Central Pollution Control Board
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q24. At the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2026, former Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Gupta criticised the National Green Tribunal's handling of the Great Nicobar Island project. Under which one of the following statutes was the National Green Tribunal established?
- A. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- B. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- C. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
- D. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Q25. Craig, the elephant whose death in January 2026 reignited global debate on the conservation value of charismatic individual animals, was the flagship resident of which one of the following protected areas?
- A. Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
- B. Amboseli National Park, Kenya
- C. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
- D. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Q26. The 2021 reclassification of African elephants into two distinct species — savanna and forest — for conservation status purposes was published under the authority of which one of the following bodies?
- A. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- B. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
- C. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- D. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat
Q27. According to the IUCN Red List assessment that reclassified African elephants in 2021, by approximately what percentage has the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) population declined over the last 50 years?
- A. At least 30%
- B. At least 45%
- C. At least 60%
- D. At least 86%
Q28. In the context of African elephant conservation, the term 'super tusker' refers to which one of the following?
- A. A bull elephant whose each tusk weighs approximately 45 kilograms or more
- B. An adult elephant whose combined tusk length exceeds 3 metres
- C. A matriarch leading a clan of more than 20 individuals across two ecosystems
- D. A male elephant in musth whose tusks have not been trimmed by rangers
Q29. In India, the legal protection of the tiger and other flagship species named in the India–Nepal MoU is derived principally from which one of the following statutes?
- A. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
- B. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
- C. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- D. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Q30. Which Ministry is the primary issuing authority of the Guidelines for Installation and Operation of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, 2024, whose non-implementation by States is the subject of the petition before the Supreme Court (2026)?
- A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- B. Ministry of Heavy Industries
- C. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- D. Ministry of Power