Environment MCQs for UPSC Prelims — August 2026
Q1. The inventory that mapped and categorised more than 25,000 glacial lakes across five major river basins of the Hindu Kush Himalaya was brought out by which organisation, and in which year?
- A. The United Nations Environment Programme, in 2011
- B. The International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO, in 2022
- C. The South Asia Water Initiative of the World Bank, in 2015
- D. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, in 2018
Q2. With reference to the measures used to characterise bird communities in ecological studies, consider the following statements:
1. The Shannon index reflects both the number of species present and the evenness of their relative abundances.
2. Species richness is a count of the species present and takes no account of their relative abundances.
3. Functional richness, functional evenness, functional divergence and functional dispersion are used alongside taxonomic measures to describe bird community responses.
4. A rise in the Shannon index of a bird community indicates an increase in the total number of individual birds present.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Shannon index reflects both the number of species present and the evenness of their relative abundances.
- Species richness is a count of the species present and takes no account of their relative abundances.
- Functional richness, functional evenness, functional divergence and functional dispersion are used alongside taxonomic measures to describe bird community responses.
- A rise in the Shannon index of a bird community indicates an increase in the total number of individual birds present.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q3. Which one of the following is the principal component of biological diversity whose decline is the defining signature of biotic homogenization?
- A. Beta diversity, the compositional distinctiveness among communities
- B. Alpha diversity, since homogenization necessarily removes species from every local site
- C. Gamma diversity, since the regional species pool is invariably the first to collapse
- D. Phylogenetic diversity, which is unaffected by land-use change in all documented cases
Q4. In China's announced pledge to reach 'carbon neutrality' before 2060, the term carbon neutrality is best understood as which one of the following?
- A. A state in which every greenhouse gas from every sector is permanently eliminated at source
- B. A state in which the entire national energy supply is drawn exclusively from non-fossil sources
- C. The point at which national carbon dioxide emissions reach their highest level and thereafter decline
- D. A state in which anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are balanced by anthropogenic removals
Q5. The scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, under which large contiguous land parcels are aggregated for utility-scale generation, is implemented by which one of the following?
- A. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, through State-designated solar power park developers
- B. The Ministry of Power, through the Rural Electrification Corporation and State distribution utilities
- C. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, through the National Clean Energy Fund window
- D. NITI Aayog, through the Solar Energy Corporation of India as its executing arm
Q6. The kind of satellite-based land and vegetation monitoring used to track greening around infrastructure is operationalised in India through the Bhuvan geoportal, which is run by which one of the following?
- A. The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
- B. The National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- C. The National Remote Sensing Centre, a centre of ISRO under the Department of Space
- D. The Survey of India, the national mapping agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology
Q7. In the research that established the 'photovoltaic heat island' effect, what was the largest reported local climatic contrast between a utility-scale solar power plant and adjacent natural desert?
- A. Annual mean rainfall about 24% higher over the plant
- B. Annual mean soil moisture about 2.4 times that of the desert
- C. Annual mean temperature about 0.4 °C lower than the desert
- D. Annual mean temperature about 2.4 °C higher than the desert
Q8. With reference to the 2026 study linking China's solar expansion policy to bird diversity, consider the following statements:
1. It used a panel of 2,344 counties.
2. A one-standard-deviation rise in solar policy intensity was associated with a fall of about 2.10% in the bird biodiversity index.
3. The dominant pathway of impact identified was direct collision mortality of birds striking photovoltaic panel surfaces.
4. The study recommended siting large solar clusters preferentially on cropland-rich plains rather than in desert regions.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It used a panel of 2,344 counties.
- A one-standard-deviation rise in solar policy intensity was associated with a fall of about 2.10% in the bird biodiversity index.
- The dominant pathway of impact identified was direct collision mortality of birds striking photovoltaic panel surfaces.
- The study recommended siting large solar clusters preferentially on cropland-rich plains rather than in desert regions.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q9. Consider the following statements comparing the differential effects reported by the 2026 study on solar expansion and avian diversity in China:
1. The adverse effect on bird diversity was stronger in non-desert regions than in desert regions.
2. Both resident and migratory bird groups showed significant declines, whereas species associated with mountain habitats showed no significant effect.
3. The adverse effect was concentrated in the poorest counties and was largely absent in wealthier, structurally complex landscapes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The adverse effect on bird diversity was stronger in non-desert regions than in desert regions.
- Both resident and migratory bird groups showed significant declines, whereas species associated with mountain habitats showed no significant effect.
- The adverse effect was concentrated in the poorest counties and was largely absent in wealthier, structurally complex landscapes.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. Leaf Area Index is formally recognised as one of the 'Essential Climate Variables' identified by which one of the following bodies?
- A. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, under the World Meteorological Organization and UNEP
- B. The Global Climate Observing System, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization and partners
- C. The Group on Earth Observations, through its Global Earth Observation System of Systems
- D. The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice under the UNFCCC
Q11. In coniferous (needle-leaf) canopies, the Leaf Area Index is conventionally defined as what fraction of the total needle surface area per unit ground area?
- A. One-half of the total needle surface area
- B. One-third of the total needle surface area
- C. One-fourth of the total needle surface area
- D. The entire total needle surface area
Q12. The county-level panel dataset on which the 'inferior greening' finding rests spans how many years?
- A. 6 years
- B. 8 years
- C. 10 years
- D. 12 years
Q13. With reference to the phenomenon described as 'inferior greening' in the context of large-scale solar photovoltaic deployment, consider the following statements:
1. It is accompanied by a measurable increase in the Leaf Area Index of the affected landscape.
2. It involves the replacement of ecologically diverse habitat by dense but compositionally homogeneous vegetation.
3. It denotes a net decline in total vegetation cover brought about by the land-take of solar arrays.
4. Its effects were found to be most pronounced in desert regions.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is accompanied by a measurable increase in the Leaf Area Index of the affected landscape.
- It involves the replacement of ecologically diverse habitat by dense but compositionally homogeneous vegetation.
- It denotes a net decline in total vegetation cover brought about by the land-take of solar arrays.
- Its effects were found to be most pronounced in desert regions.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q14. Which one of the following is the Government of India's principal instrument for creating gigawatt-scale domestic manufacturing capacity in high efficiency solar PV modules and cells?
- A. The Production Linked Incentive scheme for the National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules
- B. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, under which all domestic module requirements are compulsorily manufactured in India
- C. The PM-KUSUM scheme, which is the sole route for procurement of all indigenously manufactured solar cells
- D. The Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects scheme, which alone determines national cell manufacturing capacity
Q15. According to recent Indian estimates of the water intensity of data centres, roughly how much water does one megawatt of data centre capacity consume in a year?
- A. About 25 million litres
- B. About 25 lakh litres, this being the ceiling permitted for all evaporatively cooled facilities
- C. About 150 million litres, this being the figure uniformly reported by every operator in India
- D. About 358 million litres, this being the mandated design limit for hyperscale campuses
Q16. A hyperscale data centre proposing to draw ground water for evaporative cooling in India requires a No Objection Certificate. The authority that grants such NOCs for industrial and infrastructure projects was constituted under which one of the following?
- A. Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- B. Section 3 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- C. Section 3 of the River Boards Act, read with the National Water Policy
- D. Article 262 of the Constitution, read with the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
Q17. A semiconductor fabrication unit, which requires very large volumes of high-purity water, must meet prescribed limits before discharging its treated effluent. The general and industry-specific effluent discharge standards it must comply with derive their legal force from which one of the following?
- A. The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- B. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which vests all effluent standard-setting powers exclusively in State Pollution Control Boards
- C. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, which makes compliance entirely a function of the cess rate paid by the unit
- D. The National Water Policy, which is binding on all industrial units and wholly displaces sectoral effluent norms
Q18. Consider the following statements about the regulation of industrial water use and effluent in India:
1. Zero Liquid Discharge is being implemented in the textile, bulk drug and distillery industries.
2. General as well as industry-specific effluent discharge standards have been stipulated under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
3. The Central Pollution Control Board categorises industries into Red, Orange, Green and White categories on the basis of a Pollution Index.
4. Attainment of Zero Liquid Discharge is a statutory precondition for grant of consent to operate to every water-consuming industrial unit in India.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Zero Liquid Discharge is being implemented in the textile, bulk drug and distillery industries.
- General as well as industry-specific effluent discharge standards have been stipulated under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
- The Central Pollution Control Board categorises industries into Red, Orange, Green and White categories on the basis of a Pollution Index.
- Attainment of Zero Liquid Discharge is a statutory precondition for grant of consent to operate to every water-consuming industrial unit in India.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q19. Consider the following statements about India's institutional framework for wetland and urban lake governance:
1. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 were notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. These Rules provide for the constitution of State Wetlands Authorities.
3. Amrit Dharohar, aimed at optimal utilisation of wetlands, was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
4. Mission Sahbhagita is a scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for desilting and cleaning urban lakes.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 were notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- These Rules provide for the constitution of State Wetlands Authorities.
- Amrit Dharohar, aimed at optimal utilisation of wetlands, was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
- Mission Sahbhagita is a scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for desilting and cleaning urban lakes.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q20. Under the Convention on Wetlands adopted at Ramsar in 1971, which one of the following marine areas falls within the scope of the term 'wetland' as defined by the Convention?
- A. Marine waters whose depth at low tide does not exceed two metres
- B. Marine waters whose depth at low tide does not exceed six metres
- C. Marine waters whose depth at high tide does not exceed six metres
- D. Marine waters whose depth at low tide does not exceed ten metres
Q21. Consider the following pairs of Indian cities and the share of their wetlands reported lost, mainly to construction and pollution-driven eutrophication:
1. Mumbai — about 71 per cent
2. Ahmedabad — about 57 per cent
3. Delhi-National Capital Region — about 56 per cent
4. Pune — about 37 per cent
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Mumbai — about 71 per cent
- Ahmedabad — about 57 per cent
- Delhi-National Capital Region — about 56 per cent
- Pune — about 37 per cent
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q22. Which one of the following correctly describes the legal position governing construction around lakes in Bengaluru?
- A. All construction within one kilometre of any lake is permanently prohibited, irrespective of the size of the waterbody
- B. Buffer-zone norms apply exclusively to lakes larger than 40 hectares, all smaller waterbodies being entirely exempt from them
- C. Every lake catchment in the State stands notified as a wetland, which makes all conversion of catchment land legally impossible
- D. A no-construction buffer of 30 metres from the lake spread has been reiterated by the National Green Tribunal, widening for larger lakes
Q23. Consider the following pairs of Indian Ramsar sites and the States/Union Territories in which they are located:
1. Wular Lake — Jammu and Kashmir
2. Hokersar Wetland — Jammu and Kashmir
3. Chhari-Dhand — Gujarat
4. Patna Bird Sanctuary — Bihar
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Wular Lake — Jammu and Kashmir
- Hokersar Wetland — Jammu and Kashmir
- Chhari-Dhand — Gujarat
- Patna Bird Sanctuary — Bihar
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 and 3
Q24. Consider the following statements about Wular Lake and Hokersar wetland:
1. Hokersar wetland was added to the Ramsar List in the same year as Wular Lake.
2. Wular Lake, designated a Ramsar site in 1990, is the largest freshwater lake in India.
3. The extent of Hokersar has shrunk from about 18.13 sq km recorded in 1969 to about 13.75 sq km.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Hokersar wetland was added to the Ramsar List in the same year as Wular Lake.
- Wular Lake, designated a Ramsar site in 1990, is the largest freshwater lake in India.
- The extent of Hokersar has shrunk from about 18.13 sq km recorded in 1969 to about 13.75 sq km.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q25. In its 2026 order on the Omaxe City project at Lucknow, the National Green Tribunal directed the Municipal Corporation to take over how many waterbodies for cleaning, rejuvenation and maintenance?
- A. Two ponds lying within the project area
- B. Three ponds lying within the project area
- C. Five ponds lying within the project area
- D. Nine ponds lying within the project area
Q26. The power of the National Green Tribunal to entertain all civil cases involving a substantial question relating to the environment arising out of the enactments listed in Schedule I — the basis on which it hears urban waterbody encroachment matters — is conferred by which one of the following?
- A. Section 14 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
- B. Section 15 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
- C. Section 16 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
- D. Section 20 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
Q27. Inland freshwater wetlands and peatlands together occupy only about 6 per cent of the Earth's land surface. What share of the global soil organic carbon stock do they contain?
- A. Less than 10 per cent of the global soil organic carbon stock
- B. About 15 per cent of the global soil organic carbon stock
- C. More than 30 per cent of the global soil organic carbon stock
- D. About 60 per cent of the global soil organic carbon stock
Q28. Which one of the following ecosystem types covers only about 3-4 per cent of the Earth's land surface, yet stores roughly 30 per cent of global soil organic carbon — almost twice the carbon held in the biomass of all the world's forests?
- A. Tidal salt marshes of temperate coasts
- B. Mangrove forests of tropical and subtropical coasts
- C. Peatlands, including tropical and boreal peat swamps
- D. Seagrass meadows of shallow coastal waters
Q29. Which one of the following is the Union Government's principal umbrella scheme for conservation of lakes and wetlands, into which the National Lake Conservation Plan was subsumed?
- A. Mission Sahbhagita, launched by the Union Environment Ministry for participatory conservation of wetlands
- B. National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems, implemented by the Union Environment Ministry
- C. Amrit Dharohar, announced in the Union Budget for optimal use of wetlands over three years
- D. National River Conservation Plan, implemented by the Union Environment Ministry for polluted river stretches
Q30. The National Lake Conservation Plan, under which polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi-urban areas were taken up for conservation from June 2001, was approved by the Government of India under which Plan period and on what funding basis?
- A. During the Ninth Five Year Plan, as a 100 per cent centrally sponsored scheme
- B. During the Tenth Five Year Plan, as a 100 per cent centrally sponsored scheme
- C. During the Ninth Five Year Plan, on a 70:30 Centre-State cost-sharing basis
- D. During the Eleventh Five Year Plan, on a 90:10 Centre-State cost-sharing basis