Environmental Governance & Legislation — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
35 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on Environmental Governance & Legislation (Environment & Ecology). Spanning from 1996 to 2024. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
What UPSC Asks About Environmental Governance & Legislation
Based on 35 questions across 22 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of Environmental Governance & Legislation within the broader Environment & Ecology syllabus. The questions range from factual recall to application-based analysis.
Recent trends show UPSC moving towards statement-based questions that combine multiple aspects of Environmental Governance & Legislation. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:
कथन-I: इंडियन फ्लाइंग फॉक्स को वन्य जीव (संरक्षण) अधिनियम, 1972 के अधीन “पीड़क जंतु” की श्रेणी में रखा गया है।
कथन-II: इंडियन फ्लाइंग फॉक्स अन्य जन्तुओं का रक्त पीता है।
उपरोक्त कथनों के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा सही है?
(a)कथन-I और कथन-II दोनों सही हैं तथा कथन-II, कथन-I की व्याख्या करता है
(b)कथन-I और कथन-II दोनों सही हैं, किंतु कथन-II, कथन-I की व्याख्या नहीं करता है
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. भारत में जैव विविधता प्रबंधन समितियाँ जैविक संरक्षण के उद्देश्यों को हासिल करने के लिए प्रवृत्त हुई हैं।
2. जैव विविधता प्रबंधन समितियाँ, अपने क्षेत्राधिकार के अंतर्गत, जैविक संसाधनों तक पहुँच के लिए शुल्क संग्रह सहित लाभ-सहभागिता विनियंत्रण करने के लिए महत्त्वपूर्ण प्रवर्तक हैं।
उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?
Q: With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements:
1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government.
2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside.
3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: With reference to the ‘New York Declaration on Forests’, which of the following statements are correct?
1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3. It is a legally binding international declaration.
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q: राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर, अनुसूचित जनजाति और पारंपरिक वन निवासियों (वन अधिकारों की मान्यता) अधिनियम, 2006 के प्रभावी कार्यान्वयन को सुनिश्चित करने के लिए, कौन-सा मंत्रालय नोडल एजेंसी (नोडल एंजेंसी) है?
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. भारतीय वन अधिनियम, 1927 में हाल में हुए संशोधन के अनुसार, वन निवासियों को वनक्षेत्रों में उगने वाले बाँस को काटने का अधिकार है।
2. अनुसूचित जनजाति एवं अन्य पारंपरिक वनवासी (वन अधिकारों की मान्यता) अधिनियम, 2006 के अनुसार, बाँस एक गौण वन उत्पाद है।
3. अनुसूचित जनजातियों एवं अन्य पारंपरिक वनवासियों (वन अधिकारों की मान्यता) अधिनियम, 2006, वन निवासियों को वन भूमि का स्वामित्व अधिकार भी प्रदान करता है।
उपरोक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सही है/हैं?
Q: Consider the following statements:
The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to
1. state the requirement of public participation in the process of environmental protection, and the procedure and manner in which it is sought
2. lay down the standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from various sources
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State levels.
2. People's participation is mandatory in the compensatory afforestation programmes carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?
1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights.
3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: वन्यजीव (सुरक्षा) अधिनियम, 1972 के अनुसार, किसी व्यक्ति द्वारा, यदि द्वारा किए गए वन्यजीव अपराध के अभियुक्त होने के विचार में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा/से प्राणी का शिकार नहीं किया जा सकता?
1. घड़ियाल
2. भारतीय जंगली गौ
3. जंगली भैंस
नीचे दिए गए कूट का प्रयोग कर सही उत्तर चुनिए :
Q: With reference to an initiative called 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.
2. It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.
3. It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements: 1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. 2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness. 3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in those zones except agriculture.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: Consider the following statements :
1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: How does National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting the Indian agriculture?
1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects the indigenous and traditional genetic resources.
2. NBA directly monitors and supervises the scientific research on genetic modification of crop plants.
3. Application for Intellectual Property Rights related to genetic/biological resources cannot be made without the approval of NBA.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India?
1. Right to healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21
2. Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1)
3. Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A)
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Q: With reference to India, consider the following Central Acts:
1. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947
2. Mining and Mineral Development (Regulation) Act, 1957
3. Customs Act, 1962
4. Indian Forest Act, 1927
Which of the above Acts have relevance to/bearing on the biodiversity conservation in the country?
Q: Sustainable development is described as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In this perspective, inherently the concept of sustainable development is intertwined with which of the following concepts ?
Q: As a result of their annual survey, the National Geographic Society and an international polling firm GlobeScan gave India top rank in Greendex 2009 score. What is this score?
(a)It is a measure of efforts made by different countries in adopting technologies for reducing carbon footprint
(b)It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries
(c)It is an assessment of programmes/schemes undertaken by different countries for improving the conservation of natural resources
(d)It is an index showing the volume of carbon credits sold by different countries
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The forest cover in India constitutes around 20 % of its geographical area. Out of the total forest cover, dense forest constitutes around 40 %.
2. The National Forestry Action Programme aims at bringing one-third of the area of India under tree/forest cover.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, whose permission is required for cultivation of any genetically modified crop such as Bt-Cotton in India, is under the Union Minister of
Q: Consider the following statements regarding environment issues of India:
I. Gulf of Mannar is one of the biosphere reserves.
II. The Ganga Action Plan, phase II has been merged with the National River Conservation Plan.
III. The National Museum of Natural History at New Delhi imparts nonformal education in environment and conservation.
IV. Environmental Information System (ENVIS) acts as a decentralised information network for environmental information.
Which of these statements are correct?
Q: Consider the following programmes:
I. Afforestation and development of wastelands.
II. Reforestation and replantation in existing forests.
III. Encouraging the wood substitutes and supplying other types of fuel.
IV. Promotion of wide use of insecticides and pesticides to restrict the loss of forest area from degradation caused by pests and insects.
The National Forest Policy of 1988 includes
(a)I, II, III and IV
(b)II and IV
(c)I, III and IV
(d)I, II and III
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Environmental Governance & Legislation?▼
UPSC has asked 35 questions on Environmental Governance & Legislation in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1996 and 2024. This sub-topic falls under Environment & Ecology.
In which years has UPSC asked about Environmental Governance & Legislation?▼
Questions on Environmental Governance & Legislation have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996. The topic has appeared in 22 out of 31 years.
What is the difficulty level of Environmental Governance & Legislation questions in UPSC Prelims?▼
Among 35 questions on Environmental Governance & Legislation: 11 are easy, 22 are moderate, and 2 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.
