International Environmental Treaties & Summits — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
40 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on International Environmental Treaties & Summits (Environment & Ecology). Spanning from 1998 to 2025. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
What UPSC Asks About International Environmental Treaties & Summits
Based on 40 questions across 17 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of International Environmental Treaties & Summits 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 International Environmental Treaties & Summits. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Q: Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the 'Declaration on Climate and Health'.
Statement II:
The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize health sector.
Statement III:
If India's health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
कथन I :
जलवायु परिवर्तन विषयक पेरिस समझौते के अनुच्छेद 6 की चर्चा, सतत विकास और जलवायु परिवर्तन विषयक वैश्विक चर्चाओं में समावेश लाती है।
कथन II :
जलवायु परिवर्तन विषयक पेरिस समझौते का अनुच्छेद 6, विकासशील देशों के हितों को प्रोत्साहित करता है।
कथन III :
जलवायु परिवर्तन विषयक पेरिस समझौते के अनुच्छेद 6 का आधार देशों को अपने उत्सर्जन लक्ष्य तय करने हेतु उनके भीतर गैर-राजकीय रणनीतियों का समर्थन करता है।
उपरोक्त कथनों के बारे में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक सही है?
(a)कथन II और कथन III दोनों सही हैं तथा वे दोनों कथन I की व्याख्या करते हैं
(b)कथन II और कथन III दोनों सही हैं किन्तु उनमें से केवल एक, कथन I की व्याख्या करता है
(c)कथन II और कथन III में से केवल एक सही है तथा वह कथन I की व्याख्या करता है
Q: Consider the following statements:
Statement-I:
Recently, the European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act.
Statement-II:
The European Union aims to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2040 and therefore intends to develop its clean technologies by that time.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c)Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d)Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. “जलवायु समूह (दि क्लाइमेट ग्रुप)” एक अंतर्राष्ट्रीय गैर-लाभ संगठन है, जो बड़े नेटवर्क बनाकर जलवायु क्रिया को प्रेरित करता है और उन्हें चलाता है।
2. अंतरराष्ट्रीय ऊर्जा एजेंसी ने जलवायु समूह की भागीदारी से एक वैश्विक पहल “EP100” प्रारंभ की।
3. EP100, ऊर्जा दक्षता में नवप्रवर्तन को प्रेरित करने एवं उत्सर्जन न्यूनीकरण लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करते हुए प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक बढ़त के लिए प्रतिबद्ध अग्रणी कंपनियों को साथ लाता है।
4. कुछ भारतीय कंपनियाँ EP100 की सदस्य हैं।
5. अंतरराष्ट्रीय ऊर्जा एजेंसी “आँइटू फ्लोरालाइज” का सचिवालय है।
उपयुक्त कथनों में कौन-से सही हैं ?
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. रामसर सम्मेलन के अनुसार, भारत के राज्यक्षेत्र में सभी वह भूमि जो बाढ़ाच्छादित रहती है, उन्हें भारत सरकार के लिए अधिदेशात्मक है।
2. आर्द्र भूमि (संरक्षण और प्रबंधन) नियम, 2010, भारत सरकार ने रामसर सम्मेलन की सिफारिशों के आधार पर बनाए हैं।
3. आर्द्र भूमि (संरक्षण और प्रबंधन) नियम, 2010, आर्द्र भूमि के अवशिष्ट क्षेत्र या उद्गम क्षेत्र को भी तालिकृत करते हैं, ऐसा कि अधिकार द्वारा निर्धारित किया गया है।
उपयुक्त में से कौन-सा/से कथन सही है/हैं?
Q: The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries' transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at
(a)The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg
(b)The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro
(c)The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris
(d)The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi
Q: Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC) :
1. TRAFFIC is a bureau under United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. The mission of TRAFFIC is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
Q: With reference to 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q: बेहतर नगरीय भविष्य की दिशा में कार्यरत संयुक्त राष्ट्र कार्यक्रम संयुक्त राष्ट्र पर्यावास (UN-Habitat) की भूमिका के सन्दर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं ?
1. संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र पर्यावास को अधिकृत किया है कि वह सामाजिक एवं पर्यावासीय दृष्टि से धारणीय ऐसे कस्बों और शहरों को सशक्त करे जो सभी के लिए पर्याप्त आवास प्रदान करते हों।
2. इसके साझीदार सिर्फ सरकारें और स्थानीय नगर प्रशासन हैं।
3. संयुक्त राष्ट्र पर्यावास, सुरक्षित पेय जल एवं आधारभूत स्वच्छता तक पहुँच बढ़ाने और गरीबों को घर उपलब्ध कराने के लिए संयुक्त राष्ट्र व्यवस्था के समग्र उद्देश्य के रूप में काम करता है।
नीचे दिए गए कूट का प्रयोग कर सही उत्तर चुनिए :
Q: What is/are the importance/importances of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?
1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: Which of the following statements is/are correct?
Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Programme can significantly contribute to
1. protection of biodiversity
2. resilience of forest ecosystems
3. poverty reduction
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: With reference to 'Agenda 21', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: Consider the following statements:
1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?
1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples.
2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for sustainable forest management.
3. It assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Q: If a wetland of international importance is brought under the 'Montreux Record', what does it imply?
(a)Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference
(b)The country in which the wetland is located should enact a law to prohibit any human activity within five kilometres from the edge of the wetland
(c)The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed
(d)It is given the status of 'World Heritage Site'
Q: With reference to 'Global Environment Facility', which of the following statements is/are correct?
(a)It serves as financial mechanism for 'Convention on Biological Diversity' and 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change'
(b)It undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at global level
(c)It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with specific aim to protect their environment
Q: India is a party to the Ramsar Convention and has declared many areas as Ramsar Sites. Which of the following statements best describes how we should maintain these sites in the context of this Convention?
(a)Keep all the sites completely inaccessible to man so that they will not be exploited.
(b)Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and permit tourism and recreation only.
(c)Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach for a period without any exploitation, with specific criteria and specific period for each site, and then allow sustainable use of them by future generations.
(d)Conserve all the sites through ecosystem approach and allow their simultaneous sustainable use.
Q: Consider the following statements :
1. Kyoto Protocol came into force in the year 2005
2. Kyoto Protocol deals primarily with the depletion of the Ozone layer.
3. Methane as a greenhouse gas is more harmful than carbon dioxide
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List I (Important Day)
I. World Environment Day
II. World Forestry Day
III. World Habitat Day
IV. World Ozone Day
List II (Date)
A) March 20
B) June 5
C) September 16
D) October 3
E) December 10
Q: According to Meadows (1972), if the present trends in world population, industrialisation, pollution, food production and resource depletion continue unchanged, the “Limits to Growth” on our planet will be reached in the next
Q: World Environment Conference to discuss global warming was held in 1997 in
(a)Stockholm
(b)Rio de Janeiro
(c)Paris
(d)Kyoto
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from International Environmental Treaties & Summits?▼
UPSC has asked 40 questions on International Environmental Treaties & Summits in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1998 and 2025. This sub-topic falls under Environment & Ecology.
In which years has UPSC asked about International Environmental Treaties & Summits?▼
Questions on International Environmental Treaties & Summits have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2025, 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2005, 2002, 2001, 1998. The topic has appeared in 17 out of 31 years.
What is the difficulty level of International Environmental Treaties & Summits questions in UPSC Prelims?▼
Among 40 questions on International Environmental Treaties & Summits: 19 are easy, 21 are moderate, and 0 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.
