UPSC CSE Prelims
UPSC Environment & Ecology — Solved Previous Year Questions
203 authentic Environment & Ecology PYQs with correct answers and detailed explanations. Click any question to see its full solution.
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UPSC 2024
- With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer p…
- According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of su…
- Consider the following: 1. Carabid beetles 2. Centipedes 3. Flies 4. Termites 5. Wasps Parasitoid species are …
- Which one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is t…
- Consider the following: 1. Butterflies 2. Fish 3. Frogs How many of the above have poisonous species among the…
- Consider the following pairs: Country Animal Found in its Natural Habitat 1. Brazil Indri 2. Indonesia Elk 3. …
- Consider the following statements: 1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season. 2. Unlike most other big…
- Consider the following materials: 1. Agricultural residues 2. Corn grain 3. Wastewater treatment sludge 4. Woo…
- Consider the following: 1. Battery storage 2. Biomass generators 3. Fuel cells 4. Rooftop solar photovoltaic u…
UPSC 2023
- Consider the following fauna: 1. Lion-tailed Macaque 2. Malabar Civet 3. Sambar Deer How many of the above are…
- Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and th…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the …
- Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood?
- Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realisat…
- Consider the following: 1. Aerosols 2. Foam agents 3. Fire retardants 4. Lubricants In the making of how many …
- Consider the following statements: Once the Central Government notifies an area as a ‘Community Reserve’. 1. T…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties. 2. Some mushrooms have psychoa…
- Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels: 1. They build nests by making burrows in the…
- Consider the following infrastructure sectors: 1. Affordable housing 2. Mass rapid transport 3. Health care 4.…
UPSC 2022
- Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants? 1. Alfalfa 2. Amaranth 3. Chickpea 4. Clover 5. Purslane (K…
- Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous ox…
- “System of rice Intensification” of cultivation, in which alternate wetting and drying of rice fields is pract…
- In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements: 1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 …
- Consider the following: 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Nitrogen oxide 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Excess of which of th…
- Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that dri…
- Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?
- With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals ar…
- The “Miyawaki method” is well known for the:
- Consider the following pairs: Wetland/Lake Location 1. Hokera Wetland : Punjab 2. Renuka Wetland : Himachal Pr…
- With reference to “Gucchi” sometimes mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: 1. It is a fung…
- Which of the following is not a bird?
UPSC 2021
- In nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern …
- Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Copepods 2. Cyanobacteria 3. Diatoms 4. Foraminifera Which of th…
- Which of the following are detritivores? 1. Earthworms 2. Jellyfish 3. Millipedes 4. Seahorses 5. Woodlice Sel…
- In which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of …
- Which of the following have species that can establish a symbiotic relationship with other organisms? 1. Cnida…
- With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements: 1. The amount of water in …
- Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
- The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees…
- How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? 1. Permaculture farming discourages …
- In the context of India’s preparation for Climate- Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: 1. Th…
- Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants? 1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide …
- With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements: 1. It is a product of oil refineries. 2. Som…
- Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodeg- enerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutant…
- The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for
- What is blue carbon?
- Consider the following animals: 1. Hedgehog 2. Marmot 3. Pangolin To reduce the chance of being captured by pr…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree. 2. The Tamarind…
- 'R2 Code of Practices' constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of:
UPSC 2020
- What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture? 1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is po…
- What is/are the advantage/ advantages of zero tillage in agriculture? 1. Sowing of wheat is possible without b…
- In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agricultur…
- What is the use of biochar in farming? 1. Biochar can be used as a part of the growing medium in vertical farm…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants …
- If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the im…
- Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agri…
- In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustaina…
- Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical”…
- With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It is spread…
- Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
- Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian s…
- Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? 1. Askot Wildl…
- With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a…
- With reference to India’s biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-t…
UPSC 2019
- In India, the use of carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos is viewed with apprehension. These c…
- In the context of which one of the following are the terms ‘pyrolysis and plasma gasification’ mentioned?
- Consider the following: 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Methane 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Which of the above are relea…
- In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into the environment. 2. Catt…
- In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen- enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport…
- Consider the following statements: 1. As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers …
- In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following?
- Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning …
- Consider the following statements: The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Govern- ment of India to:…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government o…
- Which one of the following National Parks lies completely in the temperate alpine:
- Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?
- Consider the following statements: 1. Asiatic lions are naturally found in India only. 2. Double-humped camels…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Some species of turtles are herbivores. 2. Some species of fish are herb…
- Consider the following pairs: Wildlife Naturally found in 1. Blue-finned Mahseer Cauvery River 2. Irrawaddy Do…
- Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia di…
UPSC 2018
- Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss? 1. Hard and waxy…
- With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assumes s…
- Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in river beds? 1. Decreased sali…
- Consider the following statements: 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the For…
- With reference to the ‘Global Alliance for Climate- Smart Agriculture (GACSA)’, which of the following stateme…
- The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards gree…
- “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by
- In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located?
- Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in the news?
UPSC 2017
- The term ‘M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
- Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its li…
- Which of the following statements can help in water conservation in agriculture? 1. Reduced or zero tillage of…
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for:
- In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation technique…
- It is possible to produce algae based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countri…
- In the context of mitigating the impending global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide, wh…
- Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which …
- According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any perso…
- With reference to ‘Global Climate Change Alliance’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pol…
- Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora in Commerce (TRAFFIC…
- From the ecological point of view, which one of the following assumes importance in being a good link between …
UPSC 2016
- ‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to
- Which of the following best describe/ describes the aim of the ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of Indi…
- In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculati…
- The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
- What is ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol’?
- With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/a…
- Consider the following statements: 1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a globa…
- What is/are the importance/ importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’? 1. It ai…
- Consider the following pairs: Terms sometimes seen in the news: Their origin 1. Annex-I Countries: Cartagena P…
- With reference to an initiative called ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)’, which of the fol…
- Which of the following statements is/are correct? Proper design and effective implementation of UN-REDD+ Pro- …
- With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements: 1. It is a globa…
- The FAO accords the status of ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)’ to traditional agricul…
- With reference to ‘Red Sanders’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements: 1. It is a tre…
- In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in i…
UPSC 2015
- Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?
- What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture? 1. Proliferat…
- Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone- deplet…
- What is the Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
- The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the
- With reference to an organisation known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are …
- With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN) and the Conve…
- Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct? 1. It is intended to assist d…
- Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich…
- Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate an…
- With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It i…
- Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
- With reference to Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It …
- BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes' is managed by the:
UPSC 2014
- Which of the following are some important pollutants released by the steel industry in India? 1. Oxides of sul…
- There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in t…
- Brominated flame retardants are used in many household products like mattresses and upholstery. Why is there s…
- The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2°C above the pre- industrial…
- What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as ‘Sustainable Sugarcane Ini…
- Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Fo…
- Consider the following statements regarding ‘Earth Hour’ 1. It is an initiative of UNEP and UNESCO. 2. It is a…
- With reference to a conservation organisation called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statemen…
- Consider the following pairs: Wetlands Confluence of Rivers 1. Harike Wetlands : Confluence of Beas and Satluj…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Animal Welfare Board of India was established under the Environment (Pro…
- With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements: 1. It is an autono…
- With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zo…
- With reference to Neem tree, consider the following statements: 1. Neem oil can be used as a pesticide to cont…
- Other than poaching, what are the possible reasons for the decline in the population of Ganges River Dolphins?…
- If you walk through countryside, you are likely to see some birds stalking alongside the cattle to seize the i…
UPSC 2013
- With reference to the food chains in ecosystems, which of the following kinds of organism is/are known as deco…
- With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements: 1. A food chain illustrates th…
- Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? 1. Arsenic 2. …
- Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of hold and used computers or their parts, which of the following are …
- Acid rain is caused by the pollution of environment by
- Photochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among
- Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins known as aflato…
- With reference to the usefulness of the byproducts of the sugar industry, which of the following statements is…
- Consider the following fauna of India: 1. Gharial 2. Leatherback turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/ar…
- Consider the following: 1. Star tortoise 2. Monitor lizard 3. Pygmy hog 4. Spider monkey Which of the above ar…
- Consider the following animals: 1. Sea cow 2. Sea horse 3. Sea lion Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?
- Consider the following organisms: 1. Agaricus 2. Nostoc 3. Spirogyra Which of the above is/are used as biofert…
- In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat? 1. Tamil Nadu 2. Kerala …
UPSC 2012
- The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment describes the following major categories of ecosystem services— provisioni…
- What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason? 1. The ocean as a carb…
- How does the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) help in protecting Indian Agriculture? 1. NBA checks the bi…
- Consider the following agricultural practices: 1. Contour bunding 2. Relay cropping 3. Zero tillage In the con…
- The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, becaus…
- The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the …
- In which one among the following categories of protected areas in India are local people not allowed to collec…
- Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is a…
- Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Bat 2. Bee 3. Bird Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/a…
- The Government of India encourages the cultivation of ‘sea buckthorn’. What is the importance of this plant: 1…
- Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
- Consider the following: 1. Black-necked crane 2. Cheetah 3. Flying Squirrel 4. Snow Leopard Which of the above…
- Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? 1. Global warming 2. Fragmen…
UPSC 2011
- In the context of ecosystem productivity, marine upwelling zones are important as they increase marine product…
- If a tropical rainforest is removed, it does not regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical deciduous forest…
- The “Red Data Books” published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUC…
- Which one of the following is not a site for the in-situ method of conservation of flora?
- Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo- Burma…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower latitudes as compared to t…
- Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the following ways: 1. Soil formation 2. Prevention of soi…
- The Himalayan Range is very rich in species diversity. Which one among the following is the most appropriate r…
- With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fertilizer/nutrient l…
- There is a concern over the increase in harmful algal blooms in the seawaters of India. What could be the caus…
- Human activities in the recent past have caused the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmospher…
- Consider the following: 1. Carbon dioxide 2. Oxides of Nitrogen 3. Oxides of Sulphur Which of the above is/are…
- The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for …
- With reference to India, consider the following Central Acts: 1. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947 2. Mini…
- A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no predators in tha…
- The formation of ozone holes in the Antarctic region has been a cause of concern. What could be the reason for…
UPSC 2010
- A pesticide which is a chlorinated hydrocarbon is sprayed on a food crop. The food chain is: Food crop – Rat –…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions. 2. India has…
- Consider the following which can be found in the ambient atmosphere: 1. Soot 2. Sulphur hexafluoride 3. Water …
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty drawn at:
- Consider the following pairs: Protected area Well-known for 1. Bhitarkanika, Orissa Salt Water Crocodile 2. De…
- As a result of their annual survey, the National Geographic Society and an international polling firm Globe Sc…
UPSC 2009
UPSC 2008
- Consider the following statements: 1. Salt-water crocodile is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 2. Shr…
- Where was the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio + 10) held?