UPSC Mains Environment Previous Year Questions

Environment Topic Wise PYQs (2018-2023)

Q1. What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? [2023/Q8/10m/150w]

Q 2.The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? [2023/Q15/15m/200w]

Q 3.Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. [2023/Q17/15m/200w]

Q 4.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? [2023/Q18/15m/200w]

Q 5.Discuss in detail the photochemical smog, emphasizing its formation, effects and mitigation. Explain the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol. [2022/Q7/10m/150w]

Q 6.Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. [2022/Q17/15m/250w]

Q 7.Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? [2022/Q18/15m/250w]

Q 8.Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) ? [2021/Q6/10m/150w]

Q 9.Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards ? [2021/Q7/10m/150w]

Q 10.Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? [2021/Q17/15m/250w]

Q 11.How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?   [2020/Q7/10m/150w]

Q 12.What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?[2020/Q8/10m/150w]

Q 13.Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose? [2020/Q16/15m/200w]

Q 14.What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India? [2020/Q17/15m/200w]

Q 15.Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples.   [2019/Q7/10m/150w]

Q 16.Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.  [2019/Q17/15m/200w]

Q 17.What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment?   [2018/Q6/10m/150w]

Q 18.What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.   [2018/Q7/10m/150w]

Q 19.Sikkim is the first ‘Organic State’ in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State?   [2018/Q8/10m/150w]

Q 20.How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna?   [2018/Q17/15m/200w]

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