UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions

Environment & EcologyPollution and Waste ManagementToxic Chemicals, Pesticides and Persistent Organic PollutantsMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: benzene pollution sources · Toxic Chemicals, Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants
Related topics:: Ambient Air Pollution and Air Quality

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q48

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning 4. Using varnished wooden furniture 5. Using products made of polyurethane Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Environment & EcologySpecies and Wildlife ConservationSpecies Identification, Ecology and DistributionMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: elephant ecology and population · Species Identification, Ecology and Distribution

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q72

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Environment & EcologyProtected Areas and Conservation LandscapesNational Parks and Wildlife SanctuariesMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Connecting topics
Tags:: Cauvery basin protected areas · National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
Related topics:: Tiger Reserves, Elephant Reserves and Species Landscapes · Indian Drainage, River Basins and River Systems

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q73

Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National Park 2. Papikonda National Park 3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve 4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Environment & EcologySpecies and Wildlife ConservationSpecies Identification, Ecology and DistributionEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: bird identification · Species Identification, Ecology and Distribution

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q74

With reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are

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Environment & EcologySpecies and Wildlife ConservationSpecies Recovery and ReintroductionMedium

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: hard-ground swamp deer conservation · Species Recovery and Reintroduction
Related topics:: National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q75

Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

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Environment & EcologySustainable Development and Environmental SolutionsCircular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Industrial SymbiosisMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Connecting topics
Tags:: steel slag reuse · Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Industrial Symbiosis
Related topics:: Soil Fertility, Nutrient Deficiency and Soil Testing · Transport Infrastructure and Logistics

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q76

Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production of cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Environment & EcologySpecies and Wildlife ConservationSpecies Identification, Ecology and DistributionMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: musk deer habitat · Species Identification, Ecology and Distribution
Related topics:: National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q77

Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? 1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Gangotri National Park 3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 4. Manas National Park Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Environment & EcologySustainable Development and Environmental SolutionsSustainable Transport, Buildings and Urban SystemsMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: sustainable rural road materials · Sustainable Transport, Buildings and Urban Systems
Related topics:: Transport Infrastructure and Logistics

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q78

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles 4. Hot mix asphalt technology 5. Portland cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Environment & EcologyPollution and Waste ManagementIndustrial Pollution Control, Adsorption and RemediationMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Connecting topics
Tags:: coal ash and power-plant pollution · Industrial Pollution Control, Adsorption and Remediation
Related topics:: Toxic Chemicals, Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants · Conventional Energy Resources and Petroleum Geography

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q79

Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment. 3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Environment & EcologyEnvironmental Laws, Policies and InstitutionsWildlife Protection Law and EnforcementEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Schedule VI plant protection · Wildlife Protection Law and Enforcement

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q81

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

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Environment & EcologyClimate ChangeCarbon Pricing, Markets and Article 6 MechanismsEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Concept understanding
Tags:: Social Cost of Carbon · Carbon Pricing, Markets and Article 6 Mechanisms
Related topics:: Natural Capital and Environmental Accounting

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q85

Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the

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Environment & EcologyProtected Areas and Conservation LandscapesNational Parks and Wildlife SanctuariesMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Desert National Park · National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
Related topics:: Threatened Species and IUCN Red List

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q95

With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It is spread over two districts. 2. There is no human habitation inside the Park. 3. It is one of the natural habitats of Great Indian Bustard. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Environment & EcologyProtected Areas and Conservation LandscapesTiger Reserves, Elephant Reserves and Species LandscapesEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Critical Tiger Habitat area · Tiger Reserves, Elephant Reserves and Species Landscapes

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q100

Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

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Themes in Environment & Ecology· 11

PYQs on Environment & Ecology

Prelims 2020

Environment & Ecology

Themes in Environment & Ecology· 11

PYQs on Environment & Ecology

Prelims 2020

Prelims 2020, question 48: Toxic Chemicals, Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants

Prelims 2020, question 72: Species Identification, Ecology and Distribution

Prelims 2020, question 73: National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Prelims 2020, question 74: Species Identification, Ecology and Distribution

Prelims 2020, question 75: Species Recovery and Reintroduction

Prelims 2020, question 76: Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Industrial Symbiosis

Prelims 2020, question 77: Species Identification, Ecology and Distribution

Prelims 2020, question 78: Sustainable Transport, Buildings and Urban Systems

Prelims 2020, question 79: Industrial Pollution Control, Adsorption and Remediation

Prelims 2020, question 81: Wildlife Protection Law and Enforcement

Prelims 2020, question 85: Carbon Pricing, Markets and Article 6 Mechanisms

Prelims 2020, question 95: National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Prelims 2020, question 100: Tiger Reserves, Elephant Reserves and Species Landscapes