Home › UPSC CSE Prelims › 2023 › Environment

UPSC CSE Prelims 2023 — Environment Questions with Answers

All 16 Environment previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Prelims 2023, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Environment

   Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India. Statement-II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators. 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 is the correct explanation for Statement-I
   • b)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
   • c)Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   • d)Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
2. Q2.Environment

   'Invasive Species Specialist Group' (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organisations?

   • a)The International Union for Conservation of Nature
   • b)The United Nations Environment Programme
   • c)The United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development
   • d)The World Wide Fund for Nature
3. Q3.Environment

   Consider the following fauna: 1. Lion-tailed Macaque 2. Malabar Civet 3. Sambar Deer How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset?

   • a)Only one
   • b)Only two
   • c)All three
   • d)None
4. Q4.Environment

   Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kind to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?

   • a)Butterflies
   • b)Dragonflies
   • c)Honey Bees
   • d)Wasps
5. Q5.Environment

   Consider the following statements: 1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties. 2. Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties. 3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties. 4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties. How many of the above statements are correct?

   • a)Only one
   • b)Only two
   • c)Only three
   • d)All four
6. Q6.Environment

   Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels: 1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground. 2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground. 3. They are omnivorous. How many of the above statements are correct?

   • a)Only one
   • b)Only two
   • c)All three
   • d)None
7. Q7.Environment

   Consider the following statements: 1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water. 2. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water. 3. Some microorganisms can grow in a highly acidic environment with a pH below 3. How many of the above statements are correct?

   • a)Only one
   • b)Only two
   • c)All three
   • d)None
8. Q8.Environment

   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?

   • a)Fishing cat
   • b)Orangutan
   • c)Otter
   • d)Sloth bear
9. Q9.Environment

   Consider the following: 1. Aerosols 2. Foam agents 3. Fire retardants 4. Lubricants In the making of how many of the above are hydrofluorocarbons used?

   • a)Only one
   • b)Only two
   • c)Only three
   • d)All four
10. Q10.Environment

    Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. Statement-II: Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State. 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 is the correct explanation for Statement-I
    • b)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
    • c)Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    • d)Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
11. Q11.Environment

    Consider the following statements: Once the Central Government notifies an area as a 'Community Reserve' 1. the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest 2. hunting is not allowed in such area. 3. people of such area are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce. 4. people of such area are allowed traditional agricultural practices. How many of the above statements are correct?

    • a)Only one
    • b)Only two
    • c)Only three
    • d)All four
12. Q12.Environment

    Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution: 1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world. 2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution. 3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury. How many of the above statements are correct?

    • a)Only one
    • b)Only two
    • c)All three
    • d)None
13. Q13.Environment

    With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements: 1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion. 2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation. 3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles. How many of the above statements are correct?

    • a)Only one
    • b)Only two
    • c)All three
    • d)None
14. Q14.Environment

    Consider the following activities: 1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively 2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime 3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?

    • a)Only one
    • b)Only two
    • c)All three
    • d)None
15. Q15.Environment

    Consider the following statements: Statement-I: According to the United Nations 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year. Statement-II: India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world's population living in its territory. 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 is the correct explanation for Statement-I
    • b)Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
    • c)Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    • d)Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
16. Q16.Environment

    Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Biodiversity Management Committees are key to the realization of the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol. 2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of biological resources within its jurisdiction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    • a)1 only
    • b)2 only
    • c)Both 1 and 2
    • d)Neither 1 nor 2