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UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 — Environment Questions with Answers
All 14 Environment previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Prelims 2025, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Environment as a timed test →- Q1.Sustainable Development
Consider the following statements : Statement I : Circular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases. Statement II : Circular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs. Statement III : Circular economy reduces wastage in the production process. 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
- Q2.Climate Change
Consider the following statements: I. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth's surface. II. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet's average temperature. III. Atmosphere's gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- a)I and III only
- b)I and II only
- c)I, II and III
- d)II and III only
- Q3.Climate Change
Consider the following statements: Statement I : Studies indicate that carbon dioxide emissions from cement industry account for more than 5% of global carbon emissions. Statement II : Silica-bearing clay is mixed with limestone while manufacturing cement. Statement III : Limestone is converted into lime during clinker production for cement manufacturing. 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
- Q4.International Conventions
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
- Q5.International Conventions
Consider the following statements: Statement I : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change. Statement II : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets. Statement III : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets. 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
- Q6.Climate Finance
Which one of the following launched the 'Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific'?
- a)The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- b)The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
- c)The New Development Bank (NDB)
- d)The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- Q7.Biodiversity
Regarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements: I. It is an omnivorous crustacean. II. Its natural habitat in India is only limited to some forest areas. III. In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)I only
- b)I and III
- c)II only
- d)II and III
- Q8.Climate Change
Consider the following statements: I. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO2/capita. II. In terms of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region. III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO2 emissions in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)I and III only
- b)II only
- c)II and III only
- d)I, II and III
- Q9.Ecology
With reference to the planet Earth, consider the following statements: I. Rain forests produce more oxygen than that produced by oceans. II. Marine phytoplankton and photo-synthetic bacteria produce about 50% of world's oxygen. III. Well-oxygenated surface water contains several folds higher oxygen than that in atmospheric air. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)I and II
- b)II only
- c)I and III
- d)None of the above statements is correct
- Q10.Pollution
Consider the following: I. Cigarette butts II. Eyeglass lenses III. Car tyres How many of them contain plastic?
- a)Only one
- b)Only two
- c)All the three
- d)None
- Q11.Pollution
Consider the following statements: Statement I: Activated carbon is a good and an attractive tool to remove pollutants from effluent streams and to remediate contaminants from various industries. Statement II: Activated carbon exhibits a large surface area and a strong potential for adsorbing heavy metals. Statement III: Activated carbon can be easily synthesized from environmental wastes with high carbon content. 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
- Q12.Climate Change
The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above-said report? I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts. II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)I only
- b)II only
- c)Both I and II
- d)Neither I nor II
- Q13.Air Pollution
Artificial way of causing rainfall to reduce air pollution makes use of
- a)silver iodide and potassium iodide
- b)silver nitrate and potassium iodide
- c)silver iodide and potassium nitrate
- d)silver nitrate and potassium chloride
- Q14.Conservation
Which organization has enacted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss?
- a)The European Union
- b)The World Bank
- c)The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- d)The Food and Agriculture Organization
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 — other subjects
Environment — other years
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