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Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims – Download Environment UPSC Prelims Questions PDF

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

Environment UPSC Prelims Questions with their solutions are essential during the final revision. This subject forms an integral part of the UPSC syllabus; static and current affairs questions based on environment and ecology are asked in the first phase of the examination. After completing the syllabus conceptually, candidates can go through the 10 years of Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims.

Before appearing for the exam, practice all the important questions for the first round of the Civil Services exam. Go through and download Environment UPSC Prelims Questions PDF from 2022 to 2013 available in this article and start your preparation in a systematic manner now!

Environment UPSC Prelims Questions

Candidates appearing for the upcoming UPSC Exam must glance at the previous year’s Environment UPSC Prelims Questions. It will guide the students about the trend of Prelims Questions that are frequently asked.

Environment UPSC Prelims Questions PDF

At times, surprisingly, 33% of the questions in the GS paper are asked about Environment topics; hence it is essential to prepare it incredibly well. Environment Prelims Questions are generally theoretical and easy to understand.

Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims 2022

Candidates who will appear for the upcoming exam should look through the last year’s Environment questions. By practicing UPSC Previous Year Question papers, students can get an idea of the type of questions asked and find relevant areas of the syllabus.

The questions on Environment and Ecology that were asked in UPSC Prelims 2022 are given below:

Question 1: Among the following crops, which is the most important anthropogenic source of methane and nitrous oxide? (a) Sugarcane, (b) Wheat, (c) Rice, (d) Cotton

Answer: (c) Rice

Question 2: Consider the following pairs: Wetland/Lake: Location – (1) Hokera Wetland: Punjab, (2) Renuka Wetland: Himachal Pradesh, (3) Rudrasagar Lake: Tripura, (4) Sasthamkotta: Tamil Nadu. How many pairs given above are correctly matched? (a) Only two pairs, (b) Only three pairs, (c) All four pairs, (d) Only one pair

Answer: (a) Only two pairs

Question 3: “Climate Action Tracker,” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries, is a: (a) Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”, (b) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank, (c) Database created by a coalition of research organizations, (d) Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change”.

Answer: (c) Database created by a coalition of research organizations

Question 4: Consider the following statements: (1) The Climate Group is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and running them, (2) The International Energy Agency, in partnership with the Climate Group, launched a global initiative, “EP100”, (3) EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals, (4) Some Indian companies are members of EP100, (5) The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1,2, 4 and 5, (b) 2,3 and 5 only, (c) 1,2, 3, 4 and 5, (d) 1,3 and 4 only

Answer: (d) 1,3 and 4 only

Question 5: “If rainforests and tropical forests are the lungs of the Earth, then surely wetlands function as its kidneys.” Which one of the following functions of wetlands best reflects the above statement? (a) Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients, (b) Wetlands are vital in maintaining sedimentation balance and soil stabilization, (c) The wetland water cycle involves surface runoff, subsoil percolation, and evaporation, (d) Algae form the nutrient base upon which fish, crustaceans, mollusks, birds, reptiles, and mammals thrive.

Answer: (a) Aquatic plants absorb heavy metals and excess nutrients.

Environment Prelims Questions of UPSC 2021

Going through the last few years’ questions can help aspirants to assess their strengths and weaknesses. It is important to manage time while solving previous years’ papers. Some of the Environment questions of UPSC Prelims 2021 are presented below:

Question 1:

Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as the 2020 Tree City of the World. Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for recognition for a year following its commitment to growing and maintaining the Urban forests.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Statement 1 is incorrect, but Statement 2 is correct, (b) Statement 1 is correct, but Statement 2 is incorrect, (c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct, but Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1, (d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct, and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1

Answer: (a) Statement 1 is incorrect, but Statement 2 is correct.

Question 2: In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: (1) The ‘Climate-Smart village’ approach in India is part of a project led by climate change, Agriculture, and food security (CCAFS), an international research program, (2) The project of CCAFS is carried out under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), headquartered in France, (3) The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’S research centers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only, (b) 1,2 and 3, (c) 1 and 2 only, (d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (b) 1,2 and 3

Question 3: Consider the following kinds of organisms: (1) Copepods, (2) Cyanobacteria, (3) Diatoms, (4) Foraminifera. Which of the above are primary producers in the food chains of oceans? (a) 3 and 4, (b) 1 and 2, (c) 1 and 4, (d) 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 2 and 3

Question 4: Consider the following animals: (1) Hedgehog, (2) Marmot, (3) Pangolin. To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protects its/their vulnerable parts? (a) 3 only, (b) 1 and 2, (c) 2 only, (d) 1 and 3

Answer: (d) 1 and 3

Question 5: Regarding the ‘’New York Declaration on Forests’’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (1) It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014, (2) It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests, (3) It is a legally binding international declaration, (4) It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities, (5) India was one of the signatories at its inception.

Select the correct answer using the code given: (a) 2 and 5, (b) 3 and 4, (c) 1, 2 and 4, (d) 1, 3 and 5

Answer: (a) 2 and 5

Read:

Environment UPSC Prelims Questions 2020

Look at some of the Environment UPSC Prelims Questions 2020 and get access to the full list of questions from the PDF attached below. A few questions, along with the answers, are listed below.

Question 1: In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for: (a) Development of stem cells into functional embryos, (b) Prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring, (c) Genetic modification of sperm-producing cells, (d) Fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm.

Answer: (b) Prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring

Question 2: With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements: (1) They can be used as carriers of drugs and antigens in the human body, (2) They can be made into artificial blood capillaries for an injured part of the human body, (3) They can be used in biochemical sensors, (4) Carbon nanotubes are biodegradable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1, 3 and 4 only, (b) 1 and 2 only, (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4, (d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 3: Consider the following activities: (1) Spraying pesticides on a crop field, (2) Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes, (3) Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis. At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones? (a) 1, 2 and 3, (b) 1 and 3 only, (c) 1 and 2 only, (d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3

Question 4: Consider the following statements: (1) Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperm of a prospective parent, (2)A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage, (3) Human-induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 2 only, (b) 1, 2 and 3, (c) 1 only, (d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3

Question 5: Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? (1) Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not, (2) Plant cells do not have plasma membranes unlike animal cells which do, (3) A mature plant cell has one large vacuole vacuoles. Select the correct answer using the codes given: (a) 1, 2 and 3, (b) 1 and 3 only, (c) 1 and 2 only, (d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

Topic Wise Environment PYQ in UPSC Prelims

Before preparing for Environment UPSC Prelims Questions, one must conceptually learn the topics included in this subject. Candidates can begin solving the questions topic-wise and take their UPSC Prelims 2023 preparation to the next level!

The topics in Environment and Ecology include the following:

  • Recent developments in India and the world
  • Generic questions on ecology
  • Government acts and programs related to climate change and the protection of the environment & wildlife
  • Global and Indian biodiversity.

Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims: 2022-2013

Understanding the latest trend of questions for the Environment subject in UPSC Prelims is crucial. Below are the number of Environment and Ecology questions from 2022 to 2013.

Year Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims – Number of Questions
Environment Previous Year Questions UPSC 2022 19
Environment UPSC Prelims Questions 2021 16
UPSC Environment Questions 2020 25
UPSC Prelims Environment Questions 2019 20
UPSC Environment Prelims Questions 2018 11
Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims 2017 15
UPSC Prelims Environment Questions 2016 12
UPSC Environment Previous Year Questions 2015 13
Environment and Ecology UPSC Prelims Questions 2014 20
Environment Previous Year Questions UPSC 2013 16

How to Prepare Environment UPSC Prelims Questions?

There is considerable overlap between Environment and Ecology syllabus with Geography, Science & Technology, and current affairs. Hence, by covering the Environment syllabus well, students can have sharpness in the other subjects too.

Below is the UPSC preparation strategy designed by the majority of experts. The Environment Notes for UPSC can assist candidates in preparing for the essay section of the Mains paper.

  • Current Affairs are a crucial part of Environment and Ecology topics.
  • Candidates must read editorials from Hindu newspapers and articles from monthly magazines like Kurukshetra and Yojana.
  • Revision is the key. It is important to revise daily to retain all the information and concepts.
  • Aspirants should read the last four chapters from class XII Biology NCERT Books. It covers all the fundamental concepts concisely.
  • Students must peek through the Environment and Ecology Previous Year Questions UPSC Prelims. It provides introductory learning of the questions and helps them pick study resources sensibly.
  • Candidates should skim the whole syllabus of the subjects and attempt to memorize them to map the topics in their minds. It helps in making the preparation much more relevant and focused.
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