Environment UPSC Prelims Questions: Download Environment PYQ UPSC Prelims PDF [2022-2013]

Environment Previous Year Questions UPSC Prelims

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 UPSC Prelims Questions asked. At times, surprisingly, 33% of the questions in the GS paper are asked from Environment and Ecology topics; hence it is essential to prepare it incredibly well.

☛ Strategy to Prepare Environment and Ecology for UPSC Prelims

UPSC Prelims 2022 Environment Questions

Candidates who appear for the UPSC Exam 2023 should look through the last year’s Environment questions. By practicing Previous Year’s 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 for 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.

☛ Download: Environment and Ecology IAS Prelims Questions 2022 PDF

Environment Questions in UPSC Prelims 2021

Going through the last few years’ questions can help aspirants to assess their strengths and weaknesses. It is important to time oneself 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 a 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 below

(a) 2 and 5

(b) 3 and 4

(c) 1, 2 and 4

(d) 1, 3 and 5

Answer: (a) 2 and 5

☛ Download: Environment and Ecology IAS Prelims Questions 2021 PDF

Environment UPSC Prelims Questions 2020

Look at some of the Environment UPSC Prelims Questions 2020 and download 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 code given below:

(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

☛ Download: Previous Year Environment and Ecology Questions 2020 PDF

Topic Wise Environment PYQ 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!

☛ Download: Environment UPSC Prelims Questions PDF [2022-13]

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 UPSC Prelims Questions: 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
UPSC 2022 Environment Questions	19
Environment UPSC Prelims Questions 2021	16
Environment Questions in UPSC Prelims 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 Prelims Questions 2015	13
Environment and Ecology UPSC Prelims Questions 2014	20
Environment Previous Year Questions UPSC 2013	16

☛ Check: Important Terminology for Environment and Ecology

Environment UPSC Prelims Questions – Preparation Tips

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 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 NCERT Class XII Biology 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.