The UPSC Mains Topic-Wise Previous Year Questions on Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, and Environmental Impact Assessment. Uncover the multifaceted challenges and strategic solutions crucial for addressing pressing environmental concerns, a vital terrain for UPSC aspirants to navigate in their quest for comprehensive knowledge and expertise.
Environment & Bio-Diversity
- What is Integrated Wastelands Development Programme? (2002, 10 Marks)
- Write short note on Kaziranga National Park. (2002, 2 Marks)
- Write briefly about Desert Development Programme. (2002, 10 Marks)
- Blue Revolution has definite advantages in India but it is not free from environmental impacts. Discuss. (2006,10 Marks)
- Write on Desert National Park in about 20 words. (2009, 2 Marks)
- Examine the causes and the extent of ‘desertification’ in India and suggest remedial measures. (2012, 5 marks)
- How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, of 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (2018, 15 Marks)
- Each year a large amount of plant material, cellulose, is deposited on the surface of Planet Earth. What are the natural processes this cellulose undergoes before yielding carbon dioxide, water and other end products? (150 words) (2022, 10 Marks)
Pollution, Sustainable Development and Urbanisation
- What are greenhouse gases? What impact do they have on the Earth’s climate and with what consequences? Elaborate. (2000, 15 Marks)
- There is a wide-spread concern about the degradation of the environment and the problems that go with it. Assess the international response. (2000, 15 Marks)
- What does the Montreal Protocol deal with? Discuss its role in protecting Earth’s environment. (2001, 15 Marks)
- What do you understand by depletion of ozone layer and why is it considered harmful? Name ozone-depleting substances and processes. What international ramifications took place to protect the ozone layer and what was the target agreed upon (2003, 30 Marks)
- Discuss about ‘Global Warming. (2004, 30 marks)
- Describe the sources of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations and their effects on the biotic components of the atmosphere. (2005, 30 Marks)
- Why do environmentalists regard asbestos and polythene as pollutants? (2005,15 Marks)
- Justify with necessary logic -“Biological clean-up methods can be cheaper than the conventional physical and chemical pollution treatments”. (2006, 30 Marks)
- Write about the UN Conference on Environment and Development (The Earth Summit). (2007, 15 marks)
- Answer any one of the following in about 250 words: (2007, 30 Marks)
(a) Explain the phenomenon of ozone depletion, its causes and effects. What effects are needed to reduce it?
(b) What do you understand by the term ‘biodiversity’? Examine the causes and consequences of the degeneration of biodiversity. - Write brief note in about 30 words on PFCs and ‘liquid breathing’. (2009, 3 Marks)
- Bring out the salient features of the evolution and the current status of the ‘Bharat Stage’ vehicle emission norms in the country. (150 words) (2010, 24 Marks)
- Comment on the recent HFC-23 emissions controversy that includes in its ambit some Indian companies. (2010, 5 Marks)
- Bring out the applications of computer models in studying climate changes, with special reference to the Community Earth System Model (CESM). (2010, 12 Marks)
- Write about the scourge of e-waste. (2011, 5 Marks)
- In the context of the growing demands for the ban of Endosulfan in the country, critically examine the issues involved. What, in your view, should be done in the matter? (2012, 25 Marks)
- What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ concept of GO AND NO GO zones for coal mining sector. (200 words) (2013, 10 Marks)
- Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions of the management and handling of hazardous wastes in India? (200 words] (2013, 10 Marks)
- Should the pursuit of carbon credits and clean development mechanisms set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of a carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. (2014, 12½ Marks)
- What are the impediments in disposing of the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating In our habitable environment? (2018, 10 Marks)
- Define the concept of the carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (250 words) (2019, 15 Marks)
- What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India? (250 words) (2020, 15 Marks)
- Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards? (150 words) (2021, 10 Marks)
- Discuss in detail the photochemical smog emphasizing its formation, effects and mitigation. Explain the 1999 Gothenburg Protocol. (150 words) (2022, 10 Marks)
- What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? (150 words) (2023, 10 Marks)
- The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? (250 words) (2023,15 Marks)
28 01 . The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (250 words) (2023, 15 Marks)
Environmental Issues & Conservation
- Discuss the significance of the Kyoto Protocol. Why is the U.S.A. not signing it? (2000, 15 Marks)
- Elucidate the factors contributing to the growing need for water harvesting in India, both rural and urban. (2005, 10 Marks)
- Write about IPCC Report on Global Warming in 20 words. (2008, 2 Marks)
- Discuss the wetlands and their role in ecological conservation in India. (2009, 15 Marks)
- In the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), distinguish between ‘Annex-l’ and ‘Annex-II’ countries. (2010, 5 Marks)
- Comment on the Rotterdam Convention. (2010, 5 Marks)
- List any eight ‘Ramsar’ wetland sites located in India. What is the ‘Montreux Record’ and what Indian sites are included in this Record? (2010, 12 Marks)
- Write about the diminishing population of vultures (2011, 5 Marks)
- Discuss about the Phase-IV of the tiger monitoring programme in India. (2011, 5 Marks)
- Write in brief about “Billion Acts of Green’. (2011, 2 Marks)
- The issue of tourism in core areas of tiger reserve forest in the country is a subject matter of debate. Critically examine various aspects of this issue, keeping in view relevant recent judicial pronouncements. (2012, 25 Marks)
- Explain the concepts of ‘Environmental Sustainability’ and ‘Sustainable Development of People’. (2012, 5 Marks)
- Explain briefly the ‘Clean Development Mechanism’ as provided under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2012, 5 Marks)
- Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problem of conventional energy. (200 words) (2013, 10 marks)
- What do you understand by a run-of-river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project? (100 words) (2013, 5 Marks)
- Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent. (2014, 10 Marks)
- Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental Impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads. (2014,12 Marks)
- What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of wise use in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. (2018, 10 Marks)
- Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples. (150 words) (2019, 10 marks)
- How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (150 words) (2020, 10 Marks)
- What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? (150 words) (2020, 10 marks)
- Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenario. (250 words) (2020, 15 Marks)
- Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at the World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? (150 words) (2021, 10 Marks)
- Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (150 words) (2021, 10 Marks)
- Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (250 words) (2022, 15 Marks)
- Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? (250 words) (2022, 15 Marks)
- Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India’s wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. (250 words) (2023, 15 Marks
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