Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies (Environment and Ecology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2018Environment and Ecology · Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies
Q1. Consider the following statements: 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH) are defined under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.. These are areas within wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that are critical for the survival of wildlife species and where human activities may be restricted.
Statement 2 is correct: The Baiga tribe in Madhya Pradesh was one of the first communities in India to be granted Habitat Rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This recognition ensures their right to live in and sustainably use forest resources in their traditional habitats.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The declaration of Habitat Rights is the responsibility of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and state-level authorities under the framework of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Exam tip:
For S3, aligns with Function-person/organisation/ministry match trap as its easy to manipulate to make it false. Isn’t it should be Tribal affairs ministry??
UPSC 2018Environment and Ecology · Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies
Q2. How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government. 2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The NGT provides environmental justice and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) NGT was established by National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, with jurisdiction over all civil disputes addressing important environmental issues. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 as a statutory body. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted for effective and expeditious disposal (within 6 months of appeal) of environmental cases and to help reduce burden of litigation in the higher courts. It is also entrusted with the powers & functions under the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981. It provides for Enforcement of legal environmental rights, relief & compensation for damages caused. It works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The tribunal’s decision is enforceable as a civil court judgement and is governed by natural justice principles.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Both the NGT and CPCB were established by some Acts, namely, the NGT Act, 2010 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, respectively.
Statement 2 is correct: The objective of NGT is to provide effective & expeditious disposal (within 6 months of appeal) of the environmental cases and to help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.
UPSC 2018Environment and Ecology · Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies
Q3. With reference to the ‘Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015. 2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations. 3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) is an inclusive, voluntary and action-oriented multi-stakeholder platform on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). The vision is to improve food security, nutrition and resilience in the face of climate change. GACSA aims to catalyze and help create transformational partnerships to encourage actions that reflect an integrated approach to the three pillars of CSA.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The concept of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) was originally developed by FAO and officially presented at the Hague Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change in 2010, through the paper "Climate-Smart Agriculture: Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Mitigation". The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) was launched during the UN Climate Summit of 2014, in New York(not at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015).
Statement 2 is correct: Its membership does not impose any binding obligations on its participants, allowing for flexible engagement in promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While India is a signatory to the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA), India had no instrumental role in the creation of GACSA.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2018
(a) 1 and 2 only
2
2018
(b) 2 only
3
2018
(b) 2 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies (Environment and Ecology), asked from 2011 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies?
Questions on Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies (Environment and Ecology) are available for 12 years, from 2011 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
