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 2020Environment and Ecology · Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies
Q1. If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?
Explanation
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 has six schedules. Schedule VI mandates, ‘no person is allowed to cultivate a specified plant mentioned in schedule 6, except with a licence granted by the Chief WildLife Warden’. The plants mentioned in the sixth schedule includes:
Beddomes Cycad Blue Vanda Kuth Ladies slipper orchids Pitcher plant Red Vanda
Additional insight:
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 has reduced the total number of schedules to four by - Reducing the number of schedules for specially protected animals to two (one for greater protection level), The Amendment has removed the schedule for vermin species, and The Amendment has inserted a new schedule for specimens listed in the Appendices under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Appendix I of CITES includes the world’s most endangered plants and animals.
UPSC 2020Environment and Ecology · Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies
Q2. Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production of cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Steel Slag, a by-product of steel making, is produced during the separation of the molten steel from impurities in steel-making furnaces. The slag occurs as a molten liquid melt and is a complex solution of silicates and oxides that solidi-fies upon cooling.
Statement 1 is correct: Steel slag is widely used as a base course material in road construction, providing a strong and durable foundation beneath asphalt roads, tracks, and paved surfaces. Its high strength, resistance to deformation, and excellent drainage properties enhance pavement longevity.
Statement 2 is correct: Steel slag can be used in the agricultural sector due to its ability to correct soil acidity. In fact, developed countries like Japan, the USA have taken the lead in making fertilisers using steel-making slag.
Statement 3 is correct: Additionally, it is utilized in the production of Portland slag cement (PSC), where it is blended with ordinary Portland cement to improve durability and resistance to chemical attacks. This not only enhances cement quality but also promotes sustainable construction by recycling industrial byproducts.
UPSC 2020Environment and Ecology · Environmental Laws, Conventions and Policies
Q3. In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles 4. Hot mix asphalt technology 5. Portland cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Option 1 is correct: Copper slag is a by-product obtained during smelting and refining of copper. The use of copper slag in cement and concrete provides potential environmental as well as economic benefits.
Option 2 is correct: Cold mix asphalt is produced by mixing unheated mineral aggregate with either emulsified bitumen or foamed bitumen. It is suitable for light to medium trafficked roads when used in base and surface courses.
Option 3 is correct: The Government has allowed the use of coir based geotextiles for construction of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in 2020. Options 4 and 5 are incorrect: Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is a combination of approximately 95% stone, sand, or gravel bound together by asphalt cement, a product of crude oil. The wide use of hot mix technology leads to environmental pollution as these plants emit a huge amount of greenhouse gases. Portland cement is a major CO₂ emitter.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2020
(a) A licence is required to cultivate that plant.
2
2020
(d) 1, 2 and 3
3
2020
(a) 1, 2 and 3 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.
