Q111. Post-environmental clearance monitoring of projects is essential to ensure:
Environmental and Ecological Changes and Impact Assessment: RAS Prelims MCQs
168 RAS Prelims MCQs on environmental and ecological changes and impact assessment cover ecosystem concepts, pollution, climate and environmental law. Ecotones, decomposers, primary productivity, secondary pollutants, the greenhouse effect, the EIA Notification 2006, the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and the Aravalli mining ban are asked as definitions, laws and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 111–120 of 168 questions
Q112. Identify the incorrect statement regarding EIA.
Explanation
While assessing potential impacts is a powerful way to manage environmental risks, it cannot provide a total assurance that no harm will ever occur. Instead, the process serves as a framework for identifying likely problems and exploring alternatives. It allows for public participation and provides decision-makers with the information they need to balance economic goals with the long-term health of the environment and the well-being of local communities.
Q113. Match List I with List II regarding EIA steps and their objectives:
| EIA Step | Objective |
|---|---|
| A. Screening | i. Establishes the existing environmental conditions of the site |
| B. Scoping | ii. Determines if a project requires an EIA and at what level |
| C. Baseline Study | iii. Final review of the EIA report before decision making |
| D. Appraisal | iv. Identifies key issues and parameters to be investigated |
Explanation
The process of evaluating environmental impacts involves several logical steps. First, it is determined if a project needs an assessment at all. Then, the most important issues to be studied are identified. Next, information is gathered about the existing state of the environment. Finally, all the collected information is reviewed by experts to make a recommendation on whether the project should be allowed to go ahead under specific conditions.
Q114. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) differs from EIA primarily because SEA is applied to:
Explanation
While traditional assessments focus on individual projects, a more comprehensive approach is used for broader initiatives. This type of evaluation is applied to government policies, regional plans, and large-scale programs before they are even translated into specific projects. By considering the environmental implications at this higher level of decision-making, it is possible to integrate sustainability into the very foundation of development and avoid the cumulative impacts of multiple activities.
Q115. The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal is located in:
Explanation
The specialized tribunal for environmental cases operates through several locations across India to ensure accessibility. However, its main headquarters and most important administrative center are located in the national capital. This central bench oversees the operations of the entire organization and handles some of the most complex and significant cases. Additional regional offices are located in other major cities to handle matters within their respective areas of jurisdiction and geographic zones.
Q116. NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but is guided by the principles of:
Explanation
The environmental tribunal has more flexibility than traditional civil courts and is not restricted by some of the standard legal procedures. Instead, its decisions are informed by the fundamental principles of fairness and the right to be heard. This approach allows the body to focus on the technical and scientific aspects of environmental cases while ensuring that all parties are treated equitably and that justice is served in a timely and effective manner.
Q117. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The NGT has the power to hear cases related to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Reason (R): The NGT was created for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
Assertion (A): The NGT has the power to hear cases related to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Reason (R): The NGT was created for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
Explanation
A specialized environmental court was created to provide a dedicated space for resolving disputes related to the protection of nature. While it has broad authority over many national environmental laws, its jurisdiction does not include all of them. Specifically, cases involving the protection of wild animals and birds are handled by separate legal systems.
Q118. Under the NGT Act, appeals against the decisions of the NGT can be filed before the:
Explanation
When a party is dissatisfied with a final decision made by the environmental tribunal, there is a specific legal path for seeking a further review. Because of the high status and expertise of the tribunal, its orders cannot be challenged in lower or intermediate courts. Instead, any appeal must be filed directly with the highest judicial authority in the country. This ensures that significant environmental matters are given the ultimate level of legal consideration.
Q119. The NGT Act mandates the disposal of applications or appeals finally within how many months of filing?
Explanation
One of the main reasons for creating a specialized environmental court was to ensure that cases are resolved much more quickly than in the traditional legal system. The law that established the tribunal includes a clear requirement for all applications and appeals to be finalized within a specific period. This six-month goal helps to prevent long delays, which are particularly harmful in environmental matters where damage can be irreversible if not addressed promptly.
Q120. Who is eligible to be appointed as the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal?
Explanation
The leadership of the specialized environmental tribunal requires a high level of legal expertise and experience. To ensure this, the person chosen for the top position must have previously served at one of the highest levels of the national or state judiciary. This requirement guarantees that the chairperson has a deep understanding of the law and the judicial process, which is essential for managing a body that makes significant decisions about environmental protection and justice.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 111 | (c) Compliance with environmental conditions |
| 112 | (a) Guarantees that no damage will occur |
| 113 | (d) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 114 | (b) Policies, plans, and broader programs |
| 115 | (d) New Delhi |
| 116 | (a) Natural Justice |
| 117 | (d) A is false but R is true. |
| 118 | (b) Supreme Court of India |
| 119 | (b) 6 months |
| 120 | (c) Retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge |
Key facts from Environmental and Ecological Changes and Impact Assessment
- An ecosystem is made of interacting organisms and their physical environment; an ecotone is a zone of transition between ecosystems.
- Saprotrophs convert complex organic matter into simple substances; gross primary productivity is the rate at which producers create organic matter.
- Plants release water vapour through transpiration.
- Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant; CO, SO₂ and PM10 are primary pollutants.
- The greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat by atmospheric gases.
- Category B2 projects are exempt from public consultation under the EIA Notification 2006; the Supreme Court banned mining in the Aravalli range in Haryana and Rajasthan.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Environmental and Ecological Changes and Impact Assessment?
This page has 168 practice MCQs on Environmental and Ecological Changes and Impact Assessment (Health, Environment and Agriculture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is a secondary pollutant?
A pollutant that is not emitted directly but forms in the air from primary pollutants. Ground-level ozone is the standard example, formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight.
What is an ecotone?
A zone of transition between two different ecosystems, such as the area between a forest and a grassland. It often has more species than either neighbour because it has species of both.
Which projects are exempt from public consultation under EIA 2006?
Category B2 projects, which have less environmental impact. Category A and B1 projects need public consultation as part of the clearance process, which is the main way local people are heard.