UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Population density expresses how many people occupy a given area of land. It is calculated as population divided by land area and is typically reported as persons per square kilometre or square mile. The stem clearly describes this ratio,so density is the correct term. It is a fundamental indicator in demography and planning.

Option A:
Density helps planners compare crowded and sparsely populated regions and understand pressure on land and services,which matches the idea in the stem.

Option B:
Growth refers to change in population size over time,not people per unit area.

Option C:
Mobility is movement of people (migration/commuting),not the spatial ratio described.

Option D:
Structure refers to composition (age/sex etc.),not the per-area measure.

Statements A, C and D correctly capture core ideas in disaster risk reduction. Statement A presents the standard formulation of disaster risk as a function of hazard, vulnerability and capacity, C lists important non-structural measures and D stresses mainstreaming risk reduction into development planning. Statement B is incorrect because non-structural measures are also crucial, and statement E is wrong as preparedness involves planning, training and mitigation-oriented actions, not just response. Therefore, the combination that includes A, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes A and C but excludes D. While A and C are correct, D is also a valid statement since integrating disaster risk reduction into development plans significantly lowers future vulnerabilities and losses. Leaving out a correct statement means this combination is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds statement E to A and C. Statement E wrongly restricts disaster preparedness to emergency response, ignoring its preventive and capacity-building aspects. The presence of an incorrect statement makes this combination unacceptable.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it groups A, C and D, all of which align with widely accepted disaster management frameworks. It recognises the multi-dimensional nature of risk, the importance of non-structural measures and the need to integrate risk reduction into development. Since it excludes the incorrect statements B and E, this combination fully satisfies the requirement.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes statements A, B, C and D. Although A, C and D are correct, B is wrong because structural measures are not the only tools for risk reduction; behavioural, institutional and policy measures are equally important. Including a false statement makes this combination invalid.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct as they summarise the pillars of the Sendai Framework, the need for integration into development, local participation and ecosystem-based measures. Statement D is false because early warning without preparedness, capacity or structural measures cannot eliminate risk. Statement F is false since risk depends on the interaction of hazard, exposure and vulnerability. Therefore, the correct combination is A, B, C and E only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits E and thus ignores ecosystem-based approaches like mangrove belts, which are now widely recognised in disaster risk reduction strategies.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes F, which wrongly states that exposure and vulnerability are irrelevant, contradicting the standard risk formula.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it excludes A and therefore does not mention the global Sendai Framework, which is an important reference for policy.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes the core elements of contemporary DRR thinking and rejects statements that overstate the sufficiency of warnings or treat hazards as the only determinant of risk.

The Economic Survey notes that adaptation-related expenditure has grown as a share of GDP between FY16 and FY22. This rise from about 3.7% to 5.6% indicates that resilience-building investments are gaining prominence in India’s development strategy. It underscores that adaptation is seen not as an optional add-on but as integral to inclusive, sustainable growth in a climate-vulnerable country. These figures also support India’s argument that it is already investing heavily from its own resources in climate resilience.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the evidence shows an increase, not a disappearance, of adaptation spending. Treating it as near zero would underplay the seriousness with which adaptation is being pursued.

Option B:
This option correctly reports the trend described in the Economic Survey and links it to growing policy emphasis on adaptation. It recognises that higher adaptation expenditure is part of mainstream development planning.

Option C:
A jump from 20% to 40% of GDP is unrealistic and not mentioned in official documents. Such figures would imply adaptation dominates all public spending, which is not the case.

Option D:
There is no legal requirement fixing adaptation spending at 1% of GDP. The observed percentages emerge from expenditure analysis, not from statutory caps.

Demographic dividend refers to the economic advantage that can arise when a country has a relatively large working age population and a smaller dependent population. Under favourable policy conditions,this age structure can boost productivity,savings and investment. The concept emphasises that population change can create a window of opportunity for faster growth. Therefore the term demographic dividend matches the description in the question.

Option A:
Demographic transition describes the shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates over time. While demographic dividend can occur during part of this transition,the two terms are not identical. Demographic transition is a broader process,not specifically the economic opportunity mentioned in the stem.

Option B:
Population explosion refers to a very rapid increase in population without reference to age structure or economic benefits. It usually has negative connotations related to resource pressure. Hence it does not capture the growth potential associated with a favourable age structure.

Option C:
Urbanisation means the increasing proportion of people living in urban areas. Though it influences economic development,it is not defined by the balance between working age and dependent populations. Therefore it is not the correct term here.

Option D:
Demographic dividend specifically highlights the economic potential when the working age group dominates. It is this favourable dependency ratio,combined with appropriate policies,that can accelerate growth. This makes it the precise concept referred to in the question.

The dependency ratio compares the size of the dependent population,typically children and older persons,to the working age population. A higher ratio indicates greater economic pressure on the working population to support dependants. The formula in the stem corresponds exactly to this concept. Therefore dependency ratio is the correct term.

Option A:
Sex ratio is the number of females per thousand males or vice versa in a population. It provides information on gender balance but does not relate directly to age structure or economic support burden. Hence it does not match the ratio described in the question.

Option B:
Child ratio considers only the proportion of children relative to the total population or working age group,ignoring elderly dependants. The stem clearly includes both children and older persons,so child ratio is incomplete and not correct here.

Option C:
Dependency ratio captures the combined economic burden of supporting both younger and older dependants on the working age group. It is widely used in development planning to assess social security and employment needs. This matches exactly what the question describes.

Option D:
Urban rural ratio compares populations living in urban and rural areas and is used to study spatial distribution. It has nothing to do with age groups or dependency relationships,so it is not the right answer.

The report highlights that despite rapid renewable capacity growth, transmission constraints and unresolved power purchase agreements have left some federal projects with unsold power. This shows that hardware alone is not enough; grid expansion, market design and regulatory reforms are equally important. Without such enabling conditions, renewable energy cannot fully displace fossil generation or improve access for consumers. Sustainable development therefore requires integrated planning of infrastructure, institutions and investments.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because capacity additions can fail to deliver benefits if power cannot be evacuated or sold. Socially just access depends on more than installed megawatts.

Option B:
This option is wrong since state-level initiatives can complement federal projects; the issue is coordination and infrastructure, not an argument against state-led clean energy.

Option C:
The difficulties described in the report do not imply that clean energy harms development. Rather, they point to the need for better planning so that renewables support growth and equity.

Option D:
This option correctly captures the lesson that policies, institutions and physical infrastructure must keep pace with capacity growth. It emphasises that only then can renewable energy contribute effectively to people’s welfare and environmental goals.

Carrying capacity refers to the largest population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely given the available resources and technology. If this limit is exceeded,resources are depleted and environmental degradation occurs. The stem clearly mentions a maximum sustainable population without degrading resources,which is precisely the idea of carrying capacity. Therefore this option correctly completes the statement.

Option A:
Carrying capacity is widely used in ecology and human ecology to discuss limits to growth. It reminds planners that development must respect environmental constraints. This matches the emphasis on sustainability in the question.

Option B:
Demographic bonus refers to potential economic gains from a favourable age structure and has nothing to do with physical resource limits. It does not answer what the maximum sustainable population is.

Option C:
Population pyramid is a graphical representation of age and sex composition. It shows structure,not the maximum population an environment can support,so it is not appropriate here.

Option D:
Dependency ratio compares dependants with working age people. It is an economic-demographic indicator rather than a measure of environmental limits.

The term demographic dividend refers to the economic boost that can result when a country has a high proportion of working age people relative to dependants. This age structure can raise savings,investment and productivity if appropriate policies exist. The stem describes exactly this situation of a larger working age share. Therefore dividend is the correct completion of the phrase demographic dividend.

Option A:
Dividend is used here in an economic sense to indicate a potential payoff arising from favourable demographic conditions. When the working age group expands while fertility falls,there is an opportunity to accelerate growth. This option matches both the standard terminology and the description in the question.

Option B:
Surplus suggests having more of something than needed but does not capture the specific idea of an age structure advantage. It is not the established term in demographic literature for this phenomenon,so it is not the best choice here.

Option C:
Transition refers to the broader demographic transition process involving changes in birth and death rates. While demographic transition creates the conditions for a dividend,it is not itself the benefit described in the stem.

Option D:
Bonus is sometimes used informally but demographic bonus is less common and not the standard technical phrase. The widely accepted term is demographic dividend,so bonus is not the most accurate answer.

Demographic dividend refers to the economic opportunity that arises when a country’s working-age population is large relative to the dependent population (children and elderly). If accompanied by investments in health, education and jobs, this age structure can boost productivity and growth.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because a rising share of elderly people usually increases dependency and fiscal pressure rather than creating a dividend.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since a sudden rise in births initially increases child dependency and delays any potential dividend.

Option C:
Option C is correct as it links the concept to economic growth potential created by a favourable age structure, provided appropriate policies are in place.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because child welfare alone is not enough; without employment and human capital for the growing youth cohort, the dividend may never materialise.

Environmental impact assessment is a formal procedure used to identify,predict and evaluate the likely environmental effects of proposed projects or policies before key decisions are taken. It aims to integrate environmental considerations into planning and avoid or mitigate negative impacts. The stem directly describes this process,so environmental impact assessment is the correct term.

Option A:
Cost benefit analysis compares monetary costs and benefits of a project and may or may not include environmental impacts in a systematic way. It is broader economically but not focused specifically on predicting environmental consequences as EIA does.

Option B:
Social audit examines how well an organisation or programme meets social objectives such as participation,transparency and service delivery. While important,it does not primarily address environmental prediction and evaluation.

Option C:
Green budgeting involves integrating environmental objectives and indicators into government budgeting processes. It is a fiscal planning tool rather than a project specific assessment of environmental consequences.

Option D:
Environmental impact assessment produces reports and recommendations that can shape project design,site selection and mitigation measures. This matches exactly the role set out in the question stem.

A population policy consists of deliberate actions by a government to affect fertility,mortality and migration patterns. It aims to achieve desired population size,structure and distribution consistent with development goals. Such policies may involve family planning,healthcare and incentives or disincentives. Therefore the description in the question clearly fits population policy.

Option A:
Population policy directly targets demographic variables such as birth and death rates and migration. By shaping these factors,it influences overall population growth and spatial distribution. This makes it the correct term for the measures described in the stem.

Option B:
Employment policy focuses on job creation,labour regulations and unemployment reduction. While population size affects labour markets,employment policy does not primarily aim to control population growth. Hence it is not the best answer here.

Option C:
Education policy governs the structure,access and quality of educational systems. It may indirectly influence fertility and development but does not explicitly address population size and growth. Therefore it does not match the definition given.

Option D:
Fiscal policy refers to government decisions on taxation and public expenditure. Its main purpose is macroeconomic stabilisation and resource allocation,not direct demographic regulation. Thus it is unrelated to the concept in the question.

Statements A, B and D are correct: risk is seen as hazard–exposure–vulnerability, the Sendai Framework stresses prevention and resilience, and integrating DRR into development planning reduces future losses. Statement C is incorrect because non-structural measures like education, land-use planning and early warning are crucial complements to structural measures. Therefore, the option that includes A, B and D and excludes C is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete as it omits D, which correctly notes the importance of integrating DRR into development planning. Without D, the answer does not fully capture contemporary DRR practice.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it includes C along with A and B, treating structural measures as sufficient and dismissing non-structural measures. This contradicts modern DRR frameworks.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because, while A and D are true, it omits B which highlights the Sendai Framework, a key part of the syllabus. The set of correct statements is therefore not complete.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it groups all three true statements and excludes the false one. It presents a holistic understanding of disaster risk reduction, combining conceptual, institutional and policy aspects.

Population ageing occurs when the proportion of people in older age groups increases over time. This results from sustained low fertility and improvements in survival that extend life expectancy. The stem highlights exactly these drivers and the growing share of older persons,so population ageing is the correct term. It has important implications for pensions,healthcare and labour markets.

Option A:
Demographic dividend refers to economic opportunities created when the working age population becomes relatively larger than dependants. It is generally associated with a younger age structure rather than an older one. Therefore it does not match the ageing focused description in the question.

Option B:
Youth bulge describes a situation where a large proportion of the population falls in the young adult age groups. It can raise concerns about employment and social stability,not old age issues. Hence it is not appropriate for the stem.

Option C:
Population explosion suggests very rapid increases in total population,often due to high fertility. While some societies with population explosion may later experience ageing,the term itself does not convey the idea of a rising share of older persons. Thus it is not correct here.

Option D:
Population ageing directly signals that older people constitute an increasing fraction of the population over time. It summarises the combined effects of fertility decline and longer life,precisely what the question stem describes.

Statement D is clearly wrong because population growth does affect environmental quality and must be considered in environmental planning. Statements A, B and C are conceptually correct as they highlight how rapid population growth and high consumption patterns increase pressure on resources and ecological footprint. Since only statement D is incorrect, the combination identifying D only as wrong is the correct answer. No other combination isolates the single wrong statement accurately.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it suggests that statement A alone is wrong. In reality, statement A is correct since rapid population growth does indeed increase pressure on natural resources such as land and water. Misclassifying a correct statement as wrong makes this option unacceptable.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it identifies D only as the wrong statement. Statement D wrongly claims that population growth has no relationship with environmental quality, which contradicts well-established demographic–environmental linkages. As A, B and C are correct and D is the only incorrect statement, this combination matches the question requirement.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it treats both A and D as wrong. While D is wrong, A is correct and supported by many environmental studies showing that rapid population growth exacerbates resource scarcity. Including a correct statement in the set of wrong statements makes this option invalid.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it groups B, C and D together as wrong statements. In fact, statements B and C are correct because they emphasise the benefits of population stabilisation and highlight the high ecological footprint of affluent consumption patterns. Only statement D is wrong, so including B and C in the wrong set makes the option incorrect.