UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Green buildings are designed to reduce resource use and environmental footprints throughout their life cycles. They incorporate strategies such as effective insulation, natural lighting, water-saving fixtures and sustainable materials. The goal is to provide comfortable, healthy indoor environments while using less energy, water and raw materials. Therefore, the feature emphasising efficient use of energy, water and materials with minimal environmental impact correctly reflects green building principles.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it summarises the integrated approach of sustainable building design. Such buildings often include renewable energy systems and rainwater harvesting, further lowering their ecological footprint.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since exclusive reliance on air-conditioning and artificial lighting generally increases energy consumption. Green design encourages natural ventilation and daylighting wherever possible.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because uninsulated concrete and glass buildings can lead to high heat gain or loss, making them energy inefficient. Green architecture promotes appropriate shading and insulation to maintain comfort with lower energy input.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as ignoring local climate results in buildings poorly adapted to their environment. Climate-responsive design is a hallmark of sustainable architecture, reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

Statements A, C and D are all correct and together give a comprehensive picture of how household energy choices affect environment and health. Improved cookstoves lower fuel use and indoor smoke, clean fuels improve health especially for women and children and efficient appliances collectively reduce electricity demand and emissions. Statement B is incorrect because heavy reliance on biomass does contribute to pressure on local forests and woodlots. Therefore, the only combination that includes all true statements and excludes the false one is A, C and D only.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it selects exactly those statements that reflect established understanding of household energy and environment. It recognises technological improvements such as improved cookstoves, the health benefits of clean fuels and the systemic impact of energy-efficient appliances on national demand. By leaving out B, which wrongly denies forest impacts of biomass use, this option fully satisfies the requirement.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits statement D, which is a correct statement about the role of efficient appliances in reducing electricity consumption and associated emissions. While A and C are true, ignoring D means the combination does not capture the full set of correct statements about household energy.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes all four statements A, B, C and D and in doing so treats B as correct. Statement B is false, since unsustainable extraction of firewood and other biomass can degrade local forests and common lands. Including a clearly wrong statement makes the entire combination unacceptable.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes only C and D and leaves out statement A, which is also true. Although C and D are correct, excluding A means that one valid aspect—improved cookstoves and their benefits—is not represented, so this option does not list all correct statements.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct because they describe regeneration, formation over long time scales, risks of overuse, the role of efficiency and examples of renewables. Statement E is false as understanding resource types is vital for planning sustainable extraction, use and substitution strategies. Hence, the option that includes all the true statements and excludes E is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct since it captures both conceptual definitions and policy-relevant implications for managing renewable and non-renewable resources, while rejecting the claim that classification is irrelevant.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits F and therefore fails to give concrete examples of renewable energy, which are important for learners to connect concepts with real technologies.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes E, which denies the value of classification for sustainable planning, despite its clear importance in policy and management.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it leaves out B, thus not explicitly recognising fossil fuels as non-renewable resources formed over geological periods.

Statement D is the only wrong statement because ICT use clearly affects energy consumption, resource use and e-waste generation, so it is linked to environmental sustainability. Statements A, B and C correctly identify concerns and mitigation strategies such as data centre energy use, efficient technologies and digital documents. Claiming that ICT has no relationship with sustainability ignores both negative impacts and opportunities for greener practices. Hence the option that selects only D as wrong is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it groups A and D as wrong statements. Statement A is true, as large data centres are known to consume substantial electricity and may contribute to emissions depending on the energy mix. Including this accurate statement with the false one makes the option invalid.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it labels B and D as wrong. While D is false, B correctly notes that energy-efficient hardware and cooling can reduce ICT’s environmental footprint. This combination misclassifies a genuine mitigation strategy as wrong.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it isolates D as the sole incorrect statement while accepting A, B and C as accurate. It acknowledges that ICT both poses environmental challenges and offers ways to reduce impact through efficiency and reduced paper use.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes A, B and D as wrong, thereby rejecting A and B, which are true. Considering genuine environmental issues and solutions as wrong contradicts the intent of the question.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct as they capture the standard definitions and examples of mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation is about reducing emissions, adaptation is about adjustment to impacts, climate-resilient infrastructure is a form of adaptation, and efficiency plus renewables are key mitigation measures. Statement D is wrong because mitigation and adaptation are complementary approaches that can be pursued together, and F is wrong because early warning systems are adaptation rather than mitigation tools. Therefore, the combination A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits statement E, which correctly identifies major mitigation strategies of efficiency and renewable energy. Without E, the answer underplays a central pillar of climate mitigation policy.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes D, which falsely claims that mitigation and adaptation are mutually exclusive. Accepting D would deny integrated approaches widely promoted in climate policy and practice.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it groups all the true statements and excludes both D and F, which misclassify relationships and examples. It provides a balanced understanding of how mitigation and adaptation are defined and implemented.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it accepts F as part of a correct combination while excluding A. Early warning systems are primarily an adaptation measure, and leaving out A removes the basic definition of mitigation from the answer set.

Green buildings aim to reduce environmental impacts over the entire life cycle of a structure. They incorporate features such as proper insulation, passive solar design, rainwater harvesting, low-flow fixtures, non-toxic materials and ventilation systems that maintain healthy indoor conditions. These features help save energy and water, reduce waste and improve occupant well-being.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because heavy use of energy-intensive materials without insulation typically increases a building’s ecological footprint and operating energy demand.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it summarises the central concerns of energy efficiency, water conservation and healthy indoor environments, alongside careful material choices.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since sealing windows to exclude natural light and fresh air raises dependence on artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation, increasing energy use and potentially harming indoor air quality.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because green building practice often seeks to integrate landscaping, trees and pervious surfaces, not eliminate them.

Large-scale LED deployment reduces electricity consumption for lighting, which is a major urban end-use. Lower energy use translates into reduced emissions intensity of GDP when the power system still relies partly on fossil fuels. Such efficiency improvements also free up electricity for other productive uses, supporting development. The initiative therefore aligns well with India’s Panchamrit commitments on emissions intensity and clean energy, as well as with broader goals of sustainable urbanisation. (The Times of India)

Option A:
This option correctly links LED rollouts to India’s climate and development vision, where efficiency measures reduce emissions while improving services. It recognises that efficient public lighting contributes to both mitigation and better quality of life.

Option B:
This option is incorrect because the LED programme supports, rather than undermines, the growth of renewables by lowering demand growth and improving system flexibility. Phasing out renewables in favour of coal would contradict India’s stated climate targets.

Option C:
The purpose of the programme is to reduce energy use for a given level of lighting, not to encourage unnecessary lighting. While careful planning is needed to avoid light pollution, the policy focus is efficiency, not more wasteful illumination.

Option D:
Replacing grid-based lighting with diesel generators would increase emissions and costs, going against the rationale for LED deployment. The initiative is about cleaner and more efficient electricity use, not shifting to more polluting fuels.

Statements A, B, D and E are correct since they reflect definitions of mitigation/adaptation, identify key mitigation strategies and emphasise integrated policies for sustainable development. Statement C is incorrect because sea walls and cyclone shelters are adaptation measures. Statement F is incorrect as climate change is linked with changes in extreme weather patterns. Thus, the combination A, B, D and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits E, thereby ignoring the importance of integrating mitigation and adaptation for sustainable development.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it includes F, which wrongly claims there is no link between climate change and extreme events.

Option C:
Option C is correct as it brings together conceptual and strategic aspects and excludes misclassified examples and denial of extreme-event linkages.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes F and omits A, denying an established link while losing the basic definition of mitigation.

Energy efficiency means using less energy to provide the same or better level of service,for example through LED bulbs or well insulated buildings. It reduces energy bills and emissions simultaneously. The stem explicitly refers to maintaining the same level of service with less energy input,which is the core definition of energy efficiency. Therefore Option A is correct.

Option A:
Improving energy efficiency can be achieved through technological upgrades,maintenance and behavioural changes. It is often considered the lowest cost option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These characteristics match the description given in the question.

Option B:
Energy scarcity describes a situation where energy resources are insufficient to meet demand. It is a structural condition,not a measure of how effectively energy is used,so it does not suit the stem.

Option C:
Energy mining refers to extracting energy resources such as coal or uranium from the ground. It increases supply rather than making use more efficient,so it is not relevant here.

Option D:
Energy pricing relates to the tariff structure and cost of energy for consumers. While it can influence efficiency behaviour,it is not itself the process of delivering the same service with less energy.

Statements A, B and C are correct and reflect the established link between energy choices and environmental outcomes. Fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide, efficiency measures cut demand and emissions and renewable sources help in mitigation. Statement D is clearly incorrect because energy policy is central to environmental protection through regulations, incentives and technology choices. Hence, the combination that includes A, B and C only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it contains only A and B and ignores C. While A and B are accurate, C is also a correct statement since renewables contribute significantly to mitigation strategies. Leaving out a true statement makes the option incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it combines A, B and D and wrongly treats D as correct. By asserting that energy policy has no relevance for environmental protection, D contradicts the basic understanding of climate and energy governance. Including this false statement invalidates the option.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it groups A, C and D and again accepts D as valid. Although A and C are true, adding D undermines the environmental role of energy policy, so the option cannot be chosen.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes all the true statements—A, B and C—and excludes the false one. It recognises both the problems of fossil fuels and the solutions offered by efficiency and renewable energy. As a result, it fully satisfies the requirement of the question.

Statements A, B, C, E and F are correct and show technical, economic, behavioural and policy aspects of efficiency. Statement D is false because energy efficiency supports energy security by reducing demand and contributes to sustainable development by lowering environmental impacts. Hence, the correct combination is A, B, C, E and F only.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes D, which wrongly dismisses efficiency’s role in energy security and sustainability.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits E and F, missing behavioural and policy tools that help realise efficiency gains in practice.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it includes D (false) and omits A, losing the basic definitional statement of efficiency.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B, so it underrepresents emissions benefits of efficiency when power is fossil-fuel based.

Statements A, B and D are correct because they describe the core goals, design strategies and certification mechanisms of green buildings. Green housing focuses on reduced resource use and better indoor quality, uses passive design and efficient technologies and is evaluated by rating systems that apply performance criteria. Statement C is incorrect since life-cycle assessment of materials is an important tool to understand embodied energy and environmental impacts over a building’s life. Therefore, the combination A, B and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it includes A and B but omits D. While it captures goals and design features, it ignores the role of certification systems in encouraging and benchmarking green building performance. Because one correct statement is missing, the option is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it selects only B and D. Although both are correct, it leaves out A, which states the overall aim of green buildings and is central to the concept. Without A, the description of green buildings is partial.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes C, which wrongly claims life-cycle assessment is irrelevant. Life-cycle thinking is widely emphasised in sustainable construction, so accepting C makes the option conceptually flawed.

Option D:
Option D is correct since it covers goals, design measures and certification aspects while excluding the incorrect dismissal of life-cycle assessment. It thus presents a comprehensive and accurate picture of green buildings.

Statements A, B and C are correct because renewable energy use, efficiency improvements and recognition of fossil fuel lock-in are all central ideas in discussions of low-carbon transitions. Statement D is incorrect since sustainable energy policies usually promote diversification and resilience, not dependence on a single source. Therefore, the only option that includes all three true statements and excludes the false one is A, B and C only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it lists only A and B, leaving out C which is also correct. Lock-in of fossil infrastructure is an important barrier to transitions recognised in energy studies, so ignoring it gives an incomplete picture of the challenges.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all the true statements (A, B and C) and excludes D, which falsely claims sustainable energy policies discourage diversification. This option matches the accepted understanding of low-carbon transitions.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it groups C and D together and excludes A and B. Although C is correct, D is wrong because sustainable policies generally encourage a balanced energy mix. Selecting this combination misidentifies the overall set of correct statements.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes A, C and D but omits B. While A and C are true, D remains false, and excluding B ignores the key role of efficiency as the “first fuel”. A correct answer cannot contain D or leave out B.

Statements A, B, D and E are correct on emissions, access, policy instruments and jobs. Statement C is false because projects can have local impacts. Statement F is false because efficiency and renewables are often pursued together. Therefore A, B, D and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes C (false) and omits E.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes F (false) and omits A.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes F (false) and omits B.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes A, B, D and E and excludes C and F.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct because they define energy poverty, describe health impacts of dirty cooking fuels, highlight development benefits of electricity and show how decentralised renewables can reach remote populations. D is wrong since women and girls often bear disproportionate burdens from fuel collection and smoke exposure, and F is wrong because efficiency measures can lower energy costs and improve service levels. Hence, the correct combination must contain A, B, C and E while excluding D and F.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits E, thereby ignoring the role of off-grid and mini-grid renewables in extending access where central grids are weak or absent. Without E, the answer overlooks an important solution emphasised in energy access policies.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes D, which denies the gendered nature of energy poverty, while also excluding C. This results in a combination that underestimates both gender impacts and the multiple development benefits of electrification.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it brings together all statements that accurately capture definitions, impacts and solutions while rejecting those that deny gender linkages and the role of efficiency. It therefore reflects the multi-dimensional understanding of energy poverty in the syllabus.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it accepts F, claiming efficiency is irrelevant, and omits A. This combination ignores the basic definition of energy poverty and accepts a false statement about efficiency’s role, so it cannot be correct.