UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A carbon footprint quantifies the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with an activity or entity. It expresses different greenhouse gases in a common unit of carbon dioxide equivalent. This helps compare and manage contributions to climate change. Therefore the description in the question clearly corresponds to a carbon footprint.

Option A:
Carbon footprint is specifically used to track how much climate forcing gases are emitted. It can be calculated for individuals,organisations,products or even countries. Because the definition in the stem mentions greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide equivalent,this term fits exactly.

Option B:
An ecological niche refers to the functional role and position a species occupies in an ecosystem. It has nothing to do with measuring greenhouse gas emissions. Hence it does not match the meaning described in the question.

Option C:
Energy budget generally denotes the balance between energy input and output in a system,such as a city or organism. While related to resource use,it is not a standard measure of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore it is not the best answer here.

Option D:
Water footprint measures the amount of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by an individual or community. It focuses on water use,not greenhouse gas emissions. Thus it does not correspond to the definition given in the stem.

Urban sprawl refers to dispersed, low density development on the outskirts of cities,often lacking adequate public transport and services. It consumes large areas of land and contributes to habitat loss and pollution. The stem explicitly mentions unplanned horizontal expansion into rural areas with low density development, which is the hallmark of urban sprawl. Therefore urban sprawl is the correct term.

Option A:
Urban renewal involves redeveloping older urban areas to improve housing, infrastructure and services. It usually focuses on existing built up zones rather than outward expansion into rural land,so it does not fit the description in the question.

Option B:
Urban sprawl is typically associated with car dependence and fragmented land use patterns. This pattern increases energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. These negative outcomes align with the unplanned,spread out growth referred to in the stem.

Option C:
Smart growth is an alternative planning approach that promotes compact, mixed use and transit oriented development. It is designed to counteract sprawl,not to describe it,so it is not the right answer.

Option D:
Rural reconstruction focuses on improving social and economic conditions in rural areas through infrastructure,education and agriculture. It does not describe the outward expansion of cities,so it cannot fill the blank correctly.

Statements A, C and D are correct and together provide a balanced view of development and environmental indicators. Statement A accurately defines the components of the Human Development Index, C explains the meaning of ecological footprint and D notes that broader progress indicators integrate social and environmental dimensions with economics. Statement B is incorrect because GDP alone cannot capture sustainability or quality of life, and statement E is wrong since a higher HDI does not automatically guarantee lower environmental impact. Thus the combination containing A, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only A and C, leaving out D. While A and C are true, D is also a correct statement as many alternative indicators explicitly incorporate social and ecological aspects. Omitting a true statement makes this combination incomplete and therefore wrong.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds statement E to A and C. Statement E falsely assumes a direct and guaranteed relationship between high HDI and low environmental impact, ignoring cases where high human development is achieved with intensive resource use. Including this incorrect statement invalidates the option.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it brings together A, C and D, all of which are conceptually sound. It recognises the multidimensional nature of human development, the ecological constraints captured by footprint measures and the attempt of newer indices to go beyond GDP. By excluding the false statements B and E, this option fully meets the requirement of the question.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it groups A, B, C and D and treats B as correct. GDP alone does not reflect environmental degradation, inequality or sustainability, so including B in the set of correct statements is conceptually wrong. Therefore this combination cannot be chosen.

Option E is incorrect because it combines B, C, D and E, both B and E being incorrect for the reasons mentioned. Although C and D are true, the presence of two false statements means the option fails to represent the set of correct statements. Hence it cannot be accepted as the right answer.

Sustainable consumption emphasises meeting human needs and enhancing well being with lower environmental impact. It involves efficient resource use,eco friendly products and mindful consumption patterns. By reducing waste and emissions,it supports broader goals of sustainable development. Therefore the description in the question accurately characterises sustainable consumption.

Option A:
Luxury consumption refers to high end goods and services aimed at status or pleasure rather than basic needs. It often implies greater resource use and waste,not minimisation. Hence it is the opposite of what is described in the stem.

Option B:
Overconsumption means using resources at a rate that exceeds the environment’s capacity to regenerate them. It is a major driver of environmental problems and contradicts the idea of minimising resource use. Therefore it cannot be the correct term.

Option C:
Conspicuous consumption is consumption undertaken mainly to display wealth and social status. It frequently leads to unnecessary use of resources. This behaviour is inconsistent with the quality of life and environmental restraint emphasised in the question.

Option D:
Sustainable consumption seeks to decouple well being from resource intensive lifestyles. It promotes choices that are both socially desirable and environmentally responsible. Because the stem emphasises meeting needs with minimal resource use,this term is the correct answer.

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) broadens the scope of traditional project level EIA by examining environmental implications of higher level decisions such as policies and plans. It aims to integrate environmental considerations early in the decision making process. The stem explicitly contrasts assessment for policies,plans and programmes with individual projects,which defines SEA. Therefore strategic is the correct word.

Option A:
Partial environmental assessment would suggest an incomplete or limited review,rather than a particular level of application. It is not a standard term in environmental planning,so it cannot fill the blank accurately.

Option B:
Routine environmental assessment would imply everyday or standard procedures without specifying the strategic policy or plan focus mentioned in the question. It does not match the technical term.

Option C:
Strategic environmental assessment helps avoid lock in of unsustainable options by evaluating alternatives before project details are fixed. This aligns with the policy and planning orientation described in the stem.

Option D:
Experimental environmental assessment has no established meaning in mainstream practice. It might suggest pilot or trial studies but does not capture the policy and programme scope at issue.

The IPAT identity expresses environmental Impact (I) as the product of Population (P), Affluence (A) and Technology (T). It suggests that impact grows with more people,higher consumption per person and technologies with higher environmental intensity. Therefore the correct mathematical form is P × A × T.

Option A:
A sum such as P + A + T would not capture the multiplicative interactions emphasised in the IPAT framework, where increases in any factor can scale total impact. Hence it does not match the established relationship.

Option B:
The product P × A × T highlights how even modest growth in each factor can combine to produce large changes in environmental impact. This multiplicative understanding aligns precisely with the way the identity is presented in the literature and described in the question.

Option C:
A subtraction expression like P – A – T would be conceptually meaningless in this context, as it could imply negative impacts for certain values and ignores the reinforcing nature of the drivers.

Option D:
A division form P ÷ A ÷ T similarly fails to represent growth in impact with increasing consumption and technological intensity. It is not how the identity is formulated,so it is not appropriate for the blank.

Green computing emphasises designing, using and disposing of computer systems in ways that minimise environmental impact. This includes energy efficient hardware, power management features and responsible recycling of electronic waste. Organisations adopt green computing to reduce costs, comply with regulations and support sustainability goals. Thus, the computing approach described is green computing.

Option A:
Option A, ubiquitous, computing focuses on embedding computation into everyday objects and environments and does not inherently address environmental responsibility.

Option B:
Option B is correct because the term green computing is widely used to denote eco friendly practices in the ICT domain, directly matching the concern for responsible and efficient use.

Option C:
Option C, mobile, computing relates to computing on portable devices and is defined by mobility rather than environmental considerations.

Option D:
Option D, embedded, computing deals with specialised processors inside appliances and machines, which may or may not be designed with green principles in mind.