UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Human development focuses on expanding people’s freedoms and capabilities in areas such as health, education and participation. Environmental sustainability emphasises maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and resource bases. A coherent development strategy must bring these two together so that improvements in human well-being do not undermine the natural systems on which that well-being ultimately depends. The statement in Option B therefore captures the essential link between the two.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect since it treats technology as a guaranteed solution to all ecological problems and implies that environmental limits can be ignored. This view is risky and not supported by sustainability thinking, which stresses precaution and limits.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it recognises that human and environmental goals are interdependent. It aligns with the idea that development should be both people-centred and ecologically responsible, avoiding trade-offs that harm future generations.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because environmental sustainability does not require abandoning poverty reduction or health improvements. Instead, it calls for achieving these goals in ways that respect ecological boundaries.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as human development explicitly goes beyond income, taking into account health, education and freedoms. Environmental issues are increasingly recognised as fundamental to sustaining these achievements.