UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, C and E are correct because they describe key ethical positions and the idea that some natural capital is non-substitutable, which underpins strong sustainability. Statement D is false since inter-generational equity is a central ethical concern about obligations to future generations. Statement F is false because ethical debates have shaped environmental principles, rights and legal frameworks. Thus, the combination including A, B, C and E and excluding D and F is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it omits E and therefore ignores strong sustainability, which is an important link between ethics and resource economics in this unit.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes F, which denies the influence of ethics on law and policy, even though many legal principles arise from ethical arguments about rights and duties.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it integrates different strands of environmental ethics and their implications for non-substitutability and inter-generational concerns, while rejecting statements that suggest ethics are irrelevant.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it includes D, which dismisses the relevance of ethics for inter-generational equity, and omits A, thereby losing the concept of anthropocentric but conservation-supporting reasoning.

Statements D and F are wrong because they deny the central role of ethics and rights in environmental decisions. D ignores that many environmental choices involve moral judgments beyond simple economic calculations. F is incorrect because rights-based conservation approaches show that recognising marginalised groups’ rights can support long-term stewardship. Statements A, B, C and E correctly explain equity notions, justice concerns and indigenous ethical perspectives. Hence, the wrong statements together are D and F only.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it picks exactly D and F, the two statements that conflict with contemporary thinking on environmental ethics and justice. It implicitly validates A, B, C and E as accurate descriptions of key ethical ideas used in policy debates and activism.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it singles out only D as wrong and overlooks F, which also seriously misrepresents the relationship between rights and conservation. By failing to include F, it underestimates the importance of rights-based approaches.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it treats only F as wrong and ignores D. While F is indeed incorrect, D is equally problematic in suggesting ethics have no place in decision-making, so this option does not fully respond to the question.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it groups C, D and F as wrong, even though C correctly characterises the focus of environmental justice. Including C among wrong statements contradicts the accepted definition of that concept.

Statements A, B, D and E correctly reflect widely accepted descriptions of sustainable development, including the classic definition, three-pillar approach, equity dimensions and participatory decision-making. Statement C is incorrect because sustainable development stresses prudent and efficient resource use, not unlimited exploitation. Statement F is also incorrect since reducing poverty and inequality is integral to the sustainable development agenda. Therefore, the only combination that includes all and only the correct statements is A, B, D and E.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it selects the four statements that match key principles of sustainable development. It recognises the need to balance present and future needs, integrate economic, social and environmental goals and ensure fairness across and within generations. It also acknowledges the role of stakeholder participation, while rejecting resource overuse and neglect of poverty.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it adds C, which advocates unlimited exploitation of resources. Including C contradicts the very idea of sustainability, even though A, B and D are correct. It also omits E, so it leaves out the participatory aspect.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it accepts both C and F, which misrepresent sustainable development as endorsing unlimited exploitation and ignoring poverty/inequality. Although it includes some true statements (B and E), the presence of C and F and absence of A and D make the combination invalid.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it brings in F along with A, D and E. While A, D and E are true, F wrongly states that poverty and inequality concerns are ignored. This mixture of true and false statements prevents it from being the correct answer.

Statements D and E are wrong because climate justice specifically criticises ignoring inequalities within countries and treats inter-generational equity as a central concern. Statements A, B, C and F are correct in emphasising historical responsibility, disproportionate impacts, capability-based equity and justice claims around loss and damage. Since exactly D and E misrepresent climate justice principles, the correct answer must identify both of them as wrong together.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it points only to D as wrong and overlooks E. By failing to mark E, which denies the link between climate justice and inter-generational fairness, it does not fully capture the ethical dimensions of climate debates.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it singles out E and leaves D unmarked. Statement D wrongly suggests that climate justice ignores within-country inequalities, which is contrary to the focus on marginalised groups in many justice frameworks.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it treats C as if it were wrong along with D and E. In fact, C correctly states that equitable climate policies take different capabilities and development needs into account, so including it among wrong statements makes this option conceptually flawed.

Option D:
Option D is correct since it identifies both D and E as the statements that contradict established notions of climate justice and equity. It implicitly recognises A, B, C and F as valid descriptions of responsibility, impact and justice claims, and therefore best matches the requirement to select the wrong statements.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct on distributive, procedural, inter-generational and recognition justice. Statement D is wrong because justice is central to hazardous facility siting. Statement F is wrong because equity is a core concern, not something to ignore. Therefore A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes D (false).

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

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

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

Statements A, B, E and F are correct because they reflect the core ideas and institutional features of the SDG framework. Sustainable development is commonly framed as a balance of economic, social and environmental pillars, while the SDGs explicitly cover poverty, health, education and environmental goals. The agenda highlights multi-stakeholder partnerships and regular review processes at national and global levels. Statements C and D are incorrect because inter-generational equity is central to sustainable development and the SDGs are universal, applying to all countries.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it selects exactly those statements that align with the official formulation of the SDGs and sustainable development. It includes the three-pillar balance, the breadth of SDG goals, the role of partnerships and the monitoring architecture. At the same time, it excludes C and D, which misrepresent equity and universality in the SDG agenda.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds C, a statement that claims sustainable development must ignore inter-generational equity. This contradicts the widely cited definition that explicitly stresses meeting present needs without compromising future generations. Including C means this combination cannot represent the correct set of statements.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes D, which wrongly asserts that SDGs apply only to developing countries, and it omits E and F. By excluding the partnership and review elements, it ignores key implementation pillars while also accepting a false statement about SDG coverage.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it contains D as well as B, E and F. While B, E and F are true, accepting D would mean treating SDGs as non-universal, which is inconsistent with the global nature of the 2030 Agenda. Therefore, this option mixes correct and incorrect statements.