UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by UN member states in 2015, sets out a framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals cover a broad range of issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, climate action and partnerships. They build on the earlier Millennium Development Goals but are more comprehensive and universal. Therefore, the correct number of SDGs is 17, as stated in Option C.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because 8 goals were associated with the Millennium Development Goals, not with the SDG framework. The SDGs expanded both the number and scope of targets.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since 12 is not the agreed number in the UN 2030 Agenda. Some thematic groupings exist, but the official list has 17 goals.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it reflects the adopted global consensus on the structure of the 2030 Agenda. Each goal is accompanied by specific targets and indicators to monitor progress.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect; 25 goals have never been part of the formal SDG framework. Using an incorrect number can lead to confusion in exam questions on global development agendas.

Statements A, B, C and E present a coherent picture of how industry relates to environment and sustainable development. Industrialisation can support growth and jobs, but pollution risks arise without safeguards, making cleaner technologies and resource efficiency important. Public disclosure of performance can create reputational incentives to improve compliance. Statements D and F are incorrect because regulations can drive innovation and environmental management systems explicitly support sustainable development goals. Therefore, the combination that includes A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it selects all and only the statements that are conceptually sound: A and B describe growth and pollution risks, C stresses cleaner processes and E highlights disclosure as a driver of better performance. It appropriately excludes D, which overstates negative effects of regulation, and F, which ignores SDG linkages. This option aligns with contemporary views on industrial sustainability.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it omits statement E, thereby ignoring the role of transparency and public reporting in improving environmental behaviour. While A, B and C are true, leaving out E means the answer set is incomplete. In addition, it does nothing to correct the false notions in D and F.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes B, C and E but also F, which wrongly claims that environmental management systems are unrelated to SDGs. It also omits statement A, which correctly notes the economic aspect of industrialisation. The presence of F makes this combination logically flawed.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it brings together A, C and E with F. Although A, C and E are correct, including F introduces a clearly false statement about the irrelevance of environmental management systems to sustainable development. It also excludes B, which properly recognises pollution risks from poorly regulated industry.

Statements A, B and D correctly describe how higher education institutions support SDGs. Statement A is true because educating students, conducting relevant research and engaging communities directly advance SDG targets. Statement B is correct as curriculum that addresses sustainability builds awareness and problem-solving skills. Statement D is also true since policies on energy use, waste and social responsibility demonstrate institutional commitment to sustainable development. Statement C is false because partnerships with local communities and governments are often essential for implementing SDG-related initiatives. Accordingly, A, B and D only form the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes A and B but omits D, thereby neglecting the importance of operational policies that model sustainable practices on campus.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it pairs B and D but leaves out A, failing to emphasise the full range of teaching, research and outreach functions that connect HEIs to SDGs.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it combines A with C and D, accepting C’s wrong claim that collaborations are irrelevant, which undermines the collaborative nature of SDG implementation.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes the three statements that capture curricular, operational and outreach contributions to SDGs while excluding C, which contradicts the recognised role of community and governmental partnerships.

The AR6 Synthesis explains that climate-resilient development means integrating climate actions with broader development goals. It highlights that mitigation, adaptation, poverty reduction and equity must be pursued together, especially in rapidly growing countries. When policies are aligned, they can create co-benefits such as cleaner air, safer cities and more resilient livelihoods. If they are planned in isolation, they can miss opportunities or even create new vulnerabilities.

Option A:
This option is incomplete because it suggests waiting until after development to act on mitigation. The report stresses that early climate action is part of development, not something to be postponed. Therefore, it does not capture the integrated nature of climate-resilient development.

Option B:
This option correctly conveys that mitigation, adaptation and development should be planned together to support each other. It also notes the importance of reducing poverty and inequality, which the report treats as central to resilience. That makes it the best reflection of the AR6 framing.

Option C:
This option separates climate policy from development and social concerns, which is the opposite of the IPCC message. The report repeatedly states that siloed approaches are less effective and can undermine resilience. Hence, this option is not appropriate.

Option D:
This option ignores the strong emphasis AR6 places on adaptation alongside mitigation. The report shows that adaptation is vital for managing near-term risks, especially for vulnerable people. So abandoning adaptation is not suggested anywhere and makes this option wrong.

Statements A, B, D and E accurately capture higher education’s role in SDGs. A is true because teaching and research on sustainability and social issues directly advance SDG targets. B is true since campus resource management contributes to environmental goals. D is true as multi-stakeholder partnerships are central to SDG 17. E is true because many institutions now map and report their SDG contributions. C is false since all disciplines can contribute to SDGs, and F is false because local community engagement is an essential part of global sustainability efforts.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits E and therefore does not recognise the growing practice of publishing SDG or sustainability reports.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it groups A, B, D and E, the four true statements showing academic, operational, partnership and reporting contributions, while excluding C and F, which restrict or misdirect SDG work.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes F, which discourages attention to local communities, and omits A, so it fails to mention the core academic contributions.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes C, which confines SDG relevance to a single discipline, and therefore misrepresents the cross-disciplinary nature of SDGs.

Statements A, C and D are correct and reflect the structure and intent of the SDGs. A notes the presence of environment-focused goals, C emphasises integration of economic, social and environmental pillars and D highlights the role of partnerships. Statements B and E are incorrect: the SDGs do not abandon development concerns but integrate them with environmental objectives, and they are universal, applying to all countries. Therefore, the correct combination is A, C and D only.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it accurately captures the environmental and partnership dimensions of the SDGs while recognising their integrative character. It properly excludes B and E, which misrepresent the nature and scope of the goals. Hence, it satisfies the question requirement.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it includes B, which wrongly claims that SDGs replace development concerns with purely environmental ones. This contradicts the multidimensional nature of the goals.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it adds E to otherwise correct statements. E falsely suggests that SDGs apply only to developing countries, whereas they are meant to be universal. Including a false statement invalidates the combination.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it groups B, C and D and leaves out A. Apart from omitting A, it also accepts B, which mischaracterises the SDGs as purely environmental.

The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They explicitly set targets to be met by 2030 across economic, social and environmental dimensions. Therefore the year 2030 correctly completes the stem.

Option A:
The year 2020 was the target date for certain earlier international commitments, such as some biodiversity goals, but not for the full SDG framework. Hence it is not the right answer here.

Option B:
2030 marks the end of the 15 year implementation period envisaged when the SDGs were adopted. Countries are expected to align their policies and monitoring systems with this timeline. This aligns precisely with the description in the question.

Option C:
The year 2040 has no special status in relation to the SDGs,although some longer term national plans may extend beyond 2030. It is not the official target date for the global goals.

Option D:
The year 2050 is often referenced in climate scenarios for deep decarbonisation, but it is not the time horizon for the SDGs. Thus it cannot correctly fill the blank.

The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in 2015 under the UN 2030 Agenda, comprise 17 goals and 169 targets. They cover a wide spectrum of issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, energy, decent work, reduced inequalities, climate action, life below water and life on land, among others. The SDGs are universal, applying to all countries, and they integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. Hence, option D accurately summarises their nature and scope.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it confuses SDGs with the earlier Millennium Development Goals, which were 8 in number. SDGs are 17 and much broader in thematic coverage.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as SDGs are meant to be universal, applying to both developed and developing countries. All nations are expected to work toward the goals, not just aid-receiving countries.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because several SDGs explicitly address environment and climate, such as Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and Goal 15 (Life on Land). Environmental sustainability is central to the SDG framework.

Option D:
Option D is correct since it states that there are 17 SDGs, that they are universal and that they integrate economic, social and environmental aspects. This captures the holistic and inclusive character of the SDG agenda.

Urban green spaces moderate temperatures through shade and evapotranspiration, reducing heat-stress risks. Trees and vegetation can also trap some pollutants and improve local air quality. Parks and green corridors provide recreational areas that support physical and mental health, particularly when they are accessible to all socio-economic groups. As such, they contribute to multiple SDG targets related to health, cities and climate action.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because properly designed green spaces tend to lower, not raise, local temperatures and can help manage stormwater.

Option B:
This option correctly highlights the range of environmental and social benefits associated with urban greening.

Option C:
Urban biodiversity is not something to eliminate entirely; many strategies aim to integrate nature into cities in safe and beneficial ways.

Option D:
Limiting access to green spaces to gated communities reduces equity and contradicts inclusive urban-development goals.