UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A green belt is a zone of protected open land, often with forests,parks or agriculture,around an urban area. Its purpose is to check uncontrolled urban expansion,conserve natural landscapes and provide recreational spaces. The stem mentions a ring of open land around a city with ecological benefits,which fits the concept of a green belt exactly. Hence green belt is the correct term.

Option A:
Green belts are used as planning tools to contain cities within defined boundaries and to preserve peri urban ecosystems. They can also help moderate urban climate and improve air quality. These functions align closely with the description in the question.

Option B:
An industrial corridor is a designated area for concentrated industrial development,usually with high infrastructure and transport connectivity. It tends to attract more construction and pollution rather than limit sprawl,so it is the opposite of what the stem describes.

Option C:
A transport hub is a node where multiple transport modes or routes converge,such as a major railway station or bus terminal. It is typically built up and does not refer to protective open land surrounding a city.

Option D:
A free trade zone is an area where goods can be imported,stored and re exported with minimal customs restrictions. It is an economic instrument and not an environmental or planning measure to preserve open land,so it does not match the stem.