UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A and B are correct because they reflect the accepted waste management hierarchy that favours prevention, reduction, reuse and recycling over final disposal. Modern sustainable waste policies prioritise minimising waste generation and recovering resources before considering landfilling or incineration. Statements C and D are incorrect as open dumping is environmentally unsound and energy recovery processes can generate emissions and require careful control. Therefore, the combination with A and B only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it accurately lists the two statements that correspond to the widely accepted principles of the waste hierarchy. It notes that prevention and reduction should come first and that recycling and reuse are preferable to landfilling. Since it excludes the clearly incorrect statements C and D, this combination fully matches the requirement.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds statement C, which wrongly describes open dumping as an environmentally sound and endorsed practice. In reality, open dumping leads to leachate formation, odour, vector breeding and air pollution. Including such a false statement makes the entire option invalid.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it groups B, C and D, and both C and D are wrong. While B is correct, C wrongly promotes open dumping and D wrongly claims that energy recovery is always benign and emission-free. The presence of two incorrect statements means this combination cannot be accepted.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it declares all four statements A, B, C and D to be correct. Although A and B are correct, C and D are false and contradict principles of environmentally sound waste management. As a result, selecting all four statements is inconsistent with the conceptual framework of the unit.

Integrated solid waste management recognises that no single method can address all waste streams effectively. It therefore uses a mix of strategies,applied in a planned hierarchy,from reduction to final disposal. The stem explicitly lists several methods used together in a coordinated way,which is the essence of integrated management. Hence integrated is the correct term.

Option A:
Centralised management would emphasise control by a single authority or facility but does not necessarily imply using a range of methods. It is about governance structure rather than the combination of techniques described in the question.

Option B:
Integrated approaches aim to maximise resource recovery while minimising environmental impacts and landfill use. They require coordination between households,municipal bodies and private operators. This comprehensive nature fits the stem’s description.

Option C:
Exclusive management suggests relying on one primary method,which is contrary to the integrated philosophy. It would not capture the deliberate use of multiple techniques mentioned in the question.

Option D:
Minimal management implies very limited intervention or capacity,which would likely worsen waste problems. It has no established meaning in the technical literature on waste management,so it is not appropriate here.