Poverty population and environment nexus – UGC NET Question

Statement C is wrong because the relationship between poverty and environment is complex and two-way: the poor can contribute to degradation due to necessity, but they are also disproportionately affected by environmental decline. Statements A, B and D are correct as they highlight dependence on common resources, the poverty-degradation spiral and the role of combined livelihood and conservation policies. Thus, the only statement that should be identified as wrong is C, making the combination C only the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it treats both A and C as wrong, even though statement A correctly describes how poor households rely on common property resources for basic needs. This dependence is central to many analyses of the poverty–environment link, so including A in the wrong set is unjustified.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it groups C and D as wrong. While C is indeed wrong, D is correct since integrated policies that provide livelihoods and encourage conservation are widely promoted as a way to address the vicious cycle. Misclassifying D undermines well-accepted policy approaches.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it isolates C as the only incorrect statement and recognises that A, B and D reflect mainstream understanding of the nexus. It respects the multidirectional nature of poverty–environment interactions that is emphasised in the unit.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it includes A, C and D together as wrong statements. Both A and D are correct, so putting them with C in the wrong set contradicts the conceptual explanations of poverty, environment and policy responses.