UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

After the ban took effect, central and state authorities carried out a one-month nationwide enforcement campaign. This involved inspections of markets, industrial units and commercial establishments to check compliance with the list of prohibited items. The drive also focused on public awareness, nudging consumers and retailers to shift away from banned single-use plastics. Such combined enforcement and outreach is essential to translate legal bans into real changes in behaviour and waste generation.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the government did not shut down all plastic manufacturing; many plastic products remain legal and essential. Enforcement focused on prohibited items rather than indiscriminately closing entire industries.

Option B:
This option correctly describes the practical step taken to implement the ban: a focused, time-bound, nationwide enforcement and awareness drive. It recognises that rules need to be backed by on-ground inspections and citizen engagement to be effective.

Option C:
Abolishing existing plastic waste management rules would run contrary to the objective of improving waste governance. In reality, the amendment rules build on earlier frameworks rather than discarding them.

Option D:
The ban and associated enforcement drives apply across India, not only in coastal states. Restricting implementation to coastal regions would neglect inland sources of plastic pollution that also reach rivers and oceans.

Open-access resources are those to which no specific group or individual has exclusive rights, making them difficult to regulate. The high seas beyond national jurisdiction are often treated as open access, where many countries’ fleets can fish with limited controls. This situation can lead to overexploitation and a classic "tragedy of the commons." Thus, high seas fisheries exemplify an open-access global resource.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because privately owned agricultural land has clearly defined property rights. The owner can exclude others and control how the land is used, so it is not open access.

Option B:
Option B is correct as the high seas lack a single controlling authority and are accessible to many actors. This openness creates challenges for sustainable fisheries management and conservation.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because a community-managed village pond is better described as common property, where a defined group has shared rights and rules. It is not open to all outsiders.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since a privately operated wind farm is controlled by a company or individual. Access to its resources is restricted by ownership and contractual arrangements.

The dependency ratio compares the size of the dependent population,typically children and older persons,to the working age population. A higher ratio indicates greater economic pressure on the working population to support dependants. The formula in the stem corresponds exactly to this concept. Therefore dependency ratio is the correct term.

Option A:
Sex ratio is the number of females per thousand males or vice versa in a population. It provides information on gender balance but does not relate directly to age structure or economic support burden. Hence it does not match the ratio described in the question.

Option B:
Child ratio considers only the proportion of children relative to the total population or working age group,ignoring elderly dependants. The stem clearly includes both children and older persons,so child ratio is incomplete and not correct here.

Option C:
Dependency ratio captures the combined economic burden of supporting both younger and older dependants on the working age group. It is widely used in development planning to assess social security and employment needs. This matches exactly what the question describes.

Option D:
Urban rural ratio compares populations living in urban and rural areas and is used to study spatial distribution. It has nothing to do with age groups or dependency relationships,so it is not the right answer.

The natural greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm enough for life by trapping some outgoing infrared radiation. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have increased greenhouse gas levels,leading to extra warming beyond this natural level. This extra warming is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. Therefore enhanced is the correct word to complete the phrase in the stem.

Option A:
The natural greenhouse effect refers to the baseline warming that has always existed due to naturally occurring greenhouse gases. It is essential for maintaining habitable temperatures and is not the additional human induced component highlighted in the question.

Option B:
Moderate does not correspond to any widely recognised term in climate science. While the enhanced greenhouse effect may or may not be moderate, the established term focuses on the idea of being stronger than the natural effect,not moderate.

Option C:
Shielded greenhouse effect is not an accepted expression. Shielding would imply blocking radiation rather than trapping more of it. Thus this option does not fit the phenomenon described in the stem.

Option D:
Enhanced greenhouse effect clearly indicates that the original process has been intensified by human actions. It accounts for the observed trend of rising global temperatures and changing climate patterns,exactly what the question refers to.

Statements A, B and C are correct as they outline key theoretical perspectives linking population and environment. Malthus focused on potential imbalances between population and food, Boserup stressed innovation under pressure and neo-Malthusians incorporate consumption and technology into impact analysis. Statement D is incorrect because many contemporary studies explicitly consider institutions and equity in population–environment debates. Therefore, A, B and C only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it lists only A and B and omits C. Without neo-Malthusian views that integrate technology and consumption, the theoretical picture is not up to date.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes only B and C and leaves out A. Although Boserup and neo-Malthusians are important, Malthusian thinking is foundational and must be included to fully answer the question.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it gathers all three valid statements and rejects D, which wrongly claims that institutions and equity are ignored. This option reflects the evolution of thinking from simple population counts to more complex frameworks.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes D along with A and C. Accepting D would deny the rich literature on environmental justice and institutional analysis in population–environment studies.

Statements A, B and D correctly reflect elements of ODL quality assurance: good self-learning materials, robust learner support and recognised QA norms/guidelines. Statements C, E and F are wrong because monitoring, alignment with national frameworks and appropriate assessment are necessary for credible ODL.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D and therefore misses the role of QA norms/guidelines for recognising ODL programmes.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits B and therefore ignores learner support services, which are central to ODL quality.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it includes A, B and D and excludes C, E and F, which deny monitoring/framework alignment/assessment.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes C (false) and omits A (true), so it mixes wrong and incomplete statements.

Statements A, B and D are correct because they show that disasters affect people differently based on social conditions and that community-based approaches can build resilience. Statement C is incorrect; it treats disasters as purely natural when in fact social and economic factors shape who is most affected. Thus, the combination including A, B and D only, and excluding C, is the correct set of statements.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because although A and B are true, it leaves out D, which correctly emphasises the importance of community-based disaster risk reduction. Without D, the option does not fully reflect approaches to reducing vulnerability.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it includes B and D but omits A. While B and D are true, A is also correct in recognising that marginalised groups are often more vulnerable. Leaving out A makes the combination incomplete.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it brings together A, B and D, all of which align with the social science understanding of disasters as interacting with inequalities. It also properly excludes C, which wrongly denies the role of social and economic conditions.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it groups A, C and D and treats C as true. The presence of C, which mischaracterises disasters as purely natural, makes the whole combination unacceptable despite including two correct statements.

HDI is designed to move beyond income alone and capture key aspects of human well-being. It uses life expectancy to represent health, indicators of schooling to represent education and per capita income to represent command over resources. These three together give a composite picture of human development achievements. Thus, the option listing life expectancy, education and standard of living is conceptually correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it lists the three standard dimensions of HDI: health, education and income. It shows that development is about people’s capabilities, not just economic output.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because export growth, military strength and reserves are macro-economic or political indicators, not direct measures of human development.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as physical size, population and road length say little about how well people live; countries can be small but highly developed or large but poorly developed.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since the number of factories or financial institutions does not automatically reflect improvements in life expectancy, education or living standards for all citizens.

Statements A, C and D are correct as they acknowledge that environmental degradation and both sudden- and slow-onset changes can drive migration, that displacement has multiple consequences and that planned relocation is a possible adaptation response. Statement B is incorrect because slow-onset processes like sea-level rise or desertification do influence migration decisions in many regions. Therefore, the combination that selects A, C and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits statement D, even though D accurately notes planned relocation as an adaptation option in some high-risk areas. Leaving out D means the answer does not capture the full set of correct statements.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all three true statements while excluding B, which wrongly restricts migration drivers to only sudden-onset disasters. It reflects the broader understanding of environmental migration used in this unit.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it accepts B as correct along with C and D. Although C and D are true, B is false, and a combination containing a wrong statement cannot be considered correct.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it claims that all four statements are correct. Because B is clearly false, treating it as true makes the entire combination unacceptable.

The Paris Agreement,adopted in 2015,sets a goal of keeping global temperature rise this century well below 2°C above pre industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It relies on nationally determined contributions from all parties. The agreement represents a major global consensus on climate action. Therefore the description in the question points clearly to the Paris Agreement.

Option A:
The Rio Declaration consists of a set of principles on environment and development from the 1992 Earth Summit. It does not specify quantitative temperature limits. Hence it does not match the detailed climate target mentioned in the stem.

Option B:
The Doha Amendment relates to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. While it adjusts emission targets,it is not framed around a specific temperature limit goal. Therefore it is not the best answer here.

Option C:
The Cartagena Protocol deals with biosafety concerning transboundary movement of living modified organisms. Its focus is on protecting biodiversity from risks posed by biotechnology,not global temperature control. Thus it is unrelated to the description given.

Option D:
The Paris Agreement explicitly articulates the 2°C and 1.5°C temperature thresholds as collective goals. Because the question cites this exact aim,it can only refer to the Paris Agreement.

Mitigation refers to efforts taken before a disaster to reduce its potential impact. These include structural measures such as dams,embankments and safe building codes as well as non structural measures like land use planning. The aim is to lessen damage even if a hazard occurs. Therefore the description in the question is best captured by the term mitigation.

Option A:
Mitigation involves proactive risk reduction rather than post disaster action. By addressing underlying vulnerabilities,it can significantly limit loss of life and property. This long term focus distinguishes mitigation from other phases of disaster management and makes it the correct answer.

Option B:
Recovery refers to measures taken after a disaster to restore normalcy and rebuild affected communities. It includes rehabilitation and reconstruction activities. Although important,it does not describe the pre disaster risk reduction strategies highlighted in the stem.

Option C:
Relief usually denotes immediate assistance after a disaster,such as food,shelter and medical aid. It is reactive and short term in nature. Hence it does not match the long term structural and non structural strategies described.

Option D:
Reconstruction focuses on rebuilding damaged infrastructure and housing after the disaster has struck. It is part of the post disaster phase,not a preventive strategy. Therefore it is not the correct term for the measures mentioned in the question.

Ecocentrism holds that ecosystems, species and natural processes have value in their own right, independent of human interests. It argues for moral consideration of the entire ecological community. The stem’s emphasis on intrinsic value of non human nature aligns precisely with this stance,so ecocentrism is the correct term.

Option A:
Anthropocentrism places humans at the centre of moral concern, valuing nature primarily for its utility to people. This is the opposite of the position described in the question,so it cannot be correct.

Option B:
Technocentrism emphasises technological innovation and human ingenuity as solutions to environmental problems. It does not necessarily grant intrinsic value to ecosystems; instead it often views nature instrumentally.

Option C:
Ecocentrism expands the moral community beyond humans to include all living beings and ecological systems. It underpins many deep ecology and conservation philosophies. This broader valuation reflects exactly what the stem describes.

Option D:
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that seeks the greatest good for the greatest number, usually focusing on human welfare. While it can be extended to non humans, it is not inherently about intrinsic value of ecosystems.

The Global Biofuel Alliance seeks to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels by improving standards, trade and technology cooperation. It encourages higher blending of biofuels like ethanol in transport fuels to cut oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions. For countries like India, the alliance also links to better price realisation for farmers who supply feedstock, strengthening the people–environment–development nexus.

Option A:
This option is wrong because the alliance concerns biofuels, not coal production.

Option B:
This option correctly reflects the alliance’s intent to coordinate sustainable biofuel growth, address transport emissions and benefit agricultural stakeholders.

Option C:
A blanket ban on all bioenergy would conflict with the alliance’s purpose of promoting sustainable biofuels as part of the energy mix.

Option D:
The alliance is open to a wide range of countries, including developing ones; restricting technologies only to rich countries is contrary to its cooperative spirit.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct because they describe major indices and note that indicators help inform but do not replace judgement. Statement E is false since choices about what to measure and how to weight indicators always involve normative decisions. Hence, the combination that includes all correct statements and excludes E is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it captures different measurement tools and emphasises cautious policy use, while rejecting the notion that index construction is entirely free of value judgements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it leaves out F and therefore fails to highlight that contextual interpretation is necessary to avoid mechanical use of indices.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it includes E, which wrongly claims that index design is purely objective, even though value choices are inherent in indicator selection.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it omits B, so it loses the definition of ecological footprint, which is one of the key indicators discussed in this unit.

Biodiversity hotspots are areas that meet strict criteria for high levels of endemism and significant loss of original habitat. They are considered priorities for conservation investment because they contain many unique species under severe threat. The stem explicitly refers to regions with high richness,endemism and serious human pressure,which defines hotspots. Thus Option C is the correct answer.

Option A:
Corridors are habitat links connecting larger patches to aid movement of species. They are not defined by exceptionally high endemism and threat levels.

Option B:
Reserves are protected areas,which may exist within or outside hotspots. “Reserve” does not inherently mean high endemism plus high threat.

Option C:
Hotspots are conservation priority regions characterised by exceptional endemism and serious habitat loss or threat,matching the stem precisely.

Option D:
Commons are shared resources managed by communities; the term does not specifically denote high endemism and high threat as in the hotspot concept.