UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

In 2022, the UN Environment Assembly adopted a historic resolution to forge an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The mandate covers the full life cycle of plastics and explicitly includes the marine environment. This decision launched a formal treaty process with a clear legal ambition, reflecting the scale and urgency of the plastic pollution crisis. It is therefore best described by the option that mentions a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. (UNEP - UN Environment Programme)

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the resolution goes beyond voluntary guidelines and covers more than just marine litter. While oceans are a key concern, the mandate addresses plastic pollution across the entire life cycle and aims at a binding instrument, not just soft recommendations.

Option B:
This option correctly summarises the scope and legal nature of the resolution. It emphasises both the ambition to “end plastic pollution” and the inclusion of marine environments within a broader life-cycle approach. These features distinguish the current process from earlier, narrower initiatives.

Option C:
This option exaggerates the resolution by suggesting a complete global ban on all plastics by 2025, which was neither proposed nor agreed. Many essential uses of plastics, such as in healthcare, will continue, with the focus instead on reducing unnecessary and harmful uses.

Option D:
Limiting the treaty to recycling in OECD countries would ignore the global and upstream nature of plastic pollution. The mandate clearly extends to all countries and to issues like production, design and chemicals, so this option does not reflect reality.

At COP28, countries adopted decisions on the governance and hosting arrangements for the new loss and damage fund. This allowed the fund to move from a concept agreed at COP27 towards practical operation. Several developed and some developing countries made initial pledges, signalling political momentum even though the amounts were still modest compared to needs. The step was seen as important for climate justice debates.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the fund was not shelved; COP28 aimed to move it forward rather than abandon it.

Option B:
This option correctly notes that COP28 adopted operational arrangements and saw initial pledges, marking a shift from agreement in principle to practical steps.

Option C:
Converting the fund into a mitigation-only instrument would defeat its purpose of addressing unavoidable climate impacts; no such decision was taken.

Option D:
The fund is meant to assist vulnerable developing countries, not developed ones, so this option reverses eligibility in a confusing way.

The polluter pays principle requires that the costs of pollution control and remediation be borne by those responsible for creating pollution. It aims to internalise environmental externalities into production and consumption decisions. The stem clearly describes the idea that polluters should pay for prevention,control and clean up,so polluter pays is the correct term. This principle underpins many modern environmental policies.

Option A:
The precautionary principle emphasises taking preventive action in the face of scientific uncertainty,but it does not specify who should bear the cost. Therefore it does not directly address the cost allocation issue highlighted in the question.

Option B:
Polluter pays encourages firms to adopt cleaner technologies and avoid wasteful practices,because they face financial responsibility for damage. This aligns well with the demand in the stem that generators of pollution cover associated costs.

Option C:
Subsidiarity is a governance principle stating that decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level,close to affected citizens. It deals with institutional arrangements rather than cost allocation for pollution,so it is not the right answer.

Option D:
Proximity refers to managing waste as close as possible to its source to reduce transport and associated impacts. While related to logistics,it does not capture the core idea that polluters should bear costs,so Option D is not suitable.

Mitigation refers to measures taken in advance to reduce the potential adverse impacts of hazards by limiting exposure or vulnerability. Structural interventions like embankments and stronger buildings are classic mitigation tools. The stem lists exactly such measures,so disaster risk mitigation is the correct concept. Therefore Option D is appropriate.

Option A:
Response involves immediate actions during or right after a disaster (rescue,relief),not advance structural measures.

Option B:
Recovery focuses on restoring services and livelihoods after a disaster,not on pre event strengthening.

Option C:
Preparedness includes planning,training and drills; it is about readiness rather than structural risk reduction measures like retrofitting.

Option D:
Mitigation reduces risk before hazards occur through measures such as embankments,shelters and retrofitting,exactly as described in the stem.

In power sector statistics, “non-fossil” generally includes all electricity sources that do not burn fossil fuels. For India, this category typically comprises solar, wind, hydro (both large and small), nuclear and other renewables like biomass and small waste-to-energy projects. Counting all of these together, recent data show that non-fossil capacity has crossed the 50% share mark. This classification is important for tracking progress towards climate and energy targets.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because hydro and nuclear are also non-fossil and are routinely included in official statistics. Limiting the category to only solar and wind understates the share.

Option B:
This option correctly identifies the typical composition of non-fossil capacity in Indian power statistics. It reflects how multiple clean or low-carbon technologies contribute to the overall share.

Option C:
This option is wrong because nuclear alone represents only a small part of India’s capacity. Non-fossil shares rely heavily on renewables as well.

Option D:
Coal, even with carbon capture, is still a fossil fuel and is not classified as non-fossil. Including it would contradict standard reporting practices and climate accounting.

Population density expresses how many people live in a given unit of land area, allowing comparison of how crowded or sparsely populated different regions are.

Option A:
Incorrect, because the share of people in urban areas describes the level of urbanisation, not density itself.

Option B:
Correct, as it defines density directly as people per unit area of land.

Option C:
Incorrect; the rate of natural increase is based on birth and death rates and shows how fast a population is growing, not how it is distributed in space.

Option D:
Incorrect; the average number of children per woman refers to fertility, not density.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct on gendered roles, policy impacts, clean cooking benefits and participation. Statement D is wrong because gender analysis is crucial in adaptation. Statement F is wrong as environmental stress can aggravate gender-based violence. Therefore A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes D (false).

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes A, B, C and E and excludes D and F.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes F (false) and omits A.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes F (false) and omits B.

Statements A, B and D correctly describe institutional planning. Perspective plans articulate development goals, planning is guided by vision and mission, and participation of different stakeholders makes plans realistic and inclusive. Statements C, E and F are false because planning must include academic and student support dimensions, plans need periodic revision and evidence-based data are essential for meaningful planning.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D, thereby not recognising that participatory processes strengthen ownership and plan quality.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it includes A, B and D and excludes C, E and F.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A, so it fails to mention that perspective plans are medium to long-term development roadmaps.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes C (false), claiming planning ignores academic/student support dimensions.

Environmental refugees are people who have to leave their homes because environmental conditions make living there unsafe or unsustainable. These conditions can be sudden disasters like floods or gradual changes like desertification and sea-level rise. Their movement is driven by survival rather than choice or lifestyle. Therefore, migration due to environmental changes is the correct reason.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because educational opportunities are socio-economic pull factors, not environmental pressures. Students moving for education are migrants but not environmental refugees.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it directly links displacement to environmental degradation and hazards. It reflects discussions on climate-induced migration and vulnerability.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since lifestyle choices are voluntary and not forced by environmental stress. Such moves are better described as optional migration.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because government tourism incentives attract visitors, not refugees. Tourists are temporary and not displaced by environmental harm.

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework includes 23 targets, one of which calls for conserving at least 30% of land, inland waters and marine areas by 2030. This “30×30” target stresses not just numerical area but also ecological representation and connectivity, so that protected and conserved areas form coherent networks. It aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss while respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. Thus, the option that refers to conserving 30% of terrestrial and marine areas in an effective, representative and well-connected way correctly explains the 30×30 goal. (Convention on Biological Diversity)

Option A:
Option A is correct because it reflects both the percentage figure and the requirement that conserved areas be ecologically representative and connected, which are central elements of Target 3 in the framework. It recognises that quality and placement of conservation areas matter as much as quantity for safeguarding species and ecosystem functions. This aligns with official texts and guidance on implementing 30×30.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; the framework does not contain population-reduction targets of this kind, and such an approach would raise serious ethical and human-rights concerns. Biodiversity policy focuses on changing production, consumption and land-use patterns rather than demographic engineering.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because the framework does not prescribe a uniform budget share for all countries or limit spending to forestry. Financing arrangements are more flexible and cover a broad range of conservation and restoration activities across sectors.

Option D:
Option D misinterprets the target by focusing only on tree-planting numbers and ignoring ecosystem diversity and appropriateness. The framework emphasises protecting and restoring varied ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands and oceans, not simply planting trees anywhere.

Statements A, B and C correctly describe NEP 2020 institutional types. The policy speaks of research-intensive universities, teaching-intensive multidisciplinary institutions and autonomous degree-granting colleges as the three broad categories. It does not freeze institutions into single-stream teaching-only roles, and it allows evolution from one type to another as quality improves. Statements D, E and F distort the policy by denying multidisciplinary flexibility and integration of teacher education with the overall system.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it leaves out statement C, so it does not acknowledge autonomous degree-granting colleges as a distinct institutional type envisaged by NEP 2020. This makes the description of the new institutional structure incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes A and C but omits B, thereby not explicitly recognising teaching-intensive multidisciplinary institutions, which are a major category in NEP 2020.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it includes A, B and C, the three true statements about institutional types, and excludes D, E and F, which incorrectly portray NEP as enforcing single-stream colleges and permanent separations.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats D as part of the correct set even though D wrongly claims that all institutions must remain single-stream teaching colleges, which contradicts the multidisciplinary thrust of NEP 2020.

Statements B and E are wrong, whereas A, C, D and F are correct. The Convention on Biological Diversity has a broad focus on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and benefit-sharing, not just marine pollution. International treaties generally require national legislation and implementation; treaties alone cannot solve problems without domestic action. The other statements accurately describe the UNFCCC, UNCCD, financial and technical support, and the need for international cooperation.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it lists only B as wrong and ignores E, which also misrepresents how global problems are addressed. By failing to include E, it does not capture the full set of incorrect statements.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it identifies exactly B and E as false and leaves the remaining statements recognised as true. It reflects a correct understanding that biodiversity treaties are broader and that treaties require follow-up at national levels.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it treats A as wrong along with B and E, even though A correctly states the objective of the UNFCCC. Including A among wrong statements contradicts official convention texts.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it adds F into the list of wrong statements. F correctly notes that transboundary problems require multi-country cooperation, so grouping it with B and E makes this option conceptually flawed.

Statements A, B and D are correct: corporate environmental responsibility typically goes beyond compliance, includes reporting and accounting tools and acknowledges that some firms engage in greenwashing. Statement C is incorrect because environmental responsibility is generally seen as part of the broader corporate social responsibility agenda. Thus, the combination that selects A, B and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it omits D, even though D accurately defines greenwashing, an important concept related to corporate environmental claims. Without D, the description of corporate environmental responsibility is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it brings together the three true statements and excludes C, which wrongly disconnects environmental responsibility from the CSR framework. It reflects the integrated ethical, social and environmental expectations from businesses.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it treats C as true by including it along with B and D. Statement C denies the relationship between corporate environmental responsibility and CSR, which contradicts standard corporate governance literature.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes C along with A and D and leaves out B. Although A and D are correct, accepting C and omitting B—on reporting and disclosure—makes this combination conceptually flawed.

Statements C and F are wrong, while A, B, D and E are correct. Indoor air pollution from solid fuels is a major risk factor for respiratory disease, so saying it has no effect is clearly false. Environmental health programmes routinely include behaviour change components, such as promoting handwashing and safe storage, so claiming they never consider behaviour change is also wrong. The other statements describe widely accepted WASH–health relationships. Hence, the wrong statements together are C and F.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it identifies only C as wrong and ignores F, which also misrepresents environmental health practice. It therefore fails to capture the full set of incorrect statements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it treats D as wrong along with C, yet D correctly notes that children are more vulnerable to environmental risks due to physiology and exposure patterns. Misclassifying D undermines basic public health understanding.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it selects exactly those statements that contradict established evidence on indoor air pollution and health promotion strategies. It leaves A, B, D and E recognised as the valid foundations of WASH programming.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it adds A to the list of wrong statements even though A accurately describes the link between unsafe water, sanitation and diarrhoeal disease. Grouping A with C and F makes the option logically inconsistent.

Food security is defined by availability,access,utilisation and stability of food supplies for all people. The stem directly echoes this definition by stressing physical and economic access to sufficient,safe and nutritious food at all times. Therefore food security is the correct term. It is a central concept in development policy and global agendas.

Option A:
Food security frameworks emphasise not just the quantity of food but its quality and continuous availability,including during shocks. Because the question repeats these elements,this option precisely captures the intended meaning.

Option B:
Nutritional transition refers to changes in dietary patterns,often towards more processed and energy dense foods as incomes rise. While related,it does not in itself guarantee universal access to adequate food,so it is not the best match.

Option C:
The green revolution was a period of rapid growth in agricultural productivity due to high yielding varieties and inputs. It increased food production but did not automatically ensure equitable access or nutrition,so it is not synonymous with the goal described.

Option D:
Land reforms involve redistribution or regulation of land ownership and tenancy. They can support food security but are one policy tool rather than the overarching concept stated in the stem.