UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and D correctly describe positive roles for students in quality assurance. Their feedback can inform course and teaching improvements, they may be members of IQAC, and structured feedback helps identify issues in resources and support services. Statements C, E and F are incorrect because student perspectives are relevant, students do not take all academic decisions alone and quality information should be shared appropriately with stakeholders.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D, so it ignores that student feedback is also important for learning resources and support services.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits B, so it does not acknowledge formal student membership in IQAC or similar bodies.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A and B and does not include the full correct set of student roles in QA.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it includes A, B and D and excludes C, E and F, which marginalise or exaggerate student roles or deny transparency.

The Green Development Pact frames environmental sustainability as a core pillar of G20 development agendas rather than a separate add-on. It references climate action, biodiversity, pollution control and sustainable lifestyles, including India’s LiFE initiative. By embedding these themes in high-level economic and financial discussions, the pact signals that green transitions are central to growth and stability. This resonates strongly with the people-development-environment triad of UGC-NET Paper-1.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the pact does not call for ending economic growth; instead, it argues for greener forms of growth.

Option B:
This option correctly describes the integrated approach that the pact promotes, linking climate, biodiversity and SDGs with development strategies.

Option C:
The declaration emphasises whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, not a narrow view that only environmental ministries are involved.

Option D:
Emerging economies are also encouraged to pursue green development, with support; the pact does not divide responsibilities in the way this option suggests.

PM-PRANAM stands for a programme aimed at Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth. It offers incentives to states that reduce their chemical fertiliser use compared to a past baseline, sharing part of the subsidy savings. The scheme encourages balanced nutrient application, use of organic inputs and improvement of soil health. Recent data show notable reductions in fertiliser consumption in several states during 2023–24, illustrating its early impact. (Drishti IAS)

Option A:
This option correctly reflects the scheme’s objective of cutting excessive chemical fertiliser use while promoting eco-friendly alternatives. It also matches the design of linking financial incentives to states’ performance in reducing fertiliser consumption, making it the accurate answer.

Option B:
Providing universal 100% subsidy on major fertilisers would increase, not decrease, overuse and subsidy burden, contrary to the scheme’s logic. PM-PRANAM aims to save subsidy expenditure by encouraging reduced chemical use.

Option C:
Encouraging farmers to drop organic manure in favour of synthetic fertilisers would worsen soil and environmental problems. The scheme is intended to move in the opposite direction by promoting integrated nutrient management.

Option D:
Promoting fertiliser-intensive cropping in fragile landscapes would heighten risks of pollution and degradation. There is no evidence that PM-PRANAM has such a goal; rather, it supports sustainable alternatives.

Strong sustainability argues that certain components of natural capital are non substitutable because they perform unique life support functions. It holds that these critical stocks must be maintained intact rather than traded off against increases in produced capital. The stem’s insistence that natural capital cannot always be substituted and should not fall below thresholds captures this view,so strong sustainability is the correct term. Option B is therefore right.

Option A:
Weak sustainability assumes natural capital losses can be offset by increases in man made capital,which contradicts the stem.

Option B:
“Strong” completes “strong sustainability,”the view that critical natural capital must be maintained and is not fully substitutable,matching the stem.

Option C:
Partial sustainability is not a standard category describing substitutability/thresholds in sustainability theory.

Option D:
Random sustainability has no recognised meaning and does not describe a coherent strategy.

Statements A, B and C are correct because renewable energy use, efficiency improvements and recognition of fossil fuel lock-in are all central ideas in discussions of low-carbon transitions. Statement D is incorrect since sustainable energy policies usually promote diversification and resilience, not dependence on a single source. Therefore, the only option that includes all three true statements and excludes the false one is A, B and C only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it lists only A and B, leaving out C which is also correct. Lock-in of fossil infrastructure is an important barrier to transitions recognised in energy studies, so ignoring it gives an incomplete picture of the challenges.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all the true statements (A, B and C) and excludes D, which falsely claims sustainable energy policies discourage diversification. This option matches the accepted understanding of low-carbon transitions.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it groups C and D together and excludes A and B. Although C is correct, D is wrong because sustainable policies generally encourage a balanced energy mix. Selecting this combination misidentifies the overall set of correct statements.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes A, C and D but omits B. While A and C are true, D remains false, and excluding B ignores the key role of efficiency as the “first fuel”. A correct answer cannot contain D or leave out B.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct because they describe well-known movements, their focus on displacement and sustainability and the use of PIL to advance environmental justice. Statement D is incorrect, since many movements demand alternatives and better assessment rather than rejecting all development. Statement F is incorrect because activism has influenced policies, judicial decisions and institutional reforms. Therefore, the combination A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it combines historical examples, rights-based concerns and legal strategies that characterise Indian environmental movements. It excludes extreme claims that movements oppose all development or lack policy influence.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes D, which overgeneralises the stance of movements and ignores their constructive proposals. Although A, B and E are true, the presence of D makes the option unacceptable.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it includes F, which denies the impact of activism on policy and law. While B, C and E are correct, the inclusion of F and exclusion of A weakens the description.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it keeps F and leaves out B. Excluding B omits a key example of dam-related mobilisation, while accepting F denies the record of activism shaping law and policy.

Green accounting attempts to integrate environmental factors into national income accounts. It recognises that GDP can rise while natural capital is depleted or environmental quality declines, giving a misleading picture of true wealth. By subtracting costs of pollution and resource depletion and adding the value of environmental services, green GDP provides a more realistic measure of sustainable economic performance. Thus, the main idea is to adjust income measures for environmental losses, as described in Option C.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because simply calculating physical output volumes does not address environmental externalities. Green accounting is specifically concerned with valuing environmental gains and losses.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it suggests excluding environmental assets, which is the opposite of what green accounting advocates. Ignoring these assets perpetuates the shortcomings of conventional GDP.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it points to the need for incorporating the depreciation of natural capital alongside produced capital. This adjustment helps policymakers see whether growth is being achieved at the cost of long-term environmental health.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because green accounting does not demand the abolition of all traditional measures. Instead, it complements and refines them by adding an environmental dimension.

Non-conventional energy sources are those that are relatively new, renewable and environmentally friendly compared with conventional fossil fuels. Solar photovoltaic power converts sunlight directly into electricity without combustion. It relies on an abundant, renewable resource and has low operational emissions. In India’s energy planning, solar PV is a key non-conventional source, making option B the correct choice.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because coal-based thermal power is a conventional energy source. It has been used for many decades and is associated with significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Option B:
Option B is correct since solar PV fits the criteria of renewable and non-conventional energy. Its expansion is central to meeting sustainable development and climate commitments.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as diesel generators run on petroleum, a conventional fossil fuel. They are typically used as backup and emit considerable pollutants.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because natural gas, though cleaner than coal, is still a fossil fuel. Combined cycle plants improve efficiency but remain conventional in terms of resource type.

Statement C is wrong because many trade agreements do contain environmental chapters, side agreements or provisions, and global forums increasingly integrate environmental concerns into trade rules. Statements A, B, D and E are correct: they refer to pollution haven risks, eco-labelling, the influence of foreign standards on domestic practices and ongoing debates about a race to the bottom. Hence, the combination that identifies C alone as wrong is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it labels both A and C as wrong. Statement A is correct in noting that under certain conditions industries may relocate to jurisdictions with weaker environmental regulations, a concern captured in the “pollution haven” hypothesis. Including a correct statement in the wrong set makes this option invalid.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it treats both C and D as wrong. While C is false, D is correct since exporters often adjust production processes to meet environmental standards of importing countries. Misclassifying D contradicts empirical evidence on trade and regulation.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it isolates C as the single incorrect statement and implicitly accepts A, B, D and E as reflecting real trade–environment interactions and debates. It matches the nuanced view expected at UGC NET level.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it groups B, C and D as wrong statements. B and D are both correct descriptions of how eco-labelling and external standards work, so this combination is inconsistent with the conceptual framework.

Option E is incorrect because it regards A, C and E as jointly wrong. E is correct in observing that there are ongoing debates about whether trade pressures can erode environmental standards, so including it in the wrong set makes the option unacceptable.

Carrying capacity links population size with long-term availability of resources and waste-absorbing capacity. It asks how many individuals can be sustained while maintaining ecological balance. Beyond this limit, resource stocks are depleted and environmental quality declines, undermining future support capacity. The focus is therefore on indefinite support, not short-term crowding.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because physical crowding alone does not indicate sustainability; a dense city may still operate within or beyond ecological limits depending on its metabolism.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it combines the idea of a maximum population with the requirement of not degrading underlying resources over time.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since carrying capacity is not about keeping birth rate high; it is about sustainable support.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because a zoo is a managed facility, not the kind of self-regulating ecosystem the concept usually addresses.

In its “Panchamrit” announcement at COP26, India declared that it would achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. This long-term target complements other 2030 goals related to non-fossil capacity, renewable share and emissions intensity. For a developing country with significant poverty reduction needs, the year 2070 balances development priorities with global climate responsibility. It also signals that India is willing to move towards a low-carbon trajectory while seeking climate finance and technology support. (MEA India)

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the 2050 net-zero year is generally associated with many developed countries, not with India’s pledge at COP26. Adopting 2050 as India’s target would ignore its distinct development context and the actual commitment made. Therefore, this statement does not match the officially announced Panchamrit.

Option B:
This option is wrong as no country has promised “immediate” net-zero from 2025; such a claim is unrealistic, especially for a large developing economy. Net-zero requires deep structural changes over decades, and India’s announced timeline is 2070, not 2025.

Option C:
This option correctly states the year linked with India’s net-zero pledge under the Panchamrit commitments. It reflects the balance between development and climate action that underpins India’s negotiating stance. The 2070 date is widely cited in official statements and analyses of India’s climate policy.

Option D:
Phasing out all hydroelectric projects by 2030 is not part of the Panchamrit. In fact, hydropower is counted as a non-fossil source that can help in the transition away from coal. Eliminating it would undermine energy security and flexibility rather than support climate goals.

The GBF sets global targets for conservation, sustainable use and benefit-sharing, but implementation happens largely at national and local levels. Updating NBSAPs ensures that each country translates the framework into concrete policies, measures and indicators suited to its context. This process promotes coherence between global commitments and domestic actions, allowing better tracking of progress and gaps. It also involves consultation with stakeholders, including Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the GBF requires stronger, not weaker, national planning. Eliminating NBSAPs would make implementation harder, not easier.

Option B:
This option correctly explains that NBSAP updates are meant to align national plans with the new global framework so that countries can contribute effectively to biodiversity goals.

Option C:
Ex-situ conservation is important but only one part of biodiversity work; the GBF stresses in-situ conservation, sustainable use and mainstreaming across sectors. Focusing only on zoos and gardens is too narrow.

Option D:
Private actors have roles, but governments remain responsible for overall biodiversity policy; the framework does not hand over all responsibilities to corporations.

The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted after the Bhopal gas tragedy and to implement decisions from the Stockholm Conference. It gives the central government authority to set standards, regulate industrial locations, control hazardous substances and issue directions for environmental protection. Many later rules and notifications, including those on EIA and hazardous waste, are issued under this umbrella law.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because wildlife is specifically covered by the Wildlife (Protection) Act; the Environment (Protection) Act has a broader scope.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it recognises the wide-ranging powers and coordinating role provided by the Act.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect; forest diversion is mainly governed by the Forest (Conservation) Act, though environmental aspects may overlap.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because pollution control boards were created earlier under water and air pollution laws, not solely under this Act.

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty specifically designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs, halons and related chemicals. By controlling these compounds, it aims to allow the stratospheric ozone layer to recover.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because global warming from CO₂ is primarily addressed under frameworks like the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, not Montreal.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it identifies depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer by CFCs and similar chemicals as the problem the Montreal Protocol targets.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since acid rain is associated mainly with sulphur and nitrogen oxides, which are regulated by different policies and agreements.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because heavy metal contamination of soils is outside the scope of the Montreal Protocol and is handled under other environmental regulations.

Statements D and E are wrong because displaced people frequently struggle to access water, sanitation and shelter, and gender and social norms strongly influence who faces the greatest risks and burdens. A, B, C and F are correct in emphasising sudden displacement, environmental stress in host areas, the use of planned relocation and shared pressures on resources. Therefore, the option that identifies both D and E as wrong while accepting the others as accurate is the correct one.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect since it singles out only D as wrong and ignores E, even though denying the role of gender and social norms strongly contradicts evidence from many disaster situations. By failing to mark E, it underestimates key social dimensions of displacement.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it points only to E and leaves out D. Statement D clearly misrepresents the difficulties displaced populations face in securing basic services, so any answer that does not include D among the wrong statements is incomplete.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it groups D, E and F together, even though F is a true statement describing how both hosts and displaced groups can face environmental stress. Including F among wrong statements makes this combination conceptually flawed.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it identifies D and E as the pair of statements that distort how displacement and vulnerability operate, while treating A, B, C and F as valid. This aligns with the unit’s emphasis on service access, social vulnerability and environmental pressures in displacement contexts.