UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, D and E are correct on aims, experiential learning, non-formal channels and values. Statement C is wrong because lifelong learning matters for adults too. Statement F is wrong because local issues are important contexts. Hence A, B, D and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct and excludes C and F.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes C and omits E.

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

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

The term demographic dividend refers to the economic boost that can result when a country has a high proportion of working age people relative to dependants. This age structure can raise savings,investment and productivity if appropriate policies exist. The stem describes exactly this situation of a larger working age share. Therefore dividend is the correct completion of the phrase demographic dividend.

Option A:
Dividend is used here in an economic sense to indicate a potential payoff arising from favourable demographic conditions. When the working age group expands while fertility falls,there is an opportunity to accelerate growth. This option matches both the standard terminology and the description in the question.

Option B:
Surplus suggests having more of something than needed but does not capture the specific idea of an age structure advantage. It is not the established term in demographic literature for this phenomenon,so it is not the best choice here.

Option C:
Transition refers to the broader demographic transition process involving changes in birth and death rates. While demographic transition creates the conditions for a dividend,it is not itself the benefit described in the stem.

Option D:
Bonus is sometimes used informally but demographic bonus is less common and not the standard technical phrase. The widely accepted term is demographic dividend,so bonus is not the most accurate answer.

Many occupational health guidelines suggest that long-term exposure to sound levels of about 85 dB or higher can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Above this level, the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear can be damaged over time, so protective measures are required.

Option A:
Option A is correct because 85 dB is a widely used benchmark for continuous occupational noise that requires hearing protection and control measures.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; 25 dB corresponds to very quiet environments and does not harm hearing.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because about 40 dB, typical of a quiet library, is generally safe and even desirable for concentration.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect; 10 dB is an extremely soft sound and poses no risk of hearing damage.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission sets a target of developing at least 5 MMT of annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030. Achieving this will require substantial new renewable energy capacity, as green hydrogen must be produced from low-carbon electricity. The mission is expected to support decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors, enhance energy security and create new industrial and employment opportunities. It is thus a key pillar of India’s long-term low-emission development strategy. (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)

Option A:
This option significantly understates the ambition of the mission and does not match official documents, which clearly mention a much higher target.

Option B:
This option also falls short of the target and is not supported by policy announcements. While 2 MMT would be a substantial amount, it is below the mission’s stated goal.

Option C:
This option correctly reflects the quantitative target and the link to additional renewable capacity. It recognises that green hydrogen is intended to be produced at large scale from clean power to deliver multiple co-benefits.

Option D:
A 50 MMT target with “no need for renewable power” contradicts the very definition of green hydrogen, which requires low-carbon electricity. Such a figure is not part of current Indian plans.

Environmental justice emphasises fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens and meaningful participation of affected communities. Forced displacement without proper compensation or rehabilitation imposes heavy burdens on already vulnerable groups. The stem describes precisely such unfair treatment in the name of development,which is a violation of environmental justice. Hence Option B is correct.

Option A:
Efficiency concerns achieving outcomes with minimal cost or resource use and does not address fairness in burden sharing. A project could be economically efficient yet highly unjust,so Option A misses the central issue in the question.

Option B:
Justice focuses on equity,rights and fair procedures. In environmental contexts it demands that no group be disproportionately harmed by projects and that communities have a voice in decisions. This fits the dam displacement scenario.

Option C:
Neutrality suggests taking no side,but environmental conflicts require explicit consideration of power imbalances and rights. Neutrality does not capture the fairness concerns raised in the stem,so Option C is not suitable.

Option D:
Marketing relates to promoting products or ideas. It is not a principle governing fair treatment of displaced communities and thus cannot complete the statement correctly.

Demographic dividend refers to the economic opportunity that arises when a country’s working-age population is large relative to the dependent population (children and elderly). If accompanied by investments in health, education and jobs, this age structure can boost productivity and growth.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because a rising share of elderly people usually increases dependency and fiscal pressure rather than creating a dividend.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since a sudden rise in births initially increases child dependency and delays any potential dividend.

Option C:
Option C is correct as it links the concept to economic growth potential created by a favourable age structure, provided appropriate policies are in place.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because child welfare alone is not enough; without employment and human capital for the growing youth cohort, the dividend may never materialise.

The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in 1986 in the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy. It provides a comprehensive legal framework empowering the central government to set standards and issue notifications for environmental protection. Because the stem refers to this umbrella legislation,1986 is the correct year.

Option A:
The year 1972 is associated with the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment,which influenced Indian environmental policy but did not itself create the Environment (Protection) Act. Therefore 1972 is not the right completion for the Act’s year.

Option B:
1986 marks the formal adoption of the Environment (Protection) Act,under which various rules such as those for hazardous waste and coastal regulation have been issued. This makes it the accurate answer to the question.

Option C:
The year 1991 is known in India for major economic liberalisation measures. It does not correspond to the passage of this specific environmental act,so it is not appropriate here.

Option D:
The year 2002 has significance for some conservation initiatives but is unrelated to the original enactment of the Environment (Protection) Act. Thus it is not the correct option.

Statements A, B, D and E are correct and show how forests support livelihoods, governance and ecological functions. Forests supply products and services, community management can share benefits, secure tenure often supports stewardship and forests influence local climate and water cycles. C is wrong because monoculture plantations typically reduce biodiversity, and F is wrong because traditional knowledge is important for sustainable use and conservation. Thus, A, B, D and E only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it leaves out E, failing to acknowledge the climatic and hydrological roles of forests. Without E, the answer focuses mainly on products and governance, not on ecosystem regulation.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it includes F and omits A. Accepting F dismisses the value of traditional knowledge, and dropping A ignores the broad range of forest products and services. This combination is therefore conceptually weak.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it includes all the true statements and excludes C and F, which misrepresent plantations and knowledge. It reflects the multifaceted importance of forests to both people and environment in this unit.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it contains C, treating biodiversity-increasing monocultures as correct, which is generally not the case. Including C undermines understanding of the ecological costs of converting natural forests.

Statements C and D are wrong, whereas A and B correctly describe carbon taxes and emissions trading. Market-based instruments are important but usually need to be complemented by regulations, technology policies and behavioural measures, so they are not always sufficient on their own. Fossil fuel subsidies in fact encourage continued use of high-carbon fuels and hinder transitions to low-carbon systems. Therefore, the wrong statements are C and D together.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it picks C only and ignores D, even though fossil fuel subsidies also contradict the idea of low-carbon transition. Selecting only C fails to identify all wrong statements.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it recognises that both C and D misrepresent mitigation policies. It acknowledges the complementary role of regulatory instruments and notes that fossil fuel subsidies are inconsistent with climate goals. This combination therefore matches the requirement to select the wrong statement or statements.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes B, C and D as wrong. Statement B is actually correct in explaining how cap-and-trade systems work, so grouping it with the wrong statements makes this option invalid.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it singles out D only as wrong and treats C as correct. Accepting C would imply that market instruments alone make regulations redundant, which is not supported by climate policy practice.

Statements A, B and D correctly describe examination reforms. Continuous assessment reduces dependence on a single final exam, diverse methods capture different dimensions of learning and alignment with outcomes ensures assessment matches intended learning. Statements C, E and F are false because reforms do not abolish all written exams, apply beyond professional programmes and can benefit from student feedback.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D and therefore misses the outcome-alignment principle.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits A and therefore misses the role of continuous assessment in reducing high-stakes dependence.

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

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes E (false) and omits B (true), so it is not the correct combination.

Statements A, B, C, E and F are correct: agronomic adjustments (dates/varieties), diversification, climate information, water-saving irrigation and extension services all support adaptation. Statement D is false because smallholders are often highly vulnerable and central targets of adaptation. Hence, the correct combination is A, B, C, E and F only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits F, missing the crucial role of extension in spreading adaptation practices.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes D, which wrongly limits adaptation relevance to large farms.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A, which is a valid and common adaptation measure (adjusting sowing dates/varieties).

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B, so it underrepresents diversification as a key risk-reduction strategy.

Environmental Impact Assessment is a systematic process used to identify and analyse the likely environmental consequences of a proposed project. It helps decision-makers consider alternatives, design mitigation measures and decide whether or not to approve a project. By assessing impacts in advance, EIA supports more informed and sustainable planning. Thus, its main purpose is to predict and evaluate environmental impacts before key decisions are taken, as stated in Option B.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because EIA does not aim to rush projects or bypass public consultation. In many jurisdictions, public participation is an integral part of the EIA process.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it highlights the anticipatory nature of EIA. Environmental consequences are examined before major decisions so that they can influence project design and approval.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because EIA is meant to complement, not replace, economic feasibility studies. Sound planning considers both economic and environmental aspects together.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since no development project can have absolutely zero environmental impact. EIA seeks to minimise negative impacts and enhance positive ones, not to guarantee total absence of change.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct because they distinguish prevention from control, highlight low-carbon options, show cost and impact benefits and recognise the interplay of technology, policy and behaviour. Statement E is false since green technologies can also create new jobs and transform employment patterns rather than always reducing opportunities. Thus, the combination that includes all the correct statements and excludes E is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it offers a balanced view of cleaner technologies, showing both technical strategies and socio-economic interactions, while rejecting simplistic claims about inevitable job losses.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits F and therefore ignores how policies and user behaviour influence the actual environmental performance of technologies.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes E, which assumes employment always declines with cleaner technologies, contrary to evidence from many green sectors.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it leaves out B, so it fails to distinguish end-of-pipe controls from cleaner production, even though that distinction is important in this unit.

Statements A, B, D and E are correct because they capture the core definition and policy tools of a green economy. It links well-being and equity with reduced environmental risks, uses investments in low-carbon and efficient sectors, employs fiscal reforms and supports SMEs and innovation. Statement C is false because employment and decent work are central to just transition debates, and F is false because green economy strategies are explicitly related to SDGs on energy, industry, consumption and more. Thus, the correct combination is A, B, D and E only.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete as it leaves out D and E, thereby ignoring crucial instruments and actors in green transitions. It focuses only on goals and investment directions without mentioning supportive fiscal and enterprise policies.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it groups all the true statements and excludes C and F, which marginalise employment and SDG linkages. It presents a balanced view of green economy as both environmental and socio-economic in orientation.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes F and omits A. Accepting F would sever the clearly stated connections between green economy and SDGs, while leaving out A removes the foundational definition relating well-being and equity.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it again includes F and omits B. This removes the important role of renewable energy and sustainable transport from the picture while retaining a false claim about SDG disconnection.

Sustainable consumption aims to reduce the environmental impact of goods and services over their life cycle. Choosing durable products and repairing them extends their useful life and lowers the demand for new production. This reduces resource extraction, energy use and waste generation associated with manufacturing and disposal. Therefore, the practice of using and repairing long-lasting items is a clear example of sustainable consumption.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it embodies the principles of reduce and reuse. Households that maintain and repair products generate less waste, save money and lower their ecological footprint, aligning daily choices with sustainability goals.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since leaving lights and fans on wastes electricity and increases emissions from power generation. It contradicts the idea of conserving energy at home.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because throwing away edible food increases solid waste and squanders the resources used to produce and transport that food. Sustainable consumption would encourage better planning, storage or sharing to avoid food waste.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as buying heavily packaged products for appearance leads to unnecessary material use and waste. Sustainable consumers typically prefer minimal or recyclable packaging.