UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

One of the GBF targets calls for reducing incentives harmful to biodiversity, including subsidies, by at least US$500 billion per year by 2030. The idea is to reorient public support away from activities that degrade ecosystems towards practices that conserve and restore nature. This includes reforming agricultural, fisheries and other sectoral subsidies that drive habitat loss or overexploitation. At the same time, the framework encourages the expansion of positive incentives for sustainable use and conservation. (UNEP - UN Environment Programme)

Option A:
This option reverses the intent of the target by suggesting an increase in harmful subsidies. The framework seeks to reduce and repurpose such incentives, not expand them.

Option B:
This option correctly states the essence of the target: identifying and reforming harmful subsidies to free up at least US$500 billion annually for more sustainable uses. It also notes the parallel need to strengthen positive incentives, which is central to the GBF’s approach.

Option C:
Shifting all subsidies from agriculture to fossil fuels would intensify both biodiversity loss and climate change. The GBF does not propose such a move; instead, it urges reform across sectors, including fossil fuels.

Option D:
The GBF is a global framework and applies to all parties, not only to high-income countries. While responsibilities may differ, restricting reforms only to rich countries would miss substantial harmful subsidies elsewhere.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct and collectively show the range of climate–health linkages. Heatwaves and shifting disease vectors affect health, climate-resilient planning strengthens systems and vulnerable groups face disproportionate risks. Statement D is wrong because air quality policies are central to climate mitigation and co-benefits, and F is wrong since health co-benefits are a strong argument for mitigation in policy debates. Therefore, the correct combination is A, B, C and E only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it omits E, failing to acknowledge that certain social groups are more at risk. Without E, the distributional and equity dimensions of climate–health impacts are not reflected.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes D, which wrongly claims air quality is unrelated to climate policy. Including D introduces a serious conceptual error about the links between air pollution control and climate mitigation.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it comprises B, C, E and F, accepting F as if health co-benefits were irrelevant. In reality, such co-benefits are often used to justify stronger mitigation policies, so this option mixes correct and incorrect statements.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it assembles all the true statements and excludes the two clearly false ones. It reflects current understanding that climate change affects health through multiple pathways and that vulnerability and system resilience are key concerns.

India emphasises that it is still building basic infrastructure and improving living standards for millions of people, which requires energy and resources. At the same time, it is highly vulnerable to climate impacts and faces expectations to contribute to global mitigation. This dual challenge makes equity, finance and technology transfer central to negotiations, as countries seek development pathways that are both low-carbon and inclusive. (VISION IAS)

Option A:
This option is incorrect; India is still a developing country and cannot treat climate change as irrelevant to its future.

Option B:
This option correctly summarises the tension between growth, poverty reduction and climate responsibility that shapes India’s stance on climate justice.

Option C:
India does experience diplomatic and economic pressure to act on emissions, especially as its economy grows, so this option is false.

Option D:
While climate mitigation is important, policy documents argue for balancing it with development goals rather than subordinating everything else to it.

The Water Act, 1974 is one of India’s earliest comprehensive environmental laws. Its main aim is to prevent and control water pollution and to maintain or restore the wholesomeness of water. It establishes central and state Pollution Control Boards with powers to set effluent standards, monitor discharges and take action against violators. Thus, the option that refers directly to prevention and control of water pollution correctly states the Act’s purpose.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it reflects the Act’s focus on water quality in rivers, lakes and other water bodies. By regulating industrial effluents and sewage discharges, it seeks to protect both ecological health and human uses of water.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; while dams may relate to water management, their promotion is not the objective of this pollution control law. Dam construction is handled under other development policies.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because groundwater mining rights are governed by separate rules and state-level regulations. The Water Act is primarily about pollution, not ownership or extraction rights.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since designation of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries is covered by wildlife and forest legislation, not by the Water Act.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct and capture resource waste, climate impacts, food security implications, behavioural drivers and policy responses. Statement E is false because food waste represents financial loss for households and businesses and adds costs for municipal waste management. Therefore, the combination that includes all true statements and excludes E is A, B, C, D and F only.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it reflects the full range of environmental, economic and social dimensions of food waste, while rejecting the claim that there are no economic implications.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits F, thereby ignoring policies and campaigns that are central to reducing waste in practice.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it includes E, which denies economic consequences, so it mixes true and false statements and cannot be the correct option.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it leaves out B, ignoring methane generation from landfilled food waste, which is a key greenhouse gas concern.

Ecological modernisation theory suggests that advanced economies can restructure production and consumption to become more resource efficient and less polluting. It emphasises the role of innovation,regulation and market incentives in achieving “ecological rationality.” The stem directly refers to aligning growth with environmental protection through technology and institutions,which is the core claim of ecological modernisation. Thus Option B is correct.

Option A:
Industrial modernisation would simply imply upgrading industrial capacity and infrastructure. It does not necessarily incorporate environmental goals or ecological efficiency as central aims. Therefore it does not match the specific perspective described.

Option B:
Ecological modernisation recognises that environmental protection can become a source of competitive advantage and new industries. It moves beyond the idea that ecology and economy are always in conflict. These ideas correspond closely to the stem.

Option C:
Demographic modernisation would focus on population changes such as fertility decline and urbanisation. While these interact with environment,they are not the main concern of the theory mentioned in the question.

Option D:
Fiscal modernisation concerns reforming tax systems and public finances. Some proposals for green taxes can be part of ecological modernisation,but fiscal modernisation alone does not capture the full theoretical framework.

Statements D and E are wrong because climate justice specifically criticises ignoring inequalities within countries and treats inter-generational equity as a central concern. Statements A, B, C and F are correct in emphasising historical responsibility, disproportionate impacts, capability-based equity and justice claims around loss and damage. Since exactly D and E misrepresent climate justice principles, the correct answer must identify both of them as wrong together.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it points only to D as wrong and overlooks E. By failing to mark E, which denies the link between climate justice and inter-generational fairness, it does not fully capture the ethical dimensions of climate debates.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it singles out E and leaves D unmarked. Statement D wrongly suggests that climate justice ignores within-country inequalities, which is contrary to the focus on marginalised groups in many justice frameworks.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it treats C as if it were wrong along with D and E. In fact, C correctly states that equitable climate policies take different capabilities and development needs into account, so including it among wrong statements makes this option conceptually flawed.

Option D:
Option D is correct since it identifies both D and E as the statements that contradict established notions of climate justice and equity. It implicitly recognises A, B, C and F as valid descriptions of responsibility, impact and justice claims, and therefore best matches the requirement to select the wrong statements.

The Green Credit Rules create a framework in which environmentally beneficial activities can earn “green credits” that are tradable in a domestic market. Activities such as tree plantation on degraded land, water conservation or pollution abatement can generate credits if they meet specified criteria. By attaching economic value to such actions, the programme seeks to encourage wider participation by individuals, communities and firms. It thus complements command-and-control regulation with market-based incentives aligned with sustainable development goals. (moefcc-gcp.in)

Option A:
This option is incorrect because the Green Credit Rules do not replace all environmental regulations; they operate alongside existing laws. A single carbon tax would also be much narrower than the multi-activity scope of the programme.

Option B:
This option is wrong as credits are earned only when specified environmental actions are undertaken and verified. The programme does not offer unconditional cash transfers but performance-linked incentives.

Option C:
This option correctly captures the intention of the scheme: to reward verifiable positive environmental actions with tradable credits. It highlights both the incentive structure and the focus on activities such as plantation and restoration.

Option D:
Allowing blanket conversion of forest land into real estate in exchange for credits would undermine conservation goals. The rules seek to support ecological improvement, not legitimise deforestation.

Statements A, B and C correctly summarise the classical three stages of the demographic transition model. High birth and death rates in the first stage, followed by declining death rates and continued high birth rates in the second stage, and eventually low birth and death rates in the third stage are well-established patterns. Statement D is incorrect because the model is used precisely to explain how development affects population dynamics and vice versa. Therefore, the combination containing A, B and C only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all three accurate descriptions of the stages of demographic transition and excludes the dismissive statement D. It preserves the conceptual link between development and changes in fertility and mortality patterns. By omitting D, it aligns with demographic theory widely discussed in UGC NET syllabi.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds D, which incorrectly states that the model is irrelevant to understanding development–population relationships. Since demographic transition is a central framework in population studies, including D contradicts the established use of the model.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it lists only A and B as correct, leaving out C, which accurately describes the third stage of low birth and death rates and near-stable population. Excluding a correct statement results in an incomplete representation of the model.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes D, implying that the model is irrelevant, and omits A, which is a foundational description of the first stage. Such a combination mischaracterises both the content and significance of demographic transition theory.

Renewable resources are replenished naturally on a human time scale, while non-renewable resources are finite and deplete with extraction. Solar energy is continuously supplied by the Sun and does not run out through human use. Coal, on the other hand, is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and is exhausted when mined and burned. Thus, pairing solar energy as renewable with coal as non-renewable correctly illustrates the contrast between the two categories.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it lists two renewable resources together and does not provide a non-renewable counterpart. Although both solar and wind are renewable, the question asks for a renewable and a non-renewable pair.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since coal and crude oil are both non-renewable fossil fuels. They do not demonstrate the contrast between resource types that the question seeks.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it combines one clearly renewable source, solar energy, with one clearly non-renewable source, coal. This makes the distinction between resource types easy to understand in the context of sustainable development.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as natural gas and petroleum are both non-renewable fossil fuels. Like coal and crude oil, they are finite and formed over geological time spans.

The Physical Quality of Life Index was developed to measure development through basic human outcomes rather than income. It combines life expectancy, infant mortality rate and adult literacy rate into a single composite. These indicators reflect health and education conditions that directly affect people’s lives. Therefore, the option that lists life expectancy, infant mortality and literacy together correctly states the components of PQLI.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it focuses on survival and basic education, which are central to the idea of physical quality of life. By using these three, the index captures whether people live long, whether children survive and whether adults can read and write. The index deliberately excludes income so that attention remains on outcomes, not monetary means.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because per capita income is not a part of PQLI; it is used in other indices like HDI or income-based measures. Introducing income would shift the focus away from the physical quality of life concept that PQLI was designed to highlight.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since carbon emissions are environmental indicators and do not directly measure individual physical well-being. While relevant for sustainability, they are not one of the three PQLI components.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because Gross Domestic Product and an environmental quality index are not included in PQLI. GDP measures economic output, and the index was designed partly to offer an alternative to such macroeconomic measures.

Statements B and D are wrong, whereas A and C are correct. Industrial relocation by itself does not always eliminate urban air problems and can merely shift pollution elsewhere, and green belts alone cannot handle all complex sources of urban air pollution. Statements A and C correctly point to sustainable transport modes and emission standards as important strategies. Therefore, the combination that identifies B and D together as wrong statements is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it singles out only B as wrong and fails to recognise that D is also incorrect. Green belts can contribute to some air quality benefits but cannot single-handedly solve all urban pollution issues, so D must be included among wrong statements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it selects only D as wrong and leaves out B, even though B is false. The notion that industrial relocation always solves urban air problems oversimplifies the issue and disregards cumulative and secondary pollutants.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes B, C and D as wrong statements. While B and D are wrong, C is correct since vehicle emission standards and inspection regimes are key tools used worldwide for exhaust control. Treating C as wrong contradicts standard air quality management practice.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it groups exactly the two incorrect statements B and D. It acknowledges the partial nature of relocation and green belts, and recognises that integrated strategies including A and C are necessary to address urban air quality.

Wind energy is continuously replenished by atmospheric processes driven by solar heating and Earth’s rotation. Using wind to generate electricity does not deplete the underlying resource. This aligns with the definition of a renewable resource. Therefore renewable is the appropriate label in the question.

Option A:
Renewable resources can be used repeatedly without being exhausted if managed properly. Wind turbines harness the kinetic energy of moving air without permanently reducing future wind. This characteristic makes wind energy a classic renewable resource.

Option B:
Non renewable resources such as coal,oil and natural gas are finite and form over geological timescales. Once burned,they cannot be quickly replaced. Wind does not share these constraints,so non renewable is an incorrect classification here.

Option C:
Fossil based resources originate from ancient organic matter converted into fuels like coal and petroleum. Wind has no such origin and is not derived from fossil material. Thus fossil based is not a valid description for wind energy.

Option D:
Nuclear based energy relies on fission or fusion of atomic nuclei,commonly using uranium. Wind energy generation does not involve nuclear reactions,so categorising it as nuclear based would be wrong.

The Economic Survey chapter stresses that adaptation is not an add-on but central to India’s development trajectory. It argues that infrastructure, agriculture, cities and finance must all be planned with rising climate risks in mind. At the same time, it reiterates India’s net-zero 2070 commitment and the need for a just, growth-friendly transition. The message is that development, adaptation, mitigation and energy security must be pursued together in a coherent strategy. (VISION IAS)

Option A:
This option misreads the emphasis of the chapter, which is precisely on highlighting adaptation as a key pillar, not on ignoring it. Focusing only on mitigation would leave communities vulnerable to already-locked-in climate impacts.

Option B:
Slowing growth regardless of energy security does not reflect the careful balancing described in the Survey. Policy documents instead seek to reconcile economic expansion with resilience and decarbonisation.

Option C:
Claiming that there is no link between climate risks and development planning contradicts the Survey’s central argument. It treats climate as deeply intertwined with development goals, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Option D:
This option correctly summarises the chapter’s integrated view: that adaptation must be mainstreamed into development while pursuing net-zero and safeguarding energy access and jobs. It recognises multi-dimensional objectives, which matches the Survey’s framing.

The updated NDC strengthens India’s earlier pledge by raising the emissions-intensity reduction target from 33–35% to 45% by 2030. It also formalises that about half of installed power capacity will come from non-fossil sources by 2030. These targets balance growth and climate responsibility, allowing GDP to rise while reducing carbon emitted per unit of output and greening the power mix. (India Budget)

Option A:
This option is incorrect because India has not committed to absolute emission cuts of 45% below 2005; such a target would ignore its developing-country context and growing energy needs.

Option B:
This option correctly reflects the revised emissions-intensity goal and the non-fossil capacity share, showing how mitigation is linked to development and energy transition.

Option C:
A hard cap on energy use at 2019 levels would severely constrain development and is not part of India’s NDC.

Option D:
India has not pledged to close all coal mines by 2030; instead, it focuses on lowering emissions intensity and expanding clean energy.