UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The ozone layer is particularly effective at absorbing biologically harmful UV-B radiation from the sun. Without this filtering,much higher levels of UV-B would reach Earth’s surface. This would greatly increase the incidence of skin cancer,eye damage and harm to other organisms. Hence absorption of ultraviolet-B radiation is the key protective function described in the question.

Option A:
Ultraviolet-B radiation has enough energy to damage DNA and biological tissues. The ozone layer absorbs most of this band,thereby shielding living organisms. Because the question refers specifically to the protective role of the ozone layer,UV-B is the correct type of radiation.

Option B:
Infrared radiation is associated mainly with heat and plays a role in the greenhouse effect. The ozone layer is not primarily known for absorbing infrared radiation. Therefore this option does not match the protective function highlighted in the stem.

Option C:
Visible light is the portion of the spectrum that enables human vision. Most visible light passes through the atmosphere with little absorption by ozone. Since the ozone layer’s key biological protection is not related to visible light,this option is inappropriate.

Option D:
Radio waves are long wavelength electromagnetic waves used in communication. They are not strongly absorbed by the ozone layer and are not especially harmful to living tissues at natural levels. Thus they are unrelated to the protective role mentioned in the question.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that operationalised the UNFCCC by establishing quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments for specific industrialised nations. These Annex I countries agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions relative to a baseline period. The protocol also introduced flexible mechanisms such as emissions trading and the Clean Development Mechanism. Therefore, describing it as setting legally binding targets for Annex I industrialised countries accurately captures its core nature.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because, unlike a purely declaratory statement, the Kyoto Protocol contains binding obligations for those parties that ratified it. Compliance procedures and reporting requirements are integral parts of the regime.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since least developed countries do not have binding reduction targets under Kyoto. The burden of commitments falls primarily on industrialised countries, reflecting historical responsibilities.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because the protocol does not replace the UNFCCC; it is linked to and builds upon the convention. The UNFCCC remains the overarching framework within which Kyoto operates.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it states that certain industrialised countries in Annex I accepted quantified, legally binding targets. This differentiation between country groups is a defining feature of the Kyoto architecture.

Green GDP is an attempt to modify traditional GDP by subtracting the monetary value of environmental damage and resource depletion. It reflects the idea that economic output achieved by degrading natural capital is not fully beneficial. By integrating environmental costs,it provides a more realistic picture of sustainable income. Therefore the description in the question corresponds to green GDP.

Option A:
Green GDP incorporates estimates of pollution damage,deforestation and other forms of ecological loss into national accounts. This helps policymakers see whether growth is achieved at the expense of future productive capacity. Because the stem emphasises adjusting GDP for environmental degradation,this term is the correct answer.

Option B:
Net national product adjusts gross measures for depreciation of physical capital but not necessarily for environmental depletion. It focuses on man made capital rather than ecosystems. Hence it does not fully capture the idea described in the question.

Option C:
Per capita income divides national income by population to indicate average income. It says nothing about environmental impacts or sustainability. Therefore it is not appropriate for the definition given.

Option D:
Balance of payments records a country’s financial transactions with the rest of the world. It deals with trade,investment and transfers,not with ecological accounting. Thus it does not match the concept described in the stem.

Eutrophication occurs when nutrient inputs to lakes,rivers or coastal waters become very high,stimulating dense algal blooms. When these algae die and decompose, they consume dissolved oxygen, often causing fish kills and ecological imbalance. The stem describes this nutrient enrichment and algal growth process,so eutrophication is the correct term. It is a key water quality problem linked to fertiliser use and sewage.

Option A:
Sedimentation involves deposition of suspended soil particles in water bodies,which can reduce depth and alter habitats. It does not directly involve nutrient driven algal growth or oxygen depletion,so it is not the phenomenon described.

Option B:
Eutrophication is especially common in stagnant or slow moving waters that receive agricultural runoff and untreated sewage. It dramatically changes aquatic food webs and can produce harmful algal toxins. These characteristics fit the events outlined in the question.

Option C:
Thermal pollution refers to increases in water temperature due to discharge of heated effluents,often from power plants. While it affects dissolved oxygen levels,it is not primarily caused by nutrient enrichment,so it does not match the stem.

Option D:
Acidification means lowering of pH in water or soil due to acid inputs,such as acid rain or carbon dioxide absorption. It affects organisms differently from eutrophication and is not chiefly associated with nutrient overloading and algal blooms.

Rapid, unplanned urbanisation typically overloads infrastructure and services, creating high pressures on air, water and land that manifest as pollution, congestion and slum formation.

Option A:
Incorrect; air quality usually deteriorates rather than uniformly improving when urban growth is unplanned.

Option B:
Incorrect; per capita waste generation tends to increase with urban incomes and consumption, straining waste management systems.

Option C:
Correct; it summarises the typical environmental and social stresses—pollution and slum growth—associated with uncontrolled urban expansion.

Option D:
Incorrect; wetlands and green spaces are often encroached upon or degraded rather than automatically restored.

Statements A, B, C and F are correct as they highlight strategy integration, reporting, voluntary initiatives and investor influence. Corporations increasingly embed environment into strategy, disclose ESG performance, manage supply chains and respond to responsible investors. D is wrong because stakeholder engagement is a key part of modern corporate governance, and E is wrong since responsibility goes beyond mere compliance to proactive improvements. Thus, A, B, C and F only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits F and thus ignores the role of investors and financial markets in driving environmental performance. While A, B and C are true, the set is incomplete without this important driver.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it includes all the true statements and excludes D and E, which narrow or dismiss key governance dimensions. It matches contemporary frameworks for corporate environmental responsibility and sustainable finance.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it keeps E, which wrongly claims only compliance matters, and omits A, thereby failing to recognise the need to integrate environment into core strategy. Mixing these elements makes the option unsatisfactory.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes D and E, both false, while excluding B and C. It overemphasises compliance and downplays transparency, supply chains and stakeholder roles, which are central to the topic.

Statements A, B and D are correct because they describe the protective role of stratospheric ozone, the harmful impact of CFCs and the purpose of the Montreal Protocol. The ozone layer does absorb UV-B radiation, and CFCs are a major anthropogenic cause of its depletion, which led to international regulatory efforts. Statement C is incorrect because the most prominent and persistent ozone hole has historically been observed over Antarctica, not the Arctic. Thus, the correct combination of statements is A, B and D only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because although A and B are true, it omits D, which is also a correct statement regarding the Montreal Protocol’s role in controlling ozone-depleting substances. Leaving out a correct statement means this option does not fully represent the set of correct statements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes all four statements A, B, C and D, thereby treating C as correct. Since the largest well-known ozone hole is over Antarctica rather than the Arctic, statement C is factually wrong. Including a false statement invalidates the entire combination.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it collects only those statements that are consistent with established atmospheric science and international environmental policy. It recognises the protective function of ozone, the role of CFCs in depletion and the regulatory role of the Montreal Protocol while excluding the incorrect statement about the location of the largest ozone hole.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it assumes B, C and D are correct and omits A. Apart from incorrectly accepting C, this option also fails to include A, which accurately describes the UV-absorbing function of the ozone layer. The presence of a wrong statement and the exclusion of a correct one make this combination unacceptable.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct, linking green spaces with cooling, health, biodiversity and equity. Urban vegetation can moderate microclimates, provide recreational and psychological benefits, host species and, when unevenly distributed, contribute to unequal environmental quality. D is wrong because high-density cities often need deliberate green planning, and F is wrong as community involvement can improve maintenance and safety. Thus, the combination A, B, C and E only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct since it includes all the true statements and excludes D and F, which underestimate the importance of planning and community role. It reflects current thinking on green infrastructure and environmental justice in urban areas.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits E, ignoring how unequal access to green spaces can mirror broader socio-spatial inequalities. Without E, the equity dimension of urban greening is not captured.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it groups B, C, E and F and implicitly accepts F, which denies the impact of community participation. This contradicts evidence that engaged communities maintain greener and safer parks.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it accepts D and F as if planning and participation were irrelevant, while excluding B. This option significantly downplays both the need for deliberate green planning and the health benefits of green spaces.

Statements B, C and D are correct descriptions of biodiversity conservation concepts. Statement B identifies in-situ conservation through national parks and sanctuaries, C explains ex-situ conservation through gene banks and botanical gardens and D notes that biodiversity loss undermines ecosystem stability and livelihoods. Statement A is incorrect because biodiversity covers the diversity of genes, species and ecosystems, not only animals. Thus the correct combination is the one that includes B, C and D only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes B and C but leaves out D. While B and C are correct, D is also a true statement since biodiversity loss clearly affects ecosystem services and human well-being. By omitting a correct statement, this option fails to capture the full set of correct statements.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it brings together all three correct statements B, C and D and excludes the incorrect statement A. It recognises both in-situ and ex-situ approaches and the link between biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Hence this combination matches the conceptual understanding required in the unit.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes statement A along with B and C. Statement A narrows biodiversity to animals only, ignoring plants, microorganisms and ecosystem diversity, which is conceptually wrong. Presence of this incorrect statement makes the whole combination unacceptable.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it asserts that all four statements A, B, C and D are correct. Since A is an incorrect definition of biodiversity, selecting all four means accepting a wrong idea. A correct option must exclude statement A while retaining B, C and D.

Statements A, B and D are correct: active transport reduces emissions and improves health, heavy reliance on private vehicles increases multiple problems and mixed land-use planning can shorten trips. Statement C is incorrect because bus rapid transit systems are generally introduced to improve efficiency and reduce emissions per passenger kilometre, not increase them. So the combination A, B and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it brings together all the true statements while excluding C, which misrepresents the purpose and impact of bus rapid transit. It reflects integrated thinking about transport, environment and health.

Option B:
Option B is incomplete because it omits D, which rightly points to the role of land-use planning in reducing travel distances and emissions.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it includes C, endorsing the false claim that bus rapid transit always raises emissions, contradicting empirical findings from many cities.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it combines A and D with C, again treating C as correct and leaving out B, which is a key statement about private motorised transport impacts.

Statements A, B and D are correct: green jobs span multiple sectors, a just transition protects workers and communities and skill development plus social protection are key tools. Statement C is incorrect because green jobs also exist in buildings, waste management, agriculture and more, not just renewables. Therefore, the combination A, B and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits D, which highlights the institutional mechanisms needed for a just transition. Without D, the framework appears less comprehensive.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it brings together definitional and policy aspects of green jobs and just transition, while excluding C, which unduly narrows the scope of green employment.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes C, which falsely limits green jobs to one sector; this contradicts broader definitions used in labour and environment literature.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it mixes A and D with C and omits B, thereby misrepresenting the social-justice orientation of a just transition.

Statement B is the only wrong statement because the EKC does not claim that growth automatically solves all environmental problems without deliberate policies and technological changes. Statements A, C and D are correct: A summarises the inverted-U hypothesis, C acknowledges that the pattern is not universal and D notes that the EKC is debated and contested. Therefore, the combination that identifies B only as wrong is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it labels both A and B as wrong, whereas A accurately describes the basic EKC hypothesis of rising then falling pollution with income for some pollutants. Treating a correct descriptive statement as wrong contradicts the theoretical literature.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it isolates the simplistic and erroneous interpretation that growth alone will fix environmental problems. It recognises that policies, regulations and structural changes are necessary even if an EKC-type pattern is observed.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it marks both B and C as wrong. While B is indeed wrong, C is correct in warning that EKC patterns vary across pollutants and countries, and cannot be generalised mechanically.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it regards all four statements as wrong, including A, C and D, which are correct. Denying the existence of debate or the basic description of the EKC misrepresents environmental economics.

Statements A, B, C and E are correct, while statement D is incorrect. A and B describe demographic and spatial dynamics of urban growth, C points to planning approaches that can lower resource use and E highlights environmental health risks in informal settlements. D is wrong because urbanisation by itself does not guarantee equitable access to services; inequalities often persist. Since option B includes only A, B and C and omits E, it is incomplete and cannot be the correct answer. The correct combination must be A, B, C and E only.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes A, B, C and E, all of which accurately describe urbanisation-related phenomena, and it excludes D, which incorrectly assumes automatic equity in service provision. It therefore presents a comprehensive and accurate picture, matching the requirement.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it ignores E, which is a key statement about the environmental and health challenges of informal settlements. This omission leads to an incomplete representation of risks.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes D, which is false, along with B, C and E. Accepting D contradicts evidence of persistent urban inequalities.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it groups A, C, D and E and leaves out B. Apart from omitting B, it again accepts D, which misrepresents the relationship between urbanisation and service equity.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct because they define risk components, show how development choices increase risk, stress DRR measures and recognise build back better. Statement E is wrong because disasters are shaped by vulnerability and exposure linked to development.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it omits D.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits C.

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

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

Watershed management focuses on the holistic development of a drainage basin by coordinating land use,water conservation and vegetation cover. Its objectives include reducing soil erosion,improving water availability and supporting livelihoods. The stem clearly describes this integrated management within a defined drainage area. Therefore watershed management is the correct term.

Option A:
Watershed management treats the entire catchment as a single ecological and socio economic unit. By aligning interventions across land,water and vegetation,it enhances long term productivity. This matches precisely the integrated approach mentioned in the question.

Option B:
Monoculture farming is the practice of growing only one crop species over a large area. It can degrade soils and reduce resilience if not managed carefully. It is not an integrated land water vegetation management strategy in a drainage basin.

Option C:
Overgrazing occurs when livestock consume vegetation faster than it can regenerate. It is a cause of land degradation rather than a positive management approach. Hence it does not correspond to the sustainable planning described in the stem.

Option D:
Strip mining is a surface mining technique that removes soil and rock in strips to access minerals. It often causes severe environmental damage,which is the opposite of the conservation oriented idea in the question.