UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The three commonly cited pillars of sustainable development are economic,social and environmental. The environmental dimension focuses on conserving ecosystems and natural resources for present and future generations. The stem mentions balancing economic growth,social inclusion and a third type of protection,which clearly refers to environmental protection. Therefore Option B correctly completes the statement.

Option A:
Technological factors support sustainability but are not the standard “third pillar” alongside economic and social in this framework.

Option B:
Environmental protection is the established third pillar with economic and social dimensions,matching the stem’s wording.

Option C:
Military is not considered a pillar of sustainable development and does not fit the concept described.

Option D:
Purely political issues are important (governance) but the classic three-pillar framing is economic,social and environmental.

Intergenerational equity focuses on fairness between present and future generations. It demands that today’s development choices do not degrade environmental or resource bases to the extent that future people are disadvantaged. The stem clearly refers to rights and opportunities of future generations,so intergenerational is the accurate term.

Option A:
Intragenerational equity concerns fairness within the same generation,for example between rich and poor people living today. While important,it does not address the time dimension highlighted in the question.

Option B:
Intergenerational equity is central to sustainable development discourse and is reflected in the Brundtland definition. It insists that each generation acts as a steward of the planet for those yet unborn. This understanding matches the description in the stem.

Option C:
Horizontal and vertical equity are general terms used in public finance and health policy to describe fairness among similar or differently situated individuals within the same generation. They do not inherently involve future generations,so they are not suitable completions.

Option D:
Vertical equity usually refers to treating people with different abilities to pay differently in tax systems,which is unrelated to environmental obligations to future people. Therefore it cannot be correct here.