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Environment and Ecology

11 UPSC Prelims MCQs tagged "Environment and Ecology". Free practice with answer keys, explanations, and timed mock tests on Anantam IAS.

Agriculture and Allied Activities 56 Money, Banking and Monetary Policy 43 Environmental Pollution 43 Biotechnology 37 Parliament 33 Climate Change 32 Finance and Financial Markets 29 Emerging Technologies 28 Trade and External Sector 26 Life Sciences 26 Core Concepts and Foundational Science 20 Public Finance in India 19 International Environmental Framework 18 Continents 18 Religions in India 18 Fundamental Rights 18 Concept and Salient Features of the Constitution 17 Indian Biodiversity - Fauna 17 Renewable Energy 16 Major Physical Divisions of India 16 Multilateral Groupings 16 International Institutions 15 Art and Architecture 15 Drainage System 15 Institutional Measures for Environment Conservation 14 Regional Groupings 14 Rivers and Drainage 14 Infrastructure and Investment Models in India 14 Atmosphere 13 Space Technology 13

Consider the following statements about ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’: I. It targets…
Consider the following statements about 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana': I. It targets installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector. II. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels. III. It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling, and up-skilling, under scheme component of capacity building. Which of the statements given above are correct?
1. AI and II only
2. BI and III only
3. CII and III only
4. DI, II and III
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Statement 1 is Correct: The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a government initiative that targets the installation of rooftop solar systems in one crore households within the residential sector to provide free electricity.
Statement 2 is Correct: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) aims to impart training on the installation, operation, maintenance, and repairs of solar rooftop systems at the grassroots level to support the scheme's infrastructure.
Statement 3 is Correct: The scheme includes a dedicated capacity-building component designed to create more than three lakh skilled manpower through fresh skilling and up-skilling initiatives to meet the demand for solar technicians.
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Indian Society UPSC 2025 Medium
Which one of the following is the correct description of “100 Million Farmers”?
Which one of the following is the correct description of "100 Million Farmers"?
1. AIt is a platform for accelerating the transition towards food and water systems that are net-zero (carbon), nature-positive and that aims to increase farmer resilience.
2. BIt is an international alliance and a network of individuals and farming organisations interested in supporting and strengthening the development of the organic animal husbandry.
3. CIt is a digital platform fully integrated with service providers and built on blockchain that lets buyers, sellers and third parties trade fertilizers quickly and securely.
4. DIt is a platform with the mission of encouraging the farmers to form Farmer Product Organisations or Agribusiness Consortiums, thus facilitating the access to global open markets to sell their products.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
The 100 Million Farmers is a global initiative launched by the World Economic Forum (WEF). It serves as a platform to accelerate the transition toward food and water systems that are net-zero, nature-positive, and resilient. The program aims to support 100 million farmers by 2030 in adopting regenerative agriculture practices, which improve soil health, sequester carbon, and enhance biodiversity while securing farmer livelihoods.
Option B is Incorrect: This description refers to general organic animal husbandry networks, whereas the 100 Million Farmers initiative focuses on broader regenerative agriculture and climate-resilient food systems.
Option C is Incorrect: This describes a blockchain-based fertilizer trading platform, which is not the objective of this initiative.
Option D is Incorrect: While farmer collectives are important, the primary mission of "100 Million Farmers" is the transition to sustainable, net-zero, and nature-positive agricultural practices rather than just facilitating market access through FPOs.
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Indian Society UPSC 2024 Medium
Consider the following: 1. Carabid beetles 2. Centipedes 3. Flies 4. Termites 5. Wasps…
Consider the following: 1. Carabid beetles 2. Centipedes 3. Flies 4. Termites 5. Wasps Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms?
1. AOnly two
2. BOnly three
3. COnly four
4. DAll five
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
1. Carabid beetles: Many carabid beetles are predatory, and some species are known to be parasitoids, particularly of other insects.
2. Centipedes: Centipedes are predatory arthropods and not parasitoids. They hunt and kill their prey.
3. Flies: The order Diptera (flies) includes a large number of parasitoid species. For example, Tachinid flies are parasitoids of various insects.
4. Termites: Termites are not parasitoids. They are social insects that primarily feed on wood and other plant matter.
5. Wasps: The order Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, ants) has numerous parasitoid species. Many wasp species are parasitoids, laying their eggs on or in other insects.
_Therefore, parasitoid species are found in Carabid beetles, Flies, and Wasps._
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Environment UPSC 2024 Hard
Consider the following statements: Statement I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India. Statement…
Consider the following statements: Statement I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India. Statement II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and StatementII is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
* Statement I is correct: Marsupials, which are a type of mammal characterised by the presence of a pouch (marsupium) for carrying their young, are not naturally found in India. Marsupials are primarily native to the Americas and Australia.
* Statement II is incorrect: Marsupials can thrive in a variety of habitats, not just montane grasslands without predators. Many marsupial species are found in a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, savannas, and even urban areas, and can coexist with a variety of predators. Therefore, the correct answer is: Statement-I is correct, and Statement II is incorrect.
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Environment UPSC 2023 Medium
Consider the following statements: **Statement 1:** The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and…
Consider the following statements: **Statement 1:** The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World. **Statement 2:** Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
1. ABoth Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1.
2. BBoth Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation of Statement 1.
3. CStatement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is not correct.
4. DStatement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Statement 1 is incorrect: Hyderabad was indeed recognized as a Tree City of the World, but not by the UNCDF and Arbor Day Foundation together. The recognition comes from a joint program by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation.
Statement 2 is correct: Hyderabad was selected as a 2020 Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of the city's commitment to urban forestry, including growing and maintaining its urban forests.
Therefore, only the second statement is correct, and the first statement is incorrect.
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Environment UPSC 2021 Easy
Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by…
Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
1. AEcotone
2. BEcological niche
3. CHabitat
4. DHome range
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in an ecosystem.
More formally, the niche includes how a population responds to the abundance of its resources and enemies (e.g., by growing when resources are abundant, and predators, parasites, and pathogens are scarce) and how it affects those same factors (e.g., by reducing the abundance of resources through consumption and contributing to the population growth of enemies by falling prey to them).
Gause's competitive exclusion principle says that those species having identical requirements cannot occupy the same niche indefinitely.
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Environment UPSC 2013 Easy
Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?
Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?
1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. A1 only
2. B2 and 3 only
3. C2 only
4. D1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity (2 correct). Hydrogen from natural-gas reforming with CCS is 'blue hydrogen', not green — so statement 1 is wrong. The National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) targets 5 MMT of green hydrogen production by 2030 and abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual GHG emissions, per MNRE (3 correct). Hence 2 and 3 only.
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Environment UPSC 2026 Medium
Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?
Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?
1. AUttarakhand REDD+ project
2. BICFRE-ICIMOD Transboundary REDD+ project in North-Eastern Himalayas
3. CKhasi Hills Community REDD+ project
4. DSikkim Mamley Kamrang Community REDD+ project
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project in Meghalaya, implemented by the Ka Synjuk Ki Hima Arliang Wah Umiam Mawphlang Welfare Society in partnership with Community Forestry International, became India's first Plan Vivo-certified REDD+ initiative (validated 2013). It covers community-managed sacred groves and forests across ten Khasi himas, generating verified carbon credits while strengthening customary forest governance. The Sikkim Mamley-Kamrang project came later as a second community REDD+ effort, and the ICFRE-ICIMOD transboundary work is a research initiative, not Plan Vivo certified.
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Environment UPSC 2026 Easy
With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees.
3. They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers.
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. A1 only
2. B1 and 2
3. C2 and 3
4. D3 only
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is found in the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam and other NE forests, and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, validating statement 1. Gibbons are the supreme brachiators of the primate world — their elongated forelimbs and ball-and-socket wrists let them swing through canopies at high speed, confirming statement 2. They are small, lightweight lesser apes (6–9 kg), nothing like the heavy-built gorillas of statement 3, which is therefore wrong. Answer: 1 and 2 only.
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Environment UPSC 2026 Medium
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquac…
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and "Blue Transformation". Which of the following combinations about the "Four Betters" proposed by FAO for "Blue Transformation" is correct?
1. ABetter production, better nutrition, better environment and better ocean
2. BBetter production, better nutrition, better environment and better life
3. CBetter coral reefs, better nutrition, better environment and better life
4. DBetter estuaries, better nutrition, better environment and better mangrove vegetation
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
FAO's flagship 'Blue Transformation' roadmap (2022-2030), reiterated at UNOC-3 in Nice, June 2025, advances the Four Betters — Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life — which are FAO's overarching Strategic Framework pillars applied to aquatic food systems. The framework promotes sustainable aquaculture expansion, effective fisheries management and upgraded value chains to ensure resilient blue food livelihoods. 'Better ocean', 'better coral reefs', 'better estuaries' and 'better mangroves' are not part of FAO's official four-pronged framing, eliminating (a), (c) and (d).
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Environment UPSC 2026 Easy
Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):
Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):
1. It is an epiphytic orchid.
2. The species is endemic to North-east India.
3. It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. A1 only
2. B1 and 3
3. C2 and 3
4. D3 only
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Rhynchostylis retusa, the Foxtail orchid (Kopou phul in Assamese), is an epiphytic orchid that grows on tree trunks, so statement 1 is correct. It is NOT endemic to North-east India — it is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and southern China — making statement 2 wrong. Multiple authoritative sources (Wikipedia, Indian Tree Pix, regional government notifications) confirm Rhynchostylis retusa is the State flower of BOTH Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, validating statement 3. Hence statements 1 and 3 are correct.
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Environment UPSC 2026 Medium