Question 1

Consider the following:
I. Cigarette butts
II. Eyeglass lenses
III. Car tyres

How many of them contain plastic?

Accepted Answer

Only two. * Option 1 is correct: Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, which is a persistent form of toxic plastic pollution. * Option 2 is correct: Many eyeglass lenses are made of plastic materials like CR-39 (Columbia resin #39), polycarbonate, and Trivex because they are lightweight and shatter-resistant. * Option 3 is correct: Car tyres consist of synthetic rubber polymers; tyre particles shed during driving are a major, overlooked contributor to microplastic pollution, accounting for 28% of microplastics entering the environment globally.

Question 2

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Activated carbon is a good and an attractive tool to remove pollutants from effluent streams and to remediate contaminants from various industries.
Statement II: Activated carbon exhibits a large surface area and a strong potential for adsorbing heavy metals.
Statement III: Activated carbon can be easily synthesized from environmental wastes with high carbon content.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I. * (a) is correct: Activated carbon can be easily manufactured from cheap, carbon-dense environmental wastes (like coconut shells or wood), satisfying Statement III. * It possesses an extensive surface area, microporous structures, and external chemical complexity that gives it an outstanding potential to adsorb heavy metals, satisfying Statement II. * Because it possesses these physical traits (Statement II) and is easily synthesized from common wastes (Statement III), it serves as a highly effective and popular tool to filter out industrial effluent pollutants (Statement I). Thus, both statements are correct and provide the rationale for Statement I.

Question 3

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.

Accepted Answer

II and III only. * All three statements are correct: * Statement I is correct: Approved in early 2024, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a domestic rooftop solar initiative aiming to supply clean solar power to one crore residential households by March 2027. * Statement II is correct: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) runs targeted grassroots training programs covering the configuration, installation, daily operation, maintenance, and field repair of solar setups to establish a local, specialized technical workforce. * Statement III is correct: The scheme's capacity-building framework intends to train and up-skill over 3 lakh individuals across the sector, ensuring that at least 1,000,000 are certified specifically as Solar PV Technicians.

Question 4

With reference to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are used in making many consumer products, consider the following statements:
1. PFAS are found to be widespread in drinking water, food and food packaging materials.
2. PFAS are not easily degraded in the environment.
3. Persistent exposure to PFAS, can lead to bioaccumulation in animal bodies.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only. * Statement 1 is correct: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous synthetic chemicals heavily applied to manufacture consumer goods like non-stick cookware, carpets, water-resistant fabrics, and food packaging materials, making them widespread in food supplies and water. * Statement 2 is correct: Popularly termed "forever chemicals," their ultra-strong carbon-fluorine bonds prevent them from breaking down or degrading easily in the natural environment. * Statement 3 is correct: Because they are persistent and slowly excreted, continuous ongoing exposure leads to progressive bioaccumulation within animal and human tissues over time.

Question 5

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.
Statement-II: Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. * (a) is correct: Discarded commercial chewing gums cause severe municipal and environmental plastic waste tracking problems, validating Statement-I. * The flexible synthetic "gum base" that gives regular chewing gums their elasticity contains non-biodegradable synthetic polymers like polyvinyl acetate (PVA)—the same plastic compound used to manufacture adhesives, glues, and car tyres, validating Statement-II. * Because these chewing gums are formulated using non-biodegradable plastic polymers (Statement-II), their discarded, sticky matrices persist in the biosphere for centuries and cause widespread plastic pollution (Statement-I), making Statement-II the correct explanation.

Question 6

"Membrane Bioreactors" are often discussed in the context of:

Accepted Answer

Vaccine production technologies. * (d) Wastewater treatment technologies is correct: A Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) is an advanced wastewater treatment system that combines a biological activated sludge process with microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane separation technology. Its sub-micron pore filtration layout screens out microscopic particulate matter and pathogens, producing a highly clarified, high-quality treated effluent.

Question 7

Consider the following materials:
1. Agricultural residues
2. Corn grain
3. Wastewater treatment sludge
4. Wood mill waste

Which of the above can be used as feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

Accepted Answer

3 and 4 only. * All items can be used: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is synthesized using non-petroleum-based renewable biomass and organic waste streams. * Permissible organic feedstocks encompass agricultural residues (1), grains like corn (2), wet organic municipal wastes such as wastewater treatment sludge (3), forestry residues, and industrial wood mill waste (4).

Question 8

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?

Accepted Answer

Extraction of metals from ores. * (d) Power plants using fossil fuels is correct: According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the single largest source of sulphur dioxide ($SO_2$) emissions in the atmosphere is the combustion of fossil fuels by electrical power plants and large industrial boiler facilities. Smaller contributing sources include industrial metal ore extraction processing, volcanic activity, and heavy maritime or locomotive transit vehicles.

Environment: Pollution, Waste & Renewables PYQ.

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