Question 1

Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change:
I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
II. India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.
2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.
3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.

Accepted Answer

1 only. * Relationship 1 is correct: Statement I defines India's long-term plan to achieve net-zero by 2070, and Statement II empirically tracks this reduction pathway (India's BUR-4 reported a 7.93% drop in GHG emissions in 2020 compared to 2019). * Relationship 2 is correct: Statement III demands quick, short-term reduction mandates, which directly contradicts the systematic, mid-to-late century phasing implicit in a Long-Term Low Emission Strategy (LT-LEDS). * Relationship 3 is incorrect: Statement III's short-term focus does not build the core foundation for long-term sustainability, which favors structured transitions over disruptive short-term mandates.

Question 2

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.

Accepted Answer

1 only. * Statement 1 is correct: The Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam (Northeast India) houses the Western Hoolock Gibbon, which is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and represents India's only ape species. * Statement 2 is correct: Gibbons move primarily by swinging from branch to branch (brachiation) using their long arms, living almost entirely in tree canopies. * Statement 3 is incorrect: Gibbons are light, slender, and small (weighing only 6–9 kg), which is the exact polar opposite of heavily muscled, knuckle-walking ground dwellers like gorillas (100–200 kg).

Question 3

Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience ?
1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.

Accepted Answer

2 and 3. * Statement 1 is incorrect: Mangrove soils are highly saline, tidal, waterlogged, and oxygen-deficient, making them completely unsuitable for normal paddy cultivation. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Although mangroves selectively filter out a large percentage of salts at the root surface to survive, they do not desalinate ocean water to convert coastal terrains into freshwater aquaculture zones. * Statement 3 is correct: Mangroves serve as highly effective natural bio-shields against cyclones, storm surges, and coastal erosion while simultaneously providing vital biomass resources (fuelwood, honey, timber) and nursing estuarine fisheries that sustain local communities.

Question 4

Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?
1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds.
2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites.
3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

1 only. * Statement 1 is correct: In Nagaland's Pangti village near the Doyang valley, successful local conservation community efforts transformed local hunters into protectors of the Amur falcon (locally called eninum), creating a safe international stopover. * Statement 2 is incorrect: Although satellite-tagging technology tracks their cross-continental migrations, these tools do not "guide" or navigate the birds back to their stopover sites. * Statement 3 is incorrect: Doyang valley acts merely as a temporary winter stopover point for a few weeks where the falcons gather to feed on insects and roost before flight; they have not adapted to permanent residency in India.

Question 5

Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
1. Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
2. Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
3. Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

2 and 3. * Statement 1 is incorrect: The RAD programme actively promotes diversified and multi-cropping farming systems, not monoculture. * Statement 2 is incorrect: As the name indicates, the RAD component specifically targets rainfed agricultural zones, not irrigated regions. * Statement 3 is correct: The core focus of RAD is to introduce site-specific Integrated Farming System (IFS) models to enhance agricultural productivity and minimize risks associated with climate variability.

Question 6

Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?
1. It allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritise chemical-free products.
2. It confirms that Eri Silk meets international safety, environmental, and quality standards, enabling its entry into premium eco-conscious markets.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

2 only. * Both statements are correct: The OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a globally recognized certification indicating that a textile product has been tested and cleared of harmful substances. Achieving this certification for Indian Eri Silk confirms compliance with stringent global safety and environmental metrics, allowing Indian exporters to tap into premium, eco-conscious, high-end global textile markets.

Question 7

With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in India in 2025.
2. Sakhya Sagar, which is designated as a Ramsar Site, is situated within this National Park.
3. Its area is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

1 only. * Statement 1 is correct: Madhav National Park, situated near Shivpuri town in Madhya Pradesh, was officially notified as India's 58th Tiger Reserve. * Statement 2 is correct: Sakhya Sagar, a reservoir situated within the boundaries of this National Park, was designated as a Ramsar wetland site in 2022. * Statement 3 is incorrect: Madhav National Park is entirely located within the state of Madhya Pradesh; its area is not shared with Rajasthan.

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

1 only. * Statement 1 is correct: Rhynchostylis retusa is an epiphytic orchid commonly known as the "foxtail orchid" because its pendant inflorescence resembles a fox's tail. * Statement 2 is incorrect: The species is not endemic to Northeast India; it is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia (including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines). * Statement 3 is correct: Rhynchostylis retusa is recognized as the official state flower of both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Question 9

Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?

Accepted Answer

ICFRE-ICIMOD Transboundary REDD+ project in North-Eastern Himalayas. * Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project: Located in Meghalaya, this community-based ecosystem initiative actively involves local indigenous communities in forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. * It became the first REDD+ project in India to receive formal certification under the international Plan Vivo Standard.

Question 10

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:

Accepted Answer

1 only. * Statement 1 is incorrect: Hydrogen manufactured via natural gas reforming where the resultant carbon emissions are isolated and stored underground using CCS is termed Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen. * Statement 2 is correct: Green Hydrogen is generated by using zero-carbon renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) to power an electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. * Statement 3 is correct: The National Green Hydrogen Mission sets a target for India to produce at least 5 MMT of green hydrogen annually by 2030, which is projected to avert nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 11

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience), a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is/are correct?
1. Ecosystem Survey and Analysis is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
2. Research and Management of Ecosystem Service is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.
3. Capacity Development Support is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
Select the answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

2 only. * NIRANTAR is a newly established platform meant to optimize synergy, collaboration, and resource-sharing among existing institutes of the Environment Ministry without setting up new physical structures. * Statements 1 & 2 are incorrect: The designated lead institute for both the "Ecosystem Survey and Analysis" vertical and the "Research and Management of Ecosystem Service" vertical is ICFRE, Dehradun (not BSI or CZA). * Statement 3 is correct: The lead institute handling the "Capacity Development Support" vertical is the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal.

Environment: 2026 PYQ.

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