Environment and Sustainable Development

51. Which one among the following reports defines Sustainable Development

Which one among the following reports defines Sustainable Development as development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ?

Brundtland Report
United Nations Human Development Report
Agenda-21 of the Rio Earth Summit
OECD Policy Brief (2006)
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
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The correct answer is A) Brundtland Report.
The definition of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” was famously articulated in “Our Common Future,” the 1987 report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland. This report is widely referred to as the Brundtland Report.
This definition became the standard for sustainable development globally. Agenda 21 was the comprehensive action plan for sustainable development adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro. It built upon the principles laid out in the Brundtland Report but did not originate the definition. The UN Human Development Report series focuses on measuring human development, and OECD reports discuss various policy areas, including sustainable development, but none of these originated the iconic definition from 1987.

52. The ‘Ramsar Convention’ relates to which one of the following areas ?

The ‘Ramsar Convention’ relates to which one of the following areas ?

Wetland preservation
Promote afforestation
Action plan on climate change
Combat desertification
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The correct answer is A) Wetland preservation.
The Ramsar Convention, officially known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, is an international treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. Its primary focus is the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources.
Wetlands are defined by the convention as areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres. The convention provides a framework for international cooperation for the conservation of wetland habitats.

53. Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. India is a si

Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

  • 1. India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
  • 2. Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry in the Government of India for the UNCCD.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 1 is correct, but Statement 2 is incorrect. Therefore, only 1 is correct.
India is indeed a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), having ratified it in 1996. However, the nodal Ministry in the Government of India for the UNCCD is the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), not the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions adopted in 1992, focusing on sustainable land management and combating desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD). As a signatory, India actively participates in the Convention’s processes and implements national programs to address DLDD.

54. Which one of the following statements about the Global Environment Fac

Which one of the following statements about the Global Environment Facility Grant Agreement, signed by India in August 2017 with the World Bank for ‘Ecosystems Service Improvement Project’, is not correct?

The size of the project is about USD 25 million.
The duration of the project is 15 years.
The project will entirely be financed out of its GEF Trust Fund.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will implement the project.
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2017
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Statement B is not correct. The ‘Ecosystems Service Improvement Project’ signed by India with the World Bank for GEF funding in August 2017 had a planned duration of 5 years, not 15 years. The project became effective in August 2017 and was scheduled to close in June 2022.
The ‘Ecosystems Service Improvement Project’ had a project duration of 5 years, not 15 years.
Statement A is correct; the project size was approximately USD 24.64 million, close to USD 25 million, funded by the GEF Trust Fund. Statement C is correct; the project was entirely financed out of the GEF Trust Fund, as per the project documents. Statement D is correct; the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was the coordinating ministry, with the Forest Departments of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as implementing agencies. The project focused on improving forest quality and land management in these two states.

55. Which one of the following was the theme of the World Environment Day,

Which one of the following was the theme of the World Environment Day, 2017?

Green Economy: Does it include you?
Connecting People to Nature
Think, Eat, Save.
Many Species, One Planet, One Future
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UPSC CDS-2 – 2017
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The theme for World Environment Day (WED) in 2017, celebrated on June 5th, was “Connecting People to Nature”. Canada was the host country for the 2017 celebrations.
The theme for World Environment Day 2017 was “Connecting People to Nature”, emphasizing appreciating nature’s beauty and its importance.
World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Past themes include “Green Economy: Does it include you?” (2012), “Think. Eat. Save. Reduce Your Foodprint” (2013), and “Many Species. One Planet. One Future” (2010).

56. Which of the following statements about ‘Green Credit Initiative’ is/a

Which of the following statements about ‘Green Credit Initiative’ is/are correct?

  • 1. It is a response to the challenge of climate change.
  • 2. It promotes plantations on wasteland and and river catchment areas.
  • 3. It is a scheme of the Government of India to replace the kerosene oil with solar power used by the rural poor.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3
1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
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Statements 1 and 2 about the ‘Green Credit Initiative’ are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
Statement 1 is correct. The Green Credit Initiative is presented as a market-based mechanism designed to incentivize environmentally friendly actions, contributing to the broader goal of addressing climate change and promoting sustainability.
Statement 2 is correct. One of the initial focuses of the Green Credit Programme is tree plantation, including activities aimed at increasing green cover on wasteland and in river catchment areas.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Green Credit Initiative is focused on creating a market for credits generated from various environmental activities. It is not a scheme specifically for replacing kerosene oil with solar power for the rural poor; that relates to energy access and renewable energy promotion schemes, which are different.
The Green Credit Programme (GCP) aims to create a market-based mechanism that rewards voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors. It envisages issuing ‘Green Credits’ for activities like tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and eco-tourism.

57. Consider the following statements and identify the correct answer usin

Consider the following statements and identify the correct answer using the code given below :

  • 1. In a thermal power station, fuels such as oil, coal or natural gas are used to generate electricity.
  • 2. Fuels are burned to heat water and turn it into steam, which goes through a turbine, which spins and turns, generating electricity.
Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is not correct
Statement 2 is correct but statement 1 is not correct
Both the statements are correct and statement 2 explains statement 1
Both the statements are correct but statement 2 does not explain statement 1
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Statement 1 is correct: Thermal power stations generate electricity by burning fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas. Statement 2 is also correct: The heat produced by burning these fuels is used to heat water, turning it into high-pressure steam. This steam then drives a turbine, which is connected to an electric generator, producing electricity. Statement 2 accurately describes the process by which the generation described in Statement 1 occurs, thus explaining it.
The fundamental principle of thermal power generation involves converting heat energy from burning fuel into mechanical energy (spinning turbine) and then into electrical energy (generator).
While coal is the most common fuel for thermal power plants globally and in India, oil and natural gas are also used. Other sources of heat for generating steam in power plants include nuclear fission (nuclear power plants) and geothermal energy.

58. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I
(Day)		 List-II
(Date)
A. World Wetlands Day 1. 29 July
B. International Tiger Day 2. 22 April
C. World Water Day 3. 2 February
D. International Mother Earth Day 4. 22 March

Code :

A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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The correct matching of the International Days with their respective dates is: World Wetlands Day (February 2), International Tiger Day (July 29), World Water Day (March 22), International Mother Earth Day (April 22).
– A. World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2nd.
– B. International Tiger Day is observed annually on July 29th.
– C. World Water Day is observed annually on March 22nd.
– D. International Mother Earth Day is observed annually on April 22nd.
These are important international days recognized by the United Nations and other organizations to raise awareness about environmental issues and conservation efforts. Knowing the dates helps in following global environmental initiatives.

59. Which one of the following is an exhaustible but renewable natural res

Which one of the following is an exhaustible but renewable natural resource ?

Solar energy
Water in usable condition
Soil
Landscape in its natural condition
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UPSC CDS-1 – 2022
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Soil is a natural resource that is renewable, but its renewal rate is very slow. Improper management, such as leading to excessive erosion or depletion of nutrients, can cause it to become functionally exhausted or unusable on a human timescale. Thus, it can be considered exhaustible in practice if not sustainably managed, despite being renewable.
– Natural resources are broadly classified as renewable or non-renewable (exhaustible).
– Renewable resources replenish naturally over time (e.g., solar energy, wind, water, soil, forests).
– Non-renewable resources are finite and do not replenish at a rate comparable to consumption (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).
– Soil is technically renewable through natural processes like weathering and decomposition, but this process is extremely slow (centuries to millennia to form a few inches of topsoil).
– Solar energy is both renewable and virtually inexhaustible on a human timescale.
– Water in usable condition (freshwater) is renewable through the water cycle, but localized sources like aquifers can be exhausted by over-extraction, and water can be rendered unusable by pollution. However, the global water cycle ensures its renewal.
– Landscape in its natural condition is not a resource in the same category; it refers to the physical environment.
– The term “exhaustible but renewable” is not a standard scientific classification, but it can be interpreted to mean a resource that is renewable but highly susceptible to exhaustion through unsustainable use due to a slow renewal rate or limited usable quantity at any given time. Soil fits this description well.

60. Which of the following is/are the function(s) of environment? 1. Sup

Which of the following is/are the function(s) of environment?

  • 1. Supplying resources
  • 2. Sustaining life
  • 3. Providing aesthetic services

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 3 only
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The environment performs all three mentioned functions: supplying resources, sustaining life, and providing aesthetic services.
The environment is the source of all natural resources (minerals, water, air, forests, etc.) required for production and consumption. It sustains life by providing the necessary conditions for ecosystems and organisms to thrive (e.g., breathable air, habitable climate, nutrient cycles). It also offers non-material benefits like scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and cultural/spiritual values (aesthetic services).
These functions highlight the multi-faceted importance of the environment not only for economic activities but also for ecological balance and human well-being. Environmental economics often categorizes these as resource function, sink function (absorbing waste), life support function, and amenity function.
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