Environment & Disaster Management Topicwise PYQs
Syllabus Topic: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation
- Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) ? [UPSC-2021]
- Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards ? [UPSC-2021]
- Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? [UPSC-2021] ©crackingcivilservices.com
- What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? [UPSC-2020]
- Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our Government for this purpose? [UPSC-2020] ©crackingcivilservices.com
- What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India? [UPSC-2020]
- Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples. (तटीय बालू खनन, चाहे वह वैध हो या अवैध हो, हमारे पर्यावरण के सामने सबसे बड़े खतरों में से एक है | भारतीय तटों पर हो रहे बालू खनन के प्रभाव का, विशिष्ट उदाहरणों का हवाला देते हुए, विश्लेषण कीजिए |) [UPSC-2019]
- What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? [UPSC-2018]
- What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of ‘wise use’ in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. [UPSC-2018]
- How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? [UPSC-2018]
- ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? [UPSC-2017]
- Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment. [UPSC-2017]
- Give an account of the current status and the targets to be achieved pertaining to renewable energy sources in the country. Discuss in brief the importance of National Programme on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). [UPSC-2016]
- The Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs? [UPSC-2015]
- To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power producers and the related industry? [UPSC-2015]
- Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. [UPSC-2014]
- What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests’ concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining. [UPSC-2013] ©crackingcivilservices.com
- Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of conventional energy. [UPSC-2013]
- What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project? [UPSC-2013]
- Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India? [UPSC-2013]
Syllabus Topic: Environmental impact assessment
- How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? [UPSC-2020]
- Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. (पर्यावरण से सम्बंधित पारिस्थितिक तंत्र की वहां क्षमता की संकल्पना की परिभाषा दीजिए | स्पष्ट कीजिए की किसी प्रदेश के दीर्घोपयोगी विकास (सस्टेनेबल डेवलपमेंट) की योजना बनाते समय इस संकल्पना को समझना किस प्रकार महत्वपूर्ण है |) [UPSC-2019]
- Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects. [UPSC-2016]
- Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads. [UPSC-2014]
Syllabus Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
- Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. [UPSC-2021]
- Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National Landslide Risk Management Strategy. [UPSC-2021]
- Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. [UPSC-2020]
- Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation in the case of landslides. (किसी भी आपदा प्रबंधन प्रक्रम में आपदा तैयारी पहला कदम होता है | भुस्खलनों के मामले में, स्पष्ट कीजिए की संकट अनुक्षेत्र मानचित्रण किस प्रकार आपदा अल्पीकरण में मदद करेगा |)[UPSC-2019]
- Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. (आपदा प्रभावों और लोगों के लिए उसके खतरे को परिभाषित करने के भेद्यता एक अत्यावश्यक तत्त्व है | आपदाओं के प्रति भेद्यता का किस प्रकार और किन-किन तरीकों के साथ चरित्र-चित्रण किया जा सकता है ? आपदाओं के संदर्भ में भेद्यता के विभिन्न प्रकारों पर चर्चा कीजिए |) [UPSC-2019]
- Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005?[UPSC-2018]
- On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. [UPSC-2017] ©crackingcivilservices.com
- The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods. highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. [UPSC-2016]
- With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand. [UPSC-2016]
- The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects. [UPSC-2015]
- Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India. [UPSC-2014]
- How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management. As an administrator ,what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster management. [UPSC-2013] ©crackingcivilservices.com
