Conservation, Pollution & EIA — UPSC Questions
Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Previous year questions and Mains practice questions on this exact syllabus topic, collected from every GainingSun analysis mapped to it. Each question links back to the analysis it came from, so you can read the material behind the answer.
Previous year questions (from 8 analyses)
Questions UPSC has set on this syllabus topic, as cited in our analyses.
No directly relevant verified UPSC Mains PYQ is available.
From E100 Fuel Explained: Which Vehicles Can Use It and What It Means for India
How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2018) [18]
From Saving Girdled Trees: Bridge Grafting, Tiger Habitats and Forest Rights Explained
Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2022)
From Kigali Amendment at 10: India's HFC Phase-Down and Sustainable Cooling Challenge Explained
Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2019)
From Indira Point Lighthouse Explained: Why India Plans to Protect Its Southernmost Landmark
Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC Mains GS3, 2018)
From E20 Ethanol Blending Explained: Why India’s Fuel Transition Faces a Mileage and Trust Test
Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the "Ten Degree Channel"? (UPSC Prelims 2014) A) Andaman and Nicobar B) Nicobar and Sumatra C) Maldives and Lakshadweep D) Sumatra and Java Correct Answer: A Explanation: The Ten Degree Channel runs along the 10°N parallel and separates the Andaman group (Little Andaman) from the Nicobar group (Car Nicobar). It is about 150 km wide and is an important maritime route within the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
How does biodiversity vary in India? How is Biological Diversity Act, 2002 helpful in the conservation of flora and fauna? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2018)
From Great Nicobar Coral Translocation: Galathea Bay Port and Ecology Explained
Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (UPSC Mains GS3, 2021)
Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples. (UPSC Mains GS1, 2019)
From Human Contribution to Global Warming at Record High: 2025 Climate Study Explained
Mains practice questions (from 23 analyses)
Practice questions written for this topic, each tied to the current affairs that would answer it.
Higher ethanol blends can improve India’s energy security, but their sustainability depends on more than vehicle compatibility. Examine with reference to E100 and flex-fuel mobility. (250 words)
From E100 Fuel Explained: Which Vehicles Can Use It and What It Means for India
“Rescuing damaged trees is only one part of restoring a protected forest.” Discuss with reference to the girdling of trees in Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. Explain how scientific restoration, geospatial monitoring and community forest rights can be integrated into conservation management. (250 words)
From Saving Girdled Trees: Bridge Grafting, Tiger Habitats and Forest Rights Explained
The Kigali Amendment represents an important opportunity to integrate climate mitigation with sustainable cooling and energy security. Examine India's challenges in implementing its HFC phase-down commitments and suggest measures to ensure affordable, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable cooling. (250 words, 15 marks)
From Kigali Amendment at 10: India's HFC Phase-Down and Sustainable Cooling Challenge Explained
The Indira Point Lighthouse project shows the tension between strategic maritime infrastructure, tourism development and fragile island ecology. Discuss how India can balance coastal development with environmental safeguards in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
From Indira Point Lighthouse Explained: Why India Plans to Protect Its Southernmost Landmark
India’s ethanol blending programme strengthens energy security and farmer incomes, but raises concerns over consumer costs, vehicle compatibility and environmental sustainability. Discuss.
From E20 Ethanol Blending Explained: Why India’s Fuel Transition Faces a Mileage and Trust Test
The Island Coastal Regulation Zone framework seeks to balance ecological conservation with strategic and developmental needs in India's island territories. In light of recent proposals for infrastructure on Great Nicobar Island, critically examine the challenges of applying coastal regulation norms to ecologically sensitive island ecosystems. (250 words)
The Great Nicobar Project highlights the challenge of balancing strategic infrastructure with fragile island ecology. Discuss the environmental, legal and governance safeguards required for such projects in India.
From Great Nicobar Coral Translocation: Galathea Bay Port and Ecology Explained
Human-induced global warming has reached record levels even as countries continue to announce new climate targets. Discuss the scientific, economic and governance challenges in aligning global climate action with the 1.5°C pathway, with special reference to India.
From Human Contribution to Global Warming at Record High: 2025 Climate Study Explained
"Tiger corridors are as critical to long-term tiger survival as the reserves themselves, yet they remain the weakest link in India's wildlife protection regime." In light of recent project clearances in central India, examine the legal safeguards for tiger corridors and analyse the challenge of balancing conservation with regional development in Left-Wing Extremism–affected, tribal-majority districts. (15 marks, 250 words)
From Gadchiroli Mining & Tadoba-Indravati Tiger Corridor: Why Wildlife Clearance Matters
The dominance of Prosopis Juliflora (Vilayati Kikar) across 63.48% of Delhi's Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary highlights the deepening crisis of biological invasion in India's protected areas. Critically examine the ecological impacts of invasive alien species on India's biodiversity and evaluate the adequacy of the legal and institutional framework, including the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 and India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, in addressing this challenge. (15 marks, 250 words)
The successful community biogas model in Ekauni village of Uttar Pradesh demonstrates an effective solution to rural energy challenges amid the LPG crisis. In this context, discuss the potential of decentralised biogas plants in achieving India’s clean energy and sustainable development goals while addressing issues of women’s health and climate change.
From UP Village of 500 Beats LPG Crisis with Biogas Plant: Ekauni Model Shows Sustainable Path
Discuss the environmental and health consequences of modern warfare, with special reference to the toxic fallout from airstrikes in conflict zones like the recent Israel-Iran tensions, and suggest measures for international regulation.
Examine the geopolitical factors influencing US sanctions relief on Venezuela's oil sector and its implications for global energy security in a multipolar world.
Discuss the significance of the Madhav Gadgil report in the context of environmental conservation in the Western Ghats, analyzing the reasons for its opposition and the implications of its partial implementation for sustainable development in India.
Examine the challenges of balancing national security needs with environmental conservation in India's border regions, with reference to recent infrastructure developments in Ladakh.
Assess the role of multi-pronged interventions like cloud seeding, emission bans, and GRAP in mitigating seasonal air pollution in urban India, and propose a framework for integrating technology and policy for long-term air quality improvement in megacities.
Discuss the role of the judiciary in addressing air pollution challenges in urban India, with reference to regulatory measures on firecrackers and their implications for sustainable development.
Discuss the challenges in balancing environmental sustainability with cultural traditions in the context of firecracker regulations during Indian festivals, and suggest measures for effective implementation.
Examine the role of India's Antarctic research program in advancing global climate science and national strategic interests, with special reference to the development of the Maitri II station.
From India Approves Maitri II: Boosting Sustainable Research in Antarctica's Eastern Wilderness by 2029
Examine the challenges in balancing eco-tourism development with environmental conservation in ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravalli hills, in the context of recent judicial interventions.
Evaluate the accuracy and limitations of climate models in forecasting global warming, with special reference to their implications for climate policy in developing countries like India. (250 words)
From Assessing Climate Model Accuracy: Debunking Myths Amid Trump's Claims on Global Warming Predictions
Discuss the implications of waiving public consultation for mining critical and atomic minerals on India's environmental governance and strategic autonomy. Suggest ways to reconcile developmental imperatives with sustainable practices in this context. (250 words)
Discuss the ecological and socio-economic significance of expanding the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve. How does it contribute to wildlife conservation and climate resilience in India?
From Sundarbans to Become India’s Second-Largest Tiger Reserve