UGC NET — Environmental Sciences (subject code 89) · India · National Testing Agency for the University Grants Commission
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersThe rules: principles of environmental law, the major multilateral agreements and how national laws implement them. India's Acts are examined in GATE ES and UGC NET; the manual uses them as the worked example and states where other countries differ. Trade and agricultural policy are in the Agribusiness track.
In the exams: GATE ES Section 9 (Water and Air Acts, EPA 1986, NGT Act, international treaties); ICAR AICE subject 71 Units 2–3; UGC NET Unit 8; UPSC CSE (heavily asked)
How our questions for UGC NET spread across the units of Environmental Law, Policy & International Agreements. Difficulty: 15 easy, 55 medium, 28 hard.
| Policy instruments: regulation, economic instruments, information, voluntary | 9 | |
| Convention on Biological Diversity and its protocols | 9 | |
| UNCCD, Ramsar, CITES, CMS | 9 | |
| National framework laws: water, air and environment protection acts | 9 | |
| Environmental policy and national environment policies | 9 | |
| Public participation, access to information and environmental justice | 9 | |
| Principles: polluter pays, precautionary, prevention, sustainable development | 8 | |
| Montreal Protocol and its amendments | 8 | |
| Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions | 8 | |
| Environmental courts and tribunals | 8 | |
| UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement | 7 | |
| Forest, wildlife and biodiversity laws | 5 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
At what level should a Pigouvian tax be set?
A. Equal to marginal external damage at the efficient output
A Pigouvian tax internalises the externality by charging the marginal external damage at the socially efficient level, so firms abate until marginal abatement cost equals the tax. Product price, profit or zero do not achieve efficiency.
Further reading: Perman et al.
India's Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, launched in 2012, trades certificates for what?
B. Energy savings in energy-intensive industries
PAT sets specific energy consumption targets for designated consumers; those exceeding targets earn energy saving certificates that underachievers can buy. Water rights, forest diversion and fishing quotas are not traded under PAT.
Further reading: Bureau of Energy Efficiency
What was created by the London Amendment (1990) to help developing countries comply with the Montreal Protocol?
D. The Multilateral Fund
The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol pays the agreed incremental costs of developing countries' compliance. The others were created for climate or broader environmental finance.
Further reading: London Amendment 1990
Where is India's National Biodiversity Authority located?
A. Chennai
The NBA, set up under the Biological Diversity Act 2002, is headquartered in Chennai. Dehradun hosts forest and wildlife institutes; New Delhi the environment ministry.
Further reading: Biological Diversity Act 2002
The Environment (Protection) Act 1986 was enacted in the aftermath of which event?
C. The Bhopal gas disaster of 1984
The Bhopal methyl isocyanate leak in December 1984 led to the umbrella EP Act 1986. Chernobyl was a Soviet nuclear accident; Stockholm prompted the Water Act; Rio came later.
Further reading: EP Act 1986
What is the key legal difference between an EU directive and an EU regulation?
D. A directive must be transposed into national law; a regulation applies directly
Directives bind member states as to the result and are transposed into national law; regulations are directly applicable in all member states. The other statements are false.
Further reading: Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, Art. 288
China's revised Environmental Protection Law (2014, effective 2015) introduced which notable enforcement tool?
C. Daily accumulating fines for continuing violations
The revision introduced daily fines that accumulate until a violation is corrected, alongside public interest litigation by qualified NGOs. It did not abolish fines or create exemptions.
Further reading: PRC Environmental Protection Law 2014
Which US statute prohibits the 'take' of listed endangered species and requires federal agencies to avoid jeopardising them?
C. The Endangered Species Act (1973)
The ESA prohibits take of listed species and requires consultation to avoid jeopardy. The Lacey Act concerns illegal wildlife and plant trade; FIFRA pesticides; the Clean Air Act air pollution.
Further reading: Endangered Species Act 1973
Which of these is one of the eight NAPCC missions?
A. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
The NAPCC includes the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture; the others are not NAPCC missions.
Further reading: NAPCC 2008
Which element of the EU's Farm to Fork agenda was withdrawn in 2024 after farmer protests?
C. The pesticide-halving proposal
The Commission withdrew the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation proposal, which aimed to halve pesticide use and risk by 2030. The Climate Law, Nitrates Directive and Ecolabel remain in force.
Further reading: European Commission 2024
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