UPSC Prelims 2026 Environment questions: topic-wise weightage
UPSC Prelims 2026 asked 10 environment questions in GS Paper I, spread over 5 topics. See the environment weightage for 2026 below, then attempt each question with the official answer and an explanation.
Environment 2026: questions by topic
- Ecology and ecosystems1
- Biodiversity and species3
- Protected areas and conservation1
- Climate change and international conventions3
- Pollution, environmental laws and green technology2
Counted from the 10 questions on this page, tagged by topic in the Battle IAS PYQ bank.
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Ecology and ecosystems 1
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.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Answer (d) & explanation
Only statement 3 explains the rationale (d). Statement 3 is right: by withstanding tidal surges and cyclones, mangroves act as natural bio-shields, and they offer biomass, such as fish, crabs, honey and fuel, for coastal villages. Statement 1 is wrong: mangroves do not store fresh water for paddy. Statement 2 is wrong: they are salt-tolerant, not salt-sensitive. Clearing them for farms or aquaculture ponds is exactly what harms them. So options (a), (b) and (c) fail.
Notice the proof: mangroves cut deaths in the 1999 Odisha super-cyclone and the 2004 tsunami. They also store much blue carbon. India's largest mangrove forest is the Sundarbans; the MISHTI scheme (2023) aims to plant more along the coast.
statement 2 says "salt-sensitive". Mangroves live in salt water because they tolerate it.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Biodiversity and species 3
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.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Answer (b) & explanation
Statements 1 and 2 are correct (b). Statement 1 is right: India's only ape, the western hoolock gibbon, is Endangered on the IUCN Red List and gives its name to the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam. Statement 2 is right: gibbons move by brachiation, swinging arm over arm through the canopy. Statement 3 is wrong: they are "lesser apes", slim and light, about 6–9 kg, nothing like a heavy gorilla. So options (a), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice their habits: they live in pairs with their young and sing loud duets at dawn. They are found south of the Brahmaputra in the North-East. Rail lines cutting through Hollongapar have raised concern, and canopy bridges were proposed to help them cross.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 :
Answer (a) & explanation
Only statement 1 is correct (a). Statement 1 is right: around 2012, villages near Doyang in Nagaland, once known for mass hunting of the birds, turned into protectors, so the falcons now roost safely. Statement 2 is wrong: satellite tags only track the birds; they do not guide them. Statement 3 is wrong: Amur falcons stay only a few weeks, so they are not permanent residents. So options (b), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice their journey: they breed in Mongolia, Siberia and northern China, rest in Nagaland, then cross the Arabian Sea to winter in southern Africa, one of the longest raptor migrations. Pangti village is called the "Falcon Capital of the World". Tagged birds have been named after these villages.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 ?
Answer (b) & explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct (b). Statement 1 is right: the foxtail orchid grows on tree trunks and branches, using the tree only for support, so it is epiphytic, not a parasite. Statement 3 is right: it is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and of Assam, where it is the kopou phool, worn in Bihu dances. Statement 2 is wrong: it is not endemic; it grows across South and South-East Asia. So options (a), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice the North-East's orchid wealth: Arunachal alone has over 600 orchid species, and Sikkim's state flower, the Noble Dendrobium, is also an orchid. The Tipi Orchid Research Centre is in Arunachal. All wild orchids trade under CITES Appendix II.
it is famous in the North-east, but "endemic" means found nowhere else.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Protected areas and conservation 1
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 :
Answer (b) & explanation
Statements 1 and 2 are correct (b). Statement 1 is right: Madhav National Park in Shivpuri district became India's 58th tiger reserve in March 2025. Statement 2 is right: Sakhya Sagar lake inside it was named a Ramsar site in 2022. Statement 3 is wrong: the park lies wholly in Madhya Pradesh, not shared with Rajasthan. So options (a), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice MP's place as the "Tiger State", with the most tigers and nine reserves, including Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Panna. The NTCA approves tiger reserves under the Wild Life (Protection) Act. Kuno, also in MP, is home to India's reintroduced cheetahs. India has about 75% of the world's wild tigers.
Shivpuri is near the Rajasthan border, which makes "shared" sound believable.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Climate change and international conventions 3
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.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Answer (b) & explanation
Relationships 1 and 2 are correct (b). Relationship 1 is right: the LT-LEDS (2022) lays out India's path to net zero by 2070, and BUR-4 reported a fall of about 7.9% in 2020 emissions over 2019, real data in line with that path. Relationship 2 is right: Statement III wants quick, short-term cuts, while the LT-LEDS is a long, gradual plan, so III contradicts I. Relationship 3 is wrong: two contradicting statements cannot together set a premise. So options (a), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice the cause of the 2020 fall: the COVID-19 lockdowns, not a lasting trend. India's updated NDC (2022) targets cutting emissions intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030. Biennial Transparency Reports now replace BURs.
"together establish" sounds positive, but two statements that clash cannot form one premise.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and “Blue Transformation”. Which of the following combinations about the “Four Betters” proposed by FAO for “Blue Transformation” is correct ?
Answer (b) & explanation
The Four Betters are production, nutrition, environment and life (b). The "Four Betters" run through FAO's whole strategy (2022–31): better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. Blue Transformation applies them to fisheries and aquaculture. Option (a) is wrong: "better ocean" is not one of them. Options (c) and (d) are wrong: coral reefs, estuaries and mangroves are not among the Four Betters.
Notice the link to SDG 14, "Life Below Water". The UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France (2025) pushed for 30% ocean protection, and the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) came into force in 2026. India's own schemes include the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.
"better ocean" fits an ocean conference, but the four Betters are FAO's general formula.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India ?
Answer (c) & explanation
The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project was India's first (c). REDD+ pays communities for keeping forests standing, through carbon credits. Plan Vivo is a standard for community-led projects. India's first such project is the Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project around Mawphlang, Meghalaya, run by a federation of Khasi village councils (hima). Options (a), (b) and (d), the Uttarakhand, ICFRE-ICIMOD and Sikkim Mamley Kamrang projects, came later or use other routes.
Notice why Mawphlang is famous: its sacred grove, a forest protected by local beliefs. REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, plus conservation and sustainable management. It is recognised under Article 5 of the Paris Agreement.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Pollution, environmental laws and green technology 2
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 :
Answer (b) & explanation
Statements 2 and 3 are correct (b). Statement 2 is right: green hydrogen comes from splitting water by electrolysis, using renewable power. Statement 3 is right: the National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) targets 5 MMT of green hydrogen a year by 2030 and about 50 MMT of avoided CO₂-equivalent emissions each year. Statement 1 is wrong: hydrogen from natural gas with carbon capture is blue hydrogen. So options (a), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice the colours: grey hydrogen from gas without capture (most hydrogen today), brown from coal, and pink from nuclear power. The mission's SIGHT programme supports electrolyser making. Uses include fertilisers, refineries, steel and shipping fuel.
1 says "decarbonized", which sounds green. Gas with CCS is blue.
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Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
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 :
Answer (b) & explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct (b). NIRANTAR groups the Environment Ministry's institutes into verticals. Statement 1 is right: Ecosystem Survey and Analysis is led by the Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, with bodies like the FSI and ZSI. Statement 3 is right: Capacity Development Support is led by the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. Statement 2 is wrong: Research and Management of Ecosystem Service is led by ICFRE, Dehradun; the Central Zoo Authority is only a member. So options (a), (c) and (d) fail.
Notice the purpose: pooling institutes avoids duplicate work and links research to climate adaptation and resilience. Other Ministry bodies include the Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun) and GBPNIHE for the Himalaya.
the Central Zoo Authority does sit in that vertical, but as a member, not the lead.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
All years by topic
Every question from 2011 to 2026, grouped by syllabus topic, with year-wise trends.