UPSC Environment and Ecology – Chapter 24: Sustainable Development and Sustainable Agriculture (37 MCQs)

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UPSC Environment and Ecology – Chapter 24: Sustainable Development and Sustainable Agriculture (37 MCQs) – 37 questions, subject: Environment. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Brundtland Report of 1987 is titled:

Correct Answer: A [Our Common Future]

Explanation:

The World Commission on Environment and Development published its report 'Our Common Future' in 1987 and defined sustainable development in it.

2.  

"The Limits to Growth" (1972) was a report prepared for the:

Correct Answer: D [Club of Rome]

Explanation:

The Limits to Growth (1972), by Meadows and colleagues at MIT, was a report commissioned by the Club of Rome.

3.  

The 2030 Agenda contains:

Correct Answer: C [17 goals and 169 targets]

Explanation:

'Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda', adopted in September 2015, contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets.

4.  

The outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference is titled:

Correct Answer: B [The Future We Want]

Explanation:

The Rio+20 Conference of 2012 adopted the outcome document 'The Future We Want', which launched the process to frame the SDGs.

5.  

In India, the National Indicator Framework for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals is maintained by the:

Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation]

Explanation:

MoSPI maintains the SDG National Indicator Framework and publishes yearly NIF progress reports, such as the 2025 report.

6.  

In the Sustainable Development Report 2026, India's rank was:

Correct Answer: B [94th]

Explanation:

SDSN's Sustainable Development Report 2026 ranked India 94th of 167 countries, up from 99th in 2025.

7.  

"Life below water" is the theme of:

Correct Answer: A [SDG 14]

Explanation:

SDG 14, 'Life below water', covers the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources.

8.  

Which one of the following is NOT a principle of conservation agriculture?

Correct Answer: B [Intensive ploughing]

Explanation:

Conservation agriculture rests on minimum soil disturbance, so intensive ploughing goes against its principles.

9.  

Which one of the following is a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium used as a biofertiliser in paddy fields?

Correct Answer: C [Anabaena]

Explanation:

Anabaena is a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) used in paddy, alone or in partnership with the fern Azolla.

10.  

Consider the following statements about neem-coated urea:

1. It slows the release of nitrogen in the soil.
2. It reduces the diversion of urea for non-farm uses.
3. It increases the leaching of nitrate to groundwater.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are right: neem coating slows nitrogen release and curbs diversion of urea; it reduces, not increases, nitrate leaching.

11.  

Assertion (A): Zero tillage helps to reduce stubble burning in the rice–wheat belt.

Reason (R): Wheat can be sown directly into the residue of the previous rice crop with machines such as the Happy Seeder.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true and R explains A: sowing wheat straight into rice residue with a Happy Seeder removes the need to burn stubble.

12.  

The status of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems is granted by:

Correct Answer: A [FAO]

Explanation:

The Food and Agriculture Organization designates Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems; India has Kashmir saffron, Koraput and Kuttanad.

13.  

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was launched in:

Correct Answer: D [2022]

Explanation:

October 2022.

14.  

The International Year of Millets was observed in:

Correct Answer: D [2023]

Explanation:

The UN General Assembly declared 2023 the International Year of Millets on a proposal made by India.

15.  

"Fertigation" means:

Correct Answer: B [applying fertilisers through irrigation water, usually by drip]

Explanation:

Fertigation means applying water-soluble fertilisers through the irrigation system, usually drip, so nutrients reach the root zone directly.

16.  

The concept of permaculture was developed by:

Correct Answer: C [Bill Mollison and David Holmgren]

Explanation:

Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren developed permaculture in the 1970s as farming designed on natural ecosystems.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
2. Brundtland Report
3. Rio+20 Conference
4. Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro

Select the correct answer:

Correct Answer: C [2-4-1-3]

Explanation:

1987, 1992, 2002, 2012.

18.  

Climate-smart agriculture aims at:

1. sustainably increasing productivity and incomes
2. adapting and building resilience to climate change
3. reducing greenhouse gas emissions where possible

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

the three pillars.

19.  

The Green Credit Programme was notified in 2023 under the:

Correct Answer: A [Environment (Protection) Act, 1986]

Explanation:

The Green Credit Programme was notified in October 2023 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to reward voluntary environmental actions.

20.  

The National Mission on Natural Farming was approved by the Union Cabinet in:

Correct Answer: B [November 2024]

Explanation:

The Union Cabinet approved the National Mission on Natural Farming as a standalone centrally sponsored scheme in November 2024.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2024

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently.

Statement-II: The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Correct Answer: C [Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect]

Explanation:

the EU's goal is climate neutrality by 2050.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2024

Which one of the following is the correct description of "100 Million Farmers"?

Correct Answer: A [It is a platform for accelerating the transition towards food and water systems that are net-zero (carbon), nature-positive and that aims to increase farmer resilience.]

Explanation:

100 Million Farmers is a platform for net-zero, nature-positive food and water systems that also builds farmer resilience.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

"System of Rice Intensification" of cultivation, in which alternate wetting and drying of rice fields is practised, results in

1. Reduced seed requirement
2. Reduced methane production
3. Reduced electricity consumption

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

SRI uses single young seedlings and alternate wetting and drying, cutting seed needs, methane from flooded fields and pumping electricity.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?

1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: B [1, 2 and 4]

Explanation:

Permaculture avoids monoculture, does not build up salinity and depends on mulching; statement 3 is not a valid difference.

25.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?

Correct Answer: A [Sugarcane]

Explanation:

Sugarcane is a long-duration, water-intensive crop needing far more water per unit of output than sunflower, pearl millet or red gram.

26.  
UPSC Prelims 2020

What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture?

1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of the previous crop.
2. Without the need for a nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

Zero tillage allows wheat sowing without burning residue, direct seeding of paddy without a nursery, and carbon storage in undisturbed soil.

27.  
UPSC Prelims 2020

What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?

1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [1, 3 and 4 only]

Explanation:

rock phosphate is insoluble.

28.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at

Correct Answer: B [The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro]

Explanation:

PAGE was launched in 2013 in response to the call at Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, 2012.

29.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015.
2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations.
3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

Only statement 2 is correct: GACSA, launched at the UN Climate Summit 2014, is voluntary and creates no binding obligations.

30.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of "Conservation Agriculture" assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture?

1. Avoiding the monoculture practices
2. Adopting minimum tillage
3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops
4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface
5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2, 4 and 5 only]

Explanation:

Minimum tillage, residue cover of the soil and crop rotation are the three FAO principles; avoiding plantation crops is not one.

31.  
UPSC Prelims 2017

Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture?

1. Reduced or zero tillage of the land
2. Applying gypsum before irrigating the field
3. Allowing crop residue to remain in the field

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

Reduced tillage and retaining crop residue conserve soil moisture; gypsum is a soil amendment for sodic soils, not a water-conservation practice.

32.  
UPSC Prelims 2016

The FAO accords the status of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative?

1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity.
2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity, and knowledge systems of the local communities.
3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

GIAHS aims to identify and safeguard traditional farming systems, their landscapes, agro-biodiversity and knowledge; it gives neither modernisation aid nor GI tags.

33.  
UPSC Prelims 2016

Consider the following statements:

1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

Only statement 2 is correct: the SDGs run to 2030; the Club of Rome's 1972 work was The Limits to Growth, not the SDGs.

34.  
UPSC Prelims 2016

With reference to 'Agenda 21', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:

1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: A [1 only]

Explanation:

Only statement 1 is correct: Agenda 21 is a global action plan adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, not Johannesburg 2002.

35.  
UPSC Prelims 2015

What is the Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?

Correct Answer: A [It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.]

Explanation:

Rio+20 was the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held at Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.

36.  
UPSC Prelims 2015

What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilisers in agriculture?

1. Proliferation of nitrogen fixing microorganisms in soil can occur.
2. Increase in the acidity of soil can take place.
3. Leaching of nitrate to the groundwater can occur.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2 and 3 only]

Explanation:

Excess nitrogen fertiliser acidifies soil and leaches as nitrate into groundwater; it does not make nitrogen-fixing microbes multiply.

37.  
UPSC Prelims 2013

Consider the following organisms:

1. Agaricus
2. Nostoc
3. Spirogyra

Which of the above is/are used as biofertilizer/biofertilizers?

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

Only Nostoc, a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, is used as a biofertiliser; Agaricus is a mushroom and Spirogyra a green alga.

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