Renewable Energy & Sustainability MCQs for UPSC Prelims

60 practice questions on Renewable Energy & Sustainability from the Environment & Ecology section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 60 come with a written explanation and 15 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

26 Easy 26 Medium 8 Hard 15 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question medium

Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 only
  3. C Both 1 and 2
  4. D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1 only

The International Solar Alliance was jointly launched by India and France at the COP21 UNFCCC conference in Paris in November 2015, so statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect because membership at that time was envisaged for solar-rich countries lying fully or partly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, not for the entire UN membership; only later amendments opened it to all UN members, and even then membership requires ratification and is far from universal. Hence only the first statement holds.

Q2
Previous year question hard

With reference to 'Direct Air Capture', an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct? I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration. II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing. III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A I and II only
  2. B III only
  3. C I, II and III
  4. D None of the above statements is correct
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - I, II and III

Direct Air Capture pulls carbon dioxide directly from the ambient air, which can be stored underground as a form of carbon sequestration, validating statement I. The captured carbon dioxide can be used as feedstock in plastics manufacture and in food processing, validating statement II, and it can be combined with hydrogen to produce synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels, validating statement III. Hence all three statements are correct.

Q3
Previous year question easy

Consider the following statements : Statement I : Circular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases. Statement II : Circular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs. Statement III : Circular economy reduces wastage in the production process. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
  2. B Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
  3. C Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
  4. D Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

A circular economy keeps materials in use through reuse, repair and recycling, which lowers the demand for virgin raw materials and cuts wastage in production, so statements II and III are both correct. Reduced extraction and processing of raw materials and less waste both translate into lower energy use and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, so both explain statement I. Hence both II and III are correct and both explain statement I.

Q4
Previous year question easy

Which one of the following best describes the term 'greenwashing'?

  1. A Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound
  2. B Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country
  3. C Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development
  4. D Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound

Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading claims to portray a company or its products as more environmentally friendly than they actually are. The other options describe environmental accounting omissions, reckless development and budgeting for environmental costs, which are different concepts. Hence option (a) is correct.

Q5
Previous year question medium

With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements: 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district. 3. None of them is privately owned. How many of the above statements are correct?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - None

None of the statements is correct, so the answer is None. Some coastal thermal power plants do use seawater for cooling, so statement 1 is false. Many coal-based plants are located in water-stressed districts, contradicting statement 2. A large number of thermal plants are owned by private companies, making statement 3 false. Because every statement is wrong, the answer is None.

Q6
Previous year question medium

On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label? 1. Ceiling fans 2. Electric geysers 3. Tubular fluorescent lamps Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A 1 and 2 only
  2. B 3 only
  3. C 2 and 3 only
  4. D 1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - 1, 2 and 3

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency runs the Standards and Labelling programme under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, and its star rating appears on a wide range of appliances. Tubular fluorescent lamps, electric storage water heaters (geysers), frost-free refrigerators, room air conditioners and distribution transformers are under mandatory labelling, while ceiling fans are covered under the voluntary labelling scheme. Since the star label can be found on all three listed products, every option that leaves out any item is incorrect.

Q7
Previous year question medium

In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material? 1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels. 2. Bioasphalt can be made from non-renewable resources. 3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials. 4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A 1, 2 and 3 only
  2. B 1, 3 and 4 only
  3. C 2 and 4 only
  4. D 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 1, 3 and 4 only

Bioasphalt is a binder produced from renewable, biological sources rather than petroleum, so statement 1 is correct. It is derived from materials such as sugar, molasses, vegetable oils and organic waste, making statement 3 correct, and because it avoids fossil fuels it is environmentally friendlier as a road surfacing material, so statement 4 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong because the very point of bioasphalt is that it comes from renewable resources, not non-renewable ones; the word 'non-renewable' contradicts the entire concept. Hence only 1, 3 and 4 are correct.

Q8
Previous year question hard

Consider the following statements: 1. 'The Climate Group' is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them. 2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative 'EP100'. 3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals. 4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100. 5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the 'Under2 Coalition'. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A 1, 2, 4 and 5
  2. B 1, 3 and 4 only
  3. C 2, 3 and 5 only
  4. D 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - 1, 3 and 4 only

The Climate Group is indeed an international non-profit that builds and runs climate networks, so statement 1 is correct. EP100 was launched by the Climate Group itself, not in partnership with the IEA, so statement 2 is wrong. EP100 brings together companies committed to energy productivity and efficiency, and several Indian firms are members, so statements 3 and 4 are correct. The Climate Group, not the IEA, acts as secretariat of the Under2 Coalition, so statement 5 is wrong. Hence only 1, 3 and 4 are correct.

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More Environment & Ecology topics

Ecology & Ecosystems 168 Pollution 160 Wildlife & Species 140 Biodiversity 133 International Conventions & Protocols 132 Climate Change 121 Wetlands & Marine Ecology 111 Protected Areas & Conservation 110 Environmental Laws & Institutions 109 Agriculture & Environment 68 Forests & Forestry 54