Environment and Ecology MCQs for Prelims – 5th July 2025

Welcome to today’s curated set of MCQs from the Environment and Ecology segments, specially aligned with the evolving trend of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. These questions are not just a quiz, but a resource designed to familiarize you with the exact nature of questions asked in Prelims — where static concepts are tested through a current affairs lens.

Each question below is framed using recent developments in the news and backed by clear, concise explanations to help you link dynamic events with foundational knowledge.

Use this as a daily revision tool to refine your understanding, build context, and learn how UPSC frames conceptual questions from contemporary issues.

 Click Here to read the Current Affairs Total (CAT) Magazine for January 2025- June 2025.

Q1. With reference to the Albedo effect, consider the following statements:

1. It is the fraction of light that a surface reflects.

2. If it is all reflected, the albedo is equal to 0.

3. Dark colours show higher albedo than the light or pale colours.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The primary cause of increased heat in the Arctic is known as the albedo effect. The Arctic ice cover is melting, exposing more land and water to the sun. Ice traps the least amount of heat and reflects the majority of solar light back. Darker surfaces, such as land or water, absorb solar radiation more efficiently, resulting in greater warmth. Antarctica experiences less ice sheet melting, resulting in less dramatic warming than the Arctic.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Albedo is the percentage of light that a surface reflects. If everything is reflected, the albedo equals one. If 30% is reflected, the albedo is 0.3. The albedo of the Earth’s surface (atmosphere, ocean, and land) affects how much incoming solar energy, or light, is promptly reflected back into space. This could have an impact on the climate.

Statement 3 is correct: Albedo refers to how much energy a surface reflects. Dark colours have an albedo near 0, indicating that little or no energy is reflected. Pale colours have an albedo close to 100%, which means that almost all of the energy is reflected. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q2. Which of the following terms refers to the growing tendency of companies, organisations or even countries to make dubious or unverifiable claims about their activities, products or services being environment-friendly or climate-friendly?

1. Sustainability theatre
2. Greenwashing
3. Bluewashing
4. Greenhushing

Answer: b

Explanation:

Although greenwashing as a term has been used in the limited context of advertising in these guidelines, it has a much broader scope. Greenwashing refers to the growing tendency of companies, organisations or even countries to make dubious or unverifiable claims about their activities, products or services being environment-friendly or climate-friendly. Due to heightened sensitivity to climate change, there is rising pressure on corporations and governments to carry out their activities in a way that causes the least damage to the environment. Many of them also have legal commitments, or targets, to adhere to in this regard.

Q3. With reference to Forest Rights Act, 2006, consider the following statements:

1. It recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources, on which these communities were dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs.

2. The Gram Sabha is a highly empowered body under the Act, enabling the tribal population to have a decisive say in the determination of local policies and schemes impacting them.

3. It protects forest dwellers from unlawful evictions and also provides for basic development facilities for the community of forest dwellers to access facilities of education, health, nutrition, infrastructure etc. but limits the forest dwellers to access and use the forest resources to protect, conserve and manage forests.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) to access, use, and manage forest resources for livelihood, habitation, and cultural needs. It aims to correct the historical injustice faced by these communities who were denied legal rights over the forests they depend on.
Statement 2 is correct: The Act gives a central role to the Gram Sabha, making it a highly empowered body. The Gram Sabha is responsible for initiating the process of determining individual and community forest rights, verifying claims, and protecting and conserving the forest. It enables local, democratic decision-making by forest dwellers regarding their own resources and development.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While it is true that the Act protects forest dwellers from unlawful evictions and calls for their access to basic development facilities (like education, health, infrastructure, etc.), it is wrong to say that it limits their rights to access and use forest resources. In fact, the Act grants Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights, which empower forest dwellers to conserve, protect, and manage forests themselves.
Q4. Which of the following states is implementing three externally aided projects to ensure the protection of forests and the livelihood of forest dwellers?

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Nagaland
3. Goa
4. Tripura

Answer: d

Explanation:

Tripura’s Forest and Environment Minister, Animesh Debbarma, announced that the state government is implementing three externally funded programs to safeguard forests and ensure the livelihoods of forest inhabitants.

The first project was supported by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the second by the Federal Republic of Germany through the KfW bank, and the third by the World Bank for Rs 1,764.94 crore, he added.

“The projects aimed to generate employment for youths and women through the promotion of forest-based entrepreneurship,” Debbarma said while launching the 76th state-level Vanmahotsava at the Behalabari School playground in Khowai district.

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to Green Credit Programme (GCP):

1. Non-government organisations selected by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will be the implementing agencies (IA) for tree plantation based Green Credit Programme.

2. Industries, companies, non-government organizations, philanthropists, and individuals are encouraged to participate in the Green Credit Programme.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Under the Green Credit Programme (GCP), the implementing agencies (IAs) for tree plantation activities are registered agencies, which may include forest departments, gram panchayats, urban local bodies, educational institutions, resident welfare associations, and other entities registered on the GCP portal.
Non-government organisations (NGOs) can participate, but they are not specifically appointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as the sole or primary implementing agencies.

Statement 2 is correct: The Green Credit Programme is designed to incentivize a wide range of stakeholders—including industries, companies, NGOs, philanthropists, and individuals—to participate in environment-positive actions like afforestation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, etc.
These participants can earn "green credits" for their contributions, which can be traded or used for compliance or CSR purposes.