noteswale

Environment Studies

Guess Paper 1: Most Expected 50 MCQs
50 MCQs × 1 mark = 50 marks • No negative marking • BA • Semester 1 (AEC)

🌐 How to use: 🔥 = most expected (exam me aane ke sabse zyada chance), ⭐ = important. Pehle 🔥 wale pakke karo, phir ⭐ revise karo.
📝 Official exam pattern (50 marks, MCQ only): 50 MCQs × 1 mark, no negative marking. Ye 50 questions pichhle patterns aur important topics se select kiye gaye hain.
🔥 Most expected — har saal poochhe jaane wale topics  ·  ⭐ Important — strong chance

Q1 The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where all weather occurs, is the: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AStratosphere
  • BMesosphere
  • CTroposphere ✓ Correct
  • DThermosphere
Answer: C — Weather happens in the troposphere, the lowest 8–15 km of the atmosphere.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Weather troposphere me hota hai, atmosphere ke sabse neeche 8–15 km me.

Q2 The 'Gaia hypothesis' — the idea of Earth as a single living system — was proposed by: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AJames Lovelock ✓ Correct
  • BCharles Darwin
  • CRachel Carson
  • DE. O. Wilson
Answer: A — James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis (1970s) treats Earth as a self-regulating living system.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

James Lovelock ki Gaia hypothesis (1970s) Earth ko self-regulating living system maanti hai.

Q3 The UN Decade 2005–2014 was observed as the Decade of: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 1

  • ABiodiversity
  • BEducation for Sustainable Development ✓ Correct
  • CWater for Life
  • DDeserts
Answer: B — UNESCO led 2005–2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

UNESCO ne 2005–2014 ko Decade of Education for Sustainable Development ke roop me lead kiya.

Q4 'Think globally, act locally' is the guiding motto of: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AIndustrialisation
  • BEnvironmental awareness and action ✓ Correct
  • CGlobalisation
  • DUrbanisation
Answer: B — It means global problems need local-level action by every community and individual.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Iska matlab hai global problems ke liye har community aur individual ko local level pe action lena hoga.

Q5 The 1972 Stockholm Conference was attended by delegates from how many countries? ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 1

  • A52
  • B86
  • C113 ✓ Correct
  • D150
Answer: C — 113 nations attended Stockholm 1972, including India (Indira Gandhi was the only head of government present besides the host).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Stockholm 1972 me 113 deshon ne participate kiya, India samet (Indira Gandhi host ke alawa wahan maujood ekmatra head of government thin).

Q6 Paleoecology is the study of: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AFuture ecosystems
  • BOrganisms and environments of the geological past ✓ Correct
  • CUrban ecology
  • DMarine pollution
Answer: B — Paleoecology reconstructs past ecosystems from fossils and sediments.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Paleoecology fossils aur sediments se past ecosystems ko reconstruct karti hai.

Q7 The Hindi word for 'environment' is: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 1

  • APrakriti
  • BParyavaran ✓ Correct
  • CVatavaran
  • DJalwayu
Answer: B — Paryavaran is the Hindi term for environment — 'pari' (around) + 'avaran' (covering).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Paryavaran environment ka Hindi term hai — 'pari' (aaspas) + 'avaran' (covering).

Q8 Petroleum (crude oil) is formed mainly from: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AVolcanic lava
  • BMicroscopic marine organisms over millions of years ✓ Correct
  • CDecaying dinosaurs
  • DUnderground water
Answer: B — Plankton and marine organisms buried in sediments transformed into petroleum over millions of years.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Samudri sediments me dabe plankton aur marine organisms lakhon saalon me petroleum me badle.

Q9 The largest coal reserves in India are found in the state of: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AOdisha
  • BChhattisgarh
  • CJharkhand ✓ Correct
  • DMadhya Pradesh
Answer: C — Jharkhand (Jharia, Bokaro, Dhanbad) holds India's largest coal reserves.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Jharkhand (Jharia, Bokaro, Dhanbad) me India ke sabse bade coal reserves hain.

Q10 A major benefit of multipurpose river valley projects (dams) is: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AOnly tourism
  • BIrrigation, hydroelectric power and flood control ✓ Correct
  • COnly fishing
  • DGroundwater depletion
Answer: B — Multipurpose projects serve irrigation, power generation, drinking water and flood control together.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Multipurpose projects irrigation, power generation, drinking water aur flood control ek saath dete hain.

Q11 The main cause of land degradation in India is: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AOverpopulation
  • BSoil erosion ✓ Correct
  • CIndustrialisation
  • DMining only
Answer: B — Water and wind erosion of topsoil is the biggest driver of land degradation in India.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Topsoil ka water aur wind erosion India me land degradation ka sabse bada driver hai.

Q12 India's first nuclear power station at Tarapur (Maharashtra) started operation in: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 2

  • A1959
  • B1969 ✓ Correct
  • C1979
  • D1989
Answer: B — Tarapur Atomic Power Station, India's first, began commercial operation in 1969.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Tarapur Atomic Power Station, India ka pehla, 1969 me commercial operation me aaya.

Q13 'Energy plantation' refers to growing: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AFood crops
  • BFast-growing trees for fuelwood ✓ Correct
  • CMedicinal herbs
  • DCotton
Answer: B — Energy plantations grow quick species (eucalyptus, subabul) specifically for fuelwood and biomass energy.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Energy plantations me fuelwood aur biomass energy ke liye fast-growing species (eucalyptus, subabul) ugaye jaate hain.

Q14 Water scarcity in India is mainly due to: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AToo much rainfall
  • BUneven distribution and over-extraction ✓ Correct
  • CToo many rivers
  • DLow population
Answer: B — India has 4% of world water for 18% of world population, distributed very unevenly and over-extracted.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

India ke paas duniya ke 18% population ke liye sirf 4% paani hai, bahut unevenly distributed aur over-extracted.

Q15 In a forest ecosystem, the maximum biomass is found in the: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AHerbivores
  • BCarnivores
  • CProducers (trees) ✓ Correct
  • DDecomposers
Answer: C — Trees hold the bulk of forest biomass; each higher trophic level has far less.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Trees me forest biomass ka bulk hota hai; har higher trophic level pe far less.

Q16 The most productive natural ecosystems on Earth are: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 3

  • ADeserts and tundra
  • BCoral reefs and estuaries ✓ Correct
  • COpen oceans
  • DGrasslands
Answer: B — Coral reefs and estuaries have the highest net primary productivity per unit area.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Coral reefs aur estuaries ki per unit area net primary productivity sabse zyada hai.

Q17 A lichen is a symbiotic association between: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 3

  • ATwo fungi
  • BAn alga and a fungus ✓ Correct
  • CA moss and a fern
  • DBacteria and a virus
Answer: B — Lichen = alga (photosynthesis) + fungus (protection/absorption) living together.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Lichen = alga (photosynthesis) + fungus (protection/absorption) ka saath jeena.

Q18 Mycorrhiza is a mutually beneficial association between plant roots and: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 3

  • ABacteria
  • BFungi ✓ Correct
  • CAlgae
  • DNematodes
Answer: B — Mycorrhizal fungi help roots absorb phosphorus and water in exchange for sugars.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Mycorrhizal fungi sugars ke badle roots ko phosphorus aur paani absorb karne me help karte hain.

Q19 A pond is an example of which type of aquatic ecosystem? ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 3

  • ALotic (flowing water)
  • BLentic (standing water) ✓ Correct
  • CMarine
  • DEstuarine
Answer: B — Lentic = still/standing water (ponds, lakes); lotic = flowing water (rivers, streams).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Lentic = still/standing water (ponds, lakes); lotic = flowing water (rivers, streams).

Q20 'Standing crop' in an ecosystem refers to: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AAnnual rainfall
  • BTotal living biomass present at a given time ✓ Correct
  • CCrop yield per hectare
  • DFallen leaves
Answer: B — Standing crop = the total dry weight of living organisms at one point in time.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Standing crop = ek time pe living organisms ka total dry weight.

Q21 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen mainly into: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 3

  • ANitric acid
  • BAmmonia and nitrates ✓ Correct
  • CNitrogen dioxide
  • DOzone
Answer: B — Rhizobium and other fixers convert inert N2 into ammonia/nitrates plants can use.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Rhizobium aur doosre fixers inert N2 ko ammonia/nitrates me badalte hain jo plants use kar sakte hain.

Q22 The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was signed at the: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 4

  • AStockholm Conference 1972
  • BRio Earth Summit 1992 ✓ Correct
  • CKyoto Protocol 1997
  • DParis Agreement 2015
Answer: B — The CBD opened for signature at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit; India ratified it in 1994.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

CBD 1992 ke Rio Earth Summit me signature ke liye khula; India ne ise 1994 me ratify kiya.

Q23 CITES is an international agreement concerned with: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 4

  • AClimate change
  • BRegulating trade in endangered species ✓ Correct
  • CNuclear weapons
  • DOcean fishing
Answer: B — CITES (1973) controls international trade in threatened wild animals and plants.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

CITES (1973) threatened wild animals aur plants ke international trade ko control karta hai.

Q24 The snow leopard's natural habitat in India is mainly the: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 4

  • AWestern Ghats
  • BThar Desert
  • CHimalayas (Ladakh) ✓ Correct
  • DSundarbans
Answer: C — Snow leopards live in high Himalayan ranges, e.g., Hemis National Park, Ladakh.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Snow leopards high Himalayan ranges me rehte hain, jaise Hemis National Park, Ladakh.

Q25 The hangul (Kashmir stag), a critically endangered deer, survives in: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 4

  • AGir National Park
  • BDachigam National Park ✓ Correct
  • CKaziranga National Park
  • DCorbett National Park
Answer: B — The hangul is confined to Dachigam National Park near Srinagar, J&K.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Hangul Srinagar, J&K ke paas Dachigam National Park tak seemit hai.

Q26 In conservation, a 'flagship species' (like the tiger) is used to: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 4

  • ASell wildlife products
  • BRally protection for its whole habitat ✓ Correct
  • CCount prey animals
  • DAttract tourists only
Answer: B — Protecting a charismatic flagship species indirectly protects its entire ecosystem.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Ek charismatic flagship species ko protect karne se indirectly uska poora ecosystem protect hota hai.

Q27 The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve is located in: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 4

  • ALakshadweep
  • BAndaman & Nicobar Islands ✓ Correct
  • CGulf of Kachchh
  • DSundarbans
Answer: B — Great Nicobar BR (1989) covers the southernmost island of the Andaman & Nicobar chain.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Great Nicobar BR (1989) Andaman & Nicobar chain ke southernmost island ko cover karta hai.

Q28 'Alpha diversity' refers to species diversity: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 4

  • ABetween two habitats
  • BWithin a single habitat/community ✓ Correct
  • CAcross the globe
  • DOver geological time
Answer: B — Alpha = within-habitat diversity; beta = between habitats; gamma = regional.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Alpha = ek habitat ke andar diversity; beta = habitats ke beech; gamma = regional.

Q29 Acid rain is defined as rain with pH: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AAbove 7.0
  • BExactly 7.0
  • CBelow 5.6 ✓ Correct
  • DBelow 7.0 but above 5.6
Answer: C — Normal rain is ~pH 5.6; rain below pH 5.6 (from SO2/NOx) counts as acid rain.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Normal rain ~pH 5.6 hota hai; (SO2/NOx se) pH 5.6 se neeche ka rain acid rain kehlata hai.

Q30 The permissible night-time noise limit in residential areas (Noise Rules, 2000) is: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 5

  • A35 dB
  • B45 dB ✓ Correct
  • C55 dB
  • D65 dB
Answer: B — Residential zones: 55 dB day / 45 dB night; silence zones: 50/40 dB.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Residential zones: 55 dB day / 45 dB night; silence zones: 50/40 dB.

Q31 Biomagnification refers to: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 5

  • ADecrease of species with altitude
  • BIncreasing concentration of pollutants up the food chain ✓ Correct
  • CGrowth of forests
  • DDilution of pollutants in water
Answer: B — Non-degradable pollutants (DDT, mercury) concentrate more at each higher trophic level.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Non-degradable pollutants (DDT, mercury) har higher trophic level pe aur concentrate hote hain.

Q32 Leachate leaking from landfills mainly pollutes: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AAir
  • BGroundwater ✓ Correct
  • CSoil surface only
  • DOzone layer
Answer: B — Rainwater percolating through waste forms leachate that contaminates groundwater.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Waste se percolate karta rainwater leachate banata hai jo groundwater contaminate karta hai.

Q33 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was constituted under the: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AAir Act, 1981
  • BWater Act, 1974 ✓ Correct
  • CEnvironment Act, 1986
  • DForest Act, 1980
Answer: B — CPCB was set up in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

CPCB 1974 me Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act ke under set up hua tha.

Q34 The word 'smog' is a blend of: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 5

  • ASmoke and fog ✓ Correct
  • BSulphur and fog
  • CSteam and fog
  • DSmell and fog
Answer: A — Smog = smoke + fog, coined for London's polluted winter fogs.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Smog = smoke + fog, London ke polluted winter fogs ke liye coined hua tha.

Q35 Incineration (controlled burning) of solid waste is most suitable for: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AKitchen waste
  • BHazardous and infectious hospital waste ✓ Correct
  • CConstruction debris
  • DPaper
Answer: B — High-temperature incineration destroys pathogens in biomedical and hazardous waste.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

High-temperature incineration biomedical aur hazardous waste ke pathogens ko destroy karta hai.

Q36 The Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment (1972) contains: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 6

  • A10 principles
  • B21 principles
  • C26 principles ✓ Correct
  • D40 principles
Answer: C — The Stockholm Declaration laid down 26 principles for global environmental protection.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Stockholm Declaration ne global environmental protection ke liye 26 principles diye the.

Q37 'Earth Hour', observed worldwide every March, is meant to: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 6

  • ACelebrate spring
  • BPromote energy saving and climate awareness ✓ Correct
  • CWatch the stars
  • DSave water
Answer: B — Earth Hour (WWF, since 2007): switch off lights 8:30–9:30 pm to signal climate action.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Earth Hour (WWF, 2007 se): climate action ke signal ke liye 8:30–9:30 pm lights off.

Q38 'Project Crocodile' for conserving the gharial was launched in India in: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 6

  • A1972
  • B1975 ✓ Correct
  • C1980
  • D1986
Answer: B — Project Crocodile (1975) with UNDP/FAO support revived gharial breeding centres.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Project Crocodile (1975) UNDP/FAO support se gharial breeding centres ko revive kiya.

Q39 The Khejarli sacrifice of 1730, when 363 people died protecting trees, was led by: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 6

  • ASunderlal Bahuguna
  • BAmrita Devi Bishnoi ✓ Correct
  • CMedha Patkar
  • DChandi Prasad Bhatt
Answer: B — Amrita Devi Bishnoi led Bishnois who hugged khejri trees against the Maharaja's men near Jodhpur.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Amrita Devi Bishnoi ne Bishnois ko lead kiya jinhone Jodhpur ke paas Maharaja ke aadmiyon ke against khejri trees ko hug kiya.

Q40 The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) added to the Constitution: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 6

  • ARight to education
  • BArticles 48A and 51A(g) on environment ✓ Correct
  • CRight to information
  • DGST provisions
Answer: B — 48A directs the State to protect the environment; 51A(g) makes it a citizen's duty.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

48A State ko environment protect karne ka nirdesh deta hai; 51A(g) ise citizen ka duty banata hai.

Q41 Joint Forest Management (JFM) in India involves: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 6

  • AOnly the forest department
  • BLocal communities managing forests with the forest department ✓ Correct
  • CPrivate companies only
  • DThe army
Answer: B — JFM (started 1990) shares forest protection duties and benefits with village committees.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

JFM (1990 se) village committees ke saath forest protection duties aur benefits share karta hai.

Q42 The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched on: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 6

  • A15 August 2014
  • B2 October 2014 ✓ Correct
  • C26 January 2015
  • D5 June 2016
Answer: B — Swachh Bharat Mission launched on 2 October 2014 (Gandhi Jayanti).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Swachh Bharat Mission 2 October 2014 (Gandhi Jayanti) ko launch hua.

Q43 Crude birth rate is measured as the number of live births per: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A100 population per year
  • B1000 population per year ✓ Correct
  • C10000 population per year
  • D1 lakh population per year
Answer: B — CBR = live births per 1000 mid-year population per year.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

CBR = per 1000 mid-year population per year live births.

Q44 The replacement-level total fertility rate (TFR) is: 🔥 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A1.5 children per woman
  • B2.1 children per woman ✓ Correct
  • C2.5 children per woman
  • D3.0 children per woman
Answer: B — TFR 2.1 replaces the parents' generation accounting for child mortality — the replacement level.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

TFR 2.1 child mortality ko account karke parents' generation ko replace karta hai — replacement level.

Q45 As per NFHS-5 (2019–21), India's total fertility rate is about: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A1.6
  • B2.0 ✓ Correct
  • C2.4
  • D2.8
Answer: B — NFHS-5 recorded TFR 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1, for the first time.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

NFHS-5 me TFR 2.0 record hua, pehli baar replacement level 2.1 se neeche.

Q46 The most populous state of India (Census 2011) is: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 7

  • AMaharashtra
  • BBihar
  • CUttar Pradesh ✓ Correct
  • DWest Bengal
Answer: C — Uttar Pradesh (~200 million) is India's most populous state.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Uttar Pradesh (~200 million) India ka sabse populous state hai.

Q47 The least populous state of India (Census 2011) is: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 7

  • AGoa
  • BSikkim ✓ Correct
  • CArunachal Pradesh
  • DMizoram
Answer: B — Sikkim (~610,000) is the least populous state; Lakshadweep is the smallest UT.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Sikkim (~610,000) sabse kam populous state hai; Lakshadweep sabse chhota UT hai.

Q48 World Population Day is observed every year on: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A5 June
  • B11 July ✓ Correct
  • C1 December
  • D10 December
Answer: B — 11 July marks the 1987 'Day of Five Billion' when world population hit 5 billion.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

11 July 1987 ke 'Day of Five Billion' ko mark karta hai jab world population 5 billion hui thi.

Q49 The demographic transition model describes the shift from: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 7

  • ARural to urban
  • BHigh birth and death rates to low birth and death rates ✓ Correct
  • CJoint to nuclear families
  • DFarming to industry
Answer: B — Societies move from Stage 1 (high births/deaths) to Stage 4 (low births/deaths).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Societies Stage 1 (high births/deaths) se Stage 4 (low births/deaths) ki taraf move karti hain.

Q50 The 'Day of Five Billion' (11 July 1987) is now observed as: ⭐ 1 mark · Unit 7

  • AEarth Day
  • BWorld Population Day ✓ Correct
  • CEnvironment Day
  • DOzone Day
Answer: B — When world population crossed 5 billion on 11 July 1987, the UN marked it as World Population Day.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Jab 11 July 1987 ko world population 5 billion cross hui, UN ne ise World Population Day mark kiya.