1. · Paper Q7 · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution Discuss how the contradiction between 'rapid infrastructure development' and 'disaster-risk reduction' in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examples. View answer → Download PDF
2. · Paper Q8 · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution Discuss the aim and goals of Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework. Mention India's commitments and initiatives to achieve the goals and targets of this framework giving suitable examples. View answer → Download PDF
3. · Paper Q18 · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution "Community participation is the cornerstone of effective disaster management." Analyse this statement with suitable examples from India. Also discuss the challenges to community participation and measures to strengthen it. View answer → Download PDF
4. · Paper Q7 · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change? View answer → Download PDF
5. · Paper Q8 · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution Seawater intrusion in the coastal aquifers is a major concern in India. What are the causes of seawater intrusion and the remedial measures to combat this hazard? View answer → Download PDF
6. · Paper Q13 · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater? View answer → Download PDF
7. · Paper Q17 · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining. View answer → Download PDF
8. · Paper Q18 · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution Write a review on India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022? View answer → Download PDF
9. · Paper Q7 · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution Industrial pollution of river water is a significant environmental issue in India. Discuss the various mitigation measures to deal with this problem and also the government's initiative in this regard. View answer → Download PDF
10. · Paper Q8 · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details. View answer → Download PDF
11. · Paper Q17 · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). View answer → Download PDF
12. · Paper Q18 · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods. View answer → Download PDF
13. · Paper Q8 · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution What is oil pollution? What are its impacts on the marine ecosystem? In what way is oil pollution particularly harmful for a country like India? View answer → Download PDF
14. · Paper Q15 · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution The adoption of electric vehicles is rapidly growing worldwide. How do electric vehicles contribute to reducing carbon emissions and what are the key benefits they offer compared to traditional combustion engine vehicles? View answer → Download PDF
15. · Paper Q17 · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution Comment on the National Wetland Conservation Programme initiated by the Government of India and name a few India's wetlands of international importance included in the Ramsar Sites. View answer → Download PDF
16. · Paper Q18 · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? View answer → Download PDF
17. · Paper Q6 · 2022 · 10 marks · Solution Each year a large amount of plant material, cellulose, is deposited on the surface of Planet Earth. What are the natural processes this cellulose undergoes before yielding carbon dioxide, water and other end products ? View answer → Download PDF
18. · Paper Q17 · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. View answer → Download PDF
19. · Paper Q6 · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) ? View answer → Download PDF
20. · Paper Q8 · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. View answer → Download PDF
21. · Paper Q17 · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? View answer → Download PDF
22. · Paper Q7 · 2020 · 10 marks · Solution How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? View answer → Download PDF
23. · Paper Q8 · 2020 · 10 marks · Solution What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? View answer → Download PDF
24. · Paper Q18 · 2020 · 15 marks · Solution Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. View answer → Download PDF
25. · Paper Q7 · 2019 · 10 marks · Solution Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyze the impact of sand mining along the Indians coasts, citing specific examples. View answer → Download PDF
26. · Paper Q8 · 2019 · 10 marks · Solution Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. View answer → Download PDF
27. · Paper Q17 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. View answer → Download PDF
28. · Paper Q18 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides. View answer → Download PDF
29. · Paper Q6 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (150 Words, 10 Marks). View answer → Download PDF
30. · Paper Q7 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of 'wise use' in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. (150 Words, 10 Marks). View answer → Download PDF
31. · Paper Q17 · 2018 · 15 marks · Solution How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (250 Words, 15 Marks). View answer → Download PDF
32. · Paper Q18 · 2018 · 15 marks · Solution Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing 'Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)'. How is this framework different from 'Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005'? (250 Words, 15 Marks). View answer → Download PDF
33. · Paper Q8 · 2017 · 10 marks · Solution Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment. View answer → Download PDF
34. · Paper Q17 · 2017 · 15 marks · Solution 'Climate Change' is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? View answer → Download PDF
35. · Paper Q14 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects. View answer → Download PDF
36. · Paper Q15 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods, highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. View answer → Download PDF
37. · Paper Q16 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand. View answer → Download PDF
