Environmental Acts Policies Conventions MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Environmental Acts Policies Conventions - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Both I and II.

Key Points

• The National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem is handled by the Department of Science and Technology which is within the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change is under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Hence, Option 1)- Both I and II are the correct answer.

Additional Information

• National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem
  • This Mission was launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with a budget outlay of Rs. 550 crore during the XII Five Year Plan period.
  • The primary objective of the Mission is - to develop in a time-bound manner a sustainable national capacity to continuously assess the health status of the Himalayan Ecosystem, to enable policy bodies in their policy-formulation functions, and to assist States in the Indian Himalayan Region with the implementation of actions selected for sustainable development.
  • The NAPCC comprises eight National Missions. These are:- 1) National Solar Mission, 2) National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, 3) National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, 4) National Water Mission, 5) National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system, 6) National Mission for a Green India, 7) National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and 8) National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
  • The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC), under the NAPCC promotes research, knowledge generation, and capacity building relating to climate science.
  • The mission has been revised to align its objectives and priorities with the commitments of the country.
  • Several inter-connected objectives are sought to be addressed including developing knowledge infrastructure, data sharing, technology solutions, institutional connectedness, capacity building, and Mission mode programs.

The correct answer is Bamboo.

• The plant excluded from the list of trees in the Indian Forest (Amendment) Act 2017 is Bamboo.
• The Parliament cleared the bill to exclude bamboo from the definition of a tree under the Indian Forest Act in 2017.
• The government stated that it would improve the earnings of tribals and dwellers living around forests.
• As per data of NITI Aayog, bamboo resources in the country has the potential to generate economic activities worth Rs 50,000 crore.
• Bamboo is considered as the tallest grass hence it does not come under the definition of The Indian Forest Act 1927.

Additional Information

• Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under bamboo forests.
• The North-Eastern States are considered as storehouses of bamboo diversity.
• National Bamboo Mission was launched in India in 2007.

The correct answer is 1972.

Key Points

• The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for the protection of plants and animal species.
• Before 1972, India had only five designated national parks.
• According to this Act, hunting, harvesting, and harming of animals is strictly prohibited. It also imposed restrictions on harvesting forest resources.
• This Act provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds, and plant species, in order to ensure environmental and ecological security.
• Among other things, the Act lays down restrictions on hunting many animal species. The Act was last amended in the year 2006.

​Constitutional Provisions for the Wildlife Act :

• ​Article 48A of the Constitution of India directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard wildlife and forests. This article was added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.
• Article 51A imposes certain fundamental duties for the people of India. One of them is to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

Additional Information

History of wildlife protection legislation in India:

• ​The first such law was passed by the British Indian Government in 1887 called the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1887. The law sought to prohibit the possession and sale of specified wild birds that were either killed or captured during a breeding session.
• A second law was enacted in 1912 called the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act. This was amended in 1935 when the Wild Birds and Animals Protection (Amendment) Act 1935 was passed.
• During the British Raj, wildlife protection was not accorded a priority. It was only in 1960 that the issue of protection of wildlife and the prevention of certain species from becoming extinct came to the fore.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• Rajaji National Park was included in the Project Tiger scheme in 2015. Hence, option 2 is correct.
• Project Tiger is a tiger conservation program initiated by the Government of India in 1973 to protect the Bengal tiger and its habitat.
• Rajaji National Park, located in the Shivalik foothills of Uttarakhand, is an important tiger habitat, and its inclusion helped strengthen conservation efforts.

The correct answer is 1986.

Key Points

• The Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986 under the Government of India.
• It was enacted in response to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984, which highlighted the need for comprehensive environmental legislation.
• The Act provides a framework for the protection and improvement of the environment across India.
• Under Section 3, the Central Government has the power to take measures to protect and improve the environment and prevent pollution.
• The Act also empowers the government to set standards for emissions and discharges of pollutants into the environment.

Additional Information

• Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Occurred in December 1984 when methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant, causing one of the world's worst industrial disasters.
• Environmental Pollutants: Defined under the Act as any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance present in such concentration that may be injurious to the environment.
• Penalties: The Environment Protection Act prescribes penalties for non-compliance, including imprisonment up to five years or fines up to ₹1 lakh, or both.
• Environmental Standards: The Act provides the authority to set standards for air, water, and soil quality to ensure environmental safety.
• Significance: The Act is a cornerstone of environmental protection in India and serves as a legal basis for several rules, including hazardous waste management and pollution control measures.

The correct answer is 1980.

Key Points

• The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 was passed to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto.
• Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for the diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
• The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 was further amended in 1988.

Additional Information 

• The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in the year 1986.
• The main objective of this act is to provide the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected therewith.
• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for the protection of plants and animal species.
• Constitutional provisions of Forest Conservation:
  • Article 48-A of the Indian Constitution deals with protection and improvement of the environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife - the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
  • Clause g of Article 51 A of the Indian Constitution says that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

The environment protection act was passed by the parliament of India in 1986.

• Under Article 253 of the constitution.
• It came into force on 19 November 1986.
• The purpose of this act was to implement the decisions of the UN conference on the Human Environment.

Key Points

• Environment Protection Act, 1986 Act of the Parliament of India.
  • In the wake of the Bhopal gas Tragedy or Bhopal Disaster, the [Government of India] enacted the Environment Protection Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution.
    • Passed in March 1986, it came into force on 19 November 1986.
    • It has 26 sections and 4 chapters.
    • The Environmental (Protection) Act was enacted in 1986 was never amended.

Additional Information

• The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.
  • They relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
  • The Act is an “umbrella” legislation designed to provide a framework for central government coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous laws, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.

Other important acts by the Indian government for Environmental protection:

• Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.
• Biological diversity Act 2002.
• Recycled Plastics, Plastics manufacturing and usage Rules, 1999
• Construction and Demolition waste Management Rules, 2016.

The correct answer is 89.

Important Points As of February 2025, India has 89 Ramsar Sites—wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention. Notably, Tamil Nadu leads with 20 Ramsar Sites, the highest among Indian states.

Key Points

• Tamil Nadu has the most Ramsar sites in India, with 20 sites, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10 sites
• India signed the Ramsar Convention in 1982.

Additional Information

• ​The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty for “the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands”.
• It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
• It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran where it was signed on the 2nd of February 1971.
• The 2nd of February each year is World Wetlands Day.
• The number of parties to the convention is 172 (as of March 2022).
• At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use” of wetlands.
• Wise use: maintenance of ecological character within the context of sustainable development.

The Correct answer is Global Warming.

Important Points

• The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.
• There are currently 192 parties (Canada withdrew from the protocol, effective December 2012) to the Protocol.
• The Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to reduce the onset of global warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to "a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" (Article 2).
• The Kyoto Protocol applies to the six greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
• The Protocol is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. 
• it acknowledges that individual countries have different capabilities in combating climate change, owing to economic development, and therefore puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 

The correct answer is 1988.

• The national forest policy in India is launched to bring a minimum of one-third of India’s total geographical area under forest or tree cover.
• The first edition of national forest policy in India took effect in 1952.
• India launched its second edition of national forest policy in 1988.
  • The national forest policy 1988 aims the maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and restoration of ecological balance.
• The national forest policy in 1988 is now replaced by the draft national forest policy 2018.
• The new draft national forest policy 2018 was launched in March 2018.
  • The new policy focuses on the international challenge of climate change.
  • It was published by the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change.
• Prakash Javadekar is the current minister responsible for the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change.
• The wildlife protection act in India was enacted in 1972.
• The forest conservation act in India was enacted in 1980.
• The environment protection act India was enacted in 1986.

The correct answer is conservation of endangered plants and animals.

Key Points

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES):-
  •   In order to regulate international trade in endangered species of Wild Life, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) was signed in March 1973.

  Additional Information

CITES was conceptualized in 1963 at a meeting of the (IUCN) International Union For Conservation Of Nature.

• It came into force in 1975 and consists of 183 member countries to date that abide by CITES regulations by implementing legislation within their own borders to enforce those regulations.
• Located in Geneva, Switzerland, the CITES is administered by the United Nations under its UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Wing.
• The Convention of Parties to CITES is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention and comprises all its Parties.
• The last CoP (18th) was held in Geneva, Switzerland 17 - 28 August 2019.
  • India hosted CoP (3rd) in 1981.
• Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws.
• Rather, it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

The correct answer is Flipflopi.

Key Points

• Flipflopi the world’s first sailing boat made entirely from plastic waste, aims to raise people’s awareness of plastic pollution in oceans.
• Flip-flops were collected from beaches and towns on the Kenyan coast.
• The Flip Flop project is a positive African plastic revolution.
• The Flipflopi is a Kenyan community-built boat constructed from recycled marine plastic and flip-flops.
• The project calls for a plastic revolution and raises awareness of the dangers of single-use plastic, of which 12 million tonnes are dumped at sea every year rather than repurposed or recycled.

Additional Information

• Africa is the continent that has taken the most national measures against the use and production of plastic bags.
• Out of 54countries, 24 have voted for a total or partial ban on plastic bags.
• By 2018, 58% of them had implemented these bans, although in practice in many countries major difficulties persist in complying with these bans.

The correct answer is Greenhouse Gases.

Confusion Points

• Kyoto Protocol: To limit and reduce Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.
• Montreal Protocol: For reduction on substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
• Climate change is a holistic approach that includes Ozone depletion, Glacier melt, GHG emission, amongst others.

Key Points

• Kyoto Protocol
  • It is related to Greenhouse Gases.
  • In 1997, third meeting of the UNFCC nations (also known as the Conference of Parties/COP 3) the legally binding targets were approved by different countries. They came to be known as the Kyoto Protocol.
  • The mechanisms proposed by Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions included Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM), and Emissions Trading.
  • It is considered to be one of the most important steps despite its late acceptance for it paved the way for further negotiations through legally binding targets for Annex I countries and the establishment of carbon markets.
  • Kyoto protocol wants the Industrialised nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emission by around 5.2% by 2012. (measured against 1990 levels)
  • Kyoto protocol only required wealthy nations to cut emissions, which was a bone of contention; however, this anomaly was corrected with the signing of the Paris agreement in 2015.

Additional Information

• The United Nations Climate Change Conferences are yearly conferences held in the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 
• The first UNFCCC Conference of the Parties took place from 28 March to 7 April 1995 in Berlin, Germany.

The correct answer is Wetland Conservation

Key Points:

• Ramsar Convention was signed in 1971 in the Ramsar city of Iran.
• It is an international treaty for 'conservation and sustainable use of wetlands' and is hence also known as the Convention on Wetlands.
• As of now, there are 80 Ramsar sites in India.
• Recently in 2024 five new Ramsar sites were included in India.

Additional Information 

Montreux Record

• Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Currently, two wetlands of India are in Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Chilika Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but was later removed from it.

Ramsar sites

• Sundarban Wetland is the largest Ramsar site in India.
• Renuka Wetland of Himachal Pradesh is the smallest wetland site in India.
• Tamilnadu is the state with the highest number of Ramsar Sites in India, i.e 14. 

Important Points

•  India adds 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites to make total 75 Ramsar sites covering an area of 13,26,677 ha in the country in the 75th year of Independence. 
• The 11 new sites include:  Four (4) sites in Tamil Nadu, Three (3) in Odisha, Two (2) in Jammu & Kashmir and One (1) each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
•  Designation of these sites would help in conservation and management of wetlands and wise use of their resources.

The Correct Answer is to reduce global warming.
Key Points

Kyoto Protocol

• The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the UNFCCC.
• It commits its parties internationally binding emission reduction targets.
• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan in 1997 and came into force in 2005.

 Important Points

• It recognized that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.
• The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP-7 in Marrakesh, in 2001 and are referred to as the Marrakesh Accords.
• Kyoto Protocol Phase-1 (2005-12) gave the target of cutting down emissions by 5%.
• Phase- 2 (2013-20) gave the target of reducing emissions by at least 18% by the industrialized countries.