Consider the following statements: Statement 1. The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World. Statement 2. Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct but Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1

(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is not correct

Prelims · Environment & ecology · 37 questions

Environmental laws, bodies & conventions

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Asked in 11 of 11 years · most in 2019 (6)

UPSC syllabus: “General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2021 · Q16

Medium

'R2 Code of Practices' constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry

R2 stands for 'Responsible Recycling', a certification standard for electronics recyclers. Recyclers audited against it show that they handle used electronics and e-waste safely for the environment, workers and data security.

✓ (a) The R2 (Responsible Recycling) Standard is one of two accredited certification standards the US Environmental Protection Agency recognises for electronics recyclers.
✗ (b) Ramsar sites are managed under the Ramsar Convention's own guidance, such as the Montreux Record; R2 has nothing to do with wetlands.
✗ (d) Environmental Impact Assessment is a separate regulatory process for projects, not the R2 recycling code.

Remember · R2 = Responsible Recycling, a voluntary certification for electronics (e-waste) recyclers; its main counterpart is the e-Stewards standard.

Sources

US Environmental Protection Agency, Certified Electronics Recyclers ↗ “Currently two accredited certification standards exist: the Responsible Recycling ("R2") Standard for Electronics Recyclers … Both programs advance best management practices and offer a way to assess the environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices of entities managing used electronics.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2021 · Q24

Medium

With reference to the 'New York Declaration on Forests', which of the following statements are correct?

1.It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2.It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3.It is a legally binding international declaration.
4.It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5.India was one of the signatories at its inception.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4

The New York Declaration on Forests was launched at the UN Secretary-General's Climate Summit in New York on 23 September 2014. It is a voluntary political pledge, not a treaty, signed by a mixed coalition of governments, companies, NGOs and indigenous peoples' groups, with the shared goal of ending natural forest loss by 2030. India is not among its endorsers.

✓ 1. It was endorsed on 23 September 2014 at the Climate Summit convened in New York by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
✓ 2. Its headline goals are to halve natural forest loss by 2020 and end it by 2030, alongside restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land.
✗ 3. It is a voluntary political declaration; it creates no legal obligations.
✓ 4. The launch coalition included 32 national governments, 18 sub-national governments, 40 companies, 16 indigenous peoples' groups and 49 NGOs and civil-society bodies.
✗ 5. India does not appear on the list of national government endorsers, either in 2014 or later.

Remember · NYDF (2014, UN Climate Summit, New York): voluntary, multi-stakeholder; end natural forest loss by 2030, restore 350 million ha. India has not endorsed it.

Sources

Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (World Bank), UNSG 2014 Climate Summit ↗ · reference work “On September 23, 2014 , at the Climate Summit in New York, a coalition of over 150, including 32 national governments, 18 sub-national governments, 40 companies, 16 Indigenous Peoples groups, and 49 NGOs/CSOs, endorsed the New York Declaration on Forests with the shared goal of ending natural forest loss by 2030.”
Forest Declaration Assessment, What is the New York Declaration on Forests? ↗ · reference work “The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder political declaration calling for global action to protect, restore, and sustainably manage the world’s forests.”
Forest Declaration Assessment, NYDF Endorsers (national governments list) ↗ · reference work “Guyana 2014 Indonesia 2014 Japan 2014 Kenya 2014 Republic of Korea 2014”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2021 · Q29

Medium

The 'Common Carbon Metric', supported by UNEP, has been developed for

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world

The Common Carbon Metric (2009) is a UNEP-backed method for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of buildings, so that the carbon footprint of buildings anywhere can be assessed and compared on the same basis. It has nothing to do with farm carbon trading or national inventories.

✓ (a) Its full title is the 'Common carbon metric for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from building operations', published by UNEP in 2009 through its Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative.
✗ (c) National emissions are reported through greenhouse gas inventories under the UNFCCC, not through this building-level metric.
✗ (d) The metric measures individual buildings' operational emissions, not global fossil-fuel emissions per unit time.

Remember · UNEP's Common Carbon Metric (2009) = a universal way to measure the operational carbon footprint of buildings (energy use and emissions per square metre or per occupant).

Sources

UNEP Knowledge Repository, Common carbon metric for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from building operations (2009) ↗ “Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme, this new 'Common Carbon Metric' will allow emissions from buildings around the world to be consistently assessed and compared, and improvements measured.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2021 · Q84

Easy

At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Section 11 of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 names the Central Government's Ministry dealing with Tribal Affairs as the nodal agency for implementing the Act. So it is the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, not the environment ministry, even though the Act concerns forest land.

✓ (d) The Act itself makes the Ministry of the Central Government dealing with Tribal Affairs the nodal agency for its implementation.
✗ (a) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change manages forest and wildlife laws, and it is the tempting wrong answer. It is not the nodal agency for this Act.
✗ (b) The Ministry of Panchayati Raj deals with local-government institutions, not the Forest Rights Act.
✗ (c) The Ministry of Rural Development runs rural livelihood and housing schemes, not this Act.

Remember · Forest Rights Act, 2006: Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency (Section 11); Gram Sabha starts the recognition of rights.

Sources

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, Section 11 (legislative.gov.in, archived copy) ↗ “The Ministry of the Central Government dealing with Tribal Affairs or any officer or authority authorised by the Central Government in this behalf shall be the nodal agency for the implementation of the provisions of this Act.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2021 · Q97

Medium

Consider the following statements:

Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World.
Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct

Statement 1 is wrong because the 'Tree Cities of the World' recognition is given by the Arbor Day Foundation together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), not the UN Capital Development Fund. Statement 2 is correct: Hyderabad was among the 120 cities recognised for 2020 for meeting the programme's urban-forest standards.

✗ Statement 1 The programme is a partnership of FAO and the Arbor Day Foundation, launched in 2019. UNCDF, which is a UN fund for least developed countries' finance, has no role in it, so naming it makes the statement wrong although Hyderabad and the Arbor Day Foundation are right.
✓ Statement 2 Hyderabad was one of 120 cities in 23 countries recognised for 2020. Each city has to meet five qualifying standards on managing and celebrating its urban forests.

Remember · Tree Cities of the World = FAO + Arbor Day Foundation (from 2019). Hyderabad was recognised for 2020. The UN Capital Development Fund is not involved.

Sources

FAO newsroom, 'The Arbor Day Foundation and FAO recognise 120 Tree Cities of the World' (30 March 2021) ↗ “The Tree Cities of the World programme is a partnership of FAO and the Arbor Day Foundation, launched in 2019. … A total of 120 cities from 23 countries earned this international designation in 2020, including Toronto, Canada; New York, USA; Guadalajara, Mexico; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Campo Grande, Brazil; Hyderabad, India; and Kampala, Uganda. … To earn this recognition, each of these cities demonstrated its commitment to trees and forestry by meeting five qualifying standards related to the management and celebration of urban forests.”
UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF): Who we are ↗ · reference work “Established by the United Nations in 1966, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) helps unlock finance in Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, and fragile settings, where risks are high and capital is scarce.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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