Prelims GS I · 245 questions · 2011–2026
Environment & ecology: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Environment & ecology in Prelims 2015: 15 questions
All years →- Q9 · Protected areas & conservationWhich of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?…
- Q12 · Environmental laws, bodies & conventionsWith reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which…
- Q18 · Pollution & wasteWith reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct? Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction…
- Q19 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWith reference to 'dugong', a mammal found in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a herbivorous marine animal. It is found along the entire coast of India. It is given legal…
- Q25 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWhich one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?…
- Q40 · Environmental laws, bodies & conventionsWhich one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting substances?…
- Q43 · Climate change & agreementsWhat is Rio+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?…
- Q49 · Climate change & agreementsWhich of the following statements regarding 'Green Climate Fund' is/are correct? It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. It …
- Q52 · Protected areas & conservationWhich one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?…
- Q56 · Climate change & agreements'BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes' is managed by the…
- Q63 · Environmental laws, bodies & conventionsThe Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the…
- Q74 · Climate change & agreementsWith reference to 'Forest Carbon Partnership Facility', which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous peoples. I…
- Q76 · Environmental laws, bodies & conventionsWith reference to an organization known as 'BirdLife International', which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations. The concept of 'biodive…
- Q84 · Ecology & ecosystemsWhich one of the following is the best description of the term 'ecosystem'?…
- Q93 · Pollution & wasteWith reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements: The decomposition of human waste in the bio-toilets is initiated by a fungal inoculum. Ammonia and water v…
Environment & ecology in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 245 questions on Environment & ecology in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 15 a year, the most in 2014 (23). The most-asked topic is Biodiversity, plants & animals (62 questions).
| Year | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 16 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- Biodiversity, plants & animals62 questions · asked in 15 of 16 years
- Pollution & waste43 questions · asked in 15 of 16 years
- Climate change & agreements40 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- Environmental laws, bodies & conventions40 questions · asked in 15 of 16 years
- Ecology & ecosystems33 questions · asked in 11 of 16 years
- Protected areas & conservation27 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q21 · Climate change & agreementsConsider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change: I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool…
- 2026 · Q22 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWith respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?…
- 2026 · Q23 · Ecology & ecosystemsWhich of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?…
- 2026 · Q27 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWhich of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?…
- 2026 · Q32 · Protected areas & conservationWith reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Environment & ecology. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
Environment & ecology PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Environment & ecology question from 2011 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 120 pages. Free; sign up once.
Environment & ecology PYQs: quick answers
How many Environment & ecology questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2011 to 2026?
245 questions in GS Paper I — about 15 a year, the most in 2014 (23). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Environment & ecology topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
Biodiversity, plants & animals: 62 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 15 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Environment & ecology PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Environment & ecology question with answers and explanations (120 pages, 2.4 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.
