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 2020: 12 questions
All years →- Q48 · Pollution & wasteWhich of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? Automobile exhaust Tobacco smoke Wood burning Using varnished wooden furniture Using products made of polyurethane…
- Q72 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWith reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: The leader of an elephant group is a female. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. An elephant can normally go on calvin…
- Q73 · Protected areas & conservationWhich of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? Nagarhole National Park Papikonda National Park Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary…
- Q74 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWith reference to India's biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are…
- Q75 · Protected areas & conservationWhich one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?…
- Q77 · Biodiversity, plants & animalsWhich of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? Askot Wildlife Sanctuary Gangotri National Park Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary Manas National Park…
- Q79 · Pollution & wasteConsider the following statements: Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment. High ash content is observe…
- Q81 · Environmental laws, bodies & conventionsIf a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?…
- Q85 · Climate change & agreementsWhich one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the…
- Q95 · Protected areas & conservationWith reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? It is spread over two districts. There is no human habitation inside the Park. It is one of the natural h…
- Q98 · Environmental laws, bodies & conventionsConsider the following statements: 36% of India's districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protect…
- Q100 · Protected areas & conservationAmong the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?…
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.
