UPSC Ecology & Environmental Science Previous Year Questions – PYQs, Year Wise & Topic Wise

Ecology & Environmental Science

Ecology and its relevance to man

1. Define ecology. Mention its basic concepts and relevance in crop production. (20M, CSE 2021)
2. Establish the relationship between Nature, Indian culture and Indian agriculture. (8M, IFoS 2021)
3. List down the principles of ecology.(8M, IFoS 2021)
4. Describe Ecological principles for productive and sustainable agriculture (10M, 150W, CSE 2017)
5. How to develop productive and sustainable ecosystems. (10M, 150W, CSE 2014)
6. Ecological concept of productivity (20M, CSE 2014)
7. Define plant ecology. Discuss the role of auto toxicity in crop production. (60M, CSE 1997)
8. Short critical notes on Crop ecology (20M, 200W, CSE 1994)
9. What is ecosystem and its components? What adverse effects may occur if there is any disturbance to the ecosystem? (CSE 1993)
10. Eco-farming (200W, CSE 1990)

Natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation.

1. Give an account of agricultural practices affecting sustainability of natural resources. (8M, IFoS-2023)
2. Discuss the influences of human beings and natural resources on ecology and nature. (8M, IFoS-2022)
3. Classify various natural resources. Discuss the steps for long term conservation of natural resources. (20M, CSE 2022)
4. The major ways for sustainable management of natural resources. (10M, 150W, CSE 2021)
5. Short notes Conservation of natural resources (20M, 200W, CSE 2004)
6. Short critical notes Natural Resource Management (20M, 200W, CSE 2000)

Physical and social environment as factors of crop distribution and production.

1. Write down the physical environmental factors affecting the crop production. Discuss the effects of changing rainfall pattern on crop production in India. (20M, CSE 2024)
2. Illustrate with examples the abiotic components in the ecosystem that influence crop growth. (10M, IFoS 2020)
3. Indian farmers usually choose crops and their varieties based on their socio-economic aspects and resources at their disposal. Critically comment. (10M, 150W, CSE 2020)
4. Write different element of weather affecting crop production with suitable examples. (10M, 150W, CSE 2020)
5. Discuss the effect of environmental factors on crop distribution and production. (150W, 8M, IFoS-2018)
6. Define the theory of tolerance and relate it to the principle of plant distribution and adaptation (20M, CSE 2014)
7. Discuss the climatic parameters in relation to agro-ecosystem. What are the major threats to agro-ecosystem? (10M, 150W, CSE 2013)
8. Discuss Factors of production (15M, CSE 2007)
9. Short critical note on Cardinal temperature (20M, 200W, CSE 1999)
10. Cardinal temperature (200W, CSE 1995)

Agro ecology; cropping pattern as indicators of environments.

1. Briefly discuss the principles of agro-ecology. (10M, CSE 2024)
2. What do you understand by agroecology? How does Agroecology help in distribution and sustainable food production. (20M CSE 2023)
3. Discuss the impact of changing climate on cropping pattern and agriculture production. (150W, 8M, IFoS-2019)
4. Explain suitable agro-ecological management strategies (10M, CSE 2014)
5. Discuss the climatic parameters in relation to agro-ecosystem. What are the major threats to agro-ecosystem? (10M, 150W, CSE 2013)
6. Why are agro-ecosystems losing diversity? Give characteristics of crop land ecosystem (12M, 150W, CSE 2012)
7. Short note on Importance of agro-ecological factors in land use planning (15M, 150W, CSE 2011)

Environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals, and humans.

1. Give an elaborate account of agronomic practices for managing the problems of environmental pollution. (15M, IFoS-2023)
2. Describe concept of microbial consortia and its role in crop residue management. (10M CSE 2023)
3. Environmental pollution is hazardous to crops. Describe with examples. (15M, IFoS 2021)
4. Discuss the effect of environmental pollution on animals and humans. (8M, IFoS 2020)
5. Describe environment pollution. Write the role of afforestation in minimizing the effects of envi-ronmental pollution. (10M, CSE 2020)
6. Describe in-situ and ex-situ management of Paddy Crop residue (Parali) in India.(10M, 150W, CSE 2020)
7. Explain the effects of climate change on crop production (10M, CSE 2019)
8. Highlight the effects of environmental pollution on living beings. (10M, IFoS-2018)
9. Phyto stabilisation (10M, CSE 2016)
10. Elaborate the environmental pollutions along with the role of a forestation in minimizing their effects (20M, CSE 2015)
11. Environment pollution and its effect on crop productivity. (15M, CSE 2008)
12. Short note on modernisation in agriculture & environmental pollution (20M, 200W, CSE 2005)
13. Short notes on Environmental pollution hazards to crops (20M, 200W, CSE 2003)
14. Short critical notes on Environmental Pollution (20M, 200W, CSE 2000)
15. Discuss environmental pollution and its hazards to men, animals, and crops. Suggest concrete measures to mitigate it in a developing country like India. (60M, CSE 1999).

Climate change – International conventions and global initiatives.

1. Discuss response of crop plants to rising temperature and carbon dioxide levels in relation to climate change, with suitable examples. (10M 150W CSE 2023)
2. Explain the agronomic approaches to reduce the impact of climate change on crops. (15M, IFoS-2022)
3. Discuss various international conventions and recent global initiatives pertaining to climate change. (10M, CSE 2021)
4. Discuss the impact of climate change on livestock and fisheries. (8M, IFoS 2020)
5. What are the effects of ozone layer depletion? (10M, CSE 2019)
6. Discuss the global initiatives and international conventions on climate change. What does NICRA stand for? What are the initiatives taken by the Indian Government in this regard? (20M, CSE 2017, 2016)
7. Explain Indian efforts towards environmental problem at international level (10M, 150W, CSE 2014)
8. What are the impacts of climatic change in agriculture? How can the impacts be mitigated in crop environment? (20M, 250W, CSE 2013)
9. Bring out the possible impact of climate change on Indian agriculture. What are the possible mitigation options? Comment on any National and or International Regulatory Mechanisms in this regard? (60M, CSE 2010)

Greenhouse effect and global warming.

1. 1. “Global warming is due to human activities.” Justify the statement with appropriate examples. (15M, IFoS-2022)
2. What is greenhouse effect? Write in detail about various greenhouse gases and their impact on crop production. (20M, CSE 2021)
3. Explain EI-Nino effect. Give causes and its impact on Indian Agriculture. (10M, CSE 2020)
4. What do you mean by carbon sequestration? Give the role of cropping systems for improving c-sequestration. (10M, CSE 2019)
5. Describe Global warming and its impact on crop productivity (10M, 150W, CSE 2018)
6. Explain green-house effect and sources of their emission. (10M, IFoS-2018)
7. Describe Greenhouse effect and global warming (10M, 150W, CSE 2017)
8. Greenhouse gases (GHG), their effects on crop production and possible remedial measures. (200W,10M, IFoS-2016)
9. Explain El Nino effect, its causes and impact on Indian agriculture (15M, CSE 2015)
10. What is greenhouse effect? Discuss the impact of global warming in agriculture. (10M, IFoS-2014)
11. What are the major causes of global warming? (10M, 150W, CSE 2014)
12. Short notes Greenhouse effect and global warming (10M,150W, CSE 2013)
13. Enlist important greenhouse gases. How can agriculture affect climate change? Describe the importance of carbon sequestration. (40M, CSE 2011)
14. Cyclonic storms in India (200W, CSE 1989)

Advance tools for ecosystem analysis – Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

1. Discuss the Remote sensing system used for ecosystem analysis. Briefly discuss the use of Remote sensing for drought monitoring. (20M, CSE 2024)
2. Give brief note on GIS based soil mapping and yield monitoring. (10M CSE 2023)
3. Write about various tools used in proximal and remote sensing. (10M CSE 2023)
4. What is “Geographical Information System” (GIS)? Discuss its elements and prospects in agriculture. (10M, CSE 2022)
5. Enumerate the applications of remote sensing in agriculture. (10M, IFoS 2020)
6. Discuss the utility of Remote Sensing in context of Indian Agriculture (10M, CSE 2018)
7. Describe the utility of remote sensing and GIS in forest plantation (10M, CSE 2017)
8. What do you mean by the terms remote sensing and GIS? What are their applications in agriculture and forestry? (10M, CSE 2016)
9. What is remote sensing? How can we use it in agriculture? (10M, 150W, CSE 2013)
10. Comment on the use of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) in agricultural planning (15M, CSE 2010)