List of top Environmental Management & Sustainable Development Questions asked in GATE ES

As per the United Nations agenda for sustainable development adopted in September 2015, the number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) _____ are year to achieve them is and the proposed target year to achieve them is ______.

As per the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) guidelines 2004, the maximum size of microplastics is ________.

Based on the ISO 14040 methodology for Life Cycle Assessment, match the terms with the descriptions in the table.

Term	Description
(a) Goal and Scope	(i) Based on the product or system, the comparative unit must be carefully defined and be same for all scenarios
(b) Functional Unit	(ii) The problem is described, and the objective of the study are defined
(c) Life Cycle Inventory	(iii) Evaluates the environmental implications due to the inventorized emissions
(d) Impact Assessment	(iii)  Process based approach and input-output approach

The correct match(es) is/are

Read the following statements about aerobic composting of organic fraction of municipal solid waste:
I. The majority of the odour problem in an aerobic composting process is due to the development of anaerobic conditions within the compost pile.
II. All organic carbon present in the waste will completely biodegrade in 14 days.
III. At high C/N ratio, ammonia would be released and biological activity may also be impeded.
IV. Optimum moisture content for aerobic composting process would be 50–60%. Lower moisture would slow down the biological process. Excessive moisture will make it difficult to maintain aerobic conditions.
The correct choice(s) is/are:

Products P and Q have life cycle phases of material extraction, production, use, and end of life disposal. CH$_4$, CO$_2$ emissions and mass used per functional unit (f.u.) from the different phases of the products are given in the following tables. Product P \[ \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline \text{Phase} & \text{CO$_2$ emissions (kg/tonne)} & \text{CH$_4$ emissions (kg/tonne)} & \text{Mass (tonne/f.u.)} \\ \hline \text{Material Extraction} & 1.0 & 0.75 & 4.0 \\ \text{Production} & 1.5 & 1.0 & 2.0 \\ \text{Use} & 0.5 & 0.0 & 1.0 \\ \text{End of life disposal} & 1.0 & 0.25 & 1.0 \\ \hline \end{array} \] Product Q \[ \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline \text{Phase} & \text{CO$_2$ emissions (kg/tonne)} & \text{CH$_4$ emissions (kg/tonne)} & \text{Mass (tonne/f.u.)} \\ \hline \text{Material Extraction} & 0.75 & 0.75 & 3.0 \\ \text{Production} & 0.25 & 1.0 & 2.5 \\ \text{Use} & 0.0 & 0.5 & 0.75 \\ \text{End of life disposal} & 2.0 & 0.0 & 0.75 \\ \hline \end{array} \] Given: Global warming potential (GWP) of CH$_4$ = 23 kg CO$_2$ equivalent per kg of CH$_4$.

Which of the following statements is/are NOT true?

Read the following statements:
I. In environmental laws, the polluter pays principle is enacted to make the polluter responsible for paying for the damage done to the natural environment.
II. The precautionary principle emphasizes caution, pausing and review before going for an innovation that may prove disastrous.
III. The precautionary principle is often used by policy makers in situations where there is the possibility of harm from making a certain decision and conclusive evidence is not yet available.
The correct choice is:

For the following major Indian environmental acts, the correct chronological order (oldest to latest of their enactment) is:
(i) Environmental Protection Act
(ii) Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
(iii) Air Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
(iv) The National Green Tribunal Act