UPSC Prelims 2016 Question Paper
Explore the complete solved question paper for UPSC Prelims 2016 featuring 100 solved questions with bilingual (English & Hindi) explanations, official answer key, and subject weightage breakdown.
What is ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol’?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the most widely used global framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), it provides standardized methods for organizations and governments to account for their carbon footprint. It is not a UN financial initiative, not a legally binding intergovernmental agreement, and not related to REDD+ initiatives hosted by the World Bank.
Which of the following best describes the aim of ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India?
- Incorporating environment benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the ‘green accounting’.
- Launching the second green revolution to enhance agriculture output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future.
- Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Green accounting refers to incorporating environmental costs and benefits into national budgets, which is a separate economic initiative. The Green India Mission does not aim at implementing green accounting in Union and State budgets.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Second Green Revolution focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity and food security. The Green India Mission, part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), specifically targets forestry and forest cover, not agricultural output.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The National Mission for a Green India (GIM) aims to protect, restore, and enhance India's forest cover while responding to climate change through adaptation and mitigation measures. It targets increasing forest cover on 5 million hectares and improving quality on another 5 million hectares, thereby enhancing ecosystem services including carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.
Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?
- The river basin is the unit of planning and management.
- It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
- One of the Chief Ministers of the State through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on a rotation basis.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: NGRBA adopts the river basin as the unit of planning and management, moving away from fragmented state-wise approaches to a holistic basin-level conservation strategy.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: NGRBA was established to spearhead river conservation efforts at the national level for the Ganga. It functions as the apex planning, financing, monitoring, and coordinating authority for Ganga rejuvenation.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Prime Minister of India serves as the Chairman of NGRBA, not Chief Ministers on rotation. Chief Ministers of Ganga basin states are members of the Authority along with relevant Union Cabinet Ministers.
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In which of the following regions of India are you most likely to come across the ‘Great Indian Hornbill’ in its natural habitat?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Western Ghats
The Great Indian Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) is a large frugivorous bird native to the dense evergreen and moist deciduous forests of India. Its natural habitat in India is primarily concentrated in the Western Ghats, where it thrives in the tropical rainforests with abundant fruit-bearing trees. The bird is also found in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northeastern states, but among the given options, the Western Ghats is the correct answer. The species requires tall trees for nesting and roosting, making the sand deserts of northwest India, higher cold Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, and salt marshes of Gujarat unsuitable habitats. It is listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting pressure.
The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contribution’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change.
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) are voluntary climate action plans submitted by countries before the Paris Agreement (2015). Each nation outlined its intended contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy, and adapt to climate impacts based on its national circumstances and capabilities. Once countries ratified the Paris Agreement, these INDCs became Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — the cornerstone of the global climate framework. They follow a bottom-up approach where countries independently determine their targets rather than having them imposed internationally.
Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following State has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Maharashtra
Maharashtra became the first state in India to declare a state butterfly in 2015. The state designated the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as its official butterfly. The Blue Mormon is a large, striking butterfly with black velvet wings adorned with bright blue spots, found in the Western Ghats and other forested regions of the state. This declaration was part of Maharashtra's biodiversity conservation efforts to raise awareness about native species.
With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
- The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 degrees C or even 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.
- Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015 and signed in April 2016, but it entered into force on November 4, 2016 (not 2017) after 55 countries representing at least 55% of global emissions ratified it. Moreover, it was not signed by all UN member countries.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Paris Agreement's central aim is to strengthen the global response to climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: While developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility under the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), the financial commitment was $100 billion per year by 2020, not $1000 billion.
‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to -
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Protection of Western Ghats
Both the Gadgil Committee Report (2011) and Kasturirangan Committee Report (2012) are specifically related to the conservation and protection of the Western Ghats, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel) recommended declaring the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) with strict environmental regulations. However, facing resistance from state governments, the Kasturirangan Committee was formed to review these recommendations. It proposed a more moderate approach, designating only 37% of the Western Ghats as ESA, focusing on forested and uninhabited areas while allowing regulated development in other regions. Both reports address the balance between ecological conservation and developmental needs in the Western Ghats region.
Consider the following statements:
- The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
- The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 only
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched by India and France on November 30, 2015, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris. The Alliance aims to promote solar energy deployment and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, particularly in developing countries.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Initially, ISA membership was limited to 121 countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. However, in 2018, the Alliance was expanded to include all UN member states through an amendment to its Framework Agreement. Despite this expansion, not all UN member countries have joined ISA; membership remains voluntary and countries must formally sign and ratify the Framework Agreement to become members.
The FAO accords the status of ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)’ to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative?
- To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity
- To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities
- To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: GIAHS does not focus on providing modern technology or training in modern farming methods to enhance productivity. Its goal is to conserve and support traditional agricultural systems and indigenous knowledge, not to replace them with modern intensive practices.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The core objective of GIAHS is to identify, safeguard and promote traditional agricultural systems that demonstrate sustainable practices, conserve agricultural biodiversity, preserve traditional landscapes, and protect the indigenous knowledge systems of local communities. It recognizes these systems as living, evolving heritage.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: GIAHS designation does not automatically confer Geographical Indication (GI) status to agricultural products. GI is a separate intellectual property right granted under different legal frameworks and criteria. While some GIAHS products may independently qualify for GI, it is not an inherent feature of the GIAHS initiative.
What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’ a breed found in India?
- It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
- It survives by grazing on mangroves.
- It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Kharai camels possess the unique ability to swim up to three kilometers in seawater, enabling them to reach offshore mangrove islands in the Gulf of Kutch for grazing.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The name 'Kharai' derives from the Gujarati word for 'salty,' reflecting their primary diet of saline-tolerant plants and mangroves. This adaptation allows them to survive in the harsh coastal ecosystem of Gujarat.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Kharai camels are semi-domesticated animals herded by the Maldhari pastoral communities in the Kutch region. They are used for milk production, and their male calves are often sold for commercial purposes.
What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’?
- It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
- It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its secretariat facilitates the allocation of the major portion of financial resources to these regions.
- It is committed to the bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The UNCCD promotes effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships, providing a framework for countries to collaborate on combating desertification and mitigating drought effects.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Convention has a particular focus on Africa, not South Asia and North Africa. Its full name is 'United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa'. Additionally, the Secretariat does not allocate the major portion of financial resources—financial mobilization is primarily handled through the Global Mechanism and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The UNCCD is unique among environmental conventions for its commitment to a bottom-up approach, emphasizing the participation of local communities, land users, and non-governmental organizations in designing and implementing programmes to combat land degradation.
With reference to an initiative called ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is an initiative hosted by UNEP, IMF and World Economic Forum.
- It is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity.
- It presents an approach that can help decision-makers recognize, demonstrate and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 2 and 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: TEEB was launched in 2007 by Germany and the European Commission following a proposal by the G8+5 Environment Ministers. The TEEB office is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) only, not by the IMF or the World Economic Forum.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: TEEB is a global initiative that focuses on drawing attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity. It highlights the growing cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation by bringing together expertise from science, economics, and policy.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: TEEB presents a tiered approach that helps decision-makers recognize, demonstrate, and capture the value of ecosystems and biodiversity. This approach facilitates the integration of ecosystem values into policy-making and economic accounting.
In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index?
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon monoxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Sulphur Dioxide
- Methane
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2, 3 and 4 Only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas but is NOT included in India's National Air Quality Index (AQI) calculation, which focuses on pollutants with direct health impacts rather than climate change gases.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the eight pollutants monitored under the National AQI; it is a toxic gas from incomplete combustion that reduces oxygen transport in blood.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is included in the AQI calculation as a major pollutant from vehicle exhausts and industrial processes that causes respiratory problems.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is a criteria pollutant for the AQI, released from burning fossil fuels in power plants and industries.
❌ Statement 5 – Incorrect: Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas but is NOT directly measured in the National AQI calculation.
Note: India's National AQI monitors eight pollutants: PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Pb.
On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label?
- Ceiling fans
- Electric geysers
- Tubular fluorescent lamps
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Ceiling fans are covered under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) Star Labeling program. They have been included to promote energy-efficient appliances and reduce household electricity consumption.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Electric geysers (storage water heaters) are part of the mandatory BEE Star Labeling scheme. The star rating indicates their energy performance, helping consumers choose efficient models.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Tubular fluorescent lamps (TFLs) are included in the BEE labeling program to encourage the use of energy-efficient lighting and reduce overall power consumption in residential and commercial spaces.
What is/are the purpose/purposes of Government’s ‘Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme’ and 'Gold Monetization Scheme'?
- To bring the idle gold lying with India households into the economy
- To promote FDI in the gold and jewellery sector
- To reduce India’s dependence on gold imports
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 3 only
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) allows individuals and institutions to deposit their idle physical gold (jewellery, coins, bars) with banks. This gold is melted, refined, and brought into the formal economy, where it can be lent to jewellers and goldsmiths, thereby mobilizing household gold reserves.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Both schemes focus on managing domestic gold demand and supply. They are not designed to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the gold and jewellery sector. FDI policies operate separately from these domestic gold management initiatives.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Reducing gold imports is a core objective of both schemes. The Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Scheme offers a financial alternative to physical gold, thereby reducing import demand. The GMS increases the availability of recycled domestic gold for jewellers, reducing their need for imported gold. Since gold imports significantly impact India's Current Account Deficit (CAD), these schemes help improve the balance of payments.
Consider the following statements with reference to ‘IFC Masala Bonds’ -
- The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.
- They are the rupee-denominated bonds and are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, which comprises five institutions working to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development in developing countries.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Masala Bonds are rupee-denominated bonds issued outside India by foreign entities to raise capital in Indian rupees. They serve as a source of debt financing for both public and private sector entities, while the currency risk is borne by the investors rather than the issuer.
‘Global Financial Stability Report’ is prepared by the -
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — International Monetary Fund
The Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) is a flagship publication of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), released twice a year in April and October. It assesses the stability of global financial markets, identifies vulnerabilities and emerging risks in the financial system, and provides policy recommendations to enhance financial stability. The report covers topics such as banking sector health, capital flows, sovereign debt, and systemic risks.
Which one of the following is a purpose of ‘UDAY’, a scheme of the Government?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies
The Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) was launched by the Ministry of Power in November 2015 to address the financial crisis of state power distribution companies (DISCOMs). Under this scheme, state governments took over 75% of DISCOM debt as of September 2015 and issued low-interest state government bonds, reducing interest burden and improving the financial health of DISCOMs. The scheme also focused on operational improvements including reduction of Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses, mandatory supply of cheaper power from state gencos, and energy efficiency measures. Option 2 refers to the Saubhagya Scheme (launched in 2017) for universal household electrification, while options 1 and 3 do not correspond to any specific government scheme matching UDAY's objectives.
Recently, India’s first ‘National Investment and Manufacturing Zone’ was proposed to be set up in -
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Andhra Pradesh
India's first National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) was proposed to be set up in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The state government assured the Centre of the availability of 2,500 acres of contiguous land for this project. The NIMZ concept was introduced under the National Manufacturing Policy to create world-class infrastructure and boost the 'Make in India' initiative by establishing integrated industrial townships with state-of-the-art facilities.
UPSC Prelims 2016 Questions Paper - Subject-wise Question Distribution
Environment & Ecology
23 Qs (23%)Indian Economy
19 Qs (19%)Science & Technology
12 Qs (12%)Current Affairs
10 Qs (10%)International Relations
9 Qs (9%)Modern History
6 Qs (6%)Indian Polity
5 Qs (5%)Indian Art & Culture
5 Qs (5%)Indian Geography
5 Qs (5%)Medieval History
3 Qs (3%)Ancient History
3 Qs (3%)UPSC Prelims 2016 Question Paper - FAQs & Analysis
Q1 How many total questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2016?
Q2 What is the subject-wise question breakdown for UPSC Prelims 2016?
- Environment & Ecology: 23 questions (23%)
- Indian Economy: 19 questions (19%)
- Science & Technology: 12 questions (12%)
- Current Affairs: 10 questions (10%)
- International Relations: 9 questions (9%)
- Modern History: 6 questions (6%)
- Indian Polity: 5 questions (5%)
- Indian Art & Culture: 5 questions (5%)
- Indian Geography: 5 questions (5%)
- Medieval History: 3 questions (3%)
- Ancient History: 3 questions (3%)