UPSC CSE Prelims
Green Economy Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Green Economy with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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Which one of the following best describes the term "greenwashing"?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound
Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing practice where companies mislead consumers by falsely portraying their products, services, or organizational practices as environmentally friendly when they are not. This involves using misleading labels, imagery, vague claims, or selective disclosure of environmental benefits while hiding negative impacts. The term has become increasingly relevant as consumer demand for sustainable products grows, prompting some companies to exaggerate or fabricate their environmental credentials rather than making genuine improvements.
📝 Short Notes: Greenwashing
- Definition: Misleading marketing that creates a false impression of environmental responsibility or sustainability
- Common Tactics: Vague claims ("eco-friendly", "natural"), misleading labels, irrelevant claims, hidden trade-offs, false certifications, and use of green imagery
- Examples: Companies claiming "carbon neutral" without credible offsets, "biodegradable" plastics that require specific conditions, or highlighting one green feature while ignoring overall environmental harm
- Impact: Undermines genuine sustainability efforts, erodes consumer trust, and diverts attention from companies making real environmental progress
- Regulations: Many countries are developing stricter advertising standards and disclosure requirements to combat greenwashing
- Consumer Protection: Look for third-party certifications (Energy Star, Fair Trade, FSC), detailed data, and transparent reporting to identify genuine environmental claims
According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels?
- Cassava
- Damaged wheat grains
- Groundnut seeds
- Horse gram
- Rotten potatoes
- Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
India's National Policy on Biofuels (2018) permits the use of surplus food grains, damaged grains, starch-rich crops like cassava, and sugar-rich crops like sugar beet for ethanol production. Oil-seed crops and protein-rich pulses like groundnut seeds and horse gram are not included as feedstock for biofuels to avoid competition with edible oil and food supply.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Cassava is a starchy root crop explicitly allowed as feedstock for ethanol production under the policy.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Damaged wheat grains (surplus or non-edible) can be diverted for biofuel production to prevent wastage.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Groundnut seeds are oil-seeds and not permitted for biofuel production to avoid competition with edible oil markets.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Horse gram is a pulse (protein-rich crop) and is not included in the biofuel feedstock list.
✅ Statement 5 – Correct: Rotten potatoes (damaged/surplus tubers) can be used for biofuel production as waste utilization.
✅ Statement 6 – Correct: Sugar beet is a sugar-rich crop approved for ethanol production under the policy.
📝 Short Notes: National Policy on Biofuels 2018
- First Generation (1G) Biofuels: Produced from sugars, starch, vegetable oils – includes bioethanol and biodiesel.
- Second Generation (2G) Biofuels: Produced from non-food biomass like agricultural residues, forest waste, municipal solid waste.
- Allowed Feedstock for Ethanol: Sugarcane, sugar beet, cassava, damaged food grains, surplus food grains, sweet sorghum.
- Allowed Feedstock for Biodiesel: Non-edible oilseeds (Jatropha, Karanja, Mahua, etc.), used cooking oil, animal fat.
- Not Allowed: Edible oil-seeds (groundnut, soybean, sunflower), pulses and protein-rich crops to avoid food security concerns.
- Ethanol Blending Target: 20% by 2025 (E20) for petrol blending.
- Indicative Biodiesel Blending Target: 5% by 2030.
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