Impacts of Environmental Degradation and Climate Change in India
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This concept is fundamental to understanding the challenges India faces in achieving sustainable development, ensuring public health, managing disasters, and protecting its natural resources and biodiversity. It highlights the urgency for effective environmental policies and adaptation strategies.
India is experiencing severe and widespread environmental degradation and climate change impacts, manifested through extreme weather events, pervasive pollution, and extensive land degradation, posing significant threats to public health, livelihoods, and ecological balance across the nation.
Facts & tables
- Extreme Weather Events
- A survey found 71% of Indians experienced heat waves, 52% droughts and water shortages, and some regions faced extreme weather for nearly 88% of the year.
- Air Pollution Impact
- Air pollution in 2022 reduced average life expectancy by about three years across India.
- Water Pollution
- Nearly half of 870 river-monitoring stations recorded alarming levels of toxic heavy metals.
- Land Degradation
- The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India estimates that 29.7% of the country’s land is degraded.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Climate Change & Conventions |
| Conceptual area | Environmental Law & Policy |
| Conceptual area | Biogeography & Ecosystems |
| Conceptual area | Air Pollution & Emissions |
| Conceptual area | Waste Management & Water Pollution |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) | Provides data on extreme weather events |
| Yale School of the Environment | Conducted survey on indian experiences of extreme events |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Majority of Indians experienced extreme weather events (heat waves, droughts).
- Air pollution significantly reduces average life expectancy (approx. 3 years).
- Rivers show alarming levels of toxic heavy metals.
- Nearly 30% of India's land is degraded.
- These impacts highlight an 'unfolding crisis' requiring urgent action.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Climate Change & Conventions
Conceptual area
-
Environmental Law & Policy
Conceptual area
-
Biogeography & Ecosystems
Conceptual area
-
Air Pollution & Emissions
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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A national environmental survey whose time came
India faces a severe environmental crisis marked by widespread extreme weather events (heat waves, droughts), significant air and water pollution impacting life expectancy and health, and extensive land degradation. These impacts underscore the urgent need for comprehensive environmental understanding and action.
See also
Past papers
2016–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
A national environmental survey whose time came
India faces a severe environmental crisis marked by widespread extreme weather events (heat waves, droughts), significant air and water pollution impacting life expectancy and health, and extensive land degradation. These impacts underscore the urgent need for comprehensive environmental understanding and action.
Try these PYQs
The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above‐said report?
I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.
II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and humidity. When it exceeds 35°C, the human body can no longer cool itself through sweating, posing a serious threat to survival. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect
* Though flooding, cyclones, and droughts are valid climate threats, they are not directly related to the World Bank's warning about wet-bulb temperatures. ✅ Statement II: Correct
* When wet-bulb temperatures cross 35°C, the body cannot release heat, making it fatal for humans and animals.
With reference to Direct Air Capture, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.
II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.
III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a technology that removes CO₂ directly from the air for storage or use in various industries. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* DAC captures CO₂ for carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gases. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* Captured CO₂ can be used to make plastics and in food processing. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* DAC provides carbon to make synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels by combining with hydrogen. So, the correct answer is: C
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.
Statement II:
Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.
Statement III:
As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Earth’s rotation and axis can shift due to changes in how mass is distributed across the planet, such as melting polar ice. ✅Statement I is correct: * Studies show that Earth’s rotation and axis are shifting slightly due to internal mass redistribution. ✅ Statement II is correct: * But it doesn’t explain the shift — solar flares affect only the upper atmosphere, not Earth’s rotation. ✅ Statement III is correct: * It explains the shift — melting polar ice moves water toward the equator, altering Earth’s mass distribution and spin.
With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The agreement did not "go into effect in 2017." It was adopted in Dec 2015, signed in April 2016, and legally entered into force on November 4, 2016, after the "55/55" threshold (55 countries representing 55% of global emissions) was met. Statement 2 is correct: This is the core "temperature goal" of the Paris Agreement: keeping the increase well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Statement 3 is incorrect: While the agreement acknowledges "Common But Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR), the financial commitment was $100 billion per year by 2020, not $1000 billion.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
Statement II:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
Statement III:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is crucial as it outlines international cooperation through both carbon markets and non-market approaches to help countries meet climate goals. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* Article 6 is widely discussed because it enables cooperation through market and non-market means to fight climate change. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* It defines rules for carbon markets, including carbon trading and credit mechanisms. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It also promotes non-market tools like technology transfer and capacity building to reach climate targets. So, the correct answer is: A
Show 3 more PYQs
With reference to ‘Global Climate Change Alliance’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is correct: The GCCA was established by the European Union to enhance climate cooperation with developing nations, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Statement 2 is correct: A core objective of the GCCA is to provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries, helping them integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation into their national policies, development strategies, and budgets. Statement 3 is incorrect: The GCCA is coordinated by the European Commission through its established political dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. It is not managed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) or the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Which organization has enacted the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss?
✅ A. The European Union:
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an EU legislative initiative adopted in 2024. It sets binding targets to restore ecosystems, fight climate change, and protect biodiversity across EU member states. ❌ B. The World Bank:
An international financial institution providing loans and grants; it does not enact laws like the NRL. ❌ C. OECD:
An organization promoting economic cooperation and policy coordination; it does not enact binding environmental laws such as the NRL. ❌ D. FAO:
A UN agency focused on hunger and agriculture; it does not enact regional laws like the NRL.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the “Declaration on Climate and Health”.
Statement II:
The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize health sector.
Statement III:
If India’s health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
At COP28, India chose not to sign the “Declaration on Climate and Health,” and this decision can be understood by analyzing the nature of the declaration and India’s concerns. ✅ Statement I: Correct. India did not sign the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, unlike over 120 other countries. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect. The declaration is not legally binding; it is a voluntary political commitment. Signing it does not legally mandate countries to decarbonize their health sectors immediately. ✅Statement III: Correct. India’s concern is that rapid decarbonization of its health sector could compromise the resilience and accessibility of healthcare services, given current developmental challenges and resource constraints. Therefore, only Statement III correctly explains Statement I, while Statement II is factually wrong about the binding nature of the declaration.