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UPSC Notes

Unsustainable Land Use

PYQs

7

Articles

1

Momentum

19

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Land use patterns are critical for sustainable development, disaster management, and environmental conservation. UPSC examines policies, challenges, and solutions related to land management in various contexts.

Unsustainable land use refers to practices that lead to the long-term decline in ecosystem function and productivity of land, often driven by short-term economic gains without considering environmental consequences. It encompasses activities like deforestation, overgrazing, improper agricultural practices, and unplanned urbanization.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Examples

Shifting cultivation without adequate fallow periods, conversion of forests/wetlands for agriculture/development, sand mining, construction on ecologically fragile zones.

Drivers

Population pressure, poverty, lack of land use planning, weak enforcement of environmental regulations, economic incentives.

Impacts

Soil erosion, desertification, biodiversity loss, increased flood/landslide risk, water scarcity, reduced agricultural productivity.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironment & Ecology

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources)Formulates policies for land management
State Land Use BoardsAdvise on land use planning
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • Practices degrading land productivity.
  • Includes deforestation, overgrazing, unplanned urbanization.
  • Driven by population, poverty, weak regulations.
  • Causes soil erosion, desertification, disaster risk.
  • Requires integrated land use planning.

High-confidence PYQs

2020Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Coppe...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2016Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? 1. It aims to promote effective action through innovati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2014Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Conven...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2014Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Conven...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2013Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Environment & Ecology
Prelims 2013· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

Open question
Prelims 2014· Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Conven...

Open question

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

Open question
Prelims 2014· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Conven...

Open question

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

Open question
Prelims 2016· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? 1. It aims to promote effective action through innovati...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Open question

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Open question

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

Open question
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Coppe...

Open question

Kerala’s latest floods show state yet to internalise lessons from 2018 on ecological degradation and unsustainable land use

05 Aug 2026 · Unsustainable land use involves practices that degrade land quality and ecosystem services, driven by various socio-economic factors, leading to severe environmental and socio-economic consequences like increased disaster vulnerability.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Unsustainable Land Use

Often confused with

Ecological Degradation

Open notesOften confused with

Environmental Degradation and Governance Challenges from Illegal Mining

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 7 linked questions on Unsustainable Land Use in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Unsustainable Land Use

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

2013·Environment & Ecology
Solve

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Coppe...

2020·Environment & Ecology
Solve

What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? 1. It aims to promote effective action through innovati...

2016·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following international agreements: 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Conven...

2014·Environment & Ecology
Solve

If a wetland of international importance is brought under the ‘Montreux Record’, what does it imply?

2014·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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