MCQs on with answers “India’s Approach to Tackling Air Pollution in Major Cities” 

1. What is the primary source of air pollution in major Indian cities?

• A) Industrial emissions
• B) Agricultural burning
• C) Vehicle emissions
• D) Household activities
• Answer: C) Vehicle emissions

2. Which of the following initiatives was launched by the Government of India to reduce air pollution?

• A) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• B) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
• C) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
• D) Make in India
• Answer: B) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

3. The term ‘Delhi Smog’ is associated with which type of pollution?

• A) Water pollution
• B) Air pollution
• C) Soil pollution
• D) Noise pollution
• Answer: B) Air pollution

4. Which organization monitors air quality in India?

• A) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• B) Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
• C) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• D) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
• Answer: A) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

5. Which city in India has the highest levels of air pollution in recent years?

• A) Mumbai
• B) Delhi
• C) Bengaluru
• D) Kolkata
• Answer: B) Delhi

6. What is the main aim of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?

• A) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• B) Providing financial incentives for industries
• C) Managing air pollution based on severity levels
• D) Promoting renewable energy usage
• Answer: C) Managing air pollution based on severity levels

7. Which of the following is a major contributor to winter air pollution in northern India?

• A) Excessive rainfall
• B) Stubble burning
• C) Industrial waste
• D) Forest fires
• Answer: B) Stubble burning

8. Which of the following measures is part of the Delhi government’s strategy to combat air pollution?

• A) Odd-even vehicle policy
• B) Imposition of a carbon tax
• C) Construction of eco-friendly buildings
• D) Banning of industrial activities
• Answer: A) Odd-even vehicle policy

9. What is the purpose of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)?

• A) To introduce green technologies in industrial sectors
• B) To increase awareness about clean energy
• C) To reduce particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels
• D) To promote afforestation in urban areas
• Answer: C) To reduce particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels

10. Which of the following is a harmful component of air pollution commonly found in Indian cities?

• A) Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
• B) Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• C) Oxygen (O₂)
• D) Methane (CH₄)
• Answer: A) Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)

11. What percentage reduction in particulate matter (PM10) is targeted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) by 2024?

• A) 10%
• B) 20%
• C) 25%
• D) 40%
• Answer: B) 20%

12. Which of the following is a major source of air pollution in rural areas of India?

• A) Wood and biomass burning for cooking
• B) Vehicular emissions
• C) Industrial emissions
• D) Waste disposal
• Answer: A) Wood and biomass burning for cooking

13. Which Indian city has the world’s worst air quality according to various air quality indexes?

• A) New Delhi
• B) Mumbai
• C) Patna
• D) Kanpur
• Answer: A) New Delhi

14. The ‘Air Quality Index’ (AQI) measures which of the following?

• A) Soil contamination
• B) Pollution levels in water
• C) Quality of the air
• D) Noise levels
• Answer: C) Quality of the air

15. Which of the following is a significant health impact of air pollution?

• A) Lung cancer and respiratory diseases
• B) Vision loss
• C) Skin diseases
• D) Hearing impairment
• Answer: A) Lung cancer and respiratory diseases

16. Which policy focuses on cleaner fuel technologies for vehicles in India?

• A) Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Standards
• B) National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
• C) National Biofuels Policy
• D) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
• Answer: A) Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Standards

17. What is the primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana?

• A) Providing free electricity to rural households
• B) Replacing traditional biomass cooking stoves with LPG cylinders
• C) Promoting solar energy usage in urban areas
• D) Reducing industrial emissions
• Answer: B) Replacing traditional biomass cooking stoves with LPG cylinders

18. What does the term ‘PM2.5’ refer to in the context of air pollution?

• A) Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter
• B) Oxygen content in the air
• C) Carbon monoxide concentration
• D) Nitrogen content in the air
• Answer: A) Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter

19. Which of the following is a major environmental initiative in India to combat air pollution?

• A) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• B) Smart Cities Mission
• C) National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
• D) FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles)
• Answer: D) FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles)

20. Which organization conducted the first study on the health impacts of air pollution in India?

• A) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• B) World Health Organization (WHO)
• C) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• D) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Answer: C) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

21. Which air pollutant is most commonly associated with vehicle emissions in India?

• A) Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
• B) Carbon monoxide (CO)
• C) Methane (CH₄)
• D) Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ)
• Answer: D) Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ)

22. Which of the following cities is known for implementing the ‘Odd-Even’ vehicle policy to reduce pollution levels?

• A) Mumbai
• B) Delhi
• C) Bengaluru
• D) Kolkata
• Answer: B) Delhi

23. What is the main objective of the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’?

• A) Promoting waste recycling
• B) Reducing plastic usage
• C) Improving sanitation and cleanliness in urban and rural areas
• D) Reducing industrial emissions
• Answer: C) Improving sanitation and cleanliness in urban and rural areas

24. Which pollutant is primarily responsible for causing smog in cities?

• A) Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• B) Ozone (O₃)
• C) Particulate matter (PM)
• D) Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
• Answer: C) Particulate matter (PM)

25. What does the term ‘GRAP’ stand for in India’s air pollution management strategy?

• A) Green Rating for Air Pollution
• B) Graded Response Action Plan
• C) Green Recovery Action Plan
• D) General Response to Air Pollution
• Answer: B) Graded Response Action Plan

26. Which of the following is NOT part of India’s strategy to combat air pollution?

• A) Promoting electric vehicles
• B) Banning all vehicle emissions
• C) Phasing out old vehicles
• D) Reducing industrial emissions
• Answer: B) Banning all vehicle emissions

27. Which of the following is an initiative under the Smart Cities Mission to reduce urban pollution?

• A) Renewable energy installation
• B) Introduction of hybrid buses
• C) Green building certification
• D) All of the above
• Answer: D) All of the above

28. The introduction of ‘BS-VI’ standards in India aims to control which type of pollution?

• A) Water pollution
• B) Air pollution
• C) Soil pollution
• D) Noise pollution
• Answer: B) Air pollution

29. Which sector is primarily responsible for the highest emissions of particulate matter in India?

• A) Transport sector
• B) Industrial sector
• C) Agriculture sector
• D) Construction sector
• Answer: B) Industrial sector

30. What is the target year for achieving a reduction in air pollution as per the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)?

• A) 2020
• B) 2022
• C) 2024
• D) 2030
• Answer: C) 2024

These questions cover a wide range of aspects related to air pollution management in India and are suitable for the Civil Services Examination.