MCQs with answers on “Environmental Impact Assessment: Significance and Limitations in India” 

1. What is the primary purpose of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

• A) To evaluate the environmental cost of industrial projects
• B) To promote urbanization
• C) To encourage industrial development
• D) To assess the social impact of a project
• Answer: A) To evaluate the environmental cost of industrial projects

2. Which of the following is NOT typically a component of an Environmental Impact Assessment report?

• A) Social impacts
• B) Economic impacts
• C) Environmental risks
• D) Marketing strategies
• Answer: D) Marketing strategies

3. The first formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in India was initiated by which act?

• A) Forest Conservation Act, 1980
• B) Water Pollution Control Act, 1974
• C) Environmental Protection Act, 1986
• D) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• Answer: C) Environmental Protection Act, 1986

4. Which of the following sectors requires mandatory EIA according to Indian regulations?

• A) Aviation
• B) Coal mining
• C) Information technology
• D) Film production
• Answer: B) Coal mining

5. Which authority is primarily responsible for the approval of EIA reports in India?

• A) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• B) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• C) National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• D) State Pollution Control Boards
• Answer: B) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

6. What is the significance of the EIA process?

• A) Minimizing environmental risks
• B) Ensuring social and economic benefits
• C) Enabling sustainable development
• D) All of the above
• Answer: D) All of the above

7. Which of the following is a limitation of the EIA process in India?

• A) Comprehensive stakeholder involvement
• B) Inadequate capacity of regulatory bodies
• C) High level of transparency
• D) Efficient monitoring systems
• Answer: B) Inadequate capacity of regulatory bodies

8. Which of the following guidelines helps in conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment in India?

• A) National Environment Policy (NEP), 2006
• B) National Biodiversity Act, 2002
• C) Forest Rights Act, 2006
• D) National Policy on Education, 1986
• Answer: A) National Environment Policy (NEP), 2006

9. Which of the following is the main objective of Environmental Impact Assessment?

• A) Protect wildlife only
• B) Predict and mitigate adverse impacts of development projects on the environment
• C) Increase industrial output
• D) Enhance urbanization
• Answer: B) Predict and mitigate adverse impacts of development projects on the environment

10. Which of the following is NOT a stage of the EIA process?

• A) Screening
• B) Scoping
• C) Resource allocation
• D) Review and decision-making
• Answer: C) Resource allocation

11. Which of the following is an advantage of conducting an EIA?

• A) Increased financial returns for industries
• B) A reduction in development delays
• C) Protection of endangered species
• D) All of the above
• Answer: B) A reduction in development delays

12. What is meant by ‘Screening’ in the EIA process?

• A) Identifying the affected species
• B) Determining if a project requires an EIA
• C) Scoping the environmental impacts
• D) Preparing a detailed EIA report
• Answer: B) Determining if a project requires an EIA

13. In which year was the EIA Notification introduced in India?

• A) 1986
• B) 1994
• C) 2000
• D) 2006
• Answer: B) 1994

14. Which of the following is considered a challenge in the implementation of EIA in India?

• A) Lack of data on environmental baseline conditions
• B) Over-involvement of government agencies
• C) Adequate participation of local communities
• D) High quality of EIA reports
• Answer: A) Lack of data on environmental baseline conditions

15. What is the role of public participation in the EIA process?

• A) To delay the project approval process
• B) To provide inputs on potential environmental concerns
• C) To influence project developers
• D) To facilitate industrial growth
• Answer: B) To provide inputs on potential environmental concerns

16. What does ‘Scoping’ in the EIA process entail?

• A) Setting objectives for the project
• B) Identifying the potential environmental impacts
• C) Screening projects for approval
• D) Designing the mitigation strategies
• Answer: B) Identifying the potential environmental impacts

17. Which of the following environmental components is usually assessed during the EIA process?

• A) Noise pollution
• B) Air quality
• C) Water quality
• D) All of the above
• Answer: D) All of the above

18. What is the significance of ‘Mitigation’ in EIA?

• A) To reduce environmental impacts through specific actions
• B) To enhance the economic value of the project
• C) To support industry development
• D) To ensure minimal delay in approvals
• Answer: A) To reduce environmental impacts through specific actions

19. Which of the following is a criticism of the EIA process in India?

• A) It is too stringent and restricts development
• B) Lack of transparency in the process
• C) It effectively addresses all environmental concerns
• D) It promotes the holistic development of India
• Answer: B) Lack of transparency in the process

20. Which of the following is an important tool used in EIA for assessing the significance of impacts?

• A) Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
• B) Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
• C) Environmental Auditing
• D) All of the above
• Answer: D) All of the above

21. Which of the following is a limitation of the EIA in India?

• A) Strong community involvement
• B) Insufficient monitoring and enforcement of mitigation measures
• C) Clear identification of all affected ecosystems
• D) High level of accountability in decision-making
• Answer: B) Insufficient monitoring and enforcement of mitigation measures

22. What is the role of Environmental Management Plans (EMP) in EIA?

• A) To define the scope of the project
• B) To detail actions to avoid or minimize environmental impacts
• C) To enhance community participation
• D) To promote industrial growth
• Answer: B) To detail actions to avoid or minimize environmental impacts

23. Which of the following acts as a safeguard for the protection of biodiversity during EIA?

• A) National Biodiversity Action Plan
• B) The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• C) Forest Conservation Act, 1980
• D) All of the above
• Answer: D) All of the above

24. What does ‘Post-Project Monitoring’ involve in the EIA process?

• A) Monitoring project approval timelines
• B) Assessing environmental compliance during project implementation
• C) Calculating the cost of the project
• D) Organizing public awareness campaigns
• Answer: B) Assessing environmental compliance during project implementation

25. In India, which of the following projects require an EIA according to the 2006 Notification?

• A) Riverbed construction projects
• B) Thermal power plants
• C) Organic farming
• D) All of the above
• Answer: B) Thermal power plants

26. Which of the following best defines ‘Cumulative Impact Assessment’ in the EIA process?

• A) Assessing the combined environmental impact of multiple projects over time
• B) Evaluating the financial cost of multiple projects
• C) Analyzing the short-term impacts of a single project
• D) None of the above
• Answer: A) Assessing the combined environmental impact of multiple projects over time

27. Which international agreement influenced India’s EIA notification?

• A) Kyoto Protocol
• B) Paris Agreement
• C) Agenda 21
• D) Ramsar Convention
• Answer: C) Agenda 21

28. The EIA process is an essential part of which type of governance?

• A) Social governance
• B) Environmental governance
• C) Economic governance
• D) Political governance
• Answer: B) Environmental governance

29. What is a major challenge in the enforcement of EIA regulations in India?

• A) Political interference
• B) Lack of skilled personnel
• C) Inadequate environmental awareness
• D) All of the above
• Answer: D) All of the above

30. Which of the following is an important aspect to be considered while conducting an EIA?

• A) Long-term environmental sustainability
• B) Short-term economic benefits
• C) Political stability
• D) Technological advancements
• Answer: A) Long-term environmental sustainability