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UPSC Prelims 2025 GS Paper 1, question 38

Topic: Environment and ecology

Q38

Consider the following statements :

I. Carbon dioxide (CO2CO_2) emissions in India are less than 0.5tCO2/0.5t CO_2/capita.

II. In terms of CO2CO_2 emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.

III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO2CO_2 emissions in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) I and III only
  2. (b) II only
  3. (c) II and III onlyCorrect answer
  4. (d) I, II and III

Solution.

Answer: (c) II and III only

  1. Statement I is incorrect: according to IEA and BUR-4 data, India's per capita CO2\text{CO}_2 emissions are approximately 1.91.9 to 2.02.0 tonnes CO2\text{CO}_2/capita, well above 0.50.5 t CO2\text{CO}_2/capita.
  2. Statement II is correct: in the Asia-Pacific region, India ranks second (after China) in total CO2\text{CO}_2 emissions from fuel combustion.
  3. Statement III is correct: electricity and heat generation (primarily coal-fired thermal power plants) is the single largest sectoral source of CO2\text{CO}_2 emissions in India.