GATE Overflow for GATE ESE - Recent questions in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development

GATE ES 2026 | Question: 15

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:15:20 +0000

Which ONE of the following principles is directly related to environmental compensation?

Intergenerational equity principle
Precautionary principle
Subsidiarity principle
Polluter-pay principle

GATE ES 2026 | Question: 16

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:15:19 +0000

As per the United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in $2015$ "Transforming Our World: The $2030$ Agenda for Sustainable Development", the number of sustainable development goals (SDGs) is $\_\_\_\_$.

$4$
$15$
$17$
$11$

GATE ES 2026 | Question: 17

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:15:16 +0000

Which ONE of the following options CORRECTLY matches the ISO series with their usages in environmental management system (EMS) given in the table?

$$\begin{array}{|ll|ll|}
\hline & \textbf{ISO Series}& & \textbf{Environmental Management System} \\
\hline \text{(P)}& \text{ISO 14001} & (i)& \text{Environmental labeling} \\
\hline \text{(Q)}& \text{ISO 14020} & (ii)& \text{Evaluation of environmental management system} \\
\hline \text{(R)}& \text{ISO 14040} & (iii)& \text{Addressing environmental aspects of products} \\
\hline \text{(S)} &\text{ISO 14060} & (iv)& \text{Life cycle assessment procedure} \\
\hline \end{array}$$

$\text{(P) - (i); (Q) - (ii); (R) - (iii); (S) - (iv)}$
$\text{(P) - (ii); (Q) - (i); (R) - (iv); (S) - (iii)}$
$\text{(P) - (iii); (Q) - (iv); (R) - (i); (S) - (ii)}$
$\text{(P) - (iv); (Q) - (iii); (R) - (ii); (S) - (i)}$

GATE ES 2026 | Question: 23

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:15:04 +0000

Which of the following options is/are directly associated with the steps involved in carrying out life cycle assessment (LCA)?

Determination of functional unit
Defining goal and scope
Defining technology readiness level
Listing out inventory of inputs and outputs

GATE ES 2026 | Question: 55

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:14:21 +0000

An agricultural land can support energy crops yield to produce $7000$ $\text{L}$ of bioethanol per hectare and energy content of bioethanol is $21 \mathrm{MJ} / \mathrm{L}$. This bioethanol displaces fossil-based petrol.

The $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ offset potential of land used for growing energy crops as a bioethanol feedstock is $\_\_\_\_$ $\times 10^{6} \mathrm{~g}$ of $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ /hectare (rounded off to one decimal place).

Consider $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ footprints of $10$ g and $80$ g of $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ per $\text{MJ}$ for bioethanol and petrol, respectively.

GATE ES 2025 | Question: 12

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:22:27 +0000

Correctly match the sustainable development goal (SDG) with its theme

$$\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|} \hline & \textbf{SDG} & & \textbf{Theme} \\ \hline i. & \text{SDG }6 & p. & \text{Good Health and Well-being} \\ \hline ii. & \text{SDG } 11 & q. & \text{Responsible Consumption and Production} \\ \hline iii. & \text{SDG } 3 & r. & \text{Sustainable Cities and Communities} \\ \hline iv. & \text{SDG } 12 & s. & \text{Clean Water and Sanitation } \\ \hline \end{array}$$

$\text{i-q ii-r iii-p iv-s}$
$\text{i-s ii-r iii-p iv-q}$
$\text{i-s ii-r iii-q iv-p}$
$\text{i-p ii-q iii-r iv-s}$

GATE ES 2025 | Question: 21

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:22:00 +0000

Methane hydrates have special crystal structure of water, where methane gas molecules are trapped. Choose the correct option(s) from the following

Methane hydrates exist in abundance near the ocean bed, where the pressure is high enough for their existence.
Methane hydrates exist in abundance in the polar regions, where the temperature is low enough for their existence.
Methane hydrates can be a huge source of energy, but can accelerate global warming considerably if the entrapped methane is released to the atmosphere.
Methane hydrates can be a huge source of energy, but difficult to exploit commercially.

GATE ES 2024 | Question: 10

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:24:12 +0000

As per the United Nations agenda for sustainable development adopted in September $2015$, the number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are _________ and the proposed target year to achieve them is _________.

$15 ; 2035$
$17 ; 2030$
$20 ; 2050$
$18 ; 2047$

GATE ES 2024 | Question: 38

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:24:07 +0000

Based on the ISO $14040$ methodology for Life Cycle Assessment, match the terms with the descriptions in the table.

Term	Description
$\text{(a)}$ Goal and Scope	$\text{(i)}$ Based on the product or system, the comparative unit must be carefully defined and be same for all scenarios
$\text{(b)} Functional Unit	$\text{(ii)}$ The problem is described, and the objective of the study are defined
$\text{(c)}$ Life Cycle Inventory	$\text{(iii)}$ Evaluates the environmental implications due to the inventorized emissions
$\text{(d)}$ Impact Assessment	$\text{(iv)}$ Process based approach and input-output approach

The correct match$\text{(es)}$ is/are

$\text{(a)-(ii); b-(i)}$
$\text{(a)-(iii), b-(i)}$
$\text{(c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)}$
$\text{(c)-(iv), (d)-(iii)}$

GATE ES 2024 | Question: 54

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:24:04 +0000

In a region, total annual consumption of gasoline is 30.6 million tons. The land required for growing sugarcane to produce enough bioethanol to replace the gasoline completely is __________ $\mathrm{km}^{2}$ $\text{(an integer value)}$.

Ethanol energy equivalent is $67 \%$ of gasoline, gasoline density is $850 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}$, yield of bioethanol produced from sugarcane per hectare of land is $3750 \mathrm{~L}$, and $1 \mathrm{~km}^{2}=100$ hectares.

GATE ES 2023 | Question: 13

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:12:33 +0000

Place the following international conventions/conferences/protocols/declarations in the chronological order $\text{(oldest to latest)}$ of their happening

i) United Nations conference in Stockholm which resulted in the establishment of the United Nations Environmental Program $\text{(UNEP)}$

ii) Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

iii) United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow commonly referred as $\mathrm{COP} 26$

iv) Montreal protocol on phasing out production of substances related to Ozone layer depletion

$\text{i, ii, iv, ii}$
$\text{i, ii, iii, i}$
$\text{ii, iv, i, ii}$
$\text{iv, iii, ii, i}$

GATE ES 2023 | Question: 15

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:12:30 +0000

Read the following statements with reference to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change

i) Each signatory (country) has common and equal responsibility.

ii) Clean development mechanism (CDM), joint implementation (JI) and international emission trading are the three mechanisms under Kyoto Protocol to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

iii) Under Kyoto Protocol, India has agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by half by $2050$ as compared to $2005$ emissions.

Which one of the following is correct choice?

only i) is TRUE
only ii) is TRUE
only i) and ii) are TRUE
only ii) and iii) are TRUE

GATE ES 2023 | Question: 16

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:12:29 +0000

Read the following statements

I. In environmental laws, the polluter pays principle is enacted to make the polluter responsible for paying for the damage done to the natural environment.

II. The precautionary principle emphasizes caution, pausing and review before going for an innovation that may prove disastrous.

III. The precautionary principle is often used by policymakers in situations where there is the possibility of harm from making a certain decision and conclusive evidence is not yet available.
The correct choice is

$\text{I}$ is correct; $\text{II}$ and $\text{III}$ are incorrect
$\text{I, II}$ and $\text{III}$ are correct
$\text{I}$ and $\text{III}$ are correct; $\text{II}$ is incorrect
$\text{I}$ and $\text{II}$ are correct; $\text{III}$ is incorrect

GATE ES 2023 | Question: 17

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:12:27 +0000

Read the following statements
I. The goal of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is to assess the environmental impact of products from a system perspective and to identify possible improvement strategies.

II. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is defined as a process of identifying, predicting, and evaluating the likely impacts of a proposed project or development to define mitigation actions to reduce negative impacts and to provide positive contributions to the natural environment and well-being.

The correct choice is

$\mathrm{I}$ is correct; $\mathrm{II}$ is incorrect
$\mathrm{II}$ is correct; $\mathrm{I}$ is incorrect
Both $\mathrm{I}$ and $\mathrm{II}$ are correct
Both $\mathrm{I}$ and $\mathrm{II}$ are incorrect

GATE ES 2023 | Question: 18

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:12:25 +0000

For the following major Indian environmental acts

i) Environmental Protection Act
ii) Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
iii) Air Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
iv) The National Green Tribunal Act

the correct chronological order (oldest to latest of their enactment) is

$\text{i), ii), iii), iv)}$
$\text{ii), i), iii), iv)}$
$\text{iii), i), iv), ii)}$
$\text{ii), iii), i), iv)}$

GATE ES 2021 | Question: 11

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:44:35 +0000

The following block diagram highlights the typical phases of the life cycle of a product. In the figure, '$P$', '$Q$', and '$R$' represent various possible scopes of analyses in life cycle assessment. Which of the following statements is true?

' $R$ ' represents cradle-to-grave analysis.
$'P'$ represents cradle-to-gate analysis.
' $Q$ ' represents gate-to-grave analysis.
' $R$ ' represents gate-to-gate analysis.

GATE ES 2021 | Question: 12

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:44:34 +0000

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in $1992$ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this conference, several environmental management principles were adopted by many countries. Which one of the following principles allows the governments to take mitigation measures on the environmental issues having serious threats or irreversible damage, even if there is scientific uncertainty about such issues?

Polluters pay principle
Precautionary principle
Extended producer responsibility
Common but differentiated responsibilities

GATE ES 2021 | Question: 29

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:44:22 +0000

Which of the following international multilateral agreements $\text{(conventions, protocols)}$ from Column I match with the entries in Column II?

Column I	Column II
Ramsar Convention	Ozone depletion
Kyoto Protocol	Trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes
Basel Convention	Climate change
Montreal Protocol	Conservation of wetlands

$\text{P-(iv), Q-(iii), R-(ii), S-(i)}$
$\text{P-(iv), Q-(ii), R-(iii), S-(i)}$
$\text{P-(iii), Q-(i), R-(ii), S-(iv)}$
$\text{P-(i), Q-(iii), R-(iv), S-(ii)}$

GATE ES 2022 | Question: 16

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:06:01 +0000

In context of ecosystems, which one of the following is NOT a correct statement?

The growth of an organism such as a plant may be dependent on a number of different factors such as sunlight, mineral nutrients (nitrates, phosphates, etc.), etc. Liegib's law states that, growth occurs at the rate permitted by the most limiting factor.
The carrying capacity of a population is determined by its limiting resources. Carrying capacity is the upper limit of an ecosystem up to which it can provide the basic needs to the population under given circumstances.
The Ramsar convention on lakes and backwater systems of International importance is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of lakes and backwater systems. The treaty was signed in $1981$ and became effective in $1985$.
A Red Data Book contains lists of species whose continued existence is threatened. Species are classified into different categories of perceived risk. Each Red Data Book usually deals with a specific group of animals or plants and fungi.

GATE ES 2022 | Question: 23

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:05:53 +0000

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF\&CC), Govt. of India has published the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) draft Notification $2020$, intended to replace the existing EIA Notification, $2006$ under the Environment (Protection) Act, $1986$. Which of the following is/are the key change(s) from existing regulation?

Removal of several project/ activities from the purview of public consultation.
A list of projects has been included under Category B2, expressly exempted from the requirement of an EIA.
All the project related activities are brought under the purview of necessary public consultation.
A list of projects has been included under Category B2, bringing them under the requirement of detailed EIA.

GATE ES 2022 | Question: 41

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:05:42 +0000

Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct regarding National Green Tribunal (NGT) of India?

NGT Act 2010 draws inspiration from the India's constitutional provision of Article 21 - Protection of life and personal liberty, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.
A retired Judge of the Supreme Court, can be the Chairperson of the NGT.
NGT Act 2017 is based on the India's constitutional provision of Article 361 Protection of Biodiversity and Environmental Protection, which bestows the citizens of India with a duty to protect all abiotic and biotic components of the environment.
The NGT is mandated to make and endeavor for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 45 days of filing of the same.

GATE ES 2022 | Question: 55

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:05:32 +0000

Figure below gives the heat inflow into the furnace of a waste-to-energy plant along with the heat outflows from the furnace.

Assume: (i) total heat loss equal to $3 \%$ of heat released while burning waste, (ii) sensible heat of the waste is negligible, (iii) complete burning of the waste is ensured. If the waste feed rate into this plant is $70 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{h}$, the heat content of the waste $\text{(in kcal kg, rounded off to one decimal place)}$ is