2024 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2024 · GS Paper I

Question 96: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following statements :

  1. Statement-IThe European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently.
  2. Statement-IIThe European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

aBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
bBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
cStatement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
dStatement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Statement-I is correct: the European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act in April 2024 to boost the EU's manufacture of clean technologies. Statement-II is wrong: the EU's legal target for climate neutrality is 2050, not 2040, and the Act aims for the EU to make about 40 per cent of its annual clean technology needs by 2030, not all of them. So only Statement-I is correct.

  • I. The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act in April 2024.
  • II. The EU targets climate neutrality by 2050 and does not aim to make all its clean technology.

How you could have got this

If you were sure Statement-I is correct, (d) goes. Then judge the second statement; if it is correct too, decide whether it explains the first.

What you needed to know: The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act in April 2024.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: Statement-II is incorrect, so it cannot explain Statement-I.
  • (b) Wrong: Statement-II is incorrect.
  • (c) Right: the Act was approved, but the climate neutrality date and the aim of making all clean technology are wrong.
  • (d) Wrong: Statement-I is correct.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2024, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.