UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 34: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following statements :

Statement IArticle 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
Statement IIArticle 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
Statement IIIArticle 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.

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

aBoth Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

bBoth Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I

cOnly one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

dNeither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement lets countries cooperate to meet their climate targets. It sets the principles for carbon markets: Article 6.2 on bilateral trading of mitigation outcomes between countries and Article 6.4 on a UN-supervised crediting mechanism. It also provides, in Article 6.8, a framework for non-market approaches such as technology and finance cooperation. Because these rules decide how emissions can be traded, offset and financed across borders, Article 6 features constantly in global climate talks, so both II and III explain I.

I. Article 6 is a recurring subject of climate negotiations.
II. It sets out the principles of carbon markets (Articles 6.2 and 6.4); this explains Statement I.
III. It promotes non-market approaches (Article 6.8); this also explains Statement I.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

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) Right: both the carbon market principles and the non-market approaches explain why Article 6 is discussed so often.
(b) Wrong: both II and III explain I.
(c) Wrong: both II and III are correct.
(d) Wrong: both II and III are correct.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.