UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I
Question 36: Environment and Ecology
With reference to ‘Direct Air Capture’, an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- IIt can be used as a way of carbon sequestration.
- IIIt can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing.
- IIIIn aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Direct Air Capture pulls carbon dioxide out of ambient air using chemical sorbents or solvents. The captured gas can be stored permanently underground, which is carbon sequestration. It can also be used as a carbon source: as feedstock for chemicals and plastics, in food and beverage processing such as carbonation, and in aviation, combined with hydrogen to make synthetic low-carbon fuels. So all three statements are correct. Remember: DAC removes carbon, then it is stored or reused.
- I. Captured carbon dioxide can be stored underground.
- II. Captured carbon is used as feedstock in plastics and in food processing.
- III. Captured carbon dioxide combined with hydrogen makes synthetic low-carbon fuel.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: aviation fuel use in statement III is also correct.
- (b) Wrong: statements I and II are also correct.
- (c) Right: storage, industrial use and synthetic aviation fuel are all uses of captured carbon.
- (d) Wrong: all three statements are correct.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.