UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 9: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following statements :

Statement ICircular economy reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Statement IICircular economy reduces the use of raw materials as inputs.
Statement IIICircular economy reduces wastage in the production process.

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).

A circular economy keeps materials in use through reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling instead of the take-make-dispose model. Because recycled and recovered materials replace fresh extraction, raw material inputs fall. Because by-products are reused and designs last longer, waste in production and disposal falls. Mining, processing and manufacturing virgin materials are energy-intensive and emit greenhouse gases, and landfills emit methane, so using less raw material and generating less waste lowers emissions. Statements II and III both explain Statement I.

I. Using fewer fresh materials and creating less waste lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
II. Reuse and recycling reduce the need for virgin raw materials; this helps explain Statement I.
III. Reuse of by-products cuts production waste; this also helps explain 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: II and III are both true and both are the routes by which emissions fall.
(b) Wrong: both statements explain I, not just one.
(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.