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Topic Carbon footprint
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 6 years (2015–2021), peaking in 2020.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 2 of 3 PYQs
- First appeared in EPFO 2015 — 5 years before CSE 2020 (allied exams preview CSE)
- Most asked in 2020
- Recurs across 3 years (2015–2021)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
EPFO 2015 → CSE 2020
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (2 of 3) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CSE2021
The 'Common Carbon Metric', supported by UNEP, has been developed for
- A assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world ✓
- B enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading
- C enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries
- D assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Environment & Ecology › Climate Change
CSE2020
In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint ?
- Copper slag
- Cold mix asphalt technology
- Geotextiles
- Hot mix asphalt technology
- Portland cement
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A 1, 2 and 3 only ✓
- B 2, 3 and 4 only
- C 4 and 5 only
- D 1 and 5 only
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Environment & Ecology › Climate Change
EPFO2015
The term 'Carbon footprint' means
- A A region which is rich in coal mines
- B The amount of reduction in the emission of CO2 by a country
- C The use of Carbon in manufacturing industries
- D The amount of greenhouse gases produced by our day-to-day activities ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Environment & Ecology › Climate Change
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