CUET PG 2026 Environmental Sciences Question Paper with Solutions

Which of the following layers of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that absorbs UV radiation?

• (A) Troposphere
• (B) Stratosphere
• (C) Mesosphere
• (D) Thermosphere

In Bowen’s Reaction Series, which mineral is the first to crystallize from a cooling silicate magma?

• (A) Quartz
• (B) Olivine
• (C) Biotite
• (D) Muscovite

What is the primary chemical responsible for Minamata disease in humans?

• (A) Lead
• (B) Mercury
• (C) Arsenic
• (D) Cadmium

Calculate the energy of a photon (in Joules) with a wavelength of \(500\ nm\), given \(h = 6.6 \times 10^{-34}\ Js\).

• (A) \(3.96 \times 10^{-19}\ J\)
• (B) \(1.98 \times 10^{-19}\ J\)
• (C) \(5.00 \times 10^{-19}\ J\)
• (D) \(7.92 \times 10^{-19}\ J\)

Which global agreement specifically targets the phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)?

• (A) Kyoto Protocol
• (B) Paris Agreement
• (C) Montreal Protocol
• (D) Basel Convention

In an aquatic ecosystem, what does a high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) value indicate about water quality?

• (A) High dissolved oxygen and clean water
• (B) Low organic pollution in water
• (C) High level of organic pollution and poor water quality
• (D) High mineral content in water

According to the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which mineral has a relative hardness value of 9?

• (A) Quartz
• (B) Diamond
• (C) Corundum
• (D) Topaz

Which type of ecological pyramid can never be inverted in any ecosystem?

• (A) Pyramid of Numbers
• (B) Pyramid of Biomass
• (C) Pyramid of Energy
• (D) Pyramid of Population

The Kyoto Protocol was primarily designed to reduce the emission of which type of gases?

• (A) Ozone-depleting gases
• (B) Greenhouse gases
• (C) Noble gases
• (D) Radioactive gases

Which plant group is considered the "amphibians of the plant kingdom" due to their requirement for water during fertilization?

• (A) Pteridophytes
• (B) Gymnosperms
• (C) Bryophytes
• (D) Angiosperms

What is the main process by which nitrogen is returned to the atmosphere from the soil?

• (A) Nitrogen fixation
• (B) Ammonification
• (C) Denitrification
• (D) Nitrification

In the context of waste management, what does the term leachate refer to?

• (A) Gas released from decomposing waste
• (B) Liquid that drains or percolates through waste and carries dissolved substances
• (C) Solid residue left after waste incineration
• (D) Recycled organic compost material

Which Indian state is most associated with the controversial practice of rat-hole mining?

• (A) Jharkhand
• (B) Meghalaya
• (C) Odisha
• (D) Chhattisgarh

The Environment Protection Act of India was enacted in which year following the Bhopal Gas Tragedy?

• (A) 1982
• (B) 1984
• (C) 1986
• (D) 1991

Which heavy metal is most commonly associated with Itai-Itai disease?

• (A) Mercury
• (B) Lead
• (C) Cadmium
• (D) Arsenic