Impact of AI on Environment — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. Which of the following is a direct environmental harm linked to AI infrastructure?

   • Data centres' electricity and water consumption (correct answer)
   • Reduction of noise in cities
   • Increase in forest cover
   • Reduction in plastic use

   Explanation. Data centres consume large amounts of electricity and cooling water.

2. A carbon footprint refers to:

   • The weight of a company's carbon assets
   • Total greenhouse gas emissions linked to an activity, product or organisation (correct answer)
   • The depth of a coal mine
   • A tax on carbon

   Explanation. A carbon footprint measures the greenhouse gas emissions associated with an activity, product or organisation.

3. Which Indian rules place collection and recycling duties on producers of electronic products?

   • E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 (correct answer)
   • Noise Pollution Rules, 2000
   • Wild Life Rules, 1973
   • Hazardous Waste Rules, 1955

   Explanation. The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 apply extended producer responsibility.

4. Is there a separate environmental statute in India dedicated only to AI?

   • Yes, the AI Environment Act
   • No; existing environmental laws and principles apply (correct answer)
   • Yes, the Information Technology Act deals with it
   • Yes, the Biological Diversity Act

   Explanation. India has no AI-specific environmental statute; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and related laws apply.

5. Which principle requires action to prevent serious harm even without full scientific certainty?

   • Polluter pays principle
   • Precautionary principle (correct answer)
   • Public trust doctrine
   • Doctrine of laches

   Explanation. The precautionary principle supports preventive action despite scientific uncertainty.

6. Which is an environmental BENEFIT of AI?

   • Generating e-waste
   • Satellite-based monitoring of deforestation (correct answer)
   • Increasing data-centre heat
   • Mining of rare earths

   Explanation. AI can analyse satellite data to track deforestation and illegal mining.

7. Extended producer responsibility means:

   • Consumers alone pay for recycling
   • Producers are responsible for collecting and recycling their end-of-life products (correct answer)
   • Governments produce all electronics
   • Producers are exempt from waste rules

   Explanation. Producers carry the duty to collect and recycle products after use.

8. The Supreme Court applied the precautionary and sustainable development principles in:

   • A.P. Pollution Control Board v. Prof. M.V. Nayudu (correct answer)
   • Donoghue v. Stevenson
   • Balfour v. Balfour
   • Ashby v. White

   Explanation. Nayudu (1999) discussed the precautionary principle and sustainable development in Indian environmental law.