100+ Free CPCB Scientist B Practice Questions

Pass your CPCB Scientist B (Central Pollution Control Board) Recruitment Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CPCB Scientist B Exam

50 questions / 70 marks

Official Scientist B CBT technical paper (MCQ + MSQ + NAT mix)

Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R) exam pattern summaries

120 minutes

Written CBT duration for Scientist B

CPCB Recruitment 2025 notification

₹1,000

Application fee for General/EWS/OBC (₹750 exam + ₹250 session charge)

Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R)

85% + 15%

Written test and interview weightage for Scientist B selection

CPCB Recruitment 2025 selection process

100

Free practice MCQs on OpenExamPrep (70 technical + 30 aptitude)

OpenExamPrep

CPCB Scientist B is a 2-hour CBT (MCQ/MSQ/NAT) with negative marking on MCQs only, ₹1,000 fee for General/OBC (₹250 session charge for exempt categories), 85% written + 15% interview selection, and Pay Level-10 salary. This free bank offers 100 environmental-technical and aptitude MCQs.

Sample CPCB Scientist B Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CPCB Scientist B exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under which Act was the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) originally constituted?

A.Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

B.Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

C.Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

D.Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Explanation: CPCB was established in September 1974 under Section 3 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Its mandate was later broadened by the Air Act 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act 1986.

2The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was enacted primarily to implement the decisions of which international conference?

A.Rio Earth Summit (1992)

B.Stockholm Conference (1972)

C.Kyoto Protocol (1997)

D.Paris Agreement (2015)

Explanation: Parliament passed the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to implement India's commitments following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in 1972.

3Which authority typically grants Environmental Clearance (EC) for Category 'A' development projects under the EIA Notification, 2006?

A.State Pollution Control Board

B.Central Pollution Control Board

C.Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

D.National Green Tribunal

Explanation: Category A projects listed in the EIA Notification, 2006 are appraised at the central level and EC is granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (through its Expert Appraisal Committees). SPCBs handle many Category B projects.

4Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) for industries are issued under which legal framework?

A.Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 only

B.Water and Air Pollution Acts through SPCBs/PCCs

C.Factories Act, 1948

D.Municipal Solid Wastes Rules only

Explanation: Industries requiring pollution control approval obtain CTE/CTO from the concerned State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee under the Water Act 1974 and Air Act 1981 (and related rules).

5The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the NGT Act of which year?

A.2006

B.2010

C.1986

D.1974

Explanation: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 created NGT as a specialised body for effective and expeditious disposal of environmental cases.

6Under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, industry-specific standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants are primarily listed in:

A.Schedule I

B.Schedule VI (general standards where Schedule I industry norms are absent)

C.Schedule II alone as the only schedule containing all standards

D.The Wildlife (Protection) Act schedules

Explanation: Rule 3 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 points to Schedule I for industry/process-specific emission and discharge standards. Schedule VI provides general standards where industry-specific Schedule I norms are not notified.

7The 'Polluter Pays' principle in Indian environmental jurisprudence was prominently reinforced in which landmark case?

A.M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum gas leak)

B.Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India

C.Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra v. State of U.P.

D.T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India

Explanation: The Supreme Court in Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum (1996) prominently applied the polluter-pays and precautionary principles to tannery pollution in Tamil Nadu — the classic Indian citation for polluter pays.

8Under the Water Act 1974, who appoints the Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board?

A.Prime Minister of India

B.Central Government

C.Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

D.Lok Sabha Speaker

Explanation: Section 3 of the Water Act empowers the Central Government to constitute CPCB and appoint its Chairman and members.

9The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 primarily empowers pollution boards to regulate:

A.Only indoor air quality inside private homes

B.Emissions of air pollutants from industries and vehicles (as notified)

C.Only greenhouse-gas inventories for international reporting

D.Only noise from domestic appliances

Explanation: The Air Act 1981 provides the framework for preventing, controlling, and abating air pollution, including industrial stack emissions and notified sources.

10Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as mandatory for specified projects in India is primarily notified under:

A.Section 3 of EPA 1986 read with EIA Notification

B.Section 25 of the Water Act 1974

C.Article 21 of the Constitution directly

D.Biomedical Waste Management Rules

Explanation: The MoEFCC (formerly MoEF) issued the EIA Notification under Section 3 of EPA 1986, making environmental clearance mandatory for listed projects.

About the CPCB Scientist B Exam

CPCB recruits Scientist B officers into India's apex pollution-control technical cadre at Pay Level-10 (7th CPC). The CBT tests environmental engineering/science depth — water and air pollution control, waste management, environmental laws, monitoring instrumentation, and ecology — alongside general aptitude. Successful candidates join CPCB's national monitoring, standards, and regulatory support mission.

Assessment

CPCB Scientist B (Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R)): online CBT, 2 hours. Technical paper pattern (2025): 20 one-mark MCQs + 10 two-mark MCQs + 10 one-mark MSQ/NAT + 10 two-mark MSQ/NAT = 50 questions, 70 marks; MCQ wrong answers penalised 1/6 or 2/6 marks; MSQ/NAT have no negative marking. Broader summaries also list ~30 general-aptitude items alongside ~70 technical items totalling 100 marks in 2 hours. Selection: written test (85% weightage) + interview (15%); category minimum qualifying marks UR 35%, EWS/OBC 30%, SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen 25%.

Time Limit

120 minutes (2 hours) for Scientist B written CBT

Passing Score

Category-wise minimum on written test: UR 35%, EWS/OBC 30%, SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen 25%; final merit = 85% written + 15% interview

Exam Fee

₹1,000 total for General/EWS/OBC (₹750 exam fee + ₹250 test-session charge for 2-hour test); SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Women exempt from exam fee but pay ₹250 test-session charge (Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R)) (Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)

CPCB Scientist B Exam Content Outline

14%

Environmental Laws & Policy

EPA 1986, Water/Air Acts, EIA 2006, CPCB/SPCB, NGT, CTE/CTO, EPR rules

14%

Water Pollution & Wastewater

BOD/COD, activated sludge, treatment trains, disinfection, eutrophication

12%

Air Pollution & Control

PM, NAAQS, AQI, control devices, CEMS, Bharat Stage

10%

Solid & Hazardous Waste

Landfills, BMW colour coding, e-waste EPR, hazardous waste treatment

10%

Environmental Chemistry & Monitoring

Water chemistry, sampling, AAS/GC-MS/ICP, turbidity, biomonitoring

10%

Ecology, Climate & EIA

EIA/EMP, biodiversity, climate treaties, wetlands, sustainability

General Awareness

MoEFCC schemes, NCAP, Namami Gange, constitutional environmental rights

Reasoning Ability

Series, coding, relations, syllogisms, directions, ranking

Quantitative Aptitude

Percentage, ratio, SI, profit-loss, speed, pipes

English Language

Vocabulary, grammar, error spotting, spelling, voice

How to Pass the CPCB Scientist B Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Category-wise minimum on written test: UR 35%, EWS/OBC 30%, SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen 25%; final merit = 85% written + 15% interview
Assessment: CPCB Scientist B (Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R)): online CBT, 2 hours. Technical paper pattern (2025): 20 one-mark MCQs + 10 two-mark MCQs + 10 one-mark MSQ/NAT + 10 two-mark MSQ/NAT = 50 questions, 70 marks; MCQ wrong answers penalised 1/6 or 2/6 marks; MSQ/NAT have no negative marking. Broader summaries also list ~30 general-aptitude items alongside ~70 technical items totalling 100 marks in 2 hours. Selection: written test (85% weightage) + interview (15%); category minimum qualifying marks UR 35%, EWS/OBC 30%, SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen 25%.
Time limit: 120 minutes (2 hours) for Scientist B written CBT
Exam fee: ₹1,000 total for General/EWS/OBC (₹750 exam fee + ₹250 test-session charge for 2-hour test); SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Women exempt from exam fee but pay ₹250 test-session charge (Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R))

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CPCB Scientist B Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981, EPA 1986, and EIA Notification 2006 — CPCB Scientist B repeatedly tests consent, standards, and clearance procedures.

2Revise STP unit operations (primary/secondary/tertiary), BOD/COD relationships, and air pollution control devices (ESP, scrubber, bag filter, SCR) with worked numericals.

3Practice MCQ accuracy under negative marking — unattempted MSQ/NAT may be safer than guessing on MCQs you cannot eliminate.

4Pair technical study with past CPCB/GATE-Environmental Engineering MCQs and the 2025 response key when released for MSQ/NAT format familiarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CPCB Scientist B exam pattern?

Per Advt. 01/2025-Admin.(R) summaries: 2-hour CBT with MCQ, MSQ, and NAT items. The technical paper has 50 questions worth 70 marks (20 one-mark MCQs, 10 two-mark MCQs, plus MSQ/NAT). MCQ wrong answers lose 1/6 or 2/6 marks; MSQ/NAT have no negative marking. Some sources also describe ~100 total items combining technical and general aptitude.

What is the CPCB Scientist B application fee?

For the 2-hour Scientist B test: ₹750 examination fee + ₹250 test-session charge = ₹1,000 for General/EWS/OBC. SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Women are exempt from the examination fee but pay the ₹250 test-session charge.

How is CPCB Scientist B final selection decided?

Written test carries 85% weightage and interview 15%. Candidates must meet category-wise minimum qualifying marks on the written test (UR 35%, EWS/OBC 30%, SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen 25%) before merit-based interview shortlisting.

How does this 100-question practice bank relate to the live exam?

The official exam includes MSQ and NAT item types that this four-option MCQ bank cannot simulate. This bank weights ~70% technical environmental topics and ~30% general aptitude to mirror reported syllabus emphasis. Drill MSQ/NAT practice separately from official response keys when available.