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Q28 (IAS/2020) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Circular economy concepts Official Key

In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability. or to reduce carbon footprint ? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles 4. Hot mix asphalt technology 5. Portland cement Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1 (1, 2, and 3 only) because these materials and techniques directly contribute to environmental sustainability and carbon footprint reduction in road construction.

  • Copper Slag: A byproduct of copper smelting, its use as an aggregate substitute promotes waste recycling and reduces the need for destructive stone quarrying.
  • Cold Mix Asphalt Technology: Unlike Hot Mix, this is processed at ambient temperatures, significantly reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during construction.
  • Geotextiles: These permeable synthetic fabrics enhance soil stability and drainage, extending the road's lifespan and reducing the requirement for frequent maintenance and raw material extraction.

In contrast, Hot Mix Asphalt (4) requires high temperatures, leading to high carbon emissions. Portland Cement (5) production is one of the largest industrial sources of CO2. Therefore, while functional, they are not "preferred" for reducing the carbon footprint compared to the alternatives in Option 1.

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Q. In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability. or to reduce carbon…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2/10 · 6/10
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Statement 1
Is the use of copper slag in rural road construction preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or reducing carbon footprint?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Salier* features > p. 97
Strength: 4/5
“A... ur.x SW#; l • Increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns and stipulate minimum thickness of 50 micron for plastic sheets also to facilitate collection and recycle of plastic waste. • Promote use of plastic waste for road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery, or waste to oil etc. for gainful utilization of waste. • Rural areas have been brought within the ambit of these Rules since plastic has reached rural areas also. AII Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in my form or by my mems, without permission in witing. re”
Why relevant

Gives a clear example/policy pattern of promoting use of industrial/municipal waste (plastic waste) for road construction to facilitate waste utilisation and recycling.

How to extend

A student could treat copper slag as another industrial waste stream and compare its availability, handling and substitution potential for conventional road materials to judge sustainability benefits.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Advantages: > p. 67
Strength: 5/5
“• Cement can be replaced by fly ash upto 35%, thus reducing the cost of construction, making roads, etc, • Fly ash bricks are light in weight and offer high strength and durability, • Fly ash is a better fill material for road embankments and in concrete roads. • Fly ash can be used in reclamation of wastelands. • Abandoned mines can be filled up with fly ash. • Fly ash can increase the crop yield and it also enhances water holding capacity of the land.”
Why relevant

Shows that replacing conventional cement or aggregates with industrial by‑products (fly ash) can reduce construction impacts and costs.

How to extend

One can analogously assess whether copper slag can substitute cement/aggregates and estimate likely reductions in raw material extraction and embodied emissions.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 6: Environmental Issues > Suggestions > p. 115
Strength: 4/5
“NM sHANKAri • The most viable alternative is 'manufactured sand'. It is produced in a stone crushing plant. M-sand is produced from stones used for aggregates, and the quality is consistent and even better than river sand. M-sand is relatively cheaper too. • Use of fly ash from industries as an alternative should be promoted for construction purposes. • 3.”
Why relevant

Recommends promoting use of fly ash and manufactured alternatives (M‑sand) for construction to reduce pressure on natural resources.

How to extend

Compare copper slag’s material properties to fly ash/M‑sand to evaluate whether it is a viable sustainable substitute in rural road mixes.

INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Conservation of Mineral Resources > p. 64
Strength: 3/5
“The challenge of sustainable development requires integration of quest for economic development with environmental concerns. Traditional methods of resource use result into generating enormous quantity of waste as well as create other environmental problems. Hence, for sustainable development calls for the protection of resources for the future generations. There is an urgent need to conserve the resources. The alternative energy sources like solar power, wind, wave, geothermal energy are inexhaustible resource. These should be developed to replace the exhaustible resources. In case of metallic minerals, use of scrap metals will enable recycling of metals. Use of scrap is specially significant in metals like copper, lead and zinc in which India's reserves are meagre.”
Why relevant

Frames sustainable development as integrating economic development with environmental protection and highlights recycling scrap metals where reserves are limited.

How to extend

Use this principle to weigh copper slag reuse: if slag reduces need for virgin aggregates/metals and conserves resources, it supports sustainability.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.3 Food Systems > p. 338
Strength: 4/5
“Food system activities need to contribute to the advancement of important socio-cultural outcomes, such as nutrition and health.• Environmental sustainability: Sustainability is determined by ensuring that the impacts of food system activities on the surrounding natural environment are neutral or positive, taking into consideration biodiversity, water, soil, animal and plant health, the carbon footprint, the water footprint, food loss and waste, and toxicity. A sustainable food system lies at the heart of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted in 2015, the SDGs call for major transformations in agriculture and food systems in order to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030.”
Why relevant

Defines environmental sustainability to include reducing carbon footprint and other environmental impacts as assessment criteria.

How to extend

A student could estimate carbon footprint differences between conventional road materials and copper slag‑amended mixes to judge preference.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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