Apply Now Student Hub Feedback
UPSC CSE · Prelims · 2018
General Studies (Paper 1) from UPSC CSE 2018 Prelims
Subject: General Studies (Paper 1) Geography, Current Affairs Union Public Service Commission — Civil Services Examination Last updated May 9, 2026
UPSC CSE Prelims 2018 General Studies (Paper 1)

Oil spills are a major marine ecosystem threat. Which Indian city faced this issue in January 2017?

Answer & Explanation

Click "Check Answer" to reveal
Correct Answer: Option D — Chennai
On January 28, 2017, two ships—the MT Dawn Kanchipuram and the BW Maple—collided near the Ennore Port in Chennai. The collision resulted in a massive spill of "Heavy Fuel Oil," which spread along the coast, severely affecting marine life and local fishing communities.

Key Facts about the 2017 Chennai Oil Spill:
The Cause: A collision between an outbound empty merchant ship and an inbound vessel carrying petroleum lubricants.

The Cleanup: Thousands of volunteers, Coast Guard personnel, and sanitation workers had to manually scoop out the sludge because the oil was too thick for most mechanical pumps.

Environmental Impact: It caused significant damage to the Olive Ridley turtle nesting grounds and local coral reefs.

Bioremediation: This event was notable for the use of "Oil-zapping" bacteria (developed by TERI) to help decompose the oil naturally in certain areas.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.

About this question

UPSC CSE 2018 Prelims

Details

Exam UPSC CSE
Stage Prelims
Year 2018
Subject General Studies (Paper 1)
View all questions from this paper

More General Studies (Paper 1) questions

From across UPSC, JKPSC, and JKSSB papers — same subject, different years.

Practice 1,142+ more PYQs interactively

Filter by subject, year, and exam in real time. Get instant feedback, detailed explanations, and track your progress.

Open practice portal