OThe UPSC Civil Services Exam is well known for evaluating not only theoretical knowledge but also candidates’ awareness of real problems of the world. Many people were surprised by the 2025 Prelims’ question linking everyday objects with environmental problems. The query was on something most of us use or witness daily: cigarette butts, spectacle lenses, and automobile tires not from the usual current affairs or static stuff.
The Unexpected Query That Made Several Consider Twice
The question asked here is: How many of the following goods – cigarette butts, glasses, and car tyres are made using plastic?
At first glance, many might rush to say only one or two. Cigarette butts look like cotton; tyres are rubber; lenses could be plastic. All three was the correct response. Every one of these things contains plastic of some kind. A rather basic-appearing question with a subtle deception.
Cigarette Butts: Not Cotton, but plastic
Many people believe cigarette butts are firmly rolled cotton. But the fact is otherwise. Cellulose acetate, a plastic, is used in cigarette filters. Years of decomposition and release of toxic substances into the soil and water are needed. Particularly in cities, it ranks among the main sources of littering and microplastic contamination.
Spectacle Lenses: Plastic in, glass out
Those days of glass lenses are now over. Most current glasses have plastic-based CR-39 or polycarbonate lenses. These new lenses have superior UV protection, are impact resistant, and are lighter. They are more durable and more pleasant to wear, hence most of the globe uses them. Still, they are basically plastic.
Car Tyres: There’s More Than Rubber
And obviously the first thing you think of when you think about tyres is rubber. Certainly, in part, it’s with tyres of today’s car being mainly constructed from natural rubber compounded with a number of synthetic rubbers that also include oil-based materials such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polybutadiene. These are what give tyres strength and flexibility. But as tyres break down, they release tiny bits of plastic called microplastics that eventually dirty the air, water and land.
UPSC did not surprise with this question. It was something more than that. Such unusual questions let the test assess if applicants are aware of the growing environmental problems all around. This was not merely a test of material science; it also showed how UPSC now prioritizes climate awareness, sustainability, and public health.
For the average reader, this inquiry opens one’s eyes to how much plastic has invaded our daily life even in places we do not expect. Without really considering them and their long-term environmental toll, we consume these objects.
This UPSC question is more than just a riddle. It is a not-so-obvious observation that contemporary life is plastic-surrounded. It also highlights how crucial it is for future civil servants and general people to acquire knowledge about environmental hazards and act responsibly. Knowing how common items are constructed and how they influence the planet is vital now whether you are studying for UPSC or not. After all, change starts with awareness.