Which one of the following best describes the term "greenwashing" ?

(a) Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country
(c) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development
(d) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme

Why the answer is (a)

• 'Greenwashing' is marketing or public relations that creates a false or exaggerated impression that a company, product or policy is environmentally friendly — option (a).

• Examples include vague labels like 'eco-friendly', misleading carbon-neutral claims and offset schemes without real reductions; regulators such as India's ASCI and SEBI now issue guidelines against it.

• Option (b) describes gaps in green accounting, option (c) environmental negligence, and option (d) a positive budgeting practice — none is greenwashing.

• Hence option (a).

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a…: Omitting environmental costs from accounts is a green-accounting gap, not greenwashing.
(c) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure…: Ignoring ecological damage is negligence, not false green marketing.
(d) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme: Mandating environmental costs is a positive measure, not greenwashing.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.