2007 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2007 · General Studies
Question 6: Environment and Ecology
Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Prize winner from Kenya, is known for her contribution to which one of the following?
aJournalism
bInternational economics
cSustainable development
dChild development
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) founded Kenya's Green Belt Movement, which planted millions of trees and gave rural women work and a voice. She won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace, and was the first African woman to receive it. So she is linked with sustainable development.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) She was an environmental and political activist, not a journalist.
- (b) She was a biologist and activist, not an economist.
- (c) Correct: her Nobel citation cites sustainable development, democracy and peace.
- (d) Her work was on trees, land and women, not child development.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2007, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.