2008 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2008 · General Studies

Question 96: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following statements:

  1. 1.Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in respect of carbon credits is one of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms.
  2. 2.Under the CDM, the projects handled pertain only to the Annex-I countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (a).

The Clean Development Mechanism is one of the three flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, along with Joint Implementation and emissions trading, so statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: CDM projects are carried out in developing countries, which have no binding targets, and the credits they earn (certified emission reductions) can be bought by Annex-I countries to meet their targets.

  • 1. The CDM is one of the Kyoto Protocol's mechanisms.
  • 2. CDM projects are in developing (non-Annex-I) countries, not Annex-I ones.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (c) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: CDM projects are in developing (non-Annex-I) countries, not Annex-I ones.

    The red flag in statement 2 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 1 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The CDM is one of the Kyoto Protocol's mechanisms.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Statement 1 is right and statement 2 is wrong.
  • (b) Statement 2 is wrong: CDM projects are hosted by developing countries.
  • (c) Statement 2 is wrong, so both cannot be correct.
  • (d) Statement 1 is correct, so neither being correct is wrong.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2008, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.