2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 22: Environment and Ecology

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The boundaries of a National Park are defined by legislation.
  2. 2.A Biosphere Reserve is declared to conserve a few specific species of flora and fauna.
  3. 3.In a Wildlife Sanctuary, limited biotic interference is permitted.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c1 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Once a National Park is notified, its boundary can be changed only by a resolution of the State Legislature (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972), so its limits are effectively fixed by legislation. A Wildlife Sanctuary allows some human activity, such as permitted grazing and collection of forest produce, so limited biotic interference is permitted. A Biosphere Reserve protects whole ecosystems and their genetic diversity, including the people who live in them, not a few chosen species, so statement 2 is wrong.

  • 1. A National Park's boundary can be altered only by a resolution of the State Legislature.
  • 2. A Biosphere Reserve conserves whole ecosystems and genetic diversity, not a few species.
  • 3. A sanctuary permits limited biotic activity such as regulated grazing.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: A Biosphere Reserve conserves whole ecosystems and genetic diversity, not a few species.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: A sanctuary permits limited biotic activity such as regulated grazing.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.

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) Leaves out statement 3, which is also correct.
  • (b) Statement 2 is wrong: biosphere reserves conserve whole ecosystems, not a few species.
  • (c) Right: statements 1 and 3 are correct.
  • (d) Statement 2 is wrong, so all three cannot hold.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.