UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I
Question 25: Environment and Ecology
With reference to India, consider the following Central Acts :
- 1.Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947
- 2.Mining and Mineral Development (Regulation) Act, 1957
- 3.Customs Act, 1962
- 4.Indian Forest Act, 1927
Which of the above Acts have relevance to/bearing on the biodiversity conservation in the country ?
AnswerThe answer is (c).
All four Acts bear on biodiversity conservation. The Indian Forest Act, 1927 governs reserved and protected forests. The Mining and Mineral Development (Regulation) Act, 1957 regulates mining, which damages habitats. The Customs Act, 1962 lets the government prohibit imports and exports, including trade in endangered species. The Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947 was used to restrict trade in wildlife and plant products. So (c) is the answer.
- 1. It controlled trade, including in wildlife and plant products.
- 2. It regulates mining, which can damage habitats.
- 3. It can prohibit import and export of endangered species.
- 4. It governs reserved and protected forests.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Leaves out the Mining and Forest Acts, which also affect conservation.
- (b) Leaves out the 1947 trade-control Act, which also bore on wildlife trade.
- (c) Right: all four Acts have a bearing on biodiversity conservation.
- (d) Wrong: each Act has some bearing.
Worth knowing: The 1947 Act was repealed in 1992 by the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, which now carries that trade-control role.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.