2014 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I

Question 5: Environment and Ecology

With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements :

  1. 1.It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
  2. 2.It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness.
  3. 3.It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 and 3 only
b2 only
c2 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The Bombay Natural History Society, founded in 1883, is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, not an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It works for nature conservation through action-based research, education and public awareness, and it runs nature trails, camps and field programmes for the general public. So statements 2 and 3 are correct and statement 1 is wrong. Remember: BNHS is an NGO and a leading bird research institution, though it receives some government grants.

  • 1. BNHS is a non-governmental society, not an autonomous body of the ministry.
  • 2. Research, education and awareness are its stated conservation methods.
  • 3. It conducts nature trails and camps for the public.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: BNHS is a non-governmental society, not an autonomous body of the ministry.

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

    What you needed to know: It conducts nature trails and camps for the public.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.

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) Wrong. Statement 1 is false because BNHS is an NGO, not a ministry's autonomous body.
  • (b) Wrong. Statement 3 is also true since BNHS organizes nature trails and camps.
  • (c) Right. Statements 2 and 3 are correct; statement 1 is not.
  • (d) Wrong. Statement 1 is false, so not all three hold.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.