2015 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I

Question 12: Environment and Ecology

With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. 1.IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
  2. 2.IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
  3. 3.CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

IUCN is not an organ of the United Nations. Founded in 1948, it is a union of governments and civil society organisations, so statement 1 is wrong. It does run a large number of field projects worldwide to manage natural environments better, and CITES, an agreement between governments, binds its parties legally but does not replace national laws. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

  • 1. IUCN is a membership union of governments and NGOs, not a United Nations organ.
  • 2. IUCN runs many field projects across the world to manage natural environments.
  • 3. CITES binds member States legally but does not take the place of national laws.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: IUCN is a membership union of governments and NGOs, not a United Nations organ.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.

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: IUCN is not a UN organ, so statement 1 fails.
  • (b) Correct: IUCN runs many field projects, and CITES is binding but works alongside national laws.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false and statement 2 is true.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 1 is false because IUCN is not a UN organ.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.