2015 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I

Question 25: Environment and Ecology

Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

aSaltwater crocodile
bOlive ridley turtle
cGangetic dolphin
dGharial

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

The Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was declared India's national aquatic animal in October 2009. It lives in the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system, is nearly blind and finds its way by echolocation, and is listed on Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Its presence indicates the health of river ecosystems.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) The saltwater crocodile is a reptile of estuaries; it is not the national aquatic animal.
  • (b) The Olive ridley turtle is a marine turtle known for mass nesting, but it is not the national aquatic animal.
  • (c) Correct: the Gangetic dolphin is the national aquatic animal.
  • (d) The gharial is a fish-eating crocodilian of rivers, critically endangered, but not the national aquatic animal.

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.