With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements : 1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. 2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness. 3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (c)
• The Bombay Natural History Society (1883) is a non-governmental organisation — one of India's oldest — not an autonomous body under the Environment Ministry, so statement 1 is wrong.
• Its mission is conservation through action-based research, education and public awareness (statement 2), and it runs nature trails, camps and bird-watching programmes for the public (statement 3).
• It is BirdLife International's Indian partner and publishes the Journal of the BNHS.
• Hence 2 and 3 only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 1 is wrong: BNHS is an NGO.
- (b) 2 only
- Statement 3 on nature camps is also correct.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 1 is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.