UPSC Prelims 2015 GS Paper I · Q25 of 100 Environment & Ecology easy

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

  1. (a) Saltwater crocodile
  2. (b) Olive ridley turtle
  3. (c) Gangetic dolphin ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) Gharial

Why the answer is (c)

• The Gangetic river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was declared India's National Aquatic Animal in 2009 to draw attention to its endangered status in the Ganga–Brahmaputra system — option (c).

• It is a Schedule I species; Vikramshila Sanctuary in Bihar protects it, and Project Dolphin was launched in 2020.

• The gharial (d), olive ridley (b) and saltwater crocodile (a) are protected but not the national aquatic animal.

• Hence option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Saltwater crocodile
The saltwater crocodile is not the national aquatic animal.
(b) Olive ridley turtle
The olive ridley is not the national aquatic animal.
(d) Gharial
The gharial is not the national aquatic animal.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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