Which of the following are the key features of 'National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)'? 1. River basin is the unit of planning and management. 2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level. 3. One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (a)
• The NGRBA (2009), set up under the Environment (Protection) Act, adopted the river basin as the unit of planning and management (statement 1) and spearheaded Ganga conservation at the national level (statement 2).
• Statement 3 is wrong: the Prime Minister chaired the NGRBA; the Chief Ministers of the five Ganga States were members.
• It was replaced in 2016 by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (National Ganga Council), also chaired by the PM.
• Hence 1 and 2 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: the PM, not a rotating CM, chaired NGRBA.
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong; statement 2 is correct.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.