With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015. 2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations. 3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• GACSA was launched at the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2014, hosted by FAO — not at Paris 2015, so statement 1 is wrong.
• Statement 2 is correct: it is a voluntary, multi-stakeholder platform of governments, NGOs, companies and research bodies; membership creates no binding obligations.
• Statement 3 is wrong: India was not among its founders and did not join, partly over concerns that it would legitimise corporate agriculture; the USA and FAO drove its creation.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong: GACSA began in 2014 and India was not a founder.
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: India was not instrumental.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.