Consider the following statements : 1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India. 2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention. 3. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (c)
• Statement 1 is wrong: the Ramsar Convention obliges parties to conserve designated Wetlands of International Importance and to promote the 'wise use' of wetlands; it does not make protection of all wetlands in a country mandatory.
• Statement 2 is wrong: the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; they were not framed on the recommendations of the Ramsar Convention.
• Statement 3 is correct: the 2010 Rules define a wetland to include its drainage area or catchment region as determined by the authority.
• The 2010 Rules have since been replaced by the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
• Hence 3 only, option (c), as in the official UPSC key.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- Statements 1 and 2 are both wrong.
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 2 is wrong: the 2010 Rules were framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, not on Ramsar's recommendations.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 1 and 2 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.