Consider the following statements : 1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization. 2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Statement 1 is wrong: the India Sanitation Coalition (2015) is a multi-stakeholder platform hosted by FICCI, bringing together companies, NGOs and funders; it is not funded by the Government of India and the WHO.
• Statement 2 is treated as wrong in the official key: the National Institute of Urban Affairs (1976) is an autonomous research and training institute supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, not an 'apex body' of the Ministry.
• Hence neither statement is correct, option (d) — the official UPSC answer.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- The India Sanitation Coalition is a FICCI-hosted platform, not funded by the Government and the WHO.
- (b) 2 only
- The official key treats NIUA as an autonomous institute, not an apex body of the Ministry.
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- Neither statement is correct in the official key.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.