Environmental Organisations: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Environmental Organisations (Environment and Ecology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2015Environment and Ecology · Environmental Organisations
Q1. With reference to an organisation known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations. 2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organisation. 3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organizations dedicated to the protection of birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity. Established in 1922 as the International Council for Bird Preservation, it has evolved into a worldwide network operating in over 100 countries.
Statement 1 is correct: BirdLife International functions as a global alliance of non-governmental organizations focused on bird conservation. Each partner represents a specific coun-try or territory, working collaboratively to achieve shared conservation goals.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The term "biodiversity hotspots" was introduced by British ecologist Norman Myers in 1988 to identify regions with significant levels of biodiversity under threat from human activities. This concept was later adopted and promoted by organizations such as Conservation International. It did not originate from BirdLife International.
Statement 3 is correct: BirdLife International is responsible for identifying and documenting Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). These sites are recognized for their critical importance to bird conservation and biodiversity. To date, over 13,000 IBAs have been identified worldwide, serving as a foundation for conservation planning and action.
UPSC 2015Environment and Ecology · Environmental Organisations
Q2. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource (IUCN) and the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments. 2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments. 3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: IUCN is an NGO, founded in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (or IUPN) following an international conference in Fon-tainebleau, France. Later the name was changed to International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). CITES is an international agreement between governments, aiming to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP and is located at Geneva, Switzerland.
Statement 2 is correct: IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects globally and brings governments, non-government organisations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy.
Statement 3 is correct: CITES is legally binding on its Parties but it does not replace national legislation. It provides a framework that each Party must implement through its own domestic laws to ensure the Convention’s provisions are enforced at the national level.
UPSC 2015Environment and Ecology · Environmental Organisations
Q3. Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct? 1. It is intended to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. 2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Explanation
As the world’s largest climate fund, GCF accelerates transformative climate action in developing countries through a country-owned partnership approach and use of flexible financing solutions and climate investment expertise.
Statement 1 is correct: Green Climate Fund aims to make an ambitious contribution to attaining the mitigation and adaptation goals of the international community to counter climate change. The Fund allocates its resources to low-emission and climate-resilient projects and programmes in developing countries.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The GCF was established in 2010 by 194 countries party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as an operating entity of the Convention’s financial mechanism. It is not founded under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or the World Bank.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2015
(c) 1 and 3 only
2
2015
(b) 2 and 3 only
3
2015
(a) 1 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Environmental Organisations?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Environmental Organisations (Environment and Ecology), asked from 2014 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Environmental Organisations?
Questions on Environmental Organisations (Environment and Ecology) are available for 7 years, from 2014 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
