UPSC Prelims 2014 · Question 65 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2014 question on Bombay Natural History Society

With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements:

1. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

2. It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness.

3. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
Show answer

Answer: C. 2 and 3 only

Verdict

The answer is 2 and 3 only. The Bombay Natural History Society does research, education and nature camps, but it is not an autonomous organisation under the environment ministry.

Analysis

Statement 1 is INCORRECT. BNHS, founded in 1883, is an independent non governmental membership organisation. It works closely with the government and receives support, but it is not listed among the ministry's autonomous bodies. Statement 2 is CORRECT. Its work in conservation research, ringing and bird migration studies, and public education is long established. Statement 3 is CORRECT. It runs nature trails, camps and outreach programmes for the general public.

Source

Ministry of Environment and Forests list of autonomous organisations, together with BNHS material.

How to crack it

The examiner's own analysis calls this deceptive presentation: two obviously true statements are paired with one plausible institutional claim, so the question turns entirely on legal status. Whenever an organisation question includes a status claim, that claim is the target. Check age against the claimed parent ministry as a first filter, since a body founded in 1883 predates the ministry by nearly a century. Non governmental, autonomous, statutory and constitutional are four different things and UPSC tests the boundaries between them repeatedly.

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