UPSC Prelims 2019 question on Ramsar Convention Obligations

Statement by statement

Statement 1 – INCORRECT: Article 4 of the Ramsar Convention states that 'Each Contracting Party shall promote the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether they are included in the List or not, and provide adequately for their wandering.' It is not mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.

Statement 2 – INCORRECT: The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India. These rules were not specifically framed based on the recommendation of Ramsar Convention; they are domestic legislation.

Statement 3 – CORRECT: As per Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010, a 'wetland' means an area or of marsh, fen, peatland or water; natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres and includes all inland waters such as lakes, reservoir, tanks, backwaters, lagoon, creeks, estuaries and manmade wetland and the zone of direct influence on wetlands that is to say the drainage area or catchment region of the wetlands as determined by the authority.