Question 1

Patna Bird Sanctuary is located in Bihar.

Accepted Answer

It is located in the Jalesar subdivision of Etah district, Uttar Pradesh, and is the smallest bird sanctuary in UP at just over 1 sq km.

Question 2

Chhari-Dhand is a permanent freshwater lake.

Accepted Answer

It is a seasonal, saline desert wetland on the edge of the Banni grasslands that only gets swampy during the monsoon.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the newly added Ramsar sites in India:
1. Patna Bird Sanctuary is the largest bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and is located in the Gangetic plains.
2. Chhari-Dhand Wetland is a seasonal saline wetland located on the edge of the Banni grasslands.
3. With the addition of these two sites, India holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(b) Only two — Statement 1 is incorrect because Patna Bird Sanctuary is the smallest (not largest) bird sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, covering an area of just about 1 sq km. Statement 2 is correct; Chhari-Dhand sits between the arid Banni grasslands and the salt flats of Kutch. Statement 3 is correct; India now has 98 sites, the highest in Asia.

Question 4

Match List I (Ramsar Site / Wetland) with List II (Key Ecological Feature):
List I:
A. Chhari-Dhand
B. Patna Bird Sanctuary
C. Keoladeo National Park
D. Loktak Lake

List II:
1. Phumdis (floating islands)
2. Montreux Record site in Rajasthan
3. Smallest bird sanctuary in UP with lentic lake
4. Interface of Banni grasslands and salt flats

Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 — A matches 4: Chhari-Dhand is located at the edge of the Banni grasslands and Kutch salt flats. B matches 3: Patna Bird Sanctuary is a 1 sq km lentic lake in UP. C matches 2: Keoladeo is on the Montreux Record. D matches 1: Loktak Lake is famous for floating phumdis and is also on the Montreux Record.

Question 5

Assertion (A): Chhari-Dhand was designated as a 'Conservation Reserve' under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 rather than a strict National Park.
Reason (R): The 'Conservation Reserve' status allows for community consultation and protects the traditional pastoral livelihoods of the local Maldhari community.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are correct. In 2008, the Gujarat State Forest Department chose the 'Conservation Reserve' tag over 'National Park' specifically because it acts as a buffer zone and is managed through community participation, which safeguards the rights of the indigenous Maldhari pastoralists.

Addition of Two New Ramsar Sites in India

AFSPA Extended in Nagaland, Arunachal, and Manipur