UPSC Prelims 2001 Q52: Environment & Ecology – International Environmental Treaties & Summits
Match List I with List II
and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List I (Important Day)
I. World Environment Day
II. World Forestry Day
III. World Habitat Day
IV. World Ozone Day
List II (Date)
A) March 20
B) June 5
C) September 16
D) October 3
E) December 10
- (a) I - B, II - A, III - D, IV - E
- (b) I - A, II - B, III - D, IV - C
- (c) I - A, II - B, III - C, IV - D
- (d) I - B, II - A, III - D, IV - C
Answer: (d) I - B, II - A, III - D, IV - C
Explanation
Matching important days with their dates
| Day (List I) | Date (List II) |
|---|---|
| I. World Environment Day | B. June 5 — from the 1972 Stockholm Conference |
| II. World Forestry Day | A. March 20/21 — now the International Day of Forests, 21 March |
| III. World Habitat Day | D. October 3 — first Monday of October (3 October in 2000) |
| IV. World Ozone Day | C. September 16 — date of the Montreal Protocol, 1987 |
Environment Day is 5 June, Forestry Day falls on 21 March (the paper used 20 March), Habitat Day is the first Monday of October, and Ozone Day is 16 September. December 10 is Human Rights Day and is not matched.
Answer: (d) I - B, II - A, III - D, IV - C.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Ozone Day is 16 September, not 10 December.
- (b) Incorrect. Environment Day is 5 June, not 20 March.
- (c) Incorrect. Environment Day and Forestry Day are swapped, and so are Habitat and Ozone Days.
- (d) CORRECT. Environment–June 5, Forestry–March, Habitat–October, Ozone–September 16.
Key point
Other days: World Wetlands Day 2 February; World Water Day 22 March; Earth Day 22 April; Biodiversity Day 22 May; Human Rights Day 10 December.
Remember
June 5 Environment; Sept 16 Ozone; first Monday of October Habitat.
Common mistakes
- Swapping Ozone Day (16 September) and Habitat Day (October).
- Using 10 December, which is Human Rights Day.
- Mixing up Environment Day and Forestry Day.
Exam tip
Fix the surest date, 5 June, first; it removes two options at once.
Sources
- United Nations — International Days (un.org/en/observances)
- UNEP Ozone Secretariat — International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer