UPSC Prelims 2013 Q32: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Consider the following pairs: National Park : River flowing through the Park
1. Corbett National Park : Ganga
2. Kaziranga National Park : Manas
3. Silent Valley National Park : Kaveri
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) None
Answer: (d) None
Explanation
National Parks and the rivers flowing through them
| Pair | Verdict | Actual river |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Corbett National Park : Ganga | Incorrect | The Ramganga |
| 2. Kaziranga National Park : Manas | Incorrect | The Brahmaputra bounds it on the north; the Diphlu flows through it |
| 3. Silent Valley National Park : Kaveri | Incorrect | The Kunthipuzha, a tributary of the Bharathapuzha |
The three parks:
| Park | State | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Corbett | Uttarakhand | India's first national park (1936); tigers |
| Kaziranga | Assam | One-horned rhinoceros; World Heritage Site |
| Silent Valley | Kerala | Rain forest; lion-tailed macaque; saved by a people's movement |
The Manas river flows through Manas National Park, also in Assam.
Answer: (d) None.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Corbett has the Ramganga, and Kaziranga has the Brahmaputra.
- (b) Incorrect. Silent Valley has the Kunthipuzha, not the Kaveri.
- (c) Incorrect. Pairs 1 and 3 are both wrong.
- (d) CORRECT. None of the pairs is correctly matched.
Key point
Corbett - Ramganga; Kaziranga - Brahmaputra and Diphlu; Silent Valley - Kunthipuzha; Manas National Park - Manas river.
Remember
Corbett = Ramganga; Silent Valley = Kunthipuzha.
Common mistakes
- Linking Corbett to the Ganga because both are in Uttarakhand.
- Confusing Kaziranga with Manas National Park.
- Giving Kerala's Silent Valley the Kaveri, a river of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Exam tip
Each pair uses a famous river of the same region as bait.
Sources
- National Tiger Conservation Authority — Corbett Tiger Reserve
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — National Parks of India