UPSC Prelims 2018 Q35: Environment & Ecology – Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GACSA is an outcome of Paris Climate Summit 2015 | FALSE | GACSA was launched at the UN Climate Summit in New York, September 2014, NOT the Paris Summit of December 2015. |
| 2 | Membership creates no binding obligations | TRUE | GACSA is a voluntary, non-binding, multi-stakeholder platform hosted by the FAO. Members (governments, NGOs, private sector) sign on voluntarily with no legal obligations. |
| 3 | India was instrumental in creating GACSA | FALSE | India has NOT joined GACSA - India has been cautious/critical because GACSA does not explicitly separate mitigation from adaptation priorities of developing countries. Founding countries were led by USA, Netherlands, France, Vietnam, Kenya etc. |
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 1 gets the year/venue wrong (2014 NY, not 2015 Paris), and Statement 3 wrongly credits India.
- (b) CORRECT. Only Statement 2 is right - GACSA membership is voluntary and non-binding.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 3 is wrong - India has been outside GACSA.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements 1 and 3 are both factually wrong.
Key point
GACSA facts: Launched at UN Climate Summit New York, Sep 2014. Voluntary/non-binding platform hosted by FAO. India has NOT joined (concerns about mitigation-adaptation balance and 'climate-smart' definitions).
Remember
The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) was launched at the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2014, not the Paris Summit of 2015. It is a voluntary, non-binding platform hosted by the FAO. India has not joined GACSA, citing concerns about the balance between adaptation priorities of developing countries and the emphasis on mitigation.
Common mistakes
- Assuming everything climate-related was launched at Paris 2015 - GACSA predates Paris and is from NY 2014.
- Believing India joined every major climate initiative - India stayed out of GACSA due to specific reservations.
- Confusing GACSA with the International Solar Alliance (ISA, 2015 Paris) - completely different bodies.
Exam tip
Climate initiative dates: GACSA = NY 2014 (voluntary, India out). ISA = Paris 2015 (India-France led). CDRI = UN Climate Summit 2019 (India-UK led). LiFE = COP-26 2021 (Indian initiative).
Sources
- FAO - GACSA Framework Document (2014)
- MEA India - India's Position on Climate-Smart Agriculture