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Q57 (IAS/2021) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Urban forestry initiatives Official Key

Consider the following statements : Statement 1 : The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the World. Statement 2 : Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 because Statement 1 is factually incorrect, while Statement 2 is accurate regarding the criteria for the recognition.

Analysis of Statement 1: The recognition of Hyderabad as the "2020 Tree City of the World" was jointly conferred by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, not the UNCDF. Since the governing body mentioned in the statement is incorrect, Statement 1 is false.

Analysis of Statement 2: This statement is correct. Hyderabad earned this distinction for its consistent commitment to urban forestry through initiatives like Telanganaku Haritha Haram. The city met five essential standards: establishing responsibility, setting rules, knowing what you have (inventory), allocating resources, and celebrating achievements. Selection is based on a city's demonstrated dedication to growing and maintaining its green cover.

Therefore, as Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true, Option 4 is the only valid choice.

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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : Statement 1 : The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have r…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Agency Swap' trap. The news was major (Hyderabad being the only Indian city), but UPSC replaced 'FAO' with 'UNCDF'. Strategy: For every index or award, memorize the exact awarding body—never assume 'some UN agency' is close enough.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Did the Arbor Day Foundation and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) recognize Hyderabad as a "Tree City of the World" for 2020?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: International Organisations > Chapter 4 International Organisations > p. 50
Strength: 3/5
“Social and economic issues are dealt with by many agencies including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Human Rights Commision (UNHRC), the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Childr en's Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), among others.”
Why relevant

Lists United Nations development agencies and shows that multiple UN bodies engage with social/environmental issues.

How to extend

A student could use this to justify checking whether UNCDF (as a UN agency) partners with other organizations on city recognitions and then look up UNCDF's announcements or partner lists for 2020.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > MILLENNIUM SUMMIT AND THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DECLARATION > p. 597
Strength: 3/5
“The Millennium Summit was held in 2000 at the United Nations' headquarters in New York City. It was aimed to analyze the role of the United Nations in the 21st century. The United Nations Millennium Declaration was ratified by world leaders to eradicate poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.”
Why relevant

Describes the UN's role in addressing global issues and issuing declarations/initiatives.

How to extend

Use this pattern to infer that UN-affiliated funds (like UNCDF) sometimes participate in city-level recognitions, so one should search UN/UNCDF communications for a Tree City collaboration in 2020.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > I5.I. WILD LIFE PROTECTION ACT 1972 > p. 211
Strength: 3/5
“• India is the first country in the world to have made provisions for the protection and conservation of environment in its constitution. On 5th June 1976, environment was first discussed as an item of international agenda in the U.N. Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm and thereafter 5th June is celebrated all over the world as World Environment Day. • Soon after the Stockholm Conference our country took substantive legislative steps for environmental protection.”
Why relevant

Notes that environmental protection is on the UN's international agenda and that states/institutions take substantive steps after UN events.

How to extend

A student could treat this as a general rule that UN-related environmental recognitions exist and therefore check UN/partner records (e.g., UNCDF press releases) for Tree City of the World entries for 2020.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > India initiatives related to REDD+ > p. 338
Strength: 4/5
“• r India has made a submission to UNFCCC on "REDD, Sustainable Management of Forest (SMF) and Afforestation and Reforestation (A&R)" in December 2008. • r A Technical Group has been set up to develop methodologies and procedures to assess and There is likely to be an increase in Net Primary Productivity (NPP) ranging from 0.05 * 57 /o.”
Why relevant

Gives an example of India engaging with UN climate/forest programs (REDD+), showing Indian cities or institutions do participate in UN-linked forestry initiatives.

How to extend

Combine this with knowledge that Indian cities engage internationally to motivate checking whether Hyderabad appears on international tree/city lists for 2020 (Arbor Day Foundation/UNCDF announcements).

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 14: Settlements > S.M. Rafiullah's Technique: > p. 36
Strength: 4/5
“• 1. Administrative Cities: The main function of the administrative cities/towns is to administer the country, state or any other administrative unit. It includes not only the capital cities of the country, but also all the centres of states, districts and other administrative divisional headquarters of the country. Administrative cities also have the legislative, executive and judiciary of the respective administrative unit. New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Shillong, Dispur, Aizawl, Kohima, etc., are essentially administrative cities.• 2. Defence Towns: The dominant functions in a defence town pertain to security and defence of the country.”
Why relevant

Identifies Hyderabad as an administrative city of India, implying it is the kind of urban entity that could be nominated for city-level recognitions.

How to extend

A student can use this to restrict searches to Hyderabad (the city) in Arbor Day Foundation/UNCDF 2020 city recognition lists or press releases.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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