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Which beach became the first in Asia to get the 'Blue Flag' certification?
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Answer: Option D — Chandrabhaga beach (Odisha)
Detailed Solution
Chandrabhaga beach, near the Sun Temple at Konark in Puri district, Odisha, became the first beach in Asia to receive the "Blue Flag" certification in 2018, under a pilot project of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
What is the Blue Flag?
It is an international eco-label given to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators.
It is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The programme started in France in 1985 and became international in 1987.
To get it, a beach must meet 33 strict criteria in four areas: environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management, and safety and services.
The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed.
India's Blue Flag beaches:
In October 2020, eight Indian beaches received the international Blue Flag certification together: Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Puri, Odisha) and Radhanagar (Havelock/Swaraj Dweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
More beaches were added later, such as Kovalam (Kerala), Eden (Puducherry), and Minicoy Thundi and Kadmat (Lakshadweep), taking India's total to 12 by 2022.
The Ministry runs the "BEAMS" (Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services) programme under its ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project to help beaches meet these standards.
Chandrabhaga beach is also known for the Konark Dance Festival and the International Sand Art Festival held nearby, and it is linked to the legend of Samba, Lord Krishna's son, who was cured of leprosy by worshipping the Sun here.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Radhanagar, Kappad and Shivrajpur beaches received Blue Flag certification in 2020, after Chandrabhaga.
Quick tip
Remember: First Blue Flag beach in Asia = Chandrabhaga, Konark (Odisha), 2018; Blue Flag given by FEE (Denmark); 8 Indian beaches certified in 2020; BEAMS programme.
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Firsts in India & World — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Firsts in India & World, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the first persons and events in India and the world: the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize, the first woman to hold major offices, the first to climb Everest or reach space, and India's first institutions, newspapers, railways and satellites. It also covers the largest, longest, highest and smallest records in India and the world. These are pure memory questions, so revise them as short lists by theme: first women, first in sports, first in science and space, and first in governance. Be careful with the exact wording, such as 'first Indian' versus 'first person of Indian origin', or 'first woman President' versus 'first woman Prime Minister', since options are often designed to exploit this. Practise the firsts in India and the world questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.