SSC
The International Day for Biological Diversity is observed on:
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Answer: Option D — 22 May
Detailed Solution
The International Day for Biological Diversity (World Biodiversity Day) is observed every year on 22 May.
Why 22 May:
- On 22 May 1992, the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted in Nairobi, Kenya.
- The CBD was opened for signature at the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 5 June 1992, and came into force on 29 December 1993.
At first, the day was observed on 29 December. In 2000, the UN General Assembly changed the date to 22 May, partly because many countries found it difficult to hold celebrations in late December.
About the Convention on Biological Diversity:
It has three main objectives:
- The conservation of biological diversity.
- The sustainable use of its components.
- The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
- Its secretariat is in Montreal, Canada.
It has two supplementary agreements:
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000): on the safe handling of living modified organisms (LMOs).
- Nagoya Protocol (2010): on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (ABS).
In December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at COP15. It includes the "30 by 30" target: to protect 30 per cent of the world's land and oceans by 2030.
India and biodiversity:
- India is one of the 17 "megadiverse" countries of the world.
- India has four of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots: the Himalaya, the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Sundaland (including the Nicobar Islands).
- India passed the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and set up the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in 2003 at Chennai.
- India hosted the CBD COP11 in Hyderabad in 2012.
Other related days:
- Earth Day: 22 April.
- World Environment Day: 5 June.
- World Wildlife Day: 3 March.
Why not the other options?
- ✗22 April is Earth Day.
- ✗5 June is World Environment Day.
- ✗3 March is World Wildlife Day.
Quick tip
Remember: International Day for Biological Diversity = 22 May (CBD text adopted in Nairobi, 22 May 1992); Biological Diversity Act 2002; NBA in Chennai; India hosted COP11 (Hyderabad, 2012).
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Important Days & Dates — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Important Days & Dates, 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 national and international days observed through the year, such as National Youth Day, World Environment Day and International Yoga Day, along with the themes announced for them and the events or people they commemorate. Questions ask for the date of a day, the day observed on a given date, or the person it honours (for example, National Sports Day on 29 August marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand). Revise days month by month in a calendar format. Themes change every year, so learn the current year's themes from current affairs. Practise the important days 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.