Eminent Environmentalist Dr. Sunita Narain Passes Away
Renowned environmentalist and Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Dr. Sunita Narain, passed away at 64.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- Dr. Sunita Narain, DG of CSE, passed away on May 10, 2026.
- She was a recipient of the Padma Shri (2005) and the Stockholm Water Prize.
- She was known for her advocacy on air pollution, water harvesting, and climate justice.
- She edited the influential 'Down To Earth' magazine.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Very High | 12–20 | Environment and Ecology is a separate section in UPSC Prelims. GS-III includes environment, climate change, and disaster management. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | National parks, Ramsar sites, pollution levels, and climate summits appear in SSC GK. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–8 | State PCS papers test both central environment policy and state-specific conservation achievements. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- New Ramsar sites, UNESCO sites, Biosphere Reserves: name, state/country, reason for designation
- Climate summit outcomes: COP targets, India's commitments, new agreements
- Pollution data: India's air quality rank, river clean-up updates, plastic ban updates
- Endangered species: IUCN category, habitat, threats, conservation project
- Environmental laws and policies: recent amendments to Environment Protection Act, Forest Rights Act
Practice Questions
Q1. Dr. Sunita Narain was the Director General of which organization?
- TERI
- CSE
- WWF-India
- Greenpeace India
Explanation: Dr. Sunita Narain was the Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Q2. In which year was Dr. Sunita Narain awarded the Padma Shri?
- 2000
- 2005
- 2010
- 2015
Explanation: She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2005.
How to Prepare Environment for Government Exams
Ramsar sites and World Heritage Site additions are announced annually. Compile the year's additions — they are direct exam questions.
For UPSC, understand the international treaty context: Paris Agreement, CBD, CITES, Ramsar — know what each treaty does.
Climate news = policy news. Always note the government response to any environmental event — that's what UPSC Mains tests.
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