With reference to Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), consider the following statements : (1). It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. (2). It strives to conserve nature through action-based research, education and public awareness. (3). It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is C. Statements 2 and 3 are right, and statement 1 is wrong.

BNHS, founded in 1883, is an independent, non-governmental registered society. It is not an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, so statement 1 fails. Many aspirants mistake it for a government-run research body because of its long record in wildlife research and its role in projects such as the Great Indian Bustard recovery programme.

Statement 2 is correct. BNHS describes its mission as nature conservation through action-based research, education and public awareness, and its hornbill studies and field programmes reflect that. Statement 3 is also correct: BNHS regularly organises nature trails, camps and field excursions open to the public.

The concept here is the difference between government bodies, statutory bodies, autonomous institutions and NGOs or societies. This matters for GS-III on environment governance and the role of civil society in conservation. For Mains, BNHS is a good example of how non-state actors complement state wildlife policy.

Trap: Assuming any body with "Natural History" in its name is a government or MoEF-linked agency, and rejecting option C without checking statement 3.