Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) Gangetic dolphin
The Gangetic (Ganges river) dolphin is India's national aquatic animal. The decision was taken at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority on 5 October 2009, chaired by the Prime Minister.
- ✓ (c) The river dolphin was declared the national aquatic animal to aid its conservation. It is an endangered freshwater mammal and an indicator of the health of the river. Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 includes it among its protected species.
- ✗ (a) The saltwater crocodile is a reptile of estuaries and coasts. It holds no national symbol status.
- ✗ (b) The olive ridley is a marine turtle known for mass nesting on the Odisha coast. It is not a national symbol.
- ✗ (d) The gharial is a fish-eating crocodilian of rivers in northern India, such as the Chambal. It was not chosen as the national aquatic animal.
Remember · Gangetic (Ganges river) dolphin = national aquatic animal, declared 5 October 2009 by the NGRBA; a nearly blind freshwater mammal that uses echolocation and indicates river health.
Sources
- PIB (Ministry of Environment and Forests): Dolphin declared as a National Aquatic Animal for Conservation ↗ “During the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) held on 5th October 2009, under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, it was decided to declare River Dolphin as National Aquatic Animal.”
- PIB (MoEFCC): India Conducts First-ever Ganges River Dolphin Tagging in Assam ↗ “The Ganges River Dolphin, India's National Aquatic Animal, is unique in its ecology, being nearly blind and relying on echolocation for its biological needs.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
