Which of the following state- ments is/ are correct ? I. India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 2. Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry in the Government of India for the UNCCD. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), having signed the agreement on October 14, 1994, and ratified it on December 17, 1996 [3]. The convention is a legally binding international agreement that links environment and development to sustainable land management [1]. Statement I is therefore correct. Regarding Statement II, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) serves as the nodal ministry for the UNCCD in India, not the Ministry of Home Affairs [5]. The MoEFCC is responsible for planning, promoting, and coordinating the implementation of the convention's goals, including the preparation of National Action Programmes to combat desertification and land degradation [6]. Consequently, Statement II is incorrect, making '1 only' the correct answer.

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > 28.17. UNCCD > p. 407
2. [3] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 3: Terrestrial Ecosystems > Control measures > p. 31
3. [5] https://english.icfre.gov.in/bulletin_board/bulletin104.pdf
4. [6] https://moef.gov.in/uploads/2023/07/NAP%20final-2023.pdf