UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The Aravalli question faces the brunt of India’s fondness for ‘strategic exemptions’

Q1. The 'strategic considerations' clause invoked by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in September 2025 to exempt mining of critical, strategic and atomic minerals from mandatory public hearings is found under which one of the following?

  • A. EIA Notification, 2006 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • B. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
  • C. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
  • D. Atomic Energy Act, 1962

Q2. In which year did the Union Cabinet approve the National Critical Mineral Mission, the policy backdrop to the 'strategic exemption' for critical mineral mining in the Aravalli controversy?

  • A. 2022
  • B. 2023
  • C. 2024
  • D. 2025

Q3. In the Supreme Court's November 2025 order on the Aravallis, which institution was directed to prepare the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) for the range?

  • A. Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
  • B. Forest Survey of India (FSI)
  • C. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
  • D. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Q4. In its November 20, 2025 order, the Supreme Court defined the 'Aravalli Hills' as any landform with an elevation of:

  • A. 50 metres or more above local relief
  • B. 100 metres or more above local relief
  • C. 200 metres or more above mean sea level
  • D. 500 metres or more above mean sea level