UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Agasthyamalai eviction orders still silence Forest Rights Act

Q1. Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the expression 'other traditional forest dweller' is defined with reference to which one of the following?

  • A. Primary residence in and dependence on forests for at least three generations prior to 13 December 2005, a generation meaning twenty-five years
  • B. Primary residence in and dependence on forests for at least three generations prior to 31 December 2007, a generation meaning twenty-five years
  • C. Primary residence in and dependence on forests for at least two generations prior to 13 December 2005, a generation meaning thirty years
  • D. Primary residence in and dependence on forests for at least three generations prior to 25 October 1980, a generation meaning twenty years

Q2. Which one of the following correctly describes the institutional arrangement for operationalising the Forest Rights Act, 2006?

  • A. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, acting through its Forest Conservation Division
  • B. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with recognition and vesting of rights carried out by State Governments and UT Administrations
  • C. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj, acting through the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) framework
  • D. The Ministry of Rural Development, acting through its Department of Land Resources

Q3. Kalakad-Mundanthurai, one of the protected areas lying within the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, has its conservation plan and core habitat regulated under Section 38-V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Which one of the following bodies exercises this statutory oversight?

  • A. The Central Zoo Authority, constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • B. The National Biodiversity Authority, constituted under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • C. The National Tiger Conservation Authority, constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • D. The Central Empowered Committee constituted in the Supreme Court's forest matters

Q4. As recorded in its UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves listing, how many wildlife sanctuaries lie within the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Five
  • D. Seven

Q5. Central financial assistance to States for the management of notified Biosphere Reserves in India is currently channelled through which one of the following?

  • A. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Biodiversity Conservation of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • B. The Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. The National Mission for a Green India under the National Action Plan on Climate Change
  • D. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund administered under the CAMPA Act, 2016

Q6. Which one of the following pairs correctly gives India's first designated Biosphere Reserve and the year of its designation?

  • A. Nilgiri — 1986
  • B. Nilgiri — 2000
  • C. Nanda Devi — 1988
  • D. Gulf of Mannar — 1989

Q7. In directing a time-bound, division-wise plan to evict encroachments in the Agasthyamalai landscape, the Supreme Court addressed the position of the officials executing the drive in which one of the following ways?

  • A. It conferred complete and permanent immunity on all officials from every civil and criminal proceeding arising out of the drive
  • B. It granted immunity from prosecution to forest, police and revenue officials for eviction and demarcation work, except where the action is mala fide or arbitrary
  • C. It required that each and every eviction be preceded in all cases by prior sanction from the National Green Tribunal
  • D. It barred State officials entirely from executing evictions, entrusting the whole exercise exclusively to the Central Empowered Committee

Q8. With reference to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), whose findings underpin the Supreme Court's directions on the Agasthyamalai landscape, consider the following statements: 1. It was originally directed to be constituted at the national level by the Supreme Court in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad forest proceedings, to monitor compliance with the Court's orders on forests and wildlife. 2. Unlike the National Green Tribunal, which is a tribunal exercising original and appellate jurisdiction of its own, the CEC functions by examining matters and making recommendations in Supreme Court forest cases. 3. In its present composition, the CEC includes two non-governmental members drawn from wildlife organisations, whose concurrence is necessary before its reports are submitted. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was originally directed to be constituted at the national level by the Supreme Court in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad forest proceedings, to monitor compliance with the Court's orders on forests and wildlife.
  2. Unlike the National Green Tribunal, which is a tribunal exercising original and appellate jurisdiction of its own, the CEC functions by examining matters and making recommendations in Supreme Court forest cases.
  3. In its present composition, the CEC includes two non-governmental members drawn from wildlife organisations, whose concurrence is necessary before its reports are submitted.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the Central Empowered Committee's interim report on encroachment in the Agasthyamalai landscape, consider the following statements: 1. It identified 4,601 encroachers in occupation of more than 5,000 hectares of reserved forest land in the landscape. 2. Measured against the extent found to be under encroachment, the land reclaimed till the time of the report was less than 5 per cent. 3. It recorded 118 unauthorised government and public-utility structures standing on forest land, while 116 of the encroachers were identified as serving or retired government employees. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It identified 4,601 encroachers in occupation of more than 5,000 hectares of reserved forest land in the landscape.
  2. Measured against the extent found to be under encroachment, the land reclaimed till the time of the report was less than 5 per cent.
  3. It recorded 118 unauthorised government and public-utility structures standing on forest land, while 116 of the encroachers were identified as serving or retired government employees.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The Agasthyamalai evictions have exposed a gap between what the Forest Rights Act, 2006 actually requires and what forest administrations demand in practice. Consider the following conditions: 1. Occupation of the forest land by a forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe claimant on or before 13 December 2005. 2. Proof of residence in the forest for three generations preceding 13 December 2005 by every claimant, whether a Scheduled Tribe or otherwise. 3. A ceiling on land recognised under an individual forest right, restricted to the area under actual occupation and in no case exceeding four hectares. 4. A blanket prohibition on carrying on any commercial activity on land over which forest rights have been recognised. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as requirements laid down by the Act itself?

  1. Occupation of the forest land by a forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe claimant on or before 13 December 2005.
  2. Proof of residence in the forest for three generations preceding 13 December 2005 by every claimant, whether a Scheduled Tribe or otherwise.
  3. A ceiling on land recognised under an individual forest right, restricted to the area under actual occupation and in no case exceeding four hectares.
  4. A blanket prohibition on carrying on any commercial activity on land over which forest rights have been recognised.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q11. With reference to the institutional machinery for settling claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, consider the following statements: 1. The Gram Sabha initiates the process of determining the nature and extent of forest rights, and its resolution is thereafter examined by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee. 2. Compared with the position under the original Rules, the 2012 amendment raised the representation of Scheduled Tribes in the Forest Rights Committee from one-third to two-thirds of its members. 3. Compared with the position under the original Rules, the 2012 amendment raised the quorum of the Gram Sabha for passing resolutions on forest rights claims from one-half to two-thirds of its members. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Gram Sabha initiates the process of determining the nature and extent of forest rights, and its resolution is thereafter examined by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee.
  2. Compared with the position under the original Rules, the 2012 amendment raised the representation of Scheduled Tribes in the Forest Rights Committee from one-third to two-thirds of its members.
  3. Compared with the position under the original Rules, the 2012 amendment raised the quorum of the Gram Sabha for passing resolutions on forest rights claims from one-half to two-thirds of its members.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Among the bodies that shape the balance between protected-area conservation and the rights of forest dwellers in India, which one is chaired by the Prime Minister?

  • A. The National Board for Wildlife, constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • B. The National Tiger Conservation Authority, constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • C. The State Level Monitoring Committee constituted under the Forest Rights Act, 2006
  • D. The National Biodiversity Authority, constituted under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002