UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre plans new rail link to ‘controversial’ bauxite hills in Odisha

Q1. The Sijimali–Kutrumali hills fall in areas whose administration attracts the consent requirements of PESA, 1996. Under which constitutional provision are such Scheduled Areas administered?

  • A. Article 244(1) read with the Fifth Schedule
  • B. Article 244(2) read with the Sixth Schedule
  • C. Article 243M, which exempts these areas from Part IX
  • D. Article 371A, providing special provisions for the State

Q2. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 in the States?

  • A. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
  • B. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Rural Development

Q3. The Tikiri–Sijimali–Kutrumali corridor was declared a 'Special Railway Project' under clause (37A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989. Which authority notifies a project as a Special Railway Project under this clause?

  • A. The Central Government, through the Ministry of Railways
  • B. The Railway Board acting jointly with the Ministry of Mines
  • C. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • D. The concerned State Government on the recommendation of the zonal railway

Q4. As per the definition of a 'Special Railway Project' in clause (37A) of Section 2 of the Railways Act, 1989, such a project must cover at least how many States or Union territories?

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

Q5. With reference to the rail line notified in 2026 to the Sijimali–Kutrumali bauxite hills, consider the following: 1. Tikiri is the station from which the broad-gauge line is aligned to the mines. 2. The line falls under the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway. 3. Kalinga Alumina Ltd, an Adani group entity, is associated with the Kutrumali block. 4. The Vedanta group holds the mining rights over the Kutrumali block. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated?

  1. Tikiri is the station from which the broad-gauge line is aligned to the mines.
  2. The line falls under the Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway.
  3. Kalinga Alumina Ltd, an Adani group entity, is associated with the Kutrumali block.
  4. The Vedanta group holds the mining rights over the Kutrumali block.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q6. The Sijimali bauxite block was granted to its operator as a 'captive' mining lease. In the Indian mining context, a captive mine is one where the mineral extracted is:

  • A. Used exclusively for the lease-holder's own end-use (e.g. feeding its own refinery/plant), and not for open commercial sale
  • B. Reserved wholly for export under a government-to-government arrangement
  • C. Sold entirely to State-owned enterprises at an administered price
  • D. Extracted by the State itself and merely operated on contract by a private firm

Q7. Which Union ministry is the administrative ministry responsible for the survey, exploration and regulation of mineral resources such as bauxite in India (other than coal, petroleum and atomic minerals)?

  • A. Ministry of Mines
  • B. Ministry of Steel
  • C. Ministry of Coal
  • D. Ministry of Earth Sciences

Q8. With reference to bauxite resources in India, consider the following: 1. Odisha holds the single largest share of the country's bauxite resources. 2. Chhattisgarh is among the top three states by bauxite resources. 3. Andhra Pradesh holds significant bauxite deposits along the Eastern Ghats. 4. Rajasthan is the leading bauxite-producing state of India. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Odisha holds the single largest share of the country's bauxite resources.
  2. Chhattisgarh is among the top three states by bauxite resources.
  3. Andhra Pradesh holds significant bauxite deposits along the Eastern Ghats.
  4. Rajasthan is the leading bauxite-producing state of India.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q9. Consider the following statements distinguishing the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 from related forest law: 1. The Act recognises individual forest rights for habitation or self-cultivation subject to a ceiling of 4 hectares. 2. Like the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the FRA is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 3. The Act empowers the Gram Sabha to protect and manage community forest resources. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Act recognises individual forest rights for habitation or self-cultivation subject to a ceiling of 4 hectares.
  2. Like the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the FRA is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
  3. The Act empowers the Gram Sabha to protect and manage community forest resources.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Villagers alleging that Gram Sabha consent for the Sijimali forest diversion was manipulated escalated their complaints to the ministry that is the nodal ministry for the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Which ministry is this?

  • A. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
  • C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • D. Ministry of Rural Development

Q11. With reference to the April 2026 tribal–police confrontation over the Sijimali bauxite project, consider the following: 1. The affected villages lie in the Rayagada–Kalahandi region of Odisha. 2. The immediate trigger was construction of an access road to the mining site. 3. The affected area is a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule. 4. The bauxite hills form part of the Western Ghats. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The affected villages lie in the Rayagada–Kalahandi region of Odisha.
  2. The immediate trigger was construction of an access road to the mining site.
  3. The affected area is a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule.
  4. The bauxite hills form part of the Western Ghats.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q12. Consider the following statements about clearances for a mining project in India: 1. Under the EIA Notification, 2006, environmental clearance is granted through four stages: screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal. 2. Forest clearance for diversion of forest land is granted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, separately from environmental clearance. 3. Every project, without exception, must undergo public consultation before appraisal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the EIA Notification, 2006, environmental clearance is granted through four stages: screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal.
  2. Forest clearance for diversion of forest land is granted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, separately from environmental clearance.
  3. Every project, without exception, must undergo public consultation before appraisal.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3