UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Plan to relocate Great Nicobar’s tribal communities stirs fresh concern

Q1. Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which one of the following is the authority empowered to initiate the process of determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights?

  • A. The Gram Sabha
  • B. The Sub-Divisional Level Committee
  • C. The District Level Committee
  • D. The State Level Monitoring Committee

Q2. Under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, an 'other traditional forest dweller' is defined as a person/community who has primarily resided in and depended on forest land for how long prior to 13 December 2005?

  • A. At least three generations, a generation being reckoned as 25 years
  • B. At least two generations, a generation being reckoned as 30 years
  • C. At least three generations, a generation being reckoned as 20 years
  • D. At least one generation, a generation being reckoned as 25 years

Q3. Among the components of the 'Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island' project, which one is the single largest by estimated cost?

  • A. The International Container Transshipment Terminal
  • B. The Greenfield International Airport
  • C. The gas- and solar-based power plant
  • D. The greenfield township

Q4. The gas- and solar-based power plant that forms part of the Great Nicobar project, whose clearance the NGT examined, has a sanctioned capacity of how many MVA?

  • A. 450 MVA
  • B. 150 MVA
  • C. 600 MVA
  • D. 45 MVA

Q5. With reference to the National Green Tribunal and its order on the Great Nicobar project, consider the following statements: 1. The Tribunal was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. 2. The order clearing the Great Nicobar terminal was passed by its Eastern Zone Bench at Kolkata. 3. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is one of the enactments in the schedule over which the Tribunal exercises jurisdiction. 4. The Tribunal had earlier constituted a High-Powered Committee to examine the project. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The Tribunal was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
  2. The order clearing the Great Nicobar terminal was passed by its Eastern Zone Bench at Kolkata.
  3. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is one of the enactments in the schedule over which the Tribunal exercises jurisdiction.
  4. The Tribunal had earlier constituted a High-Powered Committee to examine the project.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q6. The centrally-sponsored scheme for the 'Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)', covering all 75 PVTGs, is implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Tribal Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. Ministry of Rural Development

Q7. With reference to the Shompen and the Nicobarese of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, consider the following statements: 1. The Shompen are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, whereas the Nicobarese are not so recognised. 2. Both the Shompen and the Nicobarese are hunter-gatherers following a pre-agricultural mode of subsistence. 3. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and Shompen are the five recognised PVTGs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Shompen are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, whereas the Nicobarese are not so recognised.
  2. Both the Shompen and the Nicobarese are hunter-gatherers following a pre-agricultural mode of subsistence.
  3. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and Shompen are the five recognised PVTGs.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. With reference to the geography of Great Nicobar Island, consider the following statements: 1. It is the southernmost island of the Nicobar group. 2. Indira Point, the southernmost point of India, is located on it. 3. Galathea Bay is a nesting site of the leatherback turtle. 4. The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve was included in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1989. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It is the southernmost island of the Nicobar group.
  2. Indira Point, the southernmost point of India, is located on it.
  3. Galathea Bay is a nesting site of the leatherback turtle.
  4. The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve was included in UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1989.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q9. The no-objection certificate whose withdrawal is at the centre of the tribal-consent dispute over the Great Nicobar project had been issued for the denotification of how much tribal reserve area?

  • A. About 84.1 sq km
  • B. About 130 sq km
  • C. About 853 sq km
  • D. About 910 sq km

Q10. With reference to tribal welfare arrangements linked to the Great Nicobar project, consider the following statements: 1. The draft Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan proposes an outlay of about ₹42.52 crore. 2. The relocation under the draft plan is proposed to be carried out over a period of 24 months. 3. The project is stated to be aligned with the Shompen Policy of 2015. 4. The Jarawa Policy guiding tribal welfare in the islands was adopted in 2015. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The draft Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan proposes an outlay of about ₹42.52 crore.
  2. The relocation under the draft plan is proposed to be carried out over a period of 24 months.
  3. The project is stated to be aligned with the Shompen Policy of 2015.
  4. The Jarawa Policy guiding tribal welfare in the islands was adopted in 2015.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only