UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Commercial farming in forest land is not protected by FRA: SC

Q1. Consider the following situations under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006: Which of the situations given above is/are consistent with the Act?

  1. A forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe family seeks recognition of its right over a plot it has cultivated for subsistence since well before December 2005.
  2. A forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe family seeks recognition of its right over a plot it first brought under cultivation for subsistence in 2012.
  3. A family holding a recognised title for self-cultivation sells that title to a neighbouring farmer who needs more land.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The Supreme Court has said that the cultivation of commercial crops in reserve forest areas is not protected by the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
  2. The right to hold and live in forest land under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 is framed around habitation or self-cultivation for livelihood.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. A State Government's decision alone is not sufficient to put forest land under horticultural crops.
  2. The Indian Forest Act, 1927 vests the decision on diverting forest land for non-forest purposes in the Central Government.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. With reference to eligibility under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The requirement of showing three generations of residence applies to Other Traditional Forest Dwellers and not to forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes.
  2. An Other Traditional Forest Dweller must prove possession of the specific plot claimed throughout the three-generation period.
  3. Occupation of the land claimed before the December 2005 cut-off is required of claimants from both groups.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. With reference to the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, as amended in 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Establishing fire lines and fencing in a forest counts as a non-forest purpose requiring prior central approval.
  2. Assigning forest land by lease to a government-owned entity also requires prior central approval.
  3. Land recorded as forest in a government record may be covered by the Act even if it was not notified under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 3 only

Q6. With reference to forest and conservation designations, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Designation of an area as a biosphere reserve requires that human settlements be excluded from all of its zones.
  2. A reserved forest comes into being through a notification issued by the Central Government under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2