UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SC calls sand mining mafia the ‘modern dacoits of Chambal’

Q1. Which one of the following is the Union nodal ministry for the administration of wildlife sanctuaries such as the National Chambal Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • C. Ministry of Mines
  • D. Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Q2. With reference to sanctuaries under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, consider the following statements: 1. Alteration of the boundaries of a sanctuary by a State Government requires the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife. 2. The National Board for Wildlife is chaired by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 3. Both the gharial and the Ganges river dolphin are placed in Schedule I of the Act. 4. The National Board for Wildlife was constituted under Section 5A, inserted by the 2002 amendment. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Alteration of the boundaries of a sanctuary by a State Government requires the recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife.
  2. The National Board for Wildlife is chaired by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
  3. Both the gharial and the Ganges river dolphin are placed in Schedule I of the Act.
  4. The National Board for Wildlife was constituted under Section 5A, inserted by the 2002 amendment.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The National Board for Wildlife, whose recommendation is mandatory before a State Government may alter sanctuary boundaries, was constituted under which section of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972?

  • A. Section 5A
  • B. Section 18
  • C. Section 26A
  • D. Section 35

Q4. Under Article 32 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is empowered to issue how many types of prerogative writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q5. When acting suo motu, the Supreme Court frequently relies on a provision that lets it pass any decree or order necessary to do 'complete justice' in a matter before it. This power is operationalised through which one of the following Articles?

  • A. Article 142
  • B. Article 32
  • C. Article 136
  • D. Article 226

Q6. In the suo motu proceedings on illegal sand mining, the Supreme Court stayed a Rajasthan notification that had de-notified the single largest tract of the National Chambal Sanctuary. What was the extent of that de-notified area?

  • A. 732 hectares
  • B. 232 hectares
  • C. 1,732 hectares
  • D. 5,400 hectares

Q7. With reference to the Supreme Court's suo motu proceedings on Chambal sand mining, consider the following statements: 1. The case was heard by a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. 2. The Court stayed a de-notification issued by the Government of Rajasthan. 3. The de-notified land lay within the National Chambal Sanctuary. 4. The stayed Rajasthan notification had been issued under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The case was heard by a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
  2. The Court stayed a de-notification issued by the Government of Rajasthan.
  3. The de-notified land lay within the National Chambal Sanctuary.
  4. The stayed Rajasthan notification had been issued under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4

Q8. Under Article 22(4) of the Constitution, preventive detention beyond how many months is ordinarily impermissible unless an Advisory Board reports sufficient cause?

  • A. Two months
  • B. Three months
  • C. Six months
  • D. Twelve months

Q9. Consider the following legislations: 1. National Security Act, 1980 2. Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 3. Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 4. Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 Which of the above are correctly identified as CENTRAL preventive detention laws?

  1. National Security Act, 1980
  2. Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974
  3. Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978
  4. Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. In the context of the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, what is a 'District Survey Report (DSR)'?

  • A. A district-level document identifying areas of deposition where sand mining may be permitted and areas of erosion/infrastructure proximity where it must be prohibited
  • B. A quarterly audit of royalty collected from sand mining leases in a district
  • C. A social-impact assessment of communities displaced by sand mining
  • D. A register of vehicles licensed to transport minor minerals within a district

Q11. With reference to the Chambal river, consider the following statements: 1. It originates in the Janapav Hills on the northern slopes of the Vindhyan Range. 2. It is a tributary of the Yamuna and thus part of the Ganges drainage system. 3. The Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar dams are built on it. 4. It originates within the State of Rajasthan. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It originates in the Janapav Hills on the northern slopes of the Vindhyan Range.
  2. It is a tributary of the Yamuna and thus part of the Ganges drainage system.
  3. The Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar dams are built on it.
  4. It originates within the State of Rajasthan.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4