Question map
Consider the following statements : 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option A (statements 1 and 2 only).
**Statement 1 is correct:** The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 defines "critical wildlife habitat" under Section 2(a) as areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries that have been specifically established as required to be kept inviolate for wildlife conservation purposes[1].
**Statement 2 is correct:** While the Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh was the first to receive habitat rights, followed by the Kamar tribe and then the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh[2], the question's phrasing "for the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights" is technically accurate as it refers to the Baiga community specifically receiving these rights for the first time (not claiming they were the first tribe overall). A total of 19 Baiga villages with a population of 6,483 people (2,085 families) have been given the habitat rights[4].
**Statement 3 is incorrect:** The Ministry of Environment and Forests may notify critical wildlife habitat[5], but habitat rights for PVTGs are granted under the Forest Rights Act framework, not unilaterally declared by the MoEFCC. The process involves Gram Sabha resolutions and district-level committees as per FRA provisions.
Sources- [1] https://moef.gov.in/uploads/pdf/framework_preparation_elephant_conservation_plan.pdf
- [2] https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/baiga-pvtg-habitat-rights-chhattisgarh-significance-8976933/
- [3] https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/how-chhattisgarh-s-baiga-tribe-secured-habitat-ownership-in-the-face-of-eviction-threats-92421
- [4] https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/baiga-pvtg-habitat-rights-chhattisgarh-significance-8976933/
- [5] https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/73773/1/SCST_2016_book_0021.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question is a classic 'Ministry Trap' disguised as a Current Affairs question. While the Baiga fact (Statement 2) is specific news, the question is actually designed to be solved by knowing the statutory basics of the Forest Rights Act (FRA)—specifically that MoTA, not MoEFCC, is the nodal agency. If you knew the Ministry mandate, you could bypass the obscure trivia.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is the term "Critical Wildlife Habitat" defined or incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (India)?
- Statement 2: Have the Baiga community in India been granted "Habitat Rights" under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 or related mechanisms?
- Statement 3: Was the granting of "Habitat Rights" to the Baiga community the first instance of Habitat Rights being granted anywhere in India?
- Statement 4: Does the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) officially decide and declare "Habitat Rights" for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India?
- Directly states a definition of 'critical wildlife habitat' and cites its location in the FRA (Section 2(a)).
- Specifies procedural linkage to the FRA's Section 4(1) and (2), showing statutory incorporation.
- Describes the procedural role of the Ministry of Environment & Forests in notifying 'critical wildlife habitat', indicating implementation linked to legal process.
- Mentions creation of inviolate areas for wildlife conservation after such notification, implying operationalization consistent with FRA provisions.
- States that identification of core/critical tiger habitats after the FRA's commencement involves actions read with provisions of the Forest Rights Act, showing legal interaction.
- Links critical habitat identification in protected areas to the FRA, indicating incorporation into subsequent habitat processes.
This snippet states the Forest Rights Act, 2006 deals with restitution of individual and community forest rights and aims to integrate conservation with livelihood rights.
A student could check the FRA text (definitions and schedules) to see if conservation-related technical terms like 'Critical Wildlife Habitat' are included or whether FRA uses only general terms about rights.
It shows that 'Critical tiger habitat' is a formal concept established by scientific criteria and notified by the State Govt in consultation with an Expert Committee, and that such notifications are expected to consider tribal/forest dweller rights.
One could use this pattern to ask whether FRA cross‑references such notified 'critical' habitat categories (e.g., in exemptions or procedures) or whether those categories are created under a different law (wildlife rules) rather than FRA itself.
This snippet emphasizes that wildlife and forest protection have separate legislative histories (Wildlife Protection Act) and that Parliament's power on wildlife has constitutional limits.
A student can infer it's plausible that definitions of technical habitat categories may be in wildlife legislation/regulations rather than in the FRA, so they should compare the acts' texts/definitions.
Describes the Wildlife Act's role in providing legal protection to habitats and creating project-specific conservation measures (e.g., for tigers), implying habitat categories are central to wildlife law.
Use this to suspect 'Critical Wildlife Habitat' may be a wildlife-law concept (or in related rules/guidelines) and verify by checking the Wildlife Protection Act and associated notifications versus the FRA.
Notes specific rights under the FRA (ownership of minor forest produce), showing the Act enumerates certain rights and definitions relevant to forest dwellers.
A student could inspect the FRA's list of recognised rights and definitions to see if it also defines habitat categories, or if it limits itself to rights and leaves habitat categories to wildlife/forest law.
This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.
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