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Q98 (IAS/2018) Environment & Ecology › Environment Laws, Policies & Institutions (India) › Forest Rights Act Official Key

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 ?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: A
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. [1] https://moef.gov.in/uploads/pdf/framework_preparation_elephant_conservation_plan.pdf
  2. [2] https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/baiga-pvtg-habitat-rights-chhattisgarh-significance-8976933/
  3. [3] https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/how-chhattisgarh-s-baiga-tribe-secured-habitat-ownership-in-the-face-of-eviction-threats-92421
  4. [4] https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/baiga-pvtg-habitat-rights-chhattisgarh-significance-8976933/
  5. [5] https://repository.tribal.gov.in/bitstream/123456789/73773/1/SCST_2016_book_0021.pdf
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2.…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10
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This 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.

How this question is built

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)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"As per Section 2 (a) of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, critical wildlife habitat means such areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries where it has been specifically and clearly established that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation according to the procedural requirements as per Section 4 (1) and (2)."
Why this source?
  • 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.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The Ministry of Environment and Forests may notify the critical wildlife habitat taking into account the recommendations of the Expert Committee and make this information public."
Why this source?
  • 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.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"identification of core/critical tiger habitats in new tiger reserves after the coming into force of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 would involve action as contained in section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 read with the provisions contained in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006."
Why this source?
  • 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.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 10: Indian Forest > ro.3.2. The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest llwellers (Recognition ofForest Rights) Act, 2006 > p. 165
Strength: 4/5
“ro.3.2. The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Llwelvers (Recognition ofForest Rights) Act, 2006 • The Forest Rights Act, 2006 provides for the restitution of deprived forest rights across India, including both individual rights to cultivated land in forestland and community rights over common property resources. • The Act is significant as it provides scope and historic opportunity of integrating conservation and livelihood rights of the people.”
Why relevant

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.

How to extend

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.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > a) Core zone > p. 227
Strength: 5/5
“• Critical tiger habitat areas established, on the basis of scientific and objective criteria. • These areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger conservation, without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such other forest dwellers, • These areas are notified by the State Covernment in consultation with an Expert Committee (constituted for that purpose).”
Why relevant

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.

How to extend

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.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > 1. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1982 > p. 211
Strength: 4/5
“l1.t.z. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of rgTz • The passing of the Wildlife Act of 1972 constitutes an important landmark in the history of wildlife legislation in the country. • This is because the "Forest" including "Wildlife" was then a State subject falling under Entry 9 of List II of Seventh Schedule, Parliament had no power to make law on the matter except as provided in Articles 249, 250 and 253 of the constitution.”
Why relevant

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.

How to extend

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.

NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in India > p. 30
Strength: 4/5
“Fig. 2.1 Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also published. The thrust of the programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife. Subsequently, central and many state governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries about which you have already studied. The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened, including the tiger, the onehorned rhinoceros, the Kashmir stag or hangul, three types of crocodiles – fresh water crocodile, saltwater crocodile and the Gharial, the Asiatic lion, and others.”
Why relevant

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.

How to extend

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.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 92: World Constitutions > 2019TEST PAPER > p. 756
Strength: 3/5
“UPSC Questions on Indian Polity (General Studies-Prelims 2013-2023) '757 • 2. As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce. • 3. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only • The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review. • The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of judiciary.”
Why relevant

Notes specific rights under the FRA (ownership of minor forest produce), showing the Act enumerates certain rights and definitions relevant to forest dwellers.

How to extend

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.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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