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 ?
Show answer
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct: Section 2(b) of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 defines 'critical wildlife habitat'. Statement 2 is correct: in December 2015 the Baigas of Baigachak in Dindori district, Madhya Pradesh, became the first community to get habitat rights. Statement 3 is wrong: habitat rights are recognised through the Gram Sabha and district committee process under the Forest Rights Act, run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, not declared by MoEFCC. So 1 and 2.
Watch for: Forest matters suggest the Environment Ministry, but the Forest Rights Act is run by the Tribal Affairs Ministry.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because MoEFCC does not declare habitat rights.
- C. Wrong because MoEFCC does not decide habitat rights.
- D. Wrong because statement 3 is false.
Source to check: Forest Rights Act, 2006, Sections 2(b) and 3(1)(e); Down To Earth, 'Baiga tribals become India's first community to get habitat rights' (2016)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.