Environmental laws, bodies & conventions

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Asked in 11 of 11 years · most in 2019 (6)

Prelims 2018 · Q4

Easy

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

1.The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.
2.The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) 2 only

Both bodies are creatures of statute: the NGT of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 and the CPCB of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. So statement 1 fails on the CPCB half, while statement 2 correctly states the role of each.

✗ 1. The NGT was set up on 18 October 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010, but the CPCB is also statutory, constituted in September 1974 under the Water Act, 1974, not by an executive order.
✓ 2. The NGT's dedicated environmental jurisdiction gives speedy environmental justice and eases the load on higher courts; the CPCB's functions under the Water and Air Acts are to promote cleanliness of streams and wells and to improve air quality.

Remember · CPCB: statutory, 1974, under the Water Act (Air Act powers added 1981). NGT: statutory tribunal, 18 October 2010, under the NGT Act, 2010; principal bench New Delhi.

Sources

About Us, Central Pollution Control Board ↗ “The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) , statutory organisation, was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. … (i) to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution, and (ii) to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.”
About Us, National Green Tribunal ↗ “The Tribunal's dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2018 · Q98

Medium

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?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Statements 1 and 2 are correct; statement 3 is wrong. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 defines 'critical wildlife habitat' itself, and provides habitat rights for primitive tribal groups. But habitat rights are recognised under the Act through the Gram Sabha and district-level process, with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as nodal agency, not by the environment ministry.

✓ 1. Section 2(b) of the Forest Rights Act defines 'critical wildlife habitat' as areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries that must be kept inviolate for wildlife conservation, notified by the Central Government after expert consultation.
✓ 2. UPSC's key treats this as correct. The Baiga are a very vulnerable tribal group of Madhya Pradesh (Dindori district page), and the Act provides habitat rights for primitive tribal groups: Section 2(h) defines 'habitat' to cover their customary habitat, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs lists habitat rights for PVTGs among the Act's community rights. No official page was found stating that the Baiga were the first community to receive them.
✗ 3. Section 11 makes the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, not the environment ministry, the nodal agency for the Act. Rights are initiated by the Gram Sabha and settled through the Sub-Divisional and District Level Committees. The environment ministry's role is in notifying critical wildlife habitats.

Remember · Forest Rights Act, 2006: it defines 'critical wildlife habitat' and 'habitat'; habitat rights for PVTGs are part of the Act; the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency.

Sources

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, Section 2(b) (Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Act and Rules book) ↗ “"critical wildlife habitat" means such areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries where it has been specifically and clearly established, case by case, on the basis of scientific and objective criteria, that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation … "habitat" includes the area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes … The Ministry of the Central Government dealing with Tribal Affairs or any officer or authority authorised by the Central Government in this behalf shall be the nodal agency for the implementation of the provisions of this Act.”
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Forest Rights Act (habitat rights for PVTGs) ↗ “Habitat Rights for PVTGs, Traditional Seasonal Resource access of Nomadic and Pastoral community, access to biodiversity”
District Dindori, Government of Madhya Pradesh: About District (Baiga tribe) ↗ “The Baiga tribe is a very pre-dominant tribe in this district. They are very vulnerable tribal groups which can only be found in the district.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Environmental laws, bodies & conventions

Prelims 2018 · Q4

Prelims 2018 · Q98

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