UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 79
Consider the following statements :
- As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.
- As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.
- 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 is/are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises bamboo as minor forest produce and community/individual rights over such produce. The 2017 change to the Indian Forest Act removed bamboo’s “tree” classification only outside forests, not a general forest-felling right.
Statement / Pair Analysis:
1 (Incorrect): The 2017 amendment excluded bamboo from “tree” only for non-forest land; forest bamboo felling is still regulated.
2 (Correct): Bamboo is expressly included in the FRA definition of minor forest produce.
3 (Correct): The FRA recognises ownership, access, collection and disposal rights over minor forest produce.
Option-wise Analysis:
A (Incorrect): It includes false item 1 (The 2017 amendment excluded bamboo from “tree” only for non-forest land; forest bamboo felling is…); omits true item 3 (The FRA recognises ownership, access, collection and disposal rights over minor forest produce).
B (Correct): Includes all and only the true statements/pairs.
C (Incorrect): It omits true item 2 (Bamboo is expressly included in the FRA definition of minor forest produce).
D (Incorrect): It includes false item 1 (The 2017 amendment excluded bamboo from “tree” only for non-forest land; forest bamboo felling is…).