2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 4: Environment and Ecology

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India?

  1. 1.Right to healthy environment, construed as a part of Right to life under Article 21
  2. 2.Provision of grants for raising the level of administration in the Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article 275(1)
  3. 3.Powers and functions of Gram Sabha as mentioned under Article 243(A)

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c1 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The National Green Tribunal Act 2010 rests on the right to a healthy environment, which the Supreme Court has read into the right to life under Article 21; the Act's preamble itself says so. Article 275(1) is about central grants for the administration of Scheduled Areas, and Article 243A is about the powers of the Gram Sabha; neither underpins the Tribunal. Link NGT with environmental justice and Article 21.

  • 1. A healthy environment is part of the right to life under Article 21, and the Act is founded on it.
  • 2. Article 275(1) concerns grants for tribal welfare in Scheduled Areas, not environmental adjudication.
  • 3. Gram Sabha powers are a panchayat matter and not the basis of the NGT Act.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.

    What you needed to know: Gram Sabha powers are a panchayat matter and not the basis of the NGT Act.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 2.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Correct: only the Article 21 link to a healthy environment underlies the NGT Act.
  • (b) Wrong: neither Article 275(1) grants nor Gram Sabha powers have any bearing on the NGT Act.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 3 on the Gram Sabha is unrelated to the Act.
  • (d) Wrong: statements 2 and 3 are unrelated to the NGT Act.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.