The law relating to the preservation, conservation and protection of forests — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been officially renamed by the 2023 Amendment as:

   • The Indian Forest Act, 1980
   • The Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 (correct answer)
   • The National Forest Policy Act, 1980
   • The Forest Rights Act, 1980

   Explanation. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 renamed the parent Act as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam. The Amendment received the President's assent on 4 August 2023.

2. Under Section 2 of the Van Adhiniyam, which of the following requires prior Central Government approval?

   • Planting new trees on private agricultural land
   • Using forest land for a non-forest purpose (correct answer)
   • Building a house on non-forest land
   • Registering a private nursery

   Explanation. Section 2 requires prior Central Government approval before forest land can be used for any non-forest purpose, among other restricted acts.

3. Which of the following is NOT one of the four acts restricted by Section 2 of the Van Adhiniyam?

   • De-reservation of a reserved forest
   • Assignment of forest land by lease to a private person
   • Clearing naturally grown trees for reafforestation
   • Conducting a scientific survey inside a reserved forest without land-use change (correct answer)

   Explanation. Section 2 requires prior Central Government approval for de-reservation, use for a non-forest purpose, assignment by lease, and clearing naturally grown trees for reafforestation. A survey without a change of land use is not one of these four orders.

4. In T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India (1997), the Supreme Court held that the word "forest" under the Act:

   • Applies only to land formally notified as Reserved Forest
   • Must be understood in its dictionary meaning, covering any area recorded as forest regardless of ownership (correct answer)
   • Does not include unclassed or revenue forest land
   • Applies only to forest land owned by the Central Government

   Explanation. Godavarman gave "forest" its wide dictionary meaning, covering any area recorded as forest in government records irrespective of ownership or formal notification.

5. The 2023 Amendment to the Van Adhiniyam narrowed the Act's coverage by excluding, among other categories:

   • All privately owned forest land
   • Land within 100 km of an international border needed for strategic linear projects (correct answer)
   • All forest land in hilly states
   • Land used for compensatory afforestation

   Explanation. The 2023 Amendment excludes, among other categories, land within 100 km of an international border required for strategic linear projects of national importance and security.

6. Section 1A(2), inserted in 2023, leaves out of the Act up to how much land for security-related infrastructure?

   • Up to 1 hectare
   • Up to 10 hectares (correct answer)
   • Up to 100 hectares
   • All land without limit

   Explanation. Section 1A(2) leaves out up to 10 hectares for security-related infrastructure, and up to 5 hectares for defence or public utility projects in an area affected by Left Wing Extremism.

7. Under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, a forest where government ownership continues but certain rights of local communities are preserved is classified as:

   • Reserved Forest
   • Protected Forest (correct answer)
   • Village Forest
   • Deemed Forest

   Explanation. A Protected Forest keeps certain rights of local people. A Reserved Forest has the highest protection under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.

8. Section 3C, inserted in 2023, lets the Central Government:

   • Repeal the Act
   • Give directions to carry out the Act (correct answer)
   • Transfer forests to the States
   • Ban all forest diversion

   Explanation. Section 3C, inserted in 2023, lets the Central Government give directions to carry out the Act.