Instructions [3 - 6 ]
The passage below is accompanied by four questions. Based on the passage, choose the best answer for each question. In 1982, a raging controversy broke out over a forest act drafted by the Government of India. This act sought to strengthen the already extensive powers enjoyed by the forest bureaucracy in controlling the extraction, disposal and sale of forest produce. It also gave forest officials greater powers to strictly regulate the entry of any person into reserved forest areas. While forest officials justified the act on the grounds that it was necessary to stop the continuing deforestation, it was bitterly opposed by representatives of grassroots organisations, who argued that it was a major violation of the rights of peasants and tribals living in and around forest areas. . . .
The debate over the draft forest act fuelled a larger controversy over the orientation of state forest policy. It was pointed out, for example, that the draft act was closely modelled on its predecessor, the Forest Act of 1878. The earlier Act rested on a usurpation of rights of ownership by the colonial state which had little precedent in precolonial history. It was further argued that the system of forestry introduced by the British—and continued, with little modification, after 1947 — emphasised revenue generation and commercial exploitation, while its policing orientation excluded villagers who had the most longstanding claim on forest resources. Critics called for a complete overhaul of forest administration, pressing the government to formulate policy and legislation more appropriate to present needs. . . . That debate is not over yet. The draft act was shelved, though it has not as yet been formally withdrawn. Meanwhile, the 1878 Act (as modified by an amendment in 1927) continues to be in operation. In response to its critics, the government has made some important changes in forest policy, e.g., no longer treating forests as a source of revenue, and stopping ecologically hazardous practices such as the clearfelling of natural forests. At the same time, it has shown little inclination to meet the major demand of the critics of forest policy—namely, abandoning the principle of state monopoly over forest land by handing over areas of degraded forests to individuals and communities for afforestation. . . . [The] 1878 Forest Act itself was passed only after a bitter and prolonged debate within the colonial bureaucracy, in which protagonists put forward arguments strikingly similar to those being advanced today. As is well known, the Indian Forest Department owes its origin to the requirements of railway companies. The early years of the expansion of the railway network, c. 1853 onwards, led to tremendous deforestation in peninsular India owing to the railway's requirements of fuelwood and construction timber. Huge quantities of durable timbers were also needed for use as sleepers across the newly laid tracks. Inexperienced in forestry, the British called in German experts to commence systematic forest management. The Indian Forest Department was started in 1864, with Dietrich Brandis, formerly a Lecturer at Bonn, as the first Inspector General of Forests. The new department needed legislative backing to function effectively, and in the following year, 1865, the first forest act was passed. . . .
5. According to the passage, which one of the following is not common to the 1878 Forest Act and the 1982 draft forest act?
Correct Answer :
Both resulted in large scale deforestation.
Solution :
The correct option is: Both resulted in large scale deforestation.
To understand why this is the correct answer, we need to evaluate each option based on the information provided in the passage to determine which statement is not a shared feature of the 1878 Forest Act and the 1982 draft forest act.
1. Both sparked controversy and debate among the various stakeholders
The passage explicitly states that in 1982, "a raging controversy broke out over a forest act drafted by the Government of India." Similarly, it notes that the "1878 Forest Act itself was passed only after a bitter and prolonged debate within the colonial bureaucracy, in which protagonists put forward arguments strikingly similar to those being advanced today." Therefore, both acts sparked significant debate, making this a common feature.
2. Both reflect a colonial mindset
The text mentions that the 1982 draft act was "closely modelled on its predecessor, the Forest Act of 1878." It elaborates that the earlier Act relied on a "usurpation of rights of ownership by the colonial state," and that the system emphasized "revenue generation and commercial exploitation" while policing and excluding villagers. Because the 1982 draft inherited these exact characteristics, both acts reflect a colonial mindset. This is also a common feature.
3. Both sought to establish the state’s monopoly over forest resources.
According to the passage, the 1982 act sought to "strengthen the already extensive powers enjoyed by the forest bureaucracy." It also highlights that critics of the continuing policies demanded "abandoning the principle of state monopoly over forest land," a principle firmly established by the 1878 Act. Thus, seeking and maintaining state monopoly is a common feature of both acts.
4. Both resulted in large scale deforestation.
The passage reveals that the 1982 act was heavily debated and ultimately "shelved, though it has not as yet been formally withdrawn." Because the 1982 draft act was shelved and never fully implemented, it could not have actively resulted in large scale deforestation. In fact, forest officials justified the 1982 act as a measure needed to stop continuing deforestation. Additionally, the passage attributes the earliest waves of "tremendous deforestation" to the expansion of the railway network from 1853 onwards, an event that actually preceded and prompted the creation of the Forest Acts. Therefore, resulting in large scale deforestation is not a common feature of both acts.
Since the question asks for the characteristic that is not common to both acts, the statement claiming that both resulted in large scale deforestation is the correct answer.
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