Question Details

Passage:
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 The draft act was shelved, though it has not as yet been formally withdrawn.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 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 new railway 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, formally a Lecturer in Botany, as the first Inspector General of Forests. The early years of the forest department, even as it grew, continued to meet the railway needs for timber and wood. These systems first emerged as part of the needs of the expanding empire


According to the passage, which one of the following is not common to the 1878 Forest Act and the 1982 draft forest act?

Options

A

Both resulted in large scale deforestation.

B

Both sparked controversy and debate among the various stakeholders.

C

Both sought to establish the state’s monopoly over forest resources.

D

Both reflect a colonial mindset.

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option A

Both resulted in large scale deforestation.

Solution :

The correct answer is: Both resulted in large scale deforestation.

Step-by-step Explanation:
To determine which feature is not common to both the 1878 Forest Act and the 1982 draft forest act, let's analyze the details provided in the passage:

  1. Implementation status: The passage explicitly states that the 1982 draft act was "shelved, though it has not as yet been formally withdrawn." Since it was never enacted or implemented, it could not have resulted in actual large-scale deforestation. In contrast, the 1878 Act (as modified in 1927) has been actively in operation. Thus, resulting in large-scale deforestation is not a feature common to both.
  2. Controversy and debate: The passage mentions that a "raging controversy" broke out over the 1982 draft act, which was "bitterly opposed by representatives of grassroots organisations." Similarly, the "1878 Forest Act itself was passed only after a bitter and prolonged debate within the colonial bureaucracy." Therefore, sparking controversy is common to both.
  3. State monopoly: The 1982 draft act "sought to strengthen the already extensive powers enjoyed by the forest bureaucracy," while the 1878 Act "rested on a usurpation of rights of ownership by the colonial state." Critics of both wanted the government to abandon the "principle of state monopoly over forest land." Thus, establishing state monopoly is common to both.
  4. Colonial mindset: The passage notes that the 1982 draft act was "closely modelled on its predecessor, the Forest Act of 1878," which introduced a system of forestry emphasizing "revenue generation and commercial exploitation" while excluding villagers. Hence, reflecting a colonial mindset is common to both.

Therefore, because the 1982 draft act was shelved and never implemented, it did not cause large-scale deforestation, making this option the correct choice as it is not common to both acts.

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