ग्रेट निकोबार द्वीप परियोजना को नई पर्यावरणीय मंजूरी मिली
केंद्र सरकार ने ग्रेट निकोबार द्वीप पर रणनीतिक बुनियादी ढांचा परियोजना के लिए संशोधित पर्यावरणीय दिशा-निर्देश जारी किए हैं।
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- The Indian government has granted revised environmental clearance for a strategic infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island.
- The project includes an international container transshipment terminal, a joint military-civilian airport, and a new township.
- Great Nicobar Island's strategic location near the Malacca Strait is key to its development potential.
- Concerns regarding biodiversity, deforestation, and indigenous tribes (Shompen) led to revised environmental safeguards.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued the revised clearance with stricter conditions.
- The project aims to boost India's maritime trade, reduce reliance on foreign ports, and enhance national security.
- Legal frameworks like the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, are applicable.
- Mitigation measures include buffer zones, afforestation, and conservation plans for flora and fauna.
- The estimated project cost is around ₹72,000 crore.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Very High | 12–20 | Environment and Ecology is a separate section in UPSC Prelims. GS-III includes environment, climate change, and disaster management. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–8 | State PCS papers test both central environment policy and state-specific conservation achievements. |
Key Facts to Remember: ग्रेट निकोबार द्वीप परियोजना को नई पर्यावरणीय मंजूरी मिली
- The Indian government has granted revised environmental clearance for a strategic infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island.
- The project includes an international container transshipment terminal, a joint military-civilian airport, and a new township.
- Great Nicobar Island's strategic location near the Malacca Strait is key to its development potential.
- Concerns regarding biodiversity, deforestation, and indigenous tribes (Shompen) led to revised environmental safeguards.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued the revised clearance with stricter conditions.
- The project aims to boost India's maritime trade, reduce reliance on foreign ports, and enhance national security.
- Legal frameworks like the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, are applicable.
- Mitigation measures include buffer zones, afforestation, and conservation plans for flora and fauna.
- The estimated project cost is around ₹72,000 crore.
Practice Questions
Q1. Which strait is located near the Great Nicobar Island, making it strategically important for maritime trade?
- Suez Strait
- Strait of Hormuz
- Malacca Strait
- Strait of Gibraltar
Explanation: The Great Nicobar Island is strategically located near the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. This proximity is crucial for its role as a potential international transshipment hub.
Q2. What are the main components of the 'Holistic Development' project on Great Nicobar Island?
- A naval base and a fishing harbor
- An international container transshipment terminal, a joint airport, and a township
- A tourism resort and a research center
- A coal power plant and a mining facility
Explanation: The project encompasses the development of an international container transshipment terminal, a joint military-civilian airport, and a new township, alongside other infrastructure like a power plant.
Q3. Which indigenous tribe resides on Great Nicobar Island and has raised concerns about the development project?
- Jarawa
- Sentinelese
- Onge
- Shompen
Explanation: The Shompen tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), inhabits the interior forests of the Great Nicobar Island. Concerns about their welfare and habitat have been central to the environmental debates surrounding the project.
Q4. Which Indian government ministry is responsible for issuing environmental clearances for projects like the one on Great Nicobar Island?
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ministry of Defence
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
- Ministry of Shipping and Ports
Explanation: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the nodal agency responsible for granting environmental clearances, ensuring that development projects comply with ecological and environmental regulations.
Q5. The development project on Great Nicobar Island is significant for India's maritime trade and national security primarily due to:
- Its proximity to Australia
- Its location near the Malacca Strait and potential to reduce reliance on foreign transshipment ports
- Its potential for oil and gas exploration
- Its role in promoting tourism within the Andaman Islands
Explanation: The island's strategic position near the Malacca Strait allows India to develop its own transshipment hub, thereby enhancing its role in global trade and reducing dependence on other nations, which also bolsters national security.
How to Prepare Environment for Government Exams — ग्रेट निकोबार द्वीप परियोजना को नई पर्यावरणीय मंज…
Ramsar sites and World Heritage Site additions are announced annually. Compile the year's additions — they are direct exam questions.
For UPSC, understand the international treaty context: Paris Agreement, CBD, CITES, Ramsar — know what each treaty does.
Climate news = policy news. Always note the government response to any environmental event — that's what UPSC Mains tests.
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