Consider the following statements : 1. The definition of "Critical Wildlife Habitat" is incorporated in the Forest Rights Act, 2006. 2. For the first time in India, Baigas have been given Habitat Rights. 3. Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

The correct answer is A, 1 and 2 only. The Forest Rights Act defines critical wildlife habitat, and the Baigas were the first community to receive habitat rights, but the Environment Ministry does not grant those rights. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 defines 'critical wildlife habitat' in Section 2(b) as areas of national parks and sanctuaries that must be kept inviolate for wildlife. Section 3(1)(e) of the same Act gives particularly vulnerable tribal groups rights over their customary habitat. The Baiga, a particularly vulnerable tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, became the first to get such habitat rights, in Dindori district. Statement 3 is wrong because these rights are recognised through the Gram Sabha and the sub-divisional and district committees, with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as the nodal ministry for the Act. Option B is wrong because it includes statement 3 and drops 1. Option C is wrong because statement 3 alone is false. Option D is wrong because it includes statement 3. Exam tip: Forest Rights Act, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; Baigas, first PVTG with habitat rights.