Question

The first ever public hearing in India, almost like a referendum, on the fate of SEZ was held during the month of September 2008 in / at

• A. Verna IT/ ITeS SEZ in Goa.
• B. Haryana for Reliance Haryana SEZ.
• C. Pen, Maharashtra
• D. POSCO India, Steel SEZ Phase II,Orissa.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

In September 2008, India witnessed a historic event in its democratic and developmental process when the first-ever public hearing, almost like a referendum, was conducted on the issue of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This important hearing was held in Pen, Maharashtra, where local farmers and villagers were given the opportunity to openly express their opinions about the establishment of an SEZ project.

Step 1 — Context of SEZs in India:
Special Economic Zones were being set up across the country during the 2000s to attract foreign investment, boost exports, and generate employment. However, land acquisition for SEZ projects often created controversy because it directly affected farmers, landowners, and local communities, many of whom feared displacement and loss of livelihood.

Step 2 — Why Pen, Maharashtra was significant:
The SEZ proposed near Pen was a large project promoted by the corporate group Reliance Industries. The project required significant tracts of fertile agricultural land. Local resistance grew steadily, with farmers unwilling to give up their land. This led to intense public debate and the demand that the local community’s voice be directly heard.

Step 3 — The public hearing (referendum-like event):
• Organized in September 2008, the hearing allowed villagers and farmers to vote or declare their opinion on whether they supported or opposed the SEZ project.
• This was considered “almost like a referendum” because it was one of the rare occasions in India where the people most affected were formally asked for their views in a structured public forum.
• The majority expressed their opposition to the SEZ, highlighting the importance of protecting agricultural livelihoods over large-scale industrial projects.

Step 4 — Impact of the event:
The outcome demonstrated the strength of grassroots democracy in India. It showed that despite government and corporate interest, projects could be reconsidered if local communities strongly opposed them. The Pen hearing became a symbolic moment in the larger debate about land acquisition, industrialization, and farmers’ rights.

Final Answer:
The first-ever public hearing in India on the fate of an SEZ, held in September 2008, took place at Pen, Maharashtra. This corresponds to Option (C).