Question

What is the minimum buffer zone should be maintained around protected forest as fixed by Supreme Court of India?

• A. 10 km
• B. 5 km
• C. 2 km
• D. 1 km

Hint:

This 2022 Supreme Court ruling on the 1 km mandatory Eco-Sensitive Zone is a very important development in Indian environmental law and a highly relevant topic for current affairs questions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks for the minimum width of the mandatory Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), or buffer zone, around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as mandated by the Supreme Court of India.

Step 2: Recalling the Supreme Court Judgment


In a significant judgment delivered in June 2022, the Supreme Court of India passed a directive concerning Eco-Sensitive Zones.
The court ordered that every protected forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary across the country must have a mandatory ESZ of a minimum of 1 kilometer from its boundaries.
The purpose of this buffer zone is to act as a "shock absorber" for the protected areas and to regulate certain activities around them to minimize negative impacts on the fragile ecosystems.

Step 3: Final Answer
The minimum buffer zone (Eco-Sensitive Zone) fixed by the Supreme Court is 1 km. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.