UPSC Prelims TestUPSC PrelimsA little better, every day.
UPSC Prelims TestUPSC PrelimsA little better, every day.
Sign in

Looking for a question? Open the question library

UPSC 2026PolityModerate

In a multi-ethnic district where both economic competition and historical grievances frequently led to community tensions, a flashpoint has arisen with a Government decision to allocate land for a waste management facility near a tribal hamlet, sparking protests by the tribal community, which claimed that the land was sacred and critical to their cultural identity. At the same time, urban residents and local industries supported the project, citing severe solid waste challenges and health concerns due to lack of a proper disposal site. The conflict has escalated with road blockades, social media campaigns, and allegations of police excesses. As a responsible Government official, you are tasked with resolving the situation through mediation, ensuring a sustainable outcome that balances environmental needs, tribal rights, and urban public health. Consider the following statements with reference to the above : 1. A successful conflict resolution process must begin with acknowledging the cultural concerns of the protesting tribal community before discussing technical alternatives. 2. The Government should move ahead with the project without delay to address urban health concerns, which outweigh the sentiments of a small group. 3. Creating a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform — including tribal leaders, environmental experts, and municipal representatives — to build mutual understanding and help de-escalate tensions. 4. Conducting an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and sharing findings transparently with both sides to facilitate evidence-based decision-making. Which of the statements given above would contribute to the resolution process ?

A
1, 3 and 4 only
Correct answer
B
2, 3 and 4 only
C
1 and 2 only
D
1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

A durable settlement needs the protesting community's cultural concerns to be acknowledged first (1), a multi-stakeholder platform to rebuild trust and de-escalate (3), and an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment shared openly to ground decisions in evidence (4). Pushing the project through by dismissing tribal objections as the sentiments of 'a small group' (2) would deepen the conflict and ignore consultation norms protecting tribal land and culture.

GovernanceConflict resolution and tribal rightsConflict resolutionTribal rightsStakeholder dialogueESIAMediation

Related Polity PYQs

Continue with questions from the same topic or exam year.

View all 2026 Polity questions

Want to practise like the real exam?

Don't just read questions. Take a full timed test with negative marking and detailed analytics to see where you stand.

Start a timed Polity test