With reference to the Great Nicobar Island Project, consider the following statements: 1. The project is estimated to be valued at ₹72,000 crore. 2. The Supreme Court allowed the Union government to stay the Calcutta High Court proceedings. 3. The project was challenged on grounds of violating the Right to Education Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Supreme Court rejects Union plea to stay ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Project

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Judiciary & landmark judgments· Prelims + Mains· 5 October 2026

Judicial review of infrastructure projects vs. indigenous rights: a GS2 and Environmental Governance case study.

Why in news

The Supreme Court rejected the Union government's plea to stay Calcutta High Court proceedings regarding the ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island Project challenged by former Union Environment Secretary Meena Gupta.

Background

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, refused to stay the Calcutta High Court's proceedings on October 5, 2026. The project in question is valued at ₹72,000 crore and faces allegations of violating the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Facts for Prelims

Act / BillForest Rights Act, 2006: Legislation governing rights of forest-dwelling communities
FactGreat Nicobar Island Project: Estimated at ₹72,000 crore

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Great Nicobar Island Project, consider the following statements:

The project is estimated to be valued at ₹72,000 crore.
The Supreme Court allowed the Union government to stay the Calcutta High Court proceedings.
The project was challenged on grounds of violating the Right to Education Act.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)1 and 2 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (a) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Supreme Court rejected the Union government plea to stay the proceedings. Statement 3 is incorrect: It was challenged on grounds of violating the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

For Mains

Q. Examine the conflict between large-scale infrastructure development and the protection of indigenous forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Legal conflict: Balancing developmental imperatives with statutory protections for forest-dwelling communities
Judicial oversight: Role of the judiciary in ensuring environmental compliance for mega-projects
Regulatory friction: Implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006 versus large-scale industrial land acquisition

Keywords: Judicial Review · Forest Rights Act · Sustainable Development · Environmental Governance · Public Interest Litigation

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS2 · Bills, Acts & ordinances Also: GS3 · Environmental laws, EIA & institutions

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