With reference to the Great Nicobar Island Project, consider the following statements: 1. The project is alleged to pose a threat to the Forest Rights Act, 1998. 2. The Supreme Court rejected the Union's plea to stay Calcutta High Court proceedings. 3. The project has an estimated cost of ₹72,000 crore. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Supreme Court rejects Union plea to stay Great Nicobar Island Project proceedings

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Bills, Acts & ordinances· Prelims + Mains· 6 October 2026

Judicial review of infrastructure 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, which faces challenges over its impact on the Forest Rights Act

Background

The Great Nicobar Island Project is valued at ₹72,000 crore. Former Union Environment Secretary Meena Gupta challenged the project, alleging it threatens the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The Union government defended the project's strategic value before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

Facts for Prelims

FactGreat Nicobar Island Project cost: ₹72,000 crore
Act / BillForest Rights Act, 2006: Legislation challenged in relation to the project
PostChief Justice of India Surya Kant: Presided over the Supreme Court bench on October 5, 2026
PlaceGreat Nicobar Island: Location of the contested infrastructure project

Prelims practice question

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

The project is alleged to pose a threat to the Forest Rights Act, 1998.
The Supreme Court rejected the Union's plea to stay Calcutta High Court proceedings.
The project has an estimated cost of ₹72,000 crore.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Show answer

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The note states it poses a threat to the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

For Mains

Q. Discuss 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 strategic infrastructure imperatives against statutory protections for tribal and forest-dwelling communities
Environmental governance: Evaluating the adequacy of environmental clearances for ecologically sensitive island ecosystems

Keywords: Strategic infrastructure · Forest Rights Act · Ecological sensitivity · Judicial review · Developmental trade-offs

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS3 · Environmental laws, EIA & institutions

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