Great Nicobar Development Project Receives Final Environmental Clearance
The ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar Island development project has received final environmental clearance with strict mitigation measures.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- ₹72,000 crore Great Nicobar project receives environmental clearance.
- Includes a transshipment terminal, airport, and power plant.
- Strategic importance for Indo-Pacific maritime security.
- Mitigation measures include coral translocation and turtle sanctuaries.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | Very High | 12–20 | Environment and Ecology is a separate section in UPSC Prelims. GS-III includes environment, climate change, and disaster management. |
| State PCS / PSC | High | 5–8 | State PCS papers test both central environment policy and state-specific conservation achievements. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | National parks, Ramsar sites, pollution levels, and climate summits appear in SSC GK. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- New Ramsar sites, UNESCO sites, Biosphere Reserves: name, state/country, reason for designation
- Climate summit outcomes: COP targets, India's commitments, new agreements
- Pollution data: India's air quality rank, river clean-up updates, plastic ban updates
- Endangered species: IUCN category, habitat, threats, conservation project
- Environmental laws and policies: recent amendments to Environment Protection Act, Forest Rights Act
Practice Questions
Q1. The Great Nicobar Development Project is located in which Union Territory?
- Lakshadweep
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Puducherry
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Explanation: The project is located on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands UT.
Q2. Which endangered species is a focus of conservation in the Great Nicobar project?
- Snow Leopard
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Ganges Dolphin
- Indian Rhinoceros
Explanation: The Leatherback Sea Turtle is one of the key species for which a sanctuary will be established under the project's mitigation plan.
How to Prepare Environment for Government Exams
Ramsar sites and World Heritage Site additions are announced annually. Compile the year's additions — they are direct exam questions.
For UPSC, understand the international treaty context: Paris Agreement, CBD, CITES, Ramsar — know what each treaty does.
Climate news = policy news. Always note the government response to any environmental event — that's what UPSC Mains tests.
Related Current Affairs
Test Your Knowledge on Today's Current Affairs
10 questions · 10 minutes · Based on today's GK updates. See how prepared you really are.
Start Daily Quiz