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Topic 063 · Law, Judiciary & Landmark Judgments

Precautionary principle: development versus safety

10 MCQs · tap an option to check it · All answers

Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA
  1. Core Trigger: August 2026 Rajya Sabha data showed highway quality complaints up about 60 per cent in a year, from 7,030 in 2024-25.
  2. Incidents: The Ministry reported 48 collapse or major deficiency incidents; 19 occurred in 2025 and 2026.
  3. Current Head: Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, answered the Rajya Sabha.
  4. Key Term: Precautionary principle: where serious harm is possible, scientific uncertainty is no reason to delay prevention.
  5. Data: The largest penalty was Rs 119 crore on the Bhopal-Biaora NH-46 contractor.
  6. Reform: Gadkari said sub-contracting rules would be reviewed to fix responsibility for quality and timely execution.
  7. Global Origin: Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration, adopted on 14 June 1992, embedded precaution in environmental law.
  8. Seat: The National Green Tribunal, which must apply the principle, sits in New Delhi.
  9. Founded: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 created the NGT; its section 20 mandates precaution and polluter pays.
  10. Landmark: Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v Union of India (28 August 1996): precaution and polluter pays are part of Indian law.
  11. Articles: Article 21 covers a wholesome environment; Article 48A directs the State to protect and improve the environment.
  12. Doctrine: Polluter pays: the polluter bears the cost of preventing and repairing pollution.
Question 1 of 10

August 2026 Rajya Sabha data showed highway quality complaints rising by about what per cent in a year?

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Answer: (B) 60 per cent

Core Trigger: August 2026 Rajya Sabha data showed highway quality complaints up about 60 per cent in a year, from 7,030 in 2024-25.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 1

Question 2 of 10

How many collapse or major deficiency incidents did the Ministry report?

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Answer: (B) 48

Incidents: The Ministry reported 48 collapse or major deficiency incidents; 19 occurred in 2025 and 2026.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Which Union Minister answered the Rajya Sabha on highway quality?

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Answer: (D) Nitin Gadkari

Current Head: Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, answered the Rajya Sabha.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 3

Question 4 of 10

Under the precautionary principle, scientific uncertainty is what?

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Answer: (A) No reason to delay preventing serious harm

Key Term: Precautionary principle: where serious harm is possible, scientific uncertainty is no reason to delay prevention.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 4

Question 5 of 10

The largest penalty, Rs 119 crore, was imposed on the contractor of which highway stretch?

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Answer: (C) Bhopal-Biaora NH-46

Data: The largest penalty was Rs 119 crore on the Bhopal-Biaora NH-46 contractor.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 5

Question 6 of 10

Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration embedded precaution in environmental law. 2. The Rio Declaration was adopted on 14 June 1982.

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Answer: (D) Only 1

Global Origin: Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration, adopted on 14 June 1992, embedded precaution in environmental law.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 7

Question 7 of 10

Where does the National Green Tribunal's principal bench sit?

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Answer: (C) New Delhi

Seat: The National Green Tribunal, which must apply the principle, sits in New Delhi.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 8

Question 8 of 10

The National Green Tribunal Act of which year created the NGT?

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Answer: (A) 2010

Founded: The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 created the NGT; its section 20 mandates precaution and polluter pays.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 9

Question 9 of 10

Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum (28 August 1996) made which pair part of Indian law?

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Answer: (D) Precaution and polluter pays

Landmark: Vellore Citizens' Welfare Forum v Union of India (28 August 1996): precaution and polluter pays are part of Indian law.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. Article 48A guarantees a wholesome environment. 2. Article 48A directs the State to protect and improve the environment.

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Answer: (A) Only 2

Articles: Article 21 covers a wholesome environment; Article 48A directs the State to protect and improve the environment.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 063, point 11

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