CLAT GurukulSamudraManthan
← Topics 0/10 answered

Topic 219 · Environment, Climate & Biodiversity

Meghalaya rat-hole mine blast

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

Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA
  1. Core Trigger: A blast on 5 February 2026 at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya killed at least 25 by 6 February.
  2. Toll: The death toll reached about 30 by 11 February 2026.
  3. Banning Body: The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining by an order of 17 April 2014 in Impulse NGO Network v State of Meghalaya.
  4. Key Term: Rat-hole mining means digging narrow pits and tunnels in which miners crawl to extract coal.
  5. Enforcement: The ban has been in force since 2014 yet mining continues across Meghalaya's coal belt and Dima Hasao.
  6. Nature of Ban: The 2014 ban is a Tribunal order, not a statute.
  7. India Link: Mineral concessions otherwise run under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
  8. Tribunal Seat: The NGT's Principal Bench sits in New Delhi.
  9. Founded: The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010.
  10. Landmark: In State of Meghalaya v All Dimasa Students Union (2019) the Supreme Court affirmed the 2014 ban.
  11. Statute: Section 4 of the MMDR Act, 1957 bars mining without a valid lease; section 15 of the NGT Act allows relief and compensation.
  12. Doctrine: Section 20 of the NGT Act directs the Tribunal to apply sustainable development, the precautionary principle and polluter pays.
Question 1 of 10

In which Meghalaya district did the illegal rat-hole coal mine blast of 5 February 2026 occur?

Show answer

Answer: (A) East Jaintia Hills

Core Trigger: A blast on 5 February 2026 at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya killed at least 25 by 6 February.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 1

Question 2 of 10

The February 2026 mine blast death toll reached about how many by 11 February 2026?

Show answer

Answer: (B) About 30

Toll: The death toll reached about 30 by 11 February 2026.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Which body banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya by an order of 17 April 2014?

Show answer

Answer: (B) National Green Tribunal

Banning Body: The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining by an order of 17 April 2014 in Impulse NGO Network v State of Meghalaya.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 3

Question 4 of 10

What is rat-hole mining?

Show answer

Answer: (A) Digging narrow tunnels in which miners crawl

Key Term: Rat-hole mining means digging narrow pits and tunnels in which miners crawl to extract coal.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 4

Question 5 of 10

Despite the ban, rat-hole mining continues across Meghalaya's coal belt and which other area?

Show answer

Answer: (D) Dima Hasao

Enforcement: The ban has been in force since 2014 yet mining continues across Meghalaya's coal belt and Dima Hasao.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 5

Question 6 of 10

The 2014 ban on rat-hole mining is what kind of measure?

Show answer

Answer: (A) A Tribunal order, not a statute

Nature of Ban: The 2014 ban is a Tribunal order, not a statute.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 6

Question 7 of 10

The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal sits in which city?

Show answer

Answer: (D) New Delhi

Tribunal Seat: The NGT's Principal Bench sits in New Delhi.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 8

Question 8 of 10

In which year was the National Green Tribunal established?

Show answer

Answer: (B) 2010

Founded: The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 9

Question 9 of 10

Which 2019 Supreme Court judgment affirmed the 2014 rat-hole mining ban?

Show answer

Answer: (C) State of Meghalaya v All Dimasa Students Union

Landmark: In State of Meghalaya v All Dimasa Students Union (2019) the Supreme Court affirmed the 2014 ban.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Consider: 1) Section 4 of the NGT Act, 2010 bars mining without a valid lease. 2) Section 15 of the MMDR Act, 1957 allows relief and compensation. Which is/are correct?

Show answer

Answer: (D) Neither

Statute: Section 4 of the MMDR Act, 1957 bars mining without a valid lease; section 15 of the NGT Act allows relief and compensation.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 219, point 11

Answer all ten to see your score

0 of 10 answered · 0 correct

See all answers →Next topic →

Track your weak chapters across all 380 topics — sign in to the free app.

Android appWeb app (sign-in needed)

Open this topic in the app (sign-in needed)