Question:

Which one of the following best encapsulates the reason for the “raging controversy” developing into a “larger controversy”?

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The main cause of the larger controversy was the replication of colonial policies, particularly in forest control.
Updated On: Jul 6, 2026
  • The 1982 draft forest act further enabled the commercial exploitation of forest resources by the forest bureaucracy.
  • The 1982 draft forest act violated the rights of tribals and peasants who lived in and around forest areas.
  • The 1982 draft forest act replicated colonial measures of control and regulation of forest resources.
  • The 1982 draft forest act was unjustifiably defended by forest officials in the face of bitter opposition by grassroots organisations.
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The Correct Option is C

Approach Solution - 1

Approach: The question asks why a "raging controversy" (over one 1982 act) grew into a "larger controversy" (over the whole orientation of state forest policy). The trigger for that escalation is stated explicitly in paragraph 2 — find the cause of the widening, not just a complaint about the 1982 act itself.

Step 1 — Read the escalation line. Paragraph 2 says the debate widened because the draft act was "closely modelled on its predecessor, the Forest Act of 1878," which rested on a colonial usurpation of ownership rights, emphasised revenue and commercial exploitation, and policed villagers out.

Step 2 — Identify the mechanism. It was this resemblance to colonial control and regulation that pushed people to question the entire post-colonial policy lineage — turning a single-act fight into a system-wide debate.

Step 3 — Match. Option 3 — the 1982 draft replicated colonial measures of control and regulation — names exactly that link.

Why the others fail: Option 1 (commercial exploitation) describes a feature of the old system, but the escalation was driven by the colonial-replication link, not commercialisation alone — narrow. Option 2 (violated tribal/peasant rights) explains the original raging controversy, not why it broadened into a policy-orientation debate — it answers the wrong stage. Option 4 (officials' defence was unjustified) is a side detail and out of scope as the cause of widening.

Answer: Option 3.
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Approach Solution -2

To determine the best encapsulation of why the "raging controversy" developed into a "larger controversy" related to the 1982 draft forest act, let's analyze each option in the context of the provided comprehension passage.

  1. Option 1: "The 1982 draft forest act further enabled the commercial exploitation of forest resources by the forest bureaucracy."
    • The passage mentions that the draft act was perceived to continue the approach initiated by the British, emphasizing revenue generation and commercial exploitation of forests. However, the passage primarily focuses on the resemblance to colonial regulations as a larger concern.
    • This option doesn't fully encapsulate the broader controversy of echoing colonial control.
  2. Option 2: "The 1982 draft forest act violated the rights of tribals and peasants who lived in and around forest areas."
    • While the passage indicates that grassroots organizations opposed the act due to the violation of rights of tribals and peasants, this is cited as a part of the opposition rather than the main reason for the wider controversy.
  3. Option 3: "The 1982 draft forest act replicated colonial measures of control and regulation of forest resources."
    • The passage clearly emphasizes that the draft act was modeled closely on the colonial Forest Act of 1878, which is a critical point of concern fueling the larger controversy.
    • The continuity of colonial strategies in forest management without significant post-independence reform is highlighted as a major criticism.
  4. Option 4: "The 1982 draft forest act was unjustifiably defended by forest officials in the face of bitter opposition by grassroots organisations."
    • This option describes part of the situation, noting the defense by officials and opposition by grassroots organizations. However, it doesn't address the broader, deeper issue of the act resembling colonial control policies.

In conclusion, the most comprehensive explanation for the controversy extending into a larger debate is best captured by Option 3: "The 1982 draft forest act replicated colonial measures of control and regulation of forest resources." This reflects the crux of the discussion, which points toward the act's regressive echoing of colonial policies rather than evolving to meet current socio-political and community-focused needs.

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