Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

(a) In reserved and protected forests, the government (Forest Department) controls management, regulates access, and restricts use. In unclassed forests, local communities themselves manage the land, set their own rules, and decide how resources are used, as seen in North-eastern states and parts of Gujarat.

(b) Support: Communities can effectively conserve forests by imposing self-made rules — e.g., villagers in Alwar declared 1,200 ha as 'Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri', banning hunting and preventing outside encroachment.

Challenge: Unclassed forests lack formal legal protection and structured oversight, so unregulated community use (grazing, felling) can lead to gradual depletion if community institutions are weak or interests conflict.

Source: Types and Distribution of Forest and Wildlife Resources; Community and Conservation — Chapter 2

---

• (a) tests the basic distinction between state-controlled permanent forests and community-managed unclassed forests. Keep it factual and brief.
• (b) CBSE expects one concrete example for the "support" side — the Alwar/Bhairodev example from the passage is ideal. For "challenge," draw on the passage's hint that "there is still a long way to go" and the lack of formal regulation in unclassed forests.
• Avoid writing about JFM or Chipko in detail here — stay on-topic and within word limits for 3 marks.