National development, particularly in the Nehruvian era, led tribals…

National development, particularly in the Nehruvian era, led tribals to lose land and pay a disproportionate price. Which of the following did this development chiefly involve?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Building of large dams, factories and mines

Option (1) Spread of tea plantations and commercial forestry — Incorrect. Tea plantations and commercial forestry are outside the Nehruvian model of national development. That model rested on heavy industry, power and minerals.

Option (2) Expansion of irrigated commercial farming in forest areas — Incorrect. Irrigated commercial farming in forest areas is outside the projects this development centred on. Tribals lost land mainly to mines and to sites used for dams and hydroelectric plants.

Option (3) Reservation of forests as national parks and sanctuaries — Incorrect. National parks and sanctuaries are conservation measures. Nehruvian development centred on heavy industry and power, so tribals lost land to dams, factories and mines.

Option (4) Building of large dams, factories and mines — Correct. Nehruvian national development meant building large dams, factories and mines. Tribal areas were rich in minerals and forests, so tribals lost land and paid a disproportionate price for the development of the rest of society.

NCERT (2026-27): “Tribe – The Career of a Concept …
The imperatives of ‘development’ have governed attitudes towards tribes and shaped the policies of the state. National development, particularly in the Nehruvian era, involved the building of large dams, factories and mines. Because the tribal areas were located in mineral rich and forest covered parts of the country, tribals have paid a disproportionate price for the development of the rest of Indian society. This kind of development has benefited the mainstream at the expense of the tribes. The process of dispossessing tribals of their land has occurred as a necessary byproduct of the exploitation of minerals and the utilisation of favourable sites for setting up hydroelectric power plants, many of which were in tribal areas.”

National development, particularly in the Nehruvian era, led tribals to lose land and pay a disproportionate price. Which of the following did this development chiefly involve?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Building of large dams, factories and mines