UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Public participation means that citizens and affected stakeholders have meaningful opportunities to influence environmental decisions. It can occur through consultations,hearings,committees and collaborative planning. This involvement improves legitimacy,transparency and the quality of decisions. Therefore the description in the question clearly denotes public participation.

Option A:
Centralisation concentrates decision making power in higher levels of government or a small group of actors. It generally reduces the role of local communities. Hence it is opposite to the participatory approach described in the stem.

Option B:
Privatisation refers to transferring ownership or control of public assets to private entities. While it may affect resource management,it does not inherently ensure involvement of local communities in decision making. Therefore it does not fit the question.

Option C:
Public participation recognises that people who depend on resources often possess valuable knowledge and have a right to be heard. Including them can lead to more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This is exactly the process outlined in the question.

Option D:
Deregulation removes or simplifies government rules and controls. It may limit oversight and opportunities for public scrutiny. Thus it is not synonymous with stakeholder involvement in environmental decisions.