Category 17 · Environment & Ecology

Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA

15 micro topics in Environment & Ecology for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Constitutional Provisions Related to Environment; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; and 13 more.

17.1

Constitutional Provisions Related to Environment

The original Constitution of India did not mention the environment, but the 42nd Amendment of 1976 added two key provisions. Article 48A, a Directive Principle of State Policy, says the State shall endeavour to protect and…
17.2

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 is India's main law for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants and their habitats. It was passed after the Indian Board for Wildlife recommended a central law, and…
17.3

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA) is India's umbrella law for protecting and improving the environment and preventing hazards to people, other living beings, plants and property. Parliament passed it under Article 253 to implement decisions…
17.4

National Forest Policy

India has had three national forest policies. The first, in 1894, under British rule, treated forests mainly as a source of timber and revenue, and a separate class of village forests was recognised. The National Forest…
17.5

Biological Diversity Act, 2002

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is India's law to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992). Its three objectives are conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits…
17.6

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly called the Forest Rights Act (FRA), recognises the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers over forest land…
17.7

Coastal Regulation Zone Notification

The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification is the main legal instrument regulating development along India's coast. It is issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The first…
17.8

Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on 4 December 2010 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate activities in notified wetlands. They applied to wetlands…
17.9

National Green Tribunal Act

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 established the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources, and for enforcing legal rights…
17.10

Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules

The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 were notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on 17 July 2000 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to implement India's obligations under the Montreal Protocol,…
17.11

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): Definition and Brief History in India

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic process of identifying, predicting and evaluating the likely environmental, social and economic effects of a proposed project or activity before a decision is taken, so that harm can be…
17.12

The Eight Steps of the EIA Process in India

The Environmental Impact Assessment process in India is usually described in eight steps. Step 1, screening, decides whether a project needs EIA; in India Category A projects need it automatically, and Category B projects are screened…
17.13

Environmental Appraisal Process

Environmental appraisal is the stage at which an independent expert body reviews the EIA report and public hearing outcome and recommends whether a project should receive environmental clearance (EC), and on what conditions. Under the EIA…
17.14

Drawbacks in the EIA Process and Recommendations for Improvement

The EIA process in India is widely seen as weak in practice despite sound design. Common drawbacks are poor quality of baseline data and reports, often copied from earlier studies, with consultants paid by the project…
17.15

EIA Sectoral Analysis: Mining, Agricultural and Industrial Sectors

EIA applies differently across sectors, depending on the project type and its size thresholds in the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006. In the mining sector, mining of minerals with a lease area of 50 hectares…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA?

Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA has 15 micro topics in Environment & Ecology: Constitutional Provisions Related to Environment; Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; National Forest Policy; Biological Diversity Act, 2002; Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006; Coastal Regulation Zone Notification; Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010; National Green Tribunal Act; Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules; Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): Definition and Brief History in India; The Eight Steps of the EIA Process in India; Environmental Appraisal Process; Drawbacks in the EIA Process and Recommendations for Improvement; EIA Sectoral Analysis: Mining, Agricultural and Industrial Sectors.

Is Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA important for UPSC Prelims?

Environmental Acts, Policies and EIA is a part of the UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 15 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.