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Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

ESAs represent a critical policy tool for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, often involving complex trade-offs between environmental protection, economic growth, and local livelihoods. They highlight federal challenges in environmental governance and the importance of stakeholder consultation.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are regions notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to regulate human activities around Protected Areas and other ecologically fragile regions. The objective is to minimize negative impacts on the fragile ecosystems and biodiversity.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Legal Basis

Notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Purpose

Aims to regulate, not prohibit, activities like mining, industrial development, and certain agricultural practices to protect ecosystems.

Expert Panels

Proposals often stem from expert panel recommendations, such as the Madhav Gadgil (WGEEP) and K. Kasturirangan (HLWG) committees for the Western Ghats.

Implementation Challenges

Faces opposition from states and local communities due to concerns over livelihoods, development, and forest rights.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironmental Governance
Conceptual areaBiodiversity Conservation

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)Formulates and notifies
Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) / Madhav Gadgil CommitteeRecommends
High-Level Working Group (HLWG) / K. Kasturirangan CommitteeReviews and recommends
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

  • Notified under Environment Protection Act, 1986.
  • Regulate, not prohibit, activities in fragile ecosystems.
  • Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports key to Western Ghats ESA proposals.
  • Challenges: Centre-State consensus, local livelihoods, forest rights.
  • Aims to balance conservation with sustainable development.

High-confidence PYQs

2022Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Environment & EcologyOpen question

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Environment & EcologyOpen question

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2020Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2020Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2017Conceptual understanding, Factual recall

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2016Factual recall, Policy measures

‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to -

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2014Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Environmental GovernanceBiodiversity Conservation
Prelims 2014· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

Open question
Prelims 2016· Factual recall, Policy measures

‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to -

Open question
Prelims 2017· Conceptual understanding, Factual recall

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Open question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Open question
Prelims 2020· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Open question

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Open question

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Open question

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When...

Open question

Western Ghats conservation with science and dialogue

01 Aug 2026 · ESAs are legally designated zones under the EPA, 1986, to protect fragile ecosystems by regulating human activities. Their notification, particularly in regions like the Western Ghats, involves balancing conservation needs with state development aspirations and local community rights, often leading to Centre-State conflicts.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

2014·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

2022·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

2020·Environment & Ecology
Solve

If a particular plant species is placed under Schedule VI of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, what is the implication?

2020·Environment & Ecology
Solve

In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

2017·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to -

2016·Environment & Ecology
Solve

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When...

2022·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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