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UPSC Notes

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

PYQs

11

Articles

2

Momentum

32

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

UPSC frequently examines environmental governance mechanisms, their effectiveness, challenges in implementation, and judicial interpretations. EIA is a cornerstone of India's environmental regulatory framework and its proper functioning is crucial for sustainable development.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a statutory process in India, mandated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to evaluate the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project before its implementation. It aims to integrate environmental concerns into the development process for sustainable outcomes.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Legal Basis

Mandated by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Key Body

Involves an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Purpose

Aims to ensure development projects comply with environmental conditions and mitigate adverse impacts.

Process

Often involves public consultation and expert review before granting clearance.

Core Principle

Mandates pre-project appraisal to assess and mitigate potential environmental damage before construction begins.

Challenge Highlighted

Undermined by 'post facto' clearances, where projects are regularized after construction, diluting its preventive intent and treating environmental harm as a 'cost of doing business'.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironmental Governance

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)Regulates and grants clearance
Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)Reviews projects for clearance
Supreme Court of IndiaInterprets and upholds environmental law, including eia regulations
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)Formulates and implements eia policies and notifications
State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAA)Appraises projects at the state level
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions

Quick revision

  • Statutory under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • Evaluates project impacts before implementation.
  • MoEFCC and EAC are key bodies.
  • Aims for sustainable development.
  • Often faces challenges in implementation and compliance.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustaina...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

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

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
2018Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPC...

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
2015Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

Science & TechnologyOpen 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 Governance
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 2015· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

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 2018· Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPC...

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
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustaina...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Open question

A perfect storm: On the Wayanad debris slip

10 Jul 2026 · EIA is a legal framework for assessing project impacts on environment, crucial for sustainable development, involving MoEFCC and EAC.

Read article

​Clearance in reverse: On top court, post facto clearances

31 Jul 2026 · EIA is a mandatory pre-project assessment to prevent environmental harm, but its efficacy is challenged by post-facto clearances and legislative changes that dilute penalties, converting compliance into a financial transaction.

Read article

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Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 11 linked questions on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

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

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

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

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

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

2020·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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

How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? 1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPC...

2018·Environment & Ecology
Solve

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

2015·Science & Technology
Solve

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

2026·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

2023·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustaina...

2025·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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