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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Clearance (EC)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

EIA and EC are foundational pillars of environmental governance and sustainable development in India, frequently appearing in GS3 (Environment) and GS2 (Governance, Judiciary). Understanding their legal basis, implementation challenges, and judicial interpretations is crucial for civil servants.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a statutory process under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and its subsequent notifications, designed to evaluate the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project before its implementation. Environmental Clearance (EC) is the mandatory legal approval granted by the government based on the EIA report, ensuring that projects adhere to environmental safeguards.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Mandatory Requirement

EC is a mandatory legal requirement for specified development projects in India.

Legal Basis

Governed primarily by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the EIA Notification, 2006.

Purpose

Aims to integrate environmental considerations into project planning and decision-making for sustainable development.

Judicial Stance

The Supreme Court consistently upholds the principle of 'prior' EC, discouraging routine post-facto regularisation.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironmental Governance

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)Formulates and implements policy, grants ec
Supreme Court of IndiaInterprets environmental law, ensures compliance
State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAAs)Grant ec for state-level projects
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions

Quick revision

  • EIA/EC mandatory under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 & EIA Notification, 2006.
  • SC's Vanashakti verdict: prior EC is non-negotiable.
  • Invalidated administrative OMs for post-facto regularisation.
  • Central government retains statutory power for *one-time* regularisation with strict safeguards.
  • Balances environmental protection with practical realities of existing projects.

Elimination traps

Constitutional vs statutory — Distinguish between the Environment (Protection) Act (statutory) and administrative office memorandums (non-statutory) for regularisation, as highlighted by the SC.

Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.

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
2024Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Stateme...

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
2020Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

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

Environment & EcologyOpen question

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
2020Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

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

Environment & EcologyOpen question

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
2019Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

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

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Multi-statement analysis, 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

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

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

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Environmental Governance
Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

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

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Multi-statement analysis, 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

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

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

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

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

Open question

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
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

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

Open question

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
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 2024· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Stateme...

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

The Vanashakti verdict is balanced and pragmatic

21 Aug 2026 · The Supreme Court's Vanashakti verdict reinforces the mandatory nature of prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It clarifies that previous administrative mechanisms for regularising violation projects are invalid but acknowledges the central government's statutory power to frame a new, one-time, safeguarded mechanism in public interest.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Clearance (EC)

Often confused with

Judicial Review of Executive/Policy Decisions

Open notesOften confused with

Global Economic Governance and Development

Open notesOften confused with

Environmental Compensation and Polluter Pays Principle

Open notesOften confused with

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Clearance (EC) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Clearance (EC)

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

2019·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

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: Statement-I: The Indian Flying Fox is placed under the "vermin" category in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Stateme...

2024·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. As per law, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority exists at both National and State le...

2019·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements : 1. Under the Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the we...

2019·Environment & Ecology
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

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