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Environment & Ecology

Syllabus-mapped editorials, PIB updates, reports, judgments, and policy news for prelims and mains revision.

Today's practice test

21 August 2026

GS-3Editorials21 Aug 2026thehindu.com

The Vanashakti verdict is balanced and pragmatic

The Supreme Court's landmark judgment in Vanashakti vs Union of India (July 29, 2026) reaffirmed the mandatory nature of prior Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006, and closed previous administrative mechanisms for regularizing violations. However, the Court clarified that the Central Government retains statutory power under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to frame a new, one-time statutory mechanism for legacy violation projects, provided it incorporates strict environmental safeguards, including damage assessment, remediation, and compensation, and is deemed necessary in the larger public interest. This judgment balances strict enforcement of environmental laws with practical realities, leaving the decision for a new policy to the government.

Environment & Ecology
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19 August 2026

18 August 2026

GS-3Editorials18 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Losing forest for trees: On the CAG’s audit of the Green India Mission

A performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that the Green India Mission (GIM), conceived to improve India's forest quality and expand forest cover, has largely failed to meet its targets over a decade. The mission achieved less than a tenth of its forest quality target and only four percent of its forest cover expansion goal. Intended convergence with schemes like CAMPA and MGNREGS did not materialize. GIM, a pillar of the National Action Plan on Climate Change and crucial for India's Paris Agreement carbon sink commitments, appears to be replaced by a tree plantation drive 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'. The audit highlights a critical distinction between planting trees and true forest restoration, as evidenced by the India State of Forest Report 2023, which shows a gain in 'tree cover outside recorded forests' but thinning dense canopy within recorded forests. The article uses the example of the Aravallis to illustrate that mere tree planting cannot undo complex ecological damage.

Environment & Ecology
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17 August 2026

GS-2Editorials17 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Andhra’s urban transformation

Andhra Pradesh's Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department is undertaking a significant urban transformation, aiming for sustainable development by 2047. Key initiatives include streamlining archaic administrative procedures, mandating in-situ solid waste management for large apartment complexes, implementing a 'Reuse of Treated Used Water Policy, 2026' to promote a circular water economy, and redeveloping slums using Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models with Floor Space Index (FSI) relaxations. The state is also promoting green buildings through incentives, optimizing land use, and encouraging transit-oriented development by easing zoning regulations, with a vision to create rapidly growing, adaptive, and environmentally resilient cities like Amaravati.

Indian Polity & GovernanceEnvironment & Ecology
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15 August 2026

GS-2News & Analysis15 Aug 2026thehindu.com

On India’s disappearing pastoral communities | Green Humour by Rohan Chakravarty

The article, part of Rohan Chakravarty's 'Green Humour' series, highlights the critical issue of India's disappearing pastoral communities. Chakravarty's work generally focuses on wildlife, nature conservation, environmental issues, and sustainability, suggesting an environmental perspective on the challenges faced by these communities.

Social Justice & DevelopmentEnvironment & Ecology
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GS-3News & Analysis15 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Guardians of the gentle giants: Mahouts from indigenous communities and their bond with elephants

The article highlights the crucial role of indigenous communities, particularly mahouts and cavadies from tribes like Kaatunaickers, Kurumbas, Malasars, and Irulas, in elephant care and conservation in Tamil Nadu's oldest elephant camps (Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Kozhikamuthi in Anamalai Tiger Reserve). It emphasizes their generational traditional knowledge, deep bond with elephants, and unique training methods, some without conventional tools like 'ankush'. The piece also discusses the ongoing challenge of human-elephant conflict, the efforts of Project Elephant by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the use of technology (like AI-enabled systems) for mitigation. However, it cautions that technology alone is insufficient and must be combined with on-field study, understanding the elephant's perspective, and involving all stakeholders for effective conflict resolution.

Environment & Ecology
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14 August 2026

GS-2Editorials14 Aug 2026indianexpress.com

Supreme Court has nurtured environmental law. Is it distancing itself from its legacy?

The article, based on its title, likely examines the historical role and contributions of the Supreme Court of India in the development and enforcement of environmental law. It would then proceed to analyze whether recent judicial trends or pronouncements indicate a departure or distancing from this established legacy of environmental protection.

Indian Polity & GovernanceEnvironment & Ecology
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10 August 2026

GS-3News & Analysis10 Aug 2026thehindu.com

A flood of woes in Assam

The article details the devastating localized floods in Assam's Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts, which were historically less flood-prone. It highlights the immediate impact on villages, infrastructure, and livelihoods, and explores the multifaceted causes, including extreme rainfall, altered river systems (post-1950 earthquake), deforestation, infrastructure development, climate change, and rampant illegal coal, sand, and stone mining along the Assam-Nagaland border. The article criticizes the unpreparedness of local administration in these 'low-risk' areas and discusses legal interventions (PILs, NGT ban on rat-hole mining) that have largely been ignored. It emphasizes the need for climate-smart disaster management, surface water management, and addressing the trauma faced by flood survivors in a state where floods are becoming more unpredictable and catastrophic.

Environment & Ecology
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06 August 2026

GS-2Editorials06 Aug 2026thehindu.com

A climate resilience pathway between India and China

The article highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India and China, attributing them to climate change. It discusses the similar challenges faced by both countries due to rapid urbanization, outdated infrastructure, and poor waste management, leading to severe flooding, heatwaves, and droughts. The core argument is that climate resilience and disaster mitigation could serve as a low-risk pathway for India-China cooperation, despite strained bilateral relations. It outlines past engagements, potential areas for collaboration (urban resilience, hydrological data, green technology, finance), and the unique strengths each country brings to adaptation strategies, emphasizing the need for joint efforts to address climate impacts and shape global climate resilience norms.

Environment & EcologyInternational Relations
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