Topic3 stories
Environmental clearance
Every story on Environmental clearance in the news so far, newest first, with the key Prelims facts and the previous-year questions UPSC has asked on it.
In the news
- Centre resumes appraising pending post facto green clearances after Supreme Court ruling 3 October 2026 · Indian Express
Can a project that broke the law be cleared afterwards? The Centre reopens pending cases but bars new ones.
- Expert panel backs green clearance for the Subansiri Upper hydro project 26 September 2026 · Indian Express
Can Arunachal's big dams be built without paying too high a price in forests?
- Green clearances for ports now valid for 20 years 23 September 2026 · Indian Express
Faster port building, or weaker oversight of coasts?
Key facts
- MoEFCC has told central and State expert bodies to resume appraising post facto environmental clearance proposals that were pending, rejected or returned; no new proposals will be accepted. (3 October 2026)
- In Vanashakti v Union of India (29 July 2026), the Supreme Court upheld the 2017 notification, quashed the 2021 Office Memorandum and allowed pending applications to be processed. (3 October 2026)
- Environmental clearance is granted under the EIA Notification, 2006, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Category A projects are appraised by sectoral Expert Appraisal Committees of the Union Environment Ministry. (26 September 2026)
- Diversion of forest land for non-forest use needs separate approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, renamed the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 in 2023. (26 September 2026)
- The EIA Notification, 2006 is issued under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. (23 September 2026)
- Port and harbour clearances were valid for 10 years plus a one-year extension; they are now valid for 20 years with two further five-year extensions. (23 September 2026)
Previous-year questions
- 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks What role do environmental NGOs and activists play in influencing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcomes for major projects in India? Cite four examples with all important details.
- 2023 · GS3 · 10 marks Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures.
- 2020 · GS3 · 10 marks How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
- 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads.