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ABHYAS PREP: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (UPSC AND MPSC) · LAWS

Environment laws of India

The main purpose of twelve Indian environment and forest laws.

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Worked examples

Example 1 · level 1

What is the main purpose of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980?

  1. declaring and managing reserved, protected and village forests
  2. needing Central Government approval before forest land is used for non-forest purposes
  3. promoting efficient use of energy through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
  4. recognising the rights of forest-dwelling tribes and other forest dwellers over forest land and produce
Show solution
  1. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: needing Central Government approval before forest land is used for non-forest purposes (renamed the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam in 2023).
  2. Forest Rights Act, 2006: recognising the rights of forest-dwelling tribes and other forest dwellers over forest land and produce.
  3. Energy Conservation Act, 2001: promoting efficient use of energy through the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
  4. Indian Forest Act, 1927: declaring and managing reserved, protected and village forests.
  5. Source: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/

Answer: needing Central Government approval before forest land is used for non-forest purposes

Example 2 · level 2

Which law has this main purpose: giving the Centre wide powers to protect the environment as a whole, after the Bhopal gas tragedy?

  1. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  2. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  3. Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
  4. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
Show solution
  1. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: giving the Centre wide powers to protect the environment as a whole, after the Bhopal gas tragedy (often called an umbrella law).
  2. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: controlling air pollution, using the boards first set up for water.
  3. Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991: quick relief, through compulsory insurance, for victims of accidents with hazardous substances.
  4. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: needing Central Government approval before forest land is used for non-forest purposes (renamed the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam in 2023).
  5. Source: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/

Answer: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Example 3 · level 3

Consider the following pairs (Law : Main purpose): 1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 : controlling water pollution through the Central and State Pollution Control Boards it created 2. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 : regulating access to biological resources and sharing their benefits, through the National Biodiversity Authority 3. Forest Rights Act, 2006 : recognising the rights of forest-dwelling tribes and other forest dwellers over forest land and produce How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Only one pair
  2. Only two pairs
  3. All three pairs
  4. None of the pairs
Show solution
  1. Pair 1 is correct: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: controlling water pollution through the Central and State Pollution Control Boards it created.
  2. Pair 2 is wrong: National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 is not regulating access to biological resources and sharing their benefits, through the National Biodiversity Authority. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: setting up a special tribunal for quick hearing of environmental cases.
  3. Pair 3 is correct: Forest Rights Act, 2006: recognising the rights of forest-dwelling tribes and other forest dwellers over forest land and produce.
  4. So 2 of the 3 pairs are correctly matched.
  5. Source: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/

Answer: Only two pairs

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