Lesson 5. Indian and International Environmental Institutions, Laws, and Policies
This is a heavily tested area that requires factual accuracy and understanding of the legal framework. Key Indian laws include the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (and its various notifications like EIA), Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (with its Schedules), Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Understanding the institutional framework—MoEFCC, CPCB, State PCBs, National Green Tribunal (NGT), National Biodiversity Authority—is essential. On the international front, a comprehensive list of conventions and their protocols is needed: Ramsar (wetlands), CITES (wildlife trade), CMS (migratory species), Vienna & Montreal (ozone layer), Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm (hazardous chemicals and waste), and UNCCD (desertification). Knowing the key objectives, member countries, and recent meetings of these is vital.
Additional Resources: Official websites of MoEFCC and NGT for latest orders, notifications, and case laws. The ENVIS portals on various themes are rich repositories. For international treaties, the official UN treaty websites provide authentic texts and status of ratification. Compilations by coaching institutes often provide handy tables comparing these conventions.