“Policy Contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations.

Theme

T80 Environment, courts & civil society: Art 21, environmental PILs, green NGOs & pressure groups

What UPSC asks in this theme

A cross-paper theme: Art 21 and the right to clean environment (firecrackers), Supreme Court constitutionalising environment, environmental pressure groups and NGOs, and policy contradictions causing degradation.

What to cover

• Environmental case laws: MC Mehta, Vellore, Subhash Kumar
• Public trust doctrine, polluter pays, precautionary principle
• Green pressure groups and NGOs (Chipko, Narmada Bachao)
• Policy contradictions between sectors

Writing the answer

• Cite at least two case laws; link GS2 polity with GS3 environment

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 5 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.