UPSC PracticeUPSC Practice
UPSC Notes

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

EIA is a critical tool for balancing development with environmental protection, a recurring theme in UPSC. Understanding its process, challenges, and effectiveness is essential for governance and sustainable development.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a statutory process in India, mandated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to evaluate the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project before its implementation. It aims to integrate environmental concerns into the development process for sustainable outcomes.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Legal Basis

Mandated by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Key Body

Involves an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Purpose

Aims to ensure development projects comply with environmental conditions and mitigate adverse impacts.

Process

Often involves public consultation and expert review before granting clearance.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaEnvironmental Governance

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)Regulates and grants clearance
Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)Reviews projects for clearance
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions

Quick revision

  • Statutory under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • Evaluates project impacts before implementation.
  • MoEFCC and EAC are key bodies.
  • Aims for sustainable development.
  • Often faces challenges in implementation and compliance.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustaina...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2020Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2015Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

Science & TechnologyOpen question
2014Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Environmental Governance
Prelims 2014· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the W...

Open question
Prelims 2015· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : The Environment Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Government of India to 1. state the requirement of public participati...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). ...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements : Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quart...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: Statement I: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustaina...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build...

Open question

A perfect storm: On the Wayanad debris slip

10 Jul 2026 · EIA is a legal framework for assessing project impacts on environment, crucial for sustainable development, involving MoEFCC and EAC.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Often confused with

Global Economic Governance and Development

Open notes

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer
Browse all topics