Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
UPSC expects candidates to understand core environmental principles that guide policy, legislation, and judicial pronouncements on environmental protection and sustainable development. The Precautionary Principle is crucial for proactive environmental governance.
The Precautionary Principle is a fundamental tenet of environmental law, stating that if there is a threat of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. It shifts the burden of proof to those proposing potentially harmful activities.