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VOL. 7, ISSUE 4 (2025)
India’s environmental legal and policy framework: From pollution control to sustainable development and environmental justice
Authors
Dr. Priyanka Sambhaji Jadhavar, Ganesh Shrirang Nale
Abstract
Environmental protection in India has evolved through a complex
interplay of constitutional mandates, statutory enactments, judicial
innovations, and policy frameworks. This article critically examines India’s
environmental governance architecture through a detailed analysis of key
environmental legislations and national policies, including the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010;
biodiversity, wildlife, and forest-related laws; and the Forest Rights Act,
2006. Alongside statutory instruments, the paper also evaluates major policy
documents such as the National Environment Policy, 2006; National Forest
Policy, 1988; National Water Policy, 2012; Wildlife Conservation Strategy,
2002; and the landmark international report Our Common Future (1987).
The study adopts a doctrinal and analytical approach to assess how these laws
and policies collectively address pollution control, conservation of natural
resources, protection of indigenous and forest-dependent communities, environmental
justice, and sustainable development. Special emphasis is placed on
institutional mechanisms such as Pollution Control Boards and the National
Green Tribunal, as well as principles like the precautionary principle,
polluter pays principle, and intergenerational equity. The article argues that
while India possesses one of the most comprehensive environmental legal
frameworks among developing nations, persistent challenges such as weak
enforcement, regulatory overlap, developmental pressures, climate change, and
marginalization of vulnerable communities continue to undermine environmental
outcomes. The paper concludes by advocating integrated governance, stronger
community participation, ecological federalism, and alignment of national laws
with global sustainability goals.
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Pages:188-190
How to cite this article:
Dr. Priyanka Sambhaji Jadhavar, Ganesh Shrirang Nale "India’s environmental legal and policy framework: From pollution control to sustainable development and environmental justice". International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Vol 7, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 188-190
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