2018 Environmental Performance Index: Where does India stand?

The 2018 Environmental Protection Index is one of the most recent, data-driven matrices to rank countries according to their environmental performance. This data-driven, empirical approach allows us to better understand the progress a country is making and the areas of the environment and health that the governments need to focus on in their respective countries. […]

India’s Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

In light of recent alarming trends in air quality of India, I felt that it is a good idea to revisit one of the most important environmental legislation to have come into effect in India, and to see what the government had in mind when it came out with this Act. The Air (Prevention and […]

India’s Environment Protection Act, 1986- An overview

In India, environmental protection was not much of an issue till the mid-1980’s. That is, environmental protection as a whole was never seriously considered. The government did enact various legislation pertaining to the environment in the 1970’s and 80’s; most notably the Water Act, 1974, Air Act, 1981, Indian Forest Policy, 1988. But it took […]

India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- An overview

Soon after the Stockholm convention on Environment, the Indian government responded positively by passing an act for the protection of India’s wildlife (both terrestrial and aquatic) and their habitats. Ever visited a Wildlife Sanctuary or a National Park? Taken a safari to enjoy the animals in the wild? Well, all that was possible only after […]

Biological Diversity Act, 2002

India’s humongous and lavish spread of ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, coastal and marine has been a subject of global admiration. India boasts of being one of the seventeen (17) most-biodiversity rich countries (technically known as the “mega diverse countries) in the world. So, how does this make India better than other countries? […] […]

The ground reality of conservation in India: An interview with Dr. George Schaller

Conservation for the sake of conservation is a romantic notion. But in reality, it’s far from it. Conservation today requires the cooperation of many stakeholders, including the locals, different levels of government, corporations and even the potential economic benefit of the area in question. Unfortunately, the last factor seems to be held in highest regard in […]

Technology making things easy: Forest fire management through Remote Sensing

(A guest post by Nidhi Singh. Check out her blog, The Brown Little Sparrow!) John Muir an author, environmental philosopher and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States, said that the clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness. And I am sure most of you will agree with him. But you’ll also […]

How are Environmental Impact Assessments regulated? A look at the legislation in India

The process of EIA, though globally accepted and followed, still have many differences specific to the conditions in each country. In India, EIA has been a mandatory process since the EIA notification became part of India’s legislation in 1994. Since then, many amendments and modifications have been made by the government to improve (or dilute) […]

Remembering the Asiatic Cheetah: Remembrance Day

For the last few years, 30th November has been celebrated by a select few communities all over the world as Remembrance Day. On this day, species that have become extinct are remembered and talked about. Along with this, awareness is spread among the younger population about the dangers that animals and plants face in the […]

Delhi air pollution: Here’s how YOU can fight it

The social media is abound with articles and posts on the extent of pollution, the reasons for it and the dangers it is causing. The public pressure is mounting and it is not going to be long before the governments at the state and national level are forced into action. But protesting is only part […]