Environmental Laws & Bodies — EPA, WPA, FCA, EIA, CPCB, CAMPA, NGT

What should you study in Environmental Laws & Bodies?

• Environment Protection Act 1986 — schedule, amendment powers
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972 — schedules I-VI, Project Tiger
• Forest Conservation Act 1980 — diversion, compensatory afforestation
• EIA notification 2006 — process, public hearing, categories A & B

How often is Environmental Laws & Bodies asked in UPSC Prelims?

Asked in 4 of 10 years, including 2 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: not asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: asked
4. 2019: not asked
5. 2020: asked
6. 2021: not asked
7. 2022: asked
8. 2023: not asked
9. 2024: asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Prelims GS Paper I paper

General Studies Paper I is the Prelims paper that decides the cut-off: 100 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks, with negative marking for wrong answers. See all 88 Prelims GS Paper I topics.

Related topics to study next

• Ecosystem & Ecology — Food Chains, Energy Flow, Ecological PyramidsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Biodiversity — Hotspots, Threatened Species, Conservation (In-situ/Ex-situ)High-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Climate Change — GHGs, UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, NDCs, Carbon MarketsHigh-yieldasked 6/10 yrs
• Pollution — Air, Water, Soil, Noise, Plastic & Waste Management LawsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
• Protected Areas, Wildlife, Wetlands (Ramsar) & International ConventionsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Gandhi & Mass Movements — NCM, CDM, Quit India MovementHigh-yieldasked 7/10 yrs
• Temple Architecture — Nagara, Dravida, Vesara, Buddhist & Jain MonumentsHigh-yieldasked 7/10 yrs
• Heritage Governance — UNESCO (WH/Intangible), ASI, GI Tags, PRASAD, HRIDAYHigh-yieldasked 7/10 yrs