Environment & Ecology for UPSC Prelims & Mains
Environment carries nearly 15–20 questions in UPSC Prelims every year due to the combined Indian Forest Service (IFoS) examination.
1. Key Environmental Legislations in India
- Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972: Categorization of schedules (amended in 2022 to rationalize schedules from 6 to 4).
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Umbrella legislation enacted under Article 253 following the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
- Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023: Strategic infrastructure exemptions near international borders.
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Three-tier structure (NBA, SBB, and BMC).
2. Global Climate Conventions
- UNFCCC & Paris Agreement: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Loss and Damage Fund.
- CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity): Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (30x30 target).
- Ramsar Convention: Wetland conservation, Montreux Record, and India's 85+ designated Ramsar sites.