Environmental Law

1972

The Stockholm Conference

Where environmental law began

The UN Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm (June 1972) was the first global conference on the environment and led to the creation of UNEP. Indira Gandhi, the only head of government other than the host to attend, asked, "Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters?" India's Water Act (1974), Air Act (1981) and Environment Protection Act (1986) were enacted partly to implement its decisions.

• Led to the creation of UNEP.
• Indira Gandhi: "Are not poverty and need the greatest polluters?"

1992

The Rio Earth Summit

Sustainable development

The UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro produced the Rio Declaration (including the precautionary principle and polluter pays principle), Agenda 21, and opened for signature the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

1974

The Water Act, 1974

India's first pollution law

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, passed under Article 252 at the request of state legislatures, was India's first major environmental law. It created the Central and State Pollution Control Boards.

• Created the Central Pollution Control Board.
• Passed under Article 252.

1981

The Air Act, 1981

Controlling air pollution

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 empowered the Pollution Control Boards to control air pollution and allowed states to declare air pollution control areas.

1972

The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Schedules of protected species

The Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 provides for protected areas (sanctuaries and national parks) and schedules of protected animals and plants. The 2022 amendment rationalised the schedules from six to four and gave effect to CITES.

• 2022 amendment: schedules reduced from six to four.