Supreme Court Stays Rajasthan Govt's Dec 2025 Denotification of 732 Hectares from National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary

SC Extends 10-km Mining Ban to All Wetland Reserves; India Reaches 101 Ramsar Sites

The Supreme Court has extended its February 2024 direction requiring prior approval for mining within 10 km of Asan Wetland Conservation Reserve to all wetland conservation reserves across India. This creates a judicial safeguard for Ramsar sites and other notified wetlands, filling a gap in the Wetlands Rules 2017 which lack statutory buffers. Students must note the 101 Ramsar sites in India and the shift from 2010 to 2017 Rules.

Supreme Court Allows Narrow Post-Facto Environment Clearance Amnesty, Sets Aside 2021 OM

The Supreme Court struck down the 2021 Office Memorandum that allowed blanket regularisation of projects without prior environmental clearance. However, it permitted a narrowly tailored amnesty scheme if justified by compelling public interest, shifting from its earlier absolute ban. This judgment reinforces the precautionary principle and proportionality, requiring the government to demonstrate necessity and weigh environmental costs.

SC Directs Environment Ministry to Create Guidelines for Environmental Compensation Under SWM Rules 2026

The Supreme Court has directed the Union government to create comprehensive guidelines for imposing and collecting environmental compensation for violations of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026. The new rules, effective April 1, 2026, replace the 2016 rules and aim to improve segregation, curb landfill dependency, and promote a circular economy, but implementation remains a major challenge due to poor data integrity and lack of verification.

SC Sets Aside NGT Order on Art of Living, Directs DDA to Refund ₹5 Crore Compensation

The Supreme Court has set aside a 2017 NGT order that held the Art of Living Foundation responsible for damaging the Yamuna floodplains during its 2016 World Culture Festival. The Court directed the DDA to refund the ₹5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation, while also ordering DDA to continue floodplain rehabilitation work.

SC Bans Construction within 100m of Jojari River, Prohibits Hazardous Industries within 500m

Supreme Court imposes strict environmental buffer zones on Jojari River in Rajasthan — banning construction within 100 metres and hazardous industries within 500 metres — to curb severe contamination affecting around 2 million people in a water-starved state. This is a critical example of judicial intervention in environmental protection and river pollution governance.

Supreme Court Quashes 2021 OM on Post Facto Clearances, Warns Against Environmental Amnesty Schemes

The Supreme Court quashed the 2021 Office Memorandum that allowed post facto environmental clearances, but left the door open for the Centre to legalize violations via statutory notification. This decision reaffirms the EIA sequence rule while risking the normalization of environmental amnesty schemes, as civil penalties replace criminal liability under the Jan Vishwas amendments.

SC Strikes Down 2021 OM on Retrospective ECs, EIA Process Reaffirmed

The Supreme Court struck down the Centre's 2021 Office Memorandum allowing retrospective environmental clearances, reaffirming that ex-post facto ECs cannot be a routine administrative mechanism. This judgment reinforces the precautionary principle in India's EIA regime and closes the door on blanket regularisation of projects that started construction without clearance.

SC Directs Eviction in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve; FRA Implementation Under Scrutiny

The Supreme Court has ordered time-bound eviction of encroachments in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve based on CEC reports, while the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 — meant to protect forest-dweller rights — continues to be bypassed by authorities. This clash between conservation and tribal rights is a high-probability topic for UPSC GS2 (governance) and GS3 (environment).