NGT Bars Withdrawal of Petition Against Radha Soami Satsang Beas Over Illegal Tree Felling, Hill Cutting in Kangra

AP Assembly Adopts Water Amendment Act 2024: Penalties of ₹10K-₹15L for Minor Violations

Andhra Pradesh has adopted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, decriminalising minor technical violations by replacing criminal penalties with financial fines (₹10,000–₹15 lakh). This is a key shift toward trust-based governance and ease of doing business, and a potential Prelims/Mains topic on environmental law reforms.

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.

CAG Audit Reveals Green India Mission Achieved Only 0.11 Million Hectares Against 1.4 Million Target; Forest Cover Expansion at 4%

A CAG performance audit of the Green India Mission (GIM) reveals it achieved less than 10% of its forest quality improvement target over a decade, with forest cover expansion at just 4%. India's shift to a tree plantation drive ('Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam') is masking the failure to restore actual forests, risking the country's Paris Agreement carbon sink commitment of 2.5-3 billion tonnes by 2030.

Centre Amends EIA 2006: Port Environmental Clearance Validity Doubled to 20 Years, Extendable to 30

The Centre has doubled the validity of environmental clearances for ports and harbours from 10 years to a minimum of 20 years, with provisions for two five-year extensions. This amendment to the EIA 2006 notification aims to rationalise the clearance framework for long-gestation port projects, reducing compliance burden while maintaining environmental safeguards. For exam aspirants, this is a key policy change linking environmental regulation, infrastructure development, and governance.

72% of Punjab's Groundwater Blocks in 'Red Zone' as Extraction Rate Hits 152% - Pani Bachao Scheme Offers Cash for Conservation

Punjab's groundwater crisis deepens with an extraction rate of 152%, and 72% of its 153 blocks classified as 'over-exploited'. The rice-wheat cropping system, supported by subsidised electricity and assured procurement, drives this overuse. The 'Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' scheme offers cash incentives for electricity conservation, but low enrolment limits impact. This is a critical issue for UPSC Environment, Agriculture, and Governance papers.

15th FC Air-Quality Grant: BMC Spends ₹573.88 Cr, but Mumbai Clean Air Rank Falls to 28th

BMC spent 92.54% (₹573.88 Cr) of the 15th Finance Commission's air-quality grant, but Mumbai's clean air ranking slipped to 28th from 25th. The bulk (79.56%) went to electric buses, yet BEST's fleet shrunk and half the buses are undelivered. This is a classic case of misaligned spending – examiners will ask why funds meant for pollution mitigation were diverted without addressing local hotspots.

7th ESA Draft Notification: 9,993.7 sq km in 131 Kerala Villages Under Western Ghats Regulation

The 7th draft ESA notification for Kerala's Western Ghats has triggered protests from settlers and farmers who fear displacement and land-use restrictions. The notification covers 9,993.7 sq km across 131 villages, but the state government wants it reduced to 8,590.69 sq km excluding human habitations. This is a decade-old conflict between ecological conservation and livelihood rights, with implications for UPSC GS3 (Environment) and GS2 (Federalism, Governance).

Kerala Seeks Final Notification on Western Ghats ESA, Proposes Limiting to 8,590.69 sq km Forest Area

Kerala has formally submitted recommendations to the Centre to limit the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats to only forest areas covering 8,590.69 sq km, excluding all populated areas, farmlands, and plantations. The state, which has been demanding a final notification after multiple draft versions since 2014, plans to pass a resolution in the Assembly to press its case. This is a critical exam topic for understanding environmental governance, federal-state dynamics, and the developmental vs. conservation debate.