What is the common examiner trap about Polity in UPSC exams?

They will try to confuse 'Absolute Liability' (strict, no exceptions) with 'Strict Liability' (allows some exceptions), or present CSR as a voluntary guideline rather than a mandatory legal duty. They may also ask which article is a Directive Principle (48A) vs. a Fundamental Duty (51A(g)).

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Polity for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: Articles 48A & 51A(g) inserted via the 42nd Amendment. 2. Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court of India (as the judicial custodian). 3. Target this Legal Point: CSR under Section 135 of the Companies Act is an enforceable obligation.

PolityEnvironment

Take AI Challenge ▸

News 0 of 26

Justice Nagarathna Advocates Environmental Justice, Mandatory CSR Under Companies Act for Extractive Industries

Q: The concept of 'Absolute Liability' in Indian environmental law was primarily developed by the Supreme Court in the aftermath of which major industrial disaster?

Bhopal Gas Tragedy, The article explicitly states that the Supreme Court evolved the doctrine of 'absolute liability' in the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. This landmark case established strict accountability for hazardous industries.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the lecture by Justice B V Nagarathna: 1. She defined environmental justice as a framework integrating ecological protection with equality and democratic participation. 2. She argued that the mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) regime under the Companies Act is merely a voluntary guideline for corporations. 3. She cited the term 'hot law', coined by environmental law scholar Elizabeth Fisher, to describe static and unchanging legal standards. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only 1, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; she emphasized CSR is an enforceable obligation, not voluntarism. Statement 3 is incorrect; 'hot law' was described as dynamic and evolving, not static. Hence, only statement 1 is correct.

Q: According to Justice Nagarathna, which of the following constitutional articles mandates the State to protect and improve the environment?

Article 48A, The article states that constitutionalising environmental protection began in 1976 through the introduction of Articles 48A and 51A(g). Article 48A is a Directive Principle of State Policy mandating the State to protect the environment. Article 51A(g) is a Fundamental Duty for citizens.

Q: In her lecture, Justice Nagarathna outlined three factors to guide judicial and governmental leadership in environmental matters. Which of the following is NOT one of those factors?

The primacy of economic growth over all other considerations., The article lists the three factors as: 1) Context sensitivity, 2) Balancing competing interests, and 3) Outright prohibition in ecologically sensitive zones. She did not advocate for the primacy of economic growth; in fact, she argued against profit standing alone and for environmental justice.

Polity EnvironmentHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingPrelims MediumMains HighStatic GK Link

28 Mar 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Bodies:Supreme Court

Practice MCQs from today's news ▸

~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.Supreme Court Justice B V Nagarathna delivered a lecture advocating for 'environmental justice', integrating ecological protection with social equity and corporate accountability.

2.She emphasized that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) under the Companies Act is an enforceable obligation, not mere voluntarism, and stressed 'absolute liability' for hazardous industries.

3.The lecture outlined three judicial factors: context sensitivity, balancing of interests, and outright prohibition in ecologically sensitive zones, building on India's constitutional environmental jurisprudence.

The Big Picture

Prelims · MediumMains · High

Supreme Court Justice B V Nagarathna's lecture calls for integrating environmental justice into corporate accountability, emphasizing the enforceable nature of CSR under the Companies Act and the judiciary's role as custodian for future generations. This is crucial for mains essays on corporate ethics, environment, and constitutional rights.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Constitutional ArticlesArticle 48A (State to protect environment) & Article 51A(g) (Citizen's duty)

Key Judicial DoctrineAbsolute Liability (post-Bhopal Gas Tragedy)

Term Coined by Scholar"Hot law" by Elizabeth Fisher

Memorial LectureJustice S B Sinha 4th Endowment Memorial Lecture

VenueNational University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

1-Minute Revision

›Constitutional Articles: Article 48A (State to protect environment) & Article 51A(g) (Citizen's duty)
›Key Judicial Doctrine: Absolute Liability (post-Bhopal Gas Tragedy)
›Target this Data: Articles 48A & 51A(g) inserted via the 42nd Amendment.
›Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court of India (as the judicial custodian).
›Target this Legal Point: CSR under Section 135 of the Companies Act is an enforceable obligation.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

News Snapshot

⚖️

Environmental Justice Framework

Justice Nagarathna defines environmental justice as integrating ecological protection with equality, distributive fairness, and democratic participation.

🏭

Corporate Accountability

She stressed that CSR under the Companies Act is an enforceable obligation, not voluntarism, holding extractive industries accountable for ecological damage.

🌳

Judicial Leadership Factors

She outlined three factors: context sensitivity, balancing interests, and outright prohibition in biologically significant areas, guided by principles like 'polluter pays' and 'intergenerational equity'.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The lecture builds upon India's evolving environmental jurisprudence, which was constitutionalized in 1976 with Articles 48A (State's duty) and 51A(g) (citizen's duty). The Supreme Court has since expanded the right to a healthy environment under Article 21, shifting from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric approach.

Core Analysis & Implications

Justice Nagarathna critiques the 'othering' of nature, exemplified by labeling human-induced events like Bengaluru floods as 'natural disasters'. She argues that environmental damage disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized, and that financial remedies cannot rehabilitate destroyed ecosystems or displaced cultural identities. The emphasis on CSR as an enforceable duty signals a stricter judicial stance on corporate environmental responsibility.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

The call for 'hot law'—a dynamic, science-responsive legal field—suggests future judicial and policy frameworks must be adaptive. The outright prohibition in eco-sensitive zones (bio-corridors, inviolable areas) indicates a move towards stronger conservation laws. This lecture reinforces the judiciary's role as a 'custodian for the unborn', guiding future environmental governance.

Key Facts at a Glance

Constitutional ArticlesArticle 48A (State to protect environment) & Article 51A(g) (Citizen's duty)

Key Judicial DoctrineAbsolute Liability (post-Bhopal Gas Tragedy)

Term Coined by Scholar"Hot law" by Elizabeth Fisher

Memorial LectureJustice S B Sinha 4th Endowment Memorial Lecture

VenueNational University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, MPSC, SSC

The concept of 'Absolute Liability' in Indian environmental law was primarily developed by the Supreme Court in the aftermath of which major industrial disaster?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, MPSC

Consider the following statements regarding the lecture by Justice B V Nagarathna:

1. She defined environmental justice as a framework integrating ecological protection with equality and democratic participation.

2. She argued that the mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) regime under the Companies Act is merely a voluntary guideline for corporations.

3. She cited the term 'hot law', coined by environmental law scholar Elizabeth Fisher, to describe static and unchanging legal standards.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, MPSC, SSC

According to Justice Nagarathna, which of the following constitutional articles mandates the State to protect and improve the environment?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, MPSC

In her lecture, Justice Nagarathna outlined three factors to guide judicial and governmental leadership in environmental matters. Which of the following is NOT one of those factors?

All 25 MCQs ▸

Read original article from Indian Express

You finished this topic

Practice 3 MCQs from this news Next Article

Explore Related Topics

PolityView Topic MCQs →EnvironmentView Topic MCQs →

Next Nepal's 2026 Election Results: RSP's Two-Thirds Majority, Potential Return to Hindu State, and India-Nepal Treaty of 1950 Review

Related Current Affairs

Environment Current Affairs

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.

Environment Current Affairs

SC Directs Disconnection of Power/Water for Non-Compliant Bulk Waste Generators Under SWM Rules 2026

The Supreme Court has empowered District Collectors to order temporary disconnection of power and water supply for Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) that fail to comply with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. This landmark directive also mandates integrating waste management education into school and college curricula, making students 'household-level supervisors' for rule implementation.

Environment Current Affairs

SC Vanashakti Verdict: Prior EC Mandatory, Govt May Frame Fresh Violation Mechanism Under EPA Section 3

The Supreme Court's Vanashakti judgment (July 29, 2026) reaffirms that prior Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory under the EIA Notification 2006. It closes the old violation regularisation routes (2017 Notification & 2021 Office Memorandum) but leaves room for the central government to frame a fresh statutory mechanism under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for a one-time, environment-friendly resolution of legacy violation projects.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Directs TN on Fishing Vessel Transit Rules Under Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020

The Supreme Court has directed Tamil Nadu to create a 'specified channel' for fishing vessels transiting to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020. This judgment upholds both State and Central laws governing purse seine fishing, emphasizing co-operative federalism and addressing the conflict between territorial waters regulation and EEZ access.

Environment Current Affairs

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.

Environment Current Affairs

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).

Polity Current Affairs

MoTA States Forest Rights Act 2006 Has No Provision for Gram Sabha Consent for Forest Clearance

The Forest Rights Act 2006 is being systematically weakened as the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) now states that the Act has no provision for gram sabha consent for forest clearance, directly contradicting its constitutional duty and the 2013 Supreme Court Niyamgiri judgment. A parliamentary committee has proposed allowing 70-75% gram sabha consent for large hydropower projects, further eroding tribal rights in favor of infrastructure development.

Environment Current Affairs

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.

Start Today's Quiz(25 Qs)

Take Today's Quiz

25 Qs • 5-7 Mins

Justice Nagarathna Advocates Environmental Justice, Mandatory CSR Under Companies Act for Extractive Industries

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Environmental Justice Framework

Corporate Accountability

Judicial Leadership Factors

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance