SC Recalls Verdict Blocking Retrospective Environmental Clearances

Source: TH

Why in News? 

In a 2:1 ruling, the Supreme Court of India struck down the 2025 Vanashakti judgment banning ex post facto or retrospective Environmental Clearances (ECs), stating that its continuation would cause “devastating” consequences and put thousands of crores of public investment at risk.

• This ruling was based on the idea that it allowed violators of environmental laws to circumvent legal requirements, undermining efforts to protect the environment.

What are Ex Post Facto Environmental Clearances?

• Meaning: Approvals granted after a project has already begun construction, expansion, or operation without obtaining the mandatory prior Environmental Clearance (EC).
• Purpose: Intended for rare, exceptional cases but often used to regularise violations by allowing developers to “legalise” work already carried out illegally.
• Legal Framework: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notifications of 1994 and 2006 are built on the principle of prior environmental clearance, requiring major industrial and construction projects to begin only after their environmental impacts have been assessed and approved.
• SC’s Vanashakti Judgment, 2025 on Ex Post Facto ECs: The Vanashakti judgment struck down the 2017 notification and 2021 office memorandum (OM) issued by the MoEFCC that allowed ex post facto (retrospective) environmental clearances.
  
  • The Court held that retrospective ECs are a “gross illegality” and an “anathema” to environmental jurisprudence, as they violate the precautionary principle that demands environmental harm be prevented before it occurs.
    • It criticised attempts to let projects begin without approval and barred the Centre from issuing any future notifications permitting retrospective ECs.

Why did the SC Recall the 2025 Vanashakti Judgment on Ex Post Facto Environmental Clearances?

• Need for a Larger Bench Review: The CJI held that the Vanashakti ruling was per incuriam (through lack of care) because it overlooked earlier coordinate-bench judgments such as D. Swamy (2021), which allowed post-facto ECs in exceptional cases, and Alembic Pharmaceuticals (2020), where the SC discouraged such ECs but still regularised them with monetary penalties. 
  • Because of this conflict, the issue must be reconsidered by a larger Bench.
• Principle of Proportionality: The court noted that strict prior-approval enforcement should not lead to outcomes that harm public interest.
  • Heavy penalties and compliance mechanisms already exist to deter violations without requiring demolition.
• Practical Realities of Development: Many projects began without EC due to procedural delays, not deliberate evasion. 
  • Retrospective ECs, used only in rare cases, help bring ongoing projects into compliance without unnecessary reconstruction. The Court made it clear they are exceptional, not routine, and must come with strict penalties.

What is Environmental Clearance (EC) in India?

• About:  EC is a mandatory approval process for certain development and industrial projects in India to ensure that they do not harm the environment or local communities. 
  • It is a legal requirement under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and is governed primarily by the EIA Notifications of 1994 and 2006.
• Projects That Need EC: Any project located in ecologically sensitive areas (e.g., national parks, biosphere reserves, mangroves, tribal areas, coastal zones) requires EC regardless of category.
  • EIA 2006 mandates prior EC for over 39 types of activities and classifies projects into Category A (cleared by MoEFCC at the Central level) and Category B (cleared by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) at State level).
• Core Steps: The process begins with an EIA study where required, followed by a public hearing to capture community concerns. 
  • Expert committees then appraise the project through reports and site checks before recommending approval or rejection. 
  • The final decision is issued within 120 days and the clearance is valid for five years.
• Concerns and Limitations: Public consultation often becomes a procedural formality rather than meaningful participation.
  • The EIA process sometimes fails to account for issues raised by local communities.
  • Recent provisions allow skipping public hearings in “non-conducive situations,” potentially weakening checks and balances.

How can India Effectively Balance Environmental Protection with Developmental Needs?

• Strengthen Prior EC Compliance: Enforce rigorous EIAs, public hearings and scientific appraisal before approvals.
• Use Technology for Monitoring: Strengthen deployment of satellite monitoring and digital platforms like PARIVESH, and National Geographical Information System (GIS)-based Violations Portal to track projects and prevent illegal construction.
• Apply Polluter-Pays + Restoration Measures: Impose strict penalties and mandate ecological restoration using mechanisms like Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA), Environmental Compensation (EC) under National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines, and Polluter Pays Principle.
• Promote Green Infrastructure: Expand sustainable infrastructure through schemes like Smart Cities Mission, National Solar Mission, and push for low-carbon mobility.
• Empower Local Communities: Strengthen public participation via Gram Sabhas, Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 consultations, and improved transparency through public hearing reforms in the EC process.

Conclusion

The recall of the Vanashakti judgment shows the need for a balanced approach that enforces compliance without derailing vital public projects. Going forward, transparent EC processes, strict penalties, and community participation will be key to achieving truly sustainable development.

Drishti Mains Question: Q.  Evaluate the role of the precautionary principle and the polluter-pays principle in India’s environmental jurisprudence.

Threat to Dugong Population in India

Source: IE

Why in News? 

A recent report launched at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi highlights the growing threat to the dugong population in India.

What are Dugongs?

• About: Dugongs are marine mammals, related to manatees, with a plump appearance and a dolphin-like fluke tail. They grow up to 10 feet in length and weigh around 420 kilograms.
  • Manatees are large, herbivorous aquatic mammals of the Sirenia group, found in coastal regions of South America, West Africa, and the Caribbean.
• Diet: Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals, feeding primarily on seagrass meadows like Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, and Halodule, earning them the nickname "sea cows" and "farmers of the sea."
  • They require 30-40 kg of seagrass daily for sustenance and live in shallow, warm coastal waters, such as bays, lagoons, and estuaries, usually less than 10 meters deep.
• Distribution: They are primarily found in the Gulf of Kutch, the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay region (between India and Sri Lanka), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • The report, titled ‘A Global Assessment of Dugong Status and Conservation Needs’, indicates that the survival of dugongs in the Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is uncertain and highly challenged, while the population in the Gulf of Mannar–Palk Bay has significantly decreased.
• Behaviour: The dugong is a long-lived species, capable of living up to 70 years. Typically solitary or found in small mother-calf pairs, large herds common in Australian waters are rare in India. 
• Reproduction: They reach reproductive maturity at nine to ten years and give birth every three to five years, resulting in a slow reproductive cycle that limits their population growth rate to approximately 5% per year.
• Protection: 
  • The Dugong  is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 
  • Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans international trade of dugongs or their parts, ensuring strict protection.
  • In India, Dugongs are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Significance: 
  • Ecosystem and Climate Benefits: Their role is so crucial that they are called ecosystem engineers, as they play a vital part in maintaining seagrass meadows.
    • These meadows, in turn, promote biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration, and support marine life by releasing nutrients that benefit fish, shellfish, and invertebrates. 
  • Economic Impact: Seagrass beds with dugongs contribute at least Rs 2 crore per year in additional fish production, highlighting their significant ecological and economic value.

What are the Challenges and Conservation Measures for the Dugong Population?

Challenges

• Population Decline: The dugong population in Indian waters, once abundant, has significantly declined over the years, with a 2012 report by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change estimating around 200 individuals.
  • While some environmentalists estimate the current dugong population to be between 400 and 450, others believe it remains below 250, suggesting little to no substantial increase.
  • Accurately determining the exact number of dugongs in India remains challenging, as they are elusive creatures living in murky coastal waters, where traditional survey methods often fail to provide reliable data.
• Pollution: A study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin revealed the presence of toxic metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead in the tissues of stranded dugongs, primarily due to industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and untreated wastewater.
• Slow Reproductive Rate: Dugongs have a slow reproduction cycle, with females giving birth once every several years, making them more vulnerable to extinction.
• Habitat loss: It is a major concern, as seagrass meadows are being destroyed by port construction, dredging, land reclamation, and pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, and industrial waste. 
• Climate change: It has added another layer of vulnerability, with rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events affecting both food availability and breeding grounds. 

Conservation Measures

• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): India is a signatory to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) since 1983 and to the CMS Dugong Memorandum of Understanding since 2008. 
  • In 2010, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) constituted a Task Force for Conservation of Dugongs.
• Dugong Conservation Reserve: It was established in Palk Bay in 2022 by the Tamil Nadu government, covering an area of 448 square kilometers to protect seagrass meadows and dugongs.
• Dugong Recovery Programme: It is a national programme launched in collaboration with the state governments of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Seagrass Habitat Protection: Protecting and restoring seagrass meadows is crucial for dugong conservation, requiring the mapping and monitoring of these habitats, as well as restricting harmful activities, with a focus on community involvement, particularly local fishers.
• Regulating Harmful Fishing Practices: Implementing regulations to limit destructive fishing methods, such as gill nets and trawling, in dugong habitats is essential to reduce accidental harm and safeguard the species.
• Increased Research and Technology: Additional funding for long-term dugong studies is necessary, with a focus on citizen science and traditional knowledge, while technologies like tagging and drones can help in tracking and identifying key habitats.

Digital Initiatives to Modernize Public Distribution System (PDS)

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has launched a series of digital initiatives aimed at modernizing the Public Distribution System (PDS), improving supply chain efficiency, and enhancing transparency in food storage and logistics.

What are the Digital Initiatives Aimed at Modernizing the PDS?

• Bhandaran 360: It is a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform for the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) that is linked to 35 external systems like ICEGATE, Food Corporation of India (FCI), and NAFED. 
  • It offers single sign-on, data encryption, real-time dashboards, and predictive analytics to standardize operations, and speed up decision-making.
• Smart EXIM Warehouse System: It streamlines container and cargo management by using AI, IoT, and FASTag, enabling real-time tracking, and quicker cargo movement.
• ANNA DARPAN: The Food Corporation of India launched ANNA DARPAN that brings together procurement, storage, movement, sales, quality checks, and contract monitoring into one integrated and reliable information system.
• ASHA (Anna Sahayata Holistic AI Solution): It is an AI platform that uses automated calls to collect feedback on ration entitlement, grain quality, and shop issues to manage grievances and improve oversight.
• Modern Steel Silos: A new Hub Silo Complex in Malout, Punjab, with a capacity of 1.5 lakh metric ton, has been inaugurated to minimize wastage and spoilage.

What is the Public Distribution System (PDS)?

• About: PDS is a food security system under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, providing essential food items and non-food items at subsidized rates.
• Target Beneficiaries: Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, Priority Households (PHH) receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at highly subsidized rates- Rs 3/kg for rice, Rs 2/kg for wheat, and Rs 1/kg for coarse grains.
• Evolution of PDS in India: 
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) provides 35 kg of grains per household per month to the poorest families.

• Commodities: Under PDS, wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene are allocated to States/UTs, with some also distributing additional items like pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, and spices.

What are the Challenges Concerning PDS in India?

Mnemonic - FAIL

• F - Faulty Targeting: The PDS’s Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria leave out many vulnerable groups, so 12% of poor households miss out, while some Above Poverty Line (APL) households and ghost cardholders benefit.
• A - Accessibility Issues: Storage capacity is concentrated in procuring states like Punjab and Haryana, causing shortages in consuming states such as Rajasthan and Maharashtra, while bureaucratic delays worsen regional disparities, especially in remote areas.  
• I - Inefficiency and Quality Gaps: Food grains are often rotten, infested, or impure, causing spoilage (over 62,000 tonnes in 2020), and the focus on rice and wheat overlooks malnutrition and nutritious local crops like millets.
• L - Lack of Awareness & Redressal: Many beneficiaries, especially illiterate ones, lack knowledge of their entitlements, and weak grievance redressal leads to denied or delayed rations.
  • World Bank and Right to Food Campaign reports highlight Aadhaar-related exclusions due to poor grassroots accountability.

What Reforms are Required to Improve the Efficiency of PDS?

Mnemonic - GROW

• G - Grain Supply Modernization: Phase out traditional godowns and expand modern steel silos to reduce post-harvest losses and improve grain quality. 
  • Use the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to optimize the food logistics network, minimizing transport time and cost.
• R - Real-Time Digital Integration: Integrate Bhandaran 360, ANNA DARPAN, and ASHA with state PDS databases and One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) system to create a unified system for real-time tracking of foodgrains and identifying bottlenecks from central warehouses to Fair Price Shops (FPS).
• O - Optimized Last-Mile Delivery: Expand ASHA to send voice alerts on entitlements and FPS timings, with automatic escalation of unresolved grievances. 
  • Use GPS-enabled, tamper-proof seals on foodgrain trucks for real-time tracking and pilferage prevention.
• W - Wider & Nutritious Food Basket: Diversify the PDS food basket with millets, pulses, edible oils, and fortified grains to combat malnutrition. 
  • Promote localized procurement of regional crops and involve women’s SHGs in supplying nutritious foods.

Conclusion

The recent digital reforms in PDS mark a significant shift towards a modern, data-driven system. Sustained focus on last-mile delivery and nutritional diversification is crucial for ensuring genuine food security.

Drishti Mains Question Q. What challenges hinder PDS last-mile delivery, and how can food basket and nutrition reforms enhance food security and reduce malnutrition?

India Pushes Big Cat Conservation at CoP30

Source: PIB

Why in News? 

India, at the High-Level Ministerial Segment on the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) during United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil called for stronger global cooperation to protect big cats. 

• India will host the Global Big Cats Summit in New Delhi in 2026.
• India also released ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future: A Decade of Climate Action’, summarising progress in mitigation, adaptation and climate finance, and outlining the pathway to a Viksit and Sustainable Bharat 2047.

Why are Big Cats Important for Climate and Biodiversity?

• Apex Predators: They regulate prey populations and maintain ecological balance across forests and grasslands.
  • Healthy predator–prey dynamics improve ecosystem resilience to climate change, droughts and habitat degradation.
• Ecosystem Health Indicators: Thriving big cat populations reflect healthy forests, regenerating grasslands and functioning watershed systems.
• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: Big cat landscapes store carbon, support natural regeneration and strengthen long-term climate mitigation efforts, making them important Nature-Based Climate Solutions.
  • Conserving big cats safeguards carbon sinks, water security, biodiversity and soil stability, which are the key components of climate and ecological health.

What are the Key Facts About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)?

• IBCA: It is India led multi-country, multi-agency coalition that brings together 95 big cat range countries, non-range nations interested in conservation, global conservation partners, and scientific organisations involved in big cat research, creating a unified platform for collaborative action and knowledge sharing.
  • Launched by India in 2023 during the 50 years of Project Tiger, IBCA was later approved by the Union Cabinet with its Secretariat headquartered in India.
  • IBCA was established through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Species Covered: IBCA aimed at conserving seven big cats (Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma). India hosts 5 of the 7 (Puma and Jaguar are not found in India).
• Objective: To curb illegal wildlife trade, conserve natural habitats, mobilise financial and technical resources, mitigate climate change impacts on big cats.
• Membership: It is open to all UN member countries, range countries where these big cats naturally occur, and non-range countries willing to support global big cat conservation.
• Funding: India has committed Rs. 150 crore (2023-2028) in support to the IBCA and is exploring additional funding through bilateral, multilateral, and donor organizations.
• Significance: It provides a unified global platform for big cat conservation. 
  • Enhances cooperation, capacity-building, south–south collaboration, and technology exchange.
  • IBAC supports ecosystem resilience, carbon storage, and climate change mitigation through Nature-Based Climate Solutions.

PMFBY Expansion to Cover Wildlife Damage and Paddy Inundation

Source: IE

Why in News?

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has announced that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will now cover crop losses due to wild animal attacks and paddy inundation from the Kharif season 2026. 

• In 2018, paddy inundation (damage caused by floods and heavy rainfall) was removed from the localised calamity category due to assessment challenges, but it has now been re-included.

What is the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)?

• About: PMFBY is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. 
  • It provides financial protection to farmers against crop losses caused by natural disasters, pests, or diseases and aims to support farmers financially.
• Objectives:

• Eligibility & Coverage: All farmers, including sharecroppers and tenant farmers cultivating notified crops in designated areas, are eligible for coverage under PMFBY.
  • Participation is voluntary, with non-loanee farmers making up 55% of the total beneficiaries.
  • The number of farmer applications has risen from 371 lakh in 2014-15 to 1510 lakh in 2024-25, while non-loanee farmer applications grew from 20 lakh to 522 lakh over the same period.
• Risk Protection: PMFBY offers comprehensive protection against a range of risks.
  • Natural Disasters: Covers losses from floods, droughts, cyclones, hailstorms, landslides, and unseasonal rainfall.
  • Pest & Disease Protection: Safeguards crops against pest infestations and diseases.
  • Post-Harvest Losses (Individual Farm Basis): Provides compensation for damages within 14 days of harvest, particularly for crops in a “cut and spread” condition.
  • Localised Calamities: Offers individual farm-based compensation for localized disasters e.g., hailstorms, landslides etc.
  • Prevented Sowing (Notified Area Basis): Farmers who cannot sow due to adverse weather despite intent and incurred costs can claim up to 25% of the sum insured.
• Premium Rates: Farmers contribute affordable premiums of 2% for Kharif crops, 1.5% for Rabi crops, and 5% for annual commercial or horticultural crops. 
  • The government provides full premium subsidies for farmers in the Northeast, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Technology Deployment for Loss Assessment: 
  • Satellite Imagery & Drones: Employed to estimate crop areas, resolve yield disputes, and assess crop losses.
  • Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs): The CCE-Agri App allows direct data uploads to the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP), ensuring transparent yield evaluations.
  • YES-TECH (Yield Estimation System Based on Technology): It enables remote sensing-based crop yield estimation for fair and accurate assessments. 
  • Additional Tools: The scheme also leverages DigiClaim, CROPIC (Collection of Real-Time Observations and Photographs of Crops), and WINDS (Weather Information Network Data Systems) for accurate and timely assessments.
• Quick Settlement: PMFBY guarantees claim settlement within two months of harvest, offering timely compensation to help farmers prevent falling into debt.

Tiger Returns to Gujarat After Three Decades

Source: IE

A tiger has been officially spotted in Gujarat's Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in the state since it was declared extinct in 1989.

• Gujarat now hosts lions, tigers, and leopards, and is preparing Banni Grasslands for a cheetah breeding and conservation centre under Project Cheetah.

Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location & Establishment: Also known as Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, located in the Dahod district of Gujarat, borders Jhabua and Kathiwada regions of Madhya Pradesh that are both known for tiger population. 
  • It was declared a sanctuary in 1982.
• Flora: It has dry teak forests at the foothills and mixed deciduous forests with dry bamboo thickets on the periphery, with a high concentration of Mahua and Jamun trees, key food sources for sloth bears.
• Fauna: It is a crucial habitat for the Sloth Bear, supporting the maximum population of this species in the entire state of Gujarat. It also hosts a large population of leopards.
• Ecological Significance: Forms the catchment of river Panam, supporting water conservation and irrigation in Dahod and Panchmahals districts.

Read More: International Tiger Day 2025

Index of Eight Core Industries October 2025

Source: PIB

The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) stayed unchanged at 162.4 in October 2025, the same as October 2024. 

• Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI):  The ICI is a production-volume index that measures the combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. 
  • It is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 
  • The index now uses 2011–12 as the base year, aligned with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), and these eight sectors together carry a 40.27% weight in the IIP.
• ICI Weightage: Fertilizers (lowest) < Cement < Natural Gas < Crude Oil < Coal < Steel < Electricity < Refinery Products (highest)
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP):  It is one of the key indicators used to track the pace of industrial activity in the country. 

  • It is compiled and published monthly by the National Statistical Office (NSO) (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

  • The index is calculated as a weighted average of production levels across different industries, using Laspeyres’ formula. 

  • The IIP is a quantum index, the production of items being expressed in physical terms, while goods such as machinery or shipbuilding are reported in value terms and then adjusted using the Wholesale Price Index so they reflect real production.

  • The scope of the IIP as recommended by the United Nations Statistical Office (UNSO) includes mining, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas and water supply. 
    • But due to constraints of data availability, the IIP compiled in India has excluded construction, gas and water supply sectors.

Read more: The Rise of Indian Manufacturing Sector