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RAS question

The Environment Protection Act (EPA) in India was enacted in which year?

Correct answer: (D) 1986.

India's Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in 1986.

  1. (A)

    1991

  2. (B)

    1972

  3. (C)

    2002

  4. (D)

    1986

Explanation

The Environment (Protection) Act belongs to 1986, not to the earlier wildlife-era or later policy years. Its enactment followed the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. India Code supports the date directly: it lists the short title as The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Act Year as 1986, and the enactment date as 23 May 1986. The same official entry describes it as an Act for the protection and improvement of the environment, and its section list records the Central Government's power to take measures to protect and improve the environment. That is why 1986 is the year to remember for the EPA in RAS environment law questions.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) 1991 is not the Act Year shown in the India Code entry for The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • (B) 1972 is too early for this Act; India Code identifies the Environment (Protection) Act by the year 1986, and its enactment followed events after 1984.
  • (C) 2002 is too late for this Act; the official short title and Act Year both place the Environment (Protection) Act in 1986.

Concept

This tests the chronology of major Indian environmental legislation. It recurs in RAS because environment questions often combine statute years with the post-Bhopal expansion of central environmental powers.

Source

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