Environmental Degradation

5.1 Forms and Causes

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of natural resources, ecosystem destruction, or pollution. India faces multiple simultaneous crises across air, water, land, and biodiversity.

5.2 Air Pollution

India faces one of the world's worst air pollution crises, driven by industry, vehicles, crop burning, and construction.

Key facts and policies:

• India has 14 of the 20 most polluted cities globally (IQAir 2023)
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 2019: target to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 by 20–30% by 2024 (extended to 40% by 2026) in 132 non-attainment cities
• Crop residue burning (Punjab-Haryana) contributes 15–25% to Delhi's winter pollution

5.3 Water Pollution and Depletion

India is the world's largest extractor of groundwater, driving severe depletion in many states.

Key facts and policies:

• India extracts 251 km³/year groundwater — world's highest (25% of global extraction)
• Central Ground Water Authority classifies 1,144 assessment units as over-exploited
• Namami Gange Programme (2014): Rs 20,000 crore outlay for Ganga rejuvenation; 175 STPs constructed
• Jal Jeevan Mission (2019): tap water to all rural households by 2024 (delayed to 2025)

5.4 Land Degradation and Deforestation

India's land and forest resources face twin pressures from unsustainable agriculture and encroachment.

Key facts:

• 32% of India's total land area (~96 million ha) is degraded (ISRO-SAC 2021)
• Causes: deforestation, overgrazing, waterlogging, soil erosion, mining
• India's forest cover: 21.76% of geographic area (State of Forest Report 2023) — below the 33% target
• India lost net 1.69 lakh km² forest cover between 1990–2020 (FAO)

Policy responses:

• Green India Mission: increase forest cover by 5 million ha; improve quality of 5 million ha
• PM-KUSUM scheme promotes solar pumps to reduce diesel pump use in agriculture

5.5 Biodiversity Loss

India is one of 17 megadiverse countries with 7–8% of world's species, but faces accelerating biodiversity loss.

Key legislation and achievements:

• Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Environment Protection Act 1986, Biological Diversity Act 2002
• Project Tiger (1973): 54 tiger reserves; tiger population grew from 1,411 (2006) to 3,682 (2022 census)

5.6 Key Environmental Legislation and Institutions

Law/Institution	Year	Purpose
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act	1974	Prevent water pollution; CPCB/SPCB framework
Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act	1981	Air quality standards
Environment Protection Act	1986	Framework law; EIA notifications
National Green Tribunal Act	2010	Fast-track environmental justice
MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest & CC)	—	Nodal ministry for environment
CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board)	1974	Water and air quality standards
NGT (National Green Tribunal)	2010	Specialised court for environmental cases

5.7 Green Economy and Circular Economy

Green economy (UNEP 2011): An economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Key sectors include renewable energy, green buildings, sustainable transport, and eco-tourism.

Circular economy moves from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to keeping resources in use as long as possible. India's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules under Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022 mandate producers to collect and recycle plastic they generate.

Carbon markets: India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023 establishes a domestic carbon market — greenhouse gas emitters can trade carbon credits to meet mandatory reduction targets. CCTS is the first such structured domestic carbon market in India.

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