Previous Year Question
In which of the following years, the Environment (Protection) Act passed by the Government of India?
1982
1986
1990
1992
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is an important Central legislation enacted for the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected with it. It is Act No. 29 of 1986, and its enactment date is 23 May 1986.
The Act came into force on 19 November 1986. Therefore, both its enactment year and enforcement year are 1986, making 1986 clearly the correct answer.
The 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm formed an important background to this legislation. India participated in the Conference and committed itself to taking appropriate measures for the protection and improvement of the environment.
The Environment (Protection) Act is often understood as a broad umbrella legislation because it gives the Central Government extensive powers to improve environmental quality, prevent, control and abate pollution, and prescribe environmental standards. MoEFCC continues to administer areas such as environmental standards, hazardous-substance management, eco-sensitive areas, noise pollution and ozone-layer protection under this Act.