A Panorama on the Evolution, Process, and Changes of EIA in India and Its Evaluation Using SOAR Analysis

Introduction

Since the beginning of the 20^th century, any country’s progress was assessed basing on the industrial and the technological advancements. During this period, owing to the capitalistic policies of several developed and developing countries, there resulted in a great demand for the natural resources. Subsequently this frenzy demand has resulted in imbalances in our environment as the global carbon emissions which soared from 1.95 Billion tons in 1900 to 14.81 Billion tons in the year 1970 (https://ourworldindata.org/). This has made the policy makers to think that the capitalism and Environmentalism must go hand in hand. And in 1972 first conference concerning Human Environment was held in Stockholm. This lead to the Stockholm Declaration which contained 26 principles and these principles laid the foundation for the modern environmental laws. This had also made India to introduce new Environmental laws and policies. In the year 1976, through 42^nd amendment of the Indian constitution (The Constitution,42^nd amendment act, 1976) in part IV of the constitution under ‘The directive principles of the state policy’, a new article (Article 48A), stating that ‘The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country’ was incorporated. Apart from this in part IV A under the ‘Fundamental duties’, a new article (Article 51 A(g), stating that ‘It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures’ was also incorporated. Both these articles in a microcosm enshrined that it shall be the Duty of both the government and citizen of the country to safeguard and protect the environment. Subsequently at the same time, the then government of India framed acts aimed at protecting the environment. The Wildlife Protection Act 1972, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, The Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981 and so on are a part this transformation policies.