MAINS 2015
GS2
12.5 marks
Does the right to clean environment entail legal regulations on burning crackers during Diwali? Discuss in the light of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and judgement (s) of the Apex Court in this regard.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss whether the Article 21 right to a clean environment justifies legal limits on Diwali firecrackers, using Supreme Court rulings.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Article 21 includes the right to a pollution-free environment; Articles 48A and 51A(g)≈35 words
- 2Harm: PM2.5 spikes, noise, child labour in Sivakasi, burns; worst in winter-inversion North India≈35 words
- 3Court rulings: noise limits and night ban (2005), NCR sale ban (2017), green crackers and time windows (2018)≈35 words
- 4Balance: Article 25 religious freedom and livelihoods vs health; crackers not an essential religious practice≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Article 21 scopeHarmsSC judgmentsBalancing rightsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Not citing specific judgments, which the question asks for
- Ignoring the counter-claims of religion and livelihood
Draw this
- Timeline of SC orders on crackers: 2005, 2017, 2018
Value addition
- CaseIn re Noise Pollution (2005): the Supreme Court banned bursting of firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am.Supreme Court, 2005
- CaseArjun Gopal v Union of India: sale of crackers suspended in NCR for Diwali 2017; in 2018 only green crackers allowed, with an 8-10 pm window on Diwali.Supreme Court, 2017-18
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Alfred Thomas · Page 15 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Akash Kumar · AIR 101 · Page 7 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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