QUESTION 7
GS3
10 marks
How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain how the draft EIA 2020 differs from the 2006 notification.
Explain the differenceAnswer exactly what the question asks.
Demand-wise check
- 1Post-facto clearance for projects that began without approval≈30 words
- 2Shorter public consultation (30 to 20 days) and exemptions for many projects (B2 category, strategic)≈30 words
- 3Compliance reports yearly instead of half-yearly≈30 words
- 4Criticism: weakens public participation and deterrence; support: ease of doing business≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Brief on EIADifference tableArguments for and againstConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Explaining EIA in general without differences
- No mention of post-facto clearance
Draw this
- Comparison table: 2006 vs draft 2020
Value addition
- CaseVanashakti v Union of India (May 2025): Supreme Court held post-facto environmental clearances illegal (later recalled for review in November 2025).Supreme Court
- FactThe 2020 draft drew over 17 lakh public comments.MoEFCC
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 17 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Abhishek Singh · Page 10 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Ritika Chitlangia · Page 12 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.