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Infrastructure projects touching Tiger Reserves or other Protected Areas must clear a dual-track process: Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification, 2006, from the Expert Appraisal Committee (Category A, Centre) or SEAC (Category B, State), AND Wildlife Clearance under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, via the State Chief Wildlife Warden and the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) — 20 such projects were cleared in FY2024-25 and 2025-26.
The PARIVESH portal's new Decision Support System (DSS) is a GIS-enabled tool for automated proximity analysis of projects against Protected Areas, Eco-Sensitive Zones, forests and wetlands.
Under NCAP, City-Specific Clean Air Action Plans cover 130 cities; ₹16,423.55 crore has been sanctioned (2019-20 to 2025-26) of which ₹11,575.54 crore (70.5%) is utilised; 108 cities showed PM10 reductions in 2025-26 vs 2017-18, and 14 cities now meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (up from 6 in 2017-18).
Governs Environmental Clearance for infrastructure/physical-infrastructure projects (Item 7 of the Schedule), appraised by EAC/SEAC via the PARIVESH portal
Governs Wildlife Clearance for projects within/adjoining Protected Areas or Eco-Sensitive Zones; no construction can start without it where applicable
Basis for CPCB/SPCB monitoring and enforcement of industrial emission/discharge norms via the Consent mechanism
Recommends Wildlife Clearance for Protected Area/ESZ/ESA projects, examining ecological sensitivity and mitigation measures
Monitors and enforces industrial emission/discharge norms alongside State Pollution Control Boards
GS Paper 3 > Environment > Clearance Framework, Air Pollution
High — environmental clearance and NCAP progress are recurring UPSC/exam themes
MoEFCC's online single-window portal for environmental, forest, wildlife and CRZ clearances, now with a GIS-based Decision Support System
National Clean Air Programme — covers 130 cities with city-specific Clean Air Action Plans to reduce PM10/PM2.5 levels