📌 Chapter Snapshot
4
Major Organisations
4
Key Movements
7
Important Environmental Days
1986
Environment (Protection) Act
- This chapter introduces the concept of Environment, its components and types, causes of degradation, and the legal/institutional framework for protection in India.
- Also covers key global & Indian environmental organisations, major grassroots environmental movements, and important environment-related days & awards — all high-yield for BPSC/BSSC one-liners.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Environment derives from French environ/environner: around or to surround; it means the surroundings and conditions affecting organisms.
🌱 Environment — Introduction
- Environment derives from French environ/environner (around/to surround).
Components of Environment
- Biotic → Living beings, animals, plants, microbes.
- Abiotic → Water, air, soil, etc.
- Energy inputs: sunlight and geothermal energy are non-living (abiotic) factors.
Types of Environment
- Natural → Land, air, water, etc.
- Man-made → Agriculture, industrial cities, etc.
⚠ EXAM TRAP
The standard classification is biotic and abiotic. Sunlight and other energy inputs are abiotic factors; energy flow is an ecosystem process.
⚠ Environmental Degradation
- Environmental degradation is deterioration of environmental quality through resource depletion, pollution, habitat destruction or disruption of ecological processes.
- Causes: Mining, Industrialization, Urbanization, Modern agriculture, etc.
🛡 Environmental Protection
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: umbrella legislation; GEAC functions under the 1989 biosafety Rules. Renamed Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee in 2010 (formerly Approval Committee).
- National Green Tribunal (NGT), 2010 — for speedy resolution of environment-related matters.
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): constituted on 22 September 1974 under the Water Act, 1974; also performs functions under the Air Act, 1981.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Agenda 21 was adopted at Rio in June 1992: a global, national and local action plan integrating environmental protection with social and economic development.
🏛 Environmental Organisations, Institutions & Programmes
| Organisation | Established | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | 1950 | Geneva (Switzerland) |
| National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) | 1958 as CPHERI; renamed NEERI in 1974 | Nagpur (Maharashtra) |
| Greenpeace International | 1979 (movement voyage: 1971) | Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
| United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) | 1972 | Nairobi (Kenya) |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
UNEP HQ is Nairobi (Kenya) — one of the few major UN bodies headquartered in Africa. Frequently tested against Geneva/New York defaults.
✊ Major Environmental Movements
| Movement | Region | Leader(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipko Movement | Uttarakhand | Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Gaura Devi and Sunderlal Bahuguna |
| Appiko Movement (1983) | Karnataka | Pandurang Hegde |
| Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985) | Narmada Valley | Medha Patkar |
| Maiti Movement (1995) | Chamoli (Uttarakhand) | Kalyan Singh Rawat |
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Appiko Movement (Karnataka, 1983) is often called the "southern version" of the Chipko Movement — same tree-hugging concept, different region & leader.
📅 Important Environmental Days and Dates
| Day | Date |
|---|---|
| World Wildlife Day | 3rd March |
| International Day of Forests | 21st March |
| Earth Day | 22nd April |
| World Environment Day | 5th June |
| International Tiger Day | 29th July |
| World Ozone Day | 16th September |
| World Habitat Day | First Monday of October |
⚠ EXAM TRAP
World Habitat Day is not a fixed date — it falls on the "First Monday of October" every year, unlike all other days in this list which have fixed calendar dates.
🏅 Important Facts & Awards
- Ecomark: original scheme in 1991; replaced by Ecomark Rules, 2024 for environment-friendly products.
- Indira Gandhi Environmental Award — introduced 1987.
- Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology - instituted in 1993.
📋 Master Quick-Revision Table
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Environment — Meaning | French environ/environner: around/to surround; total surroundings and conditions |
| Biotic Components | Living beings, animals, plants, microbes |
| Abiotic Components | Water, air, soil, etc. |
| Environment (Protection) Act | 1986 | GEAC under 1989 Rules; Appraisal Committee since 2010 |
| National Green Tribunal | 2010 | Speedy resolution of environment matters |
| Agenda-21 / Rio Earth Summit | June 1992, Rio | Sustainable development: environmental, social and economic action |
| NEERI | 1958 as CPHERI; NEERI name since 1974 | Nagpur (Maharashtra) |
| Greenpeace International | 1979 (movement voyage: 1971) | Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
| UNEP | 1972 | Nairobi (Kenya) |
| WMO | 1950 | Geneva (Switzerland) |
| Chipko Movement | Uttarakhand | Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Gaura Devi and Sunderlal Bahuguna |
| Appiko Movement | 1983 | Karnataka | Pandurang Hegde |
| Narmada Bachao Andolan | 1985 | Medha Patkar |
| Maiti Movement | 1995 | Gwaldam, Chamoli (Uttarakhand) | Kalyan Singh Rawat |
| World Wildlife Day | 3rd March |
| International Day of Forests | 21st March |
| Earth Day | 22nd April |
| World Environment Day | 5th June |
| International Tiger Day | 29th July |
| World Habitat Day | First Monday of October |
| World Ozone Day | 16th September |
| Ecomark | Original scheme: 1991 | Replaced by Ecomark Rules, 2024 |
| Indira Gandhi Environmental Award | 1987 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology | 1993 |