Enumerate the legislative measures in India for environment protection.

Early Legislative Measures (Pre-1980s)

Prior to the 1980s, environmental legislation in India was largely sectoral, addressing specific issues like forest conservation and pollution control. Key Acts included:

• The Forest Act, 1927: Focused on the management and conservation of forests, granting powers to the government to regulate forest use.
• The Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1974: Aimed at preventing and controlling pollution of rivers, though it lacked strong enforcement mechanisms.
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: Established State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to monitor and regulate water pollution.
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: Similar to the Water Act, this Act focused on controlling air pollution and established standards for air quality.

Comprehensive Environmental Legislation (1980s - 2000s)

The 1980s marked a turning point with the enactment of more comprehensive environmental legislation, largely influenced by the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment (1972) and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: This is an umbrella legislation providing a broad framework for environmental protection and empowering the central government to take measures to protect and improve the environment. It allows for setting standards, regulating industries, and conducting environmental audits.
• The Forest Conservation Act, 1980: Amended the Forest Act of 1927, requiring prior approval from the central government for deforestation.
• The Hazardous Waste (Management, Transboundary Movement) Rules, 1989: Regulates the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes.

Recent Legislative Measures (2000s - Present)

The 21st century has seen a focus on biodiversity conservation, climate change, and sustainable development.

• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Aims to conserve biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from its utilization.
• The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: Established the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to provide speedy and effective redressal of environmental disputes.
• The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011 (and subsequent amendments): Regulates activities in coastal areas to protect marine ecosystems.
• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016: Manages funds collected from industries for deforestation, directing them towards afforestation and forest conservation.
• The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (and amendments): Addresses the growing problem of plastic pollution.

Comparative Table of Key Environmental Acts

Act	Year	Key Features
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act	1974	Establishes SPCBs & CPCB, regulates water pollution.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act	1981	Establishes SPCBs & CPCB, regulates air pollution.
Environment (Protection) Act	1986	Umbrella legislation, broad powers to the government.
Biological Diversity Act	2002	Conserves biodiversity, regulates access to biological resources.
National Green Tribunal Act	2010	Establishes NGT for speedy environmental dispute resolution.

Furthermore, India is a signatory to several international environmental conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which have influenced domestic environmental policy.