India's approach to environmental protection and conservation has deep-rooted foundations in its ancient philosophical traditions and cultural practices. From the hymns of the Vedas extolling the virtues of living in harmony with nature, to the sustainable forestry and water management systems followed by local communities, India's civilizational ethos has been intertwined with environmental consciousness. 
This philosophical and practical legacy formed the basis for the evolution of a comprehensive legal framework for environmental protection in modern India. The colonial era saw the introduction of certain environmental regulations, albeit with a focus on resource exploitation for imperial interests. However, it was in the post-independence period that India's environmental jurisprudence truly took shape.
The Constitution incorporated provisions for environmental safeguards, paving the way for landmark legislations like the Wildlife Protection Act, Water and Air Pollution Acts. The proactive role of the judiciary, through expansive interpretations and application of principles like sustainable development and polluter pays, further strengthened the environmental legal regime.
India's participation in international environmental agreements like the Stockholm Declaration, Montreal Protocol, and Rio Declaration also influenced its domestic policies and led to the enactment of overarching legislation like the Environment Protection Act.
Recent decades have witnessed the establishment of dedicated institutions like the National Green Tribunal, introduction of specific laws on issues like waste management, afforestation funds, and climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. This multi-pronged approach reflects India's continually evolving efforts to address environmental challenges through a robust legal framework rooted in ancient wisdom and modern exigencies.
THE EARLY BEGINNINGS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN INDIA ROOTED IN ANCIENT INDIAN SCRIPTURES AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES:
Ancient Indian scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Smritis emphasized the importance of environmental protection and sustainable living practices. These texts laid the philosophical and cultural foundations for environmental conservation in India.
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. The Vedas:

The Atharvaveda, one of the four Vedas, contains hymns dedicated to the worship of nature's elements like air, water, and earth.


development-of-environmental-laws-in-india

DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN INDIA

In June 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced into a major U-turn on planned welfare cuts after a significant rebellion within his own Labour Party. The government had proposed tightening eligibility for disability and sickness benefits, aiming to save £5 billion annually as part of efforts to control rising welfare spending. The changes, focused on making the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) harder to claim through a stricter points system, sparked outrage among Labour backbenchers, disability charities, and the wider public. More than 100 Labour MPs, including influential committee chairs like Meg Hillier, publicly opposed the plan, warning it would undermine Labour’s values of protecting the vulnerable and could push hundreds of thousands into poverty. Facing certain defeat in Parliament, the government revised its proposal: the tougher rules would now apply only to new benefit applicants, leaving existing claimants unaffected. 
This compromise, welcomed by Hillier as a “good and workable” solution, roughly halves the expected savings to around £2-3 billion a year. The shift marks the third major policy reversal for Starmer’s government within weeks, following U-turns on winter fuel payments and a promised inquiry into grooming gangs, prompting critics to question his authority and decisiveness. However, supporters argue the move reflects a willingness to listen and align reforms with Labour’s traditional commitment to social justice. While some Labour MPs and disability advocates feel the changes don’t go far enough and warn of future inequality for new claimants, the climbdown has largely eased immediate tensions within the party. Analysts, including those at the Resolution Foundation, estimate the revised plan will leave a multi-billion-pound gap in the government’s savings ambitions, with details on how to fill this expected in the autumn budget. 


Riya Chatterjee

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