Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
Protection of Environment, Forests & Wildlife: Directs the State to endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
In Simple Citizen Words
Added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), Article 48A works hand-in-hand with Article 51A(g) (citizen's duty) and Article 21 (Right to Life) to form India's Green Constitution. Reading Articles 21, 48A, and 51A(g) together, the Supreme Court established the 'Precautionary Principle', the 'Polluter Pays Principle', the 'Public Trust Doctrine', and in 2024, explicitly recognized the 'Fundamental Right to be Free from the Adverse Effects of Climate Change'.
Key Constitutional Provisions
Fundamental Right to be free from the adverse impacts of Climate Change (M.K. Ranjitsinh v. UOI, 2024)
Right to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) or High Court against illegal tree felling, river pollution, or toxic industrial emissions
Enforcement of the 'Polluter Pays Principle' forcing polluting factories to compensate affected residents and restore nature
Exceptions & Reasonable Restrictions
Balances developmental infrastructure with Sustainable Development and mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).
Why This Matters in Daily Life
Empowers citizens to stop illegal encroachers from filling up local ponds/wetlands, cutting urban trees, or dumping hazardous waste near residential areas.
Want deeper legal & historical context? Explore the official Bare Act or Supreme Court Precedents & CAD Debates: