Draft Amendment to EIA Notification 2026 Published
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: When SEIAA or SEAC lapsed, project clearances were stalled or routed to the central ministry, causing massive delays. NOW: The SAEIA and SCEIA will temporarily assume state-level functions for up to one year (six months, extendable by another six) to clear Category B projects.
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BEFORE: The State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) could face indefinite delays in appraising project proposals. NOW: If the SEAC fails to complete an appraisal within 120 days, the proposal is automatically transferred to the SCEIA via the PARIVESH portal.
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BEFORE: Existing appraisal committees strictly required specialized environmental experts to evaluate ecological impacts. NOW: The draft permits ex-officio members, such as civil servants and chartered accountants, to staff the fallback bodies, which critics argue may dilute environmental oversight.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the 2026 draft amendment to the EIA Notification? 1. The Standing Authority on Environment Impact Assessment (SAEIA) will permanently replace the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for evaluating Category B projects. 2. If the state-level committee fails to complete an appraisal within 120 days, the proposal automatically moves to the Standing Committee on Environment Impact Appraisal (SCEIA).