Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. According to its Preamble, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 implements the decisions of which conference?

   • The Rio Earth Summit, 1992
   • The Stockholm Conference of June 1972 (correct answer)
   • The Kyoto Conference, 1997
   • The Johannesburg Summit, 2002

   Explanation. The Preamble says the Act implements the decisions of the Stockholm Conference of June 1972 on protecting and improving the human environment. It is an umbrella Act, because it reaches every kind of pollution and not one medium alone.

2. Section 3 of the EPA, 1986 is significant because it:

   • Creates the CPCB and SPCBs
   • Gives the Central Government a general, open-ended power to take all measures necessary for environmental protection — the source of most subordinate environmental rules (correct answer)
   • Only applies to water pollution
   • Bans all industrial activity nationwide

   Explanation. Section 3's broad, general power is the legal basis for the EIA Notification, CRZ Notifications, Hazardous Waste Rules, Plastic/Solid Waste Rules, and most other Indian environmental subordinate legislation.

3. How does the Central Government's Section 5 direction power differ from the State Board's powers under the Water/Air Acts?

   • It is narrower, applying only to water pollution
   • It is exercised directly by the Central Government and is not confined to water or air pollution alone (correct answer)
   • It requires prior court approval, unlike the Board powers
   • It applies only to government-owned industries

   Explanation. Section 5 is exercised directly by the Central Government (not a State Board) and is broader, not confined to a single pollution medium.

4. Section 8 of the EPA, 1986 is the statutory foundation for which set of rules?

   • The Wildlife Protection Rules
   • The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 (correct answer)
   • The Forest Conservation Rules
   • The Motor Vehicles Rules

   Explanation. Section 8 prohibits handling hazardous substances except per prescribed safeguards, and is the foundation for the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

5. Under section 15 of the EPA, 1986 as stored in the Act text, a contravention for which no other penalty is provided attracts:

   • Compulsory imprisonment of five years
   • A penalty of not less than Rs 10,000 and up to Rs 15 lakh, with an additional Rs 10,000 for every day of continuing contravention (correct answer)
   • No consequence at all
   • Automatic cancellation of the company's business licence

   Explanation. Section 15(1) fixes a penalty of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15 lakh for each contravention. Section 15(2) adds Rs 10,000 for every day the contravention continues.

6. Under section 15A of the EPA, 1986, a company that contravenes the Act is liable to a penalty of:

   • No penalty
   • Not less than Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 15 lakh for each contravention (correct answer)
   • A fixed Rs 1,000
   • Only imprisonment

   Explanation. Section 15A(1) fixes a penalty of not less than Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 15 lakh for each contravention by a company. Section 15A(2) adds Rs 1 lakh for every day the contravention continues.

7. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, like the Air Act, 1981, derives its constitutional authority from:

   • Article 252, State consent
   • Article 253, implementing the Stockholm Conference, 1972 (correct answer)
   • Article 21 alone
   • Article 372, continuance of existing laws

   Explanation. The EPA, 1986 implements the Stockholm decisions of 1972, as its Preamble says. Like the Air Act, 1981, it rests on Article 253, Parliament's power to legislate to implement international decisions.

8. Section 2(a) of the EPA, 1986 defines "environment" to include:

   • Only air pollution
   • Water, air, and land, and the interrelationship among them and with living creatures, plants, micro-organisms, and property (correct answer)
   • Only forest land
   • Only wildlife species

   Explanation. Section 2(a) defines 'environment' broadly, deliberately wide enough to cover harm not confined to a single medium.