INDIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY EVOLUTION THROUGH INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE AGREEMENT

Environmental protection gradually emerged an integral part of governance in all countries of the world in response to rising impact of the climate change and imbalance in the environment The purpose of this study is to analyze how India has developed its current environmental policy framework by examining its growing connection between environmental and other policies through engagement with global climate agreements as well as recognition of both environmental rights and duties in the Constitution of
India.
Examples of major instruments, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992), Kyoto
Protocol (1997), and the Paris Agreement (2015), have had an important influence on climate governance within India and helped
guide important national initiatives, including the National Environment Policy (NEP) (2006) and the National Action Plan on
Climate Change (NAPCC).This type of development shows that India is committed to promoting sustainability and responsibility
in managing its environment.
Environmental protection is also granted constitutional recognition under Articles 21 (Right to Life), 48A (Protection and
Improvement of Environment), and 51A(g) (Fundamental duties to protect and improve the natural environment), but requires
further refinement through appropriate judicial construction. Important judgments from the Supreme Court of India, such as M. C.
Mehta v. Union of India and Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India, have introduced legal principles related to the
environment into Indian jurisdictions, including those based on sustainable development and the polluter pays principle.
This Paper argue that international climate agreements have been an important force guiding India's environmental policy and the
country's relationship with environmental institutions. The paper concludes by stating that ongoing coordination and cooperation
between international obligations, constitutional obligations at the national level, and domestic policies are necessary to ensure
India's ability to provide for its citizens through environmental protection and long-term environmental sustainability.
Keywords: Environmental policy Evolution, United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Article 48A,
Article 51A, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development.