Environmentalism In India: The Gap Between Constitutional Promise And Environmental Reality
- IJLLR Journal
- Apr 30
- 1 min read
Sonika Yadav, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), Amity University Lucknow
Dr. Rohit Kumar Shukla, Assistant Professor of Law, Amity University Lucknow
ABSTRACT
India has developed a robust constitutional framework for environmental protection through judicial interpretation of Articles 21, 48A and 51A(g). Despite this, the country continues to witness severe air pollution, contaminated rivers, deforestation and recurring climate related disasters that erode basic conditions of life. The persistence of such degradation, even after the evolution of extensive environmental jurisprudence, reveals a significant gap between constitutional promise and the lived ecological reality of communities. This paper examines the gap between constitutional environmental rights and their implementation in practice. It analyses key challenges including weak regulatory enforcement, tensions between economic development and environmental protection, and barriers to environmental justice for vulnerable communities. The paper argues that while constitutional environmentalism in India has expanded environmental rights, institutional and governance failures continue to limit their effectiveness.
