Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process
The EIA Notification, 2006 (under Environment Protection Act 1986) mandates prior environmental clearance for projects before they receive investment decisions or commencement permissions. It classifies projects by their potential environmental impact into Category A (appraised at the central level by the Expert Appraisal Committee under MoEFCC) and Category B (appraised at the state level by the State Expert Appraisal Committee).
- Category A projects: Large-scale projects with significant national/interstate impact, appraised by Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) under MoEFCC — includes ports, airports, highways of national significance.
- Category B projects: Smaller projects appraised by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).
- Public Hearing: Mandatory for most Category A projects — local communities must be consulted before an EC is granted.
- The Great Nicobar project was appraised under the central (Category A) process given its strategic and ecological significance.
- The EIA Notification 2006 has been criticised for allowing post-facto clearances and limiting public participation; a draft EIA 2020 proposed further dilutions but faced widespread opposition.
● Tracked since February 17, 2026 · last seen June 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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