Parliament Extends Water and Air Pollution Laws to Manipur via Article 252
Rajya Sabha approved extending central water and air pollution laws to Manipur, utilizing Article 252 of the Constitution.
Photo by Leeder Bose
The Rajya Sabha recently passed a resolution to extend two crucial environmental laws—the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981—to the state of Manipur. What's interesting here is how this happened: Manipur's Legislative Assembly first passed its own resolution on December 6, 2023, requesting Parliament to legislate on these state subjects.
This mechanism is provided under Article 252 of the Indian Constitution, which allows Parliament to make laws for two or more states by their consent. This move aims to bring Manipur under a more robust central framework for environmental protection, ensuring better management of water and air quality in the state.
मुख्य तथ्य
Rajya Sabha passed resolution
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 extended
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 extended
Manipur Legislative Assembly passed resolution on Dec 6, 2023
UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Understanding Article 252 and its implications for Centre-State legislative relations.
Knowledge of key environmental laws (Water Act, Air Act, EPA) and their provisions.
Concepts of cooperative federalism and legislative distribution.
Role of State Legislatures and Parliament in such legislative processes.
Constitutional provisions allowing Parliament to legislate on State List subjects (e.g., Articles 249, 250, 253).
दृश्य सामग्री
Extension of Environmental Laws to Manipur via Article 252
This map highlights Manipur, the state that requested Parliament to extend the Water and Air Pollution Control Acts. It visually represents the geographical context of this significant move under Article 252, demonstrating cooperative federalism in action for environmental governance.
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Process of Extending Central Laws to States under Article 252
This flowchart illustrates the step-by-step constitutional mechanism under Article 252, by which Parliament can legislate on a State List subject for specific states, as demonstrated by the extension of environmental laws to Manipur.
- 1.Two or more State Legislative Assemblies pass a resolution.
- 2.Resolution requests Parliament to legislate on a State List subject.
- 3.Parliament passes an Act on that State List subject.
- 4.The law applies only to the states that passed the resolution.
- 5.Other states can adopt the same law later by passing a resolution.
- 6.The law can only be amended or repealed by an Act of Parliament.
और जानकारी
पृष्ठभूमि
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding Article 252 of the Indian Constitution: 1. Parliament can legislate on a State List subject for two or more states if their Legislatures pass resolutions to that effect. 2. A law made under Article 252 can be amended or repealed only by Parliament, and not by the State Legislatures. 3. Such a law automatically applies to all states that subsequently adopt a resolution to that effect. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement 1 is correct. Article 252(1) explicitly states that if two or more State Legislatures pass resolutions requesting Parliament to legislate on a State List subject, Parliament can do so. Statement 2 is correct. A law passed by Parliament under Article 252 can only be amended or repealed by Parliament itself. State Legislatures, even those that requested the law, cannot amend or repeal it. They can only pass a resolution to cease its application to their state. Statement 3 is correct. Article 252(2) provides that any such law may be adopted by any other state by passing a resolution to that effect in its Legislature. Thus, all three statements are correct.
2. With reference to environmental legislation in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. 2. State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) are statutory bodies with powers to lay down standards for effluents and emissions. 3. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is an umbrella legislation that empowers the Central Government to take all necessary measures for environmental protection. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement 1 is correct. The CPCB was indeed established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Statement 2 is correct. SPCBs are statutory bodies established under the Water Act, 1974, and subsequently given powers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. They have significant powers, including setting standards and enforcing compliance. Statement 3 is correct. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, was enacted after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and is considered an umbrella legislation, providing broad powers to the Central Government to protect and improve the environment.
3. Match the following constitutional provisions (List-I) with the circumstances under which Parliament can legislate on subjects in the State List (List-II): List-I (Constitutional Provision) A. Article 249 B. Article 250 C. Article 252 D. Article 253 List-II (Circumstance) 1. During a Proclamation of National Emergency 2. To implement international treaties or agreements 3. If the Rajya Sabha declares it necessary in the national interest 4. By consent of two or more State Legislatures Select the correct matching using the codes given below:
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
Article 249 allows Parliament to legislate on a State List subject if the Rajya Sabha passes a resolution by a 2/3rd majority declaring it necessary in the national interest (A-3). Article 250 empowers Parliament to legislate on any State List subject during a Proclamation of National Emergency (B-1). Article 252 enables Parliament to legislate on a State List subject for two or more states by their consent (C-4). Article 253 empowers Parliament to make any law for implementing any international treaty, agreement, or convention (D-2).
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