Supreme Court orders Delhi and neighboring states to regulate emissions amid sharp smog increase
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Pollution (air, water, plastic)· Prelims + Mains·
Inter-state coordination and judicial activism in air quality management: a GS3 Environment and Governance case study.
Why in news
The Supreme Court directed the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and neighboring states to submit a time-bound roadmap to regulate vehicular emissions following a sharp increase in smog.
Background
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant issued the order. The court specifically targeted non-compliant vehicles and demanded a roadmap to mitigate deteriorating air quality in the national capital and neighboring states.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyMunicipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is the local government body responsible for municipal services in Delhi.
- PlaceThe order covers the national capital (Delhi) and its neighboring states.
- FactThe court's primary focus is the regulation of vehicular emissions to combat smog.
Prelims practice question
Which local government body is responsible for municipal services in Delhi as mentioned in the court's order?
- (a)Delhi Water Board
- (b)New Delhi Municipal Council
- (c)Municipal Corporation of Delhi
- (d)Delhi Development Authority
Show answer
Answer: (c) Municipal Corporation of Delhi — The note identifies the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) as the body responsible for municipal services in Delhi.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the legal and administrative challenges in implementing a multi-state coordinated strategy to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Jurisdictional friction: Coordination hurdles between Delhi government and neighboring state authorities on vehicular emission standards
- Enforcement gap: Difficulty in monitoring and penalizing non-compliant vehicles across state borders
- Regulatory bottleneck: Need for standardized emission testing infrastructure across the NCR region
Keywords: Inter-state coordination · Air quality management · Judicial activism · Vehicular emissions · Time-bound roadmap
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.