Corporations have a fundamental duty to protect ecosystem, prevent species' extinction: Supreme Court
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Biotechnology & health research· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Supreme Court ruled that corporations have a fundamental duty to protect the environment and prevent species extinction, interpreting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to include environmental conservation.
Background
The Supreme Court directed companies operating near Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat to bear the costs of species recovery. The court upheld recommendations for revised priority areas and long-term studies on climate change impacts on the GIB.
Facts for Prelims
- EnvironmentGreat Indian Bustard (GIB): An endangered bird species identified as a priority for conservation in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- FactThe Supreme Court interpreted Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to explicitly include environmental responsibility.
- PlaceRajasthan and Gujarat: States identified as key habitats for the Great Indian Bustard.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the legal and ethical implications of expanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to include mandatory environmental conservation and species protection.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Legal interpretation: Expanding CSR mandates from voluntary philanthropy to mandatory ecological restoration obligations
- Economic trade-off: Balancing industrial operational costs with the financial burden of biodiversity conservation
- Regulatory oversight: Need for standardized metrics to monitor corporate-led species recovery efforts
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility · Biodiversity Conservation · Environmental Jurisprudence · Species Recovery · Ecological Duty
More Science & Technology notes
- Air pollution: Delhi HC asks Centre to reply on plea to reduce GST on air purifiers · 26 December 2025
- Solar energy: India's renewable energy boom faces a hidden waste problem · 26 December 2025
- RRI study may redefine how the mass of the halo around galaxies is measured · 25 December 2025
- Couldn't have ended 2025 in space domain in better way: Amb Kwatra on India’s successful launch of U.S. satellite · 25 December 2025
- Navi Mumbai International Airport starts commercial flight operations · 25 December 2025
- Stress tests and drones: the new playbook to protect the endangered western hoolock gibbon · 24 December 2025
Something wrong, or something missing?
Spotted a mistake in a note, or want a topic, format or PDF that would help your preparation? Write to us. We read every mail and fix errors fast.
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.