India Ranked Second Lowest at 176th in Environmental Performance Index 2026
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Pollution (air, water, plastic)· Prelims·
Why in news
India ranked 176th out of 177 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026, highlighting significant gaps in environmental metrics.
Background
The EPI 2026 was developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Columbia University’s CIESIN, and Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions. It evaluated 177 nations across 47 metrics, with Estonia ranking first (score 74.79) and India ranking second lowest (score 22.46).
Facts for Prelims
- Report / IndexEPI 2026: Environmental Performance Index published by Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and CIESIN, Columbia University
- FactIndia's score in EPI 2026: 22.46
- FactEstonia's score in EPI 2026: 74.79
- FactTotal nations evaluated in EPI 2026: 177
For Mains
Q. Critically analyze the factors contributing to India's low ranking in global environmental indices and suggest policy measures to improve ecological performance.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Metric misalignment: Discrepancy between domestic environmental progress and international indexing methodologies
- Regulatory bottleneck: Inadequate enforcement of waste management and air quality standards in industrial clusters
- Resource-development trade-off: Balancing rapid infrastructure expansion with ecological preservation goals
Keywords: Environmental Governance · Sustainable Development · Ecological Footprint · Policy Alignment · Metric Standardization
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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.