When was the protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife as a directive added in the Constitution of India?​

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) 1976

Explanation:

• The directive to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife was added through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976.
• This introduced Article 48A under Part IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution.
• Article 48A directs the State to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife.
• It marked India’s constitutional commitment to sustainable development.
• The amendment was influenced by the global environmental movement, particularly after the 1972 Stockholm Conference.

Information Booster:

• The 42nd Amendment also added Article 51A(g) as a Fundamental Duty, making it the duty of every citizen to protect the natural environment.
• This was part of four new Directive Principles added in 1976 to strengthen social, legal, and environmental governance.
• These provisions laid the foundation for environmental laws and judicial activism in India.
• Landmark cases like M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India upheld these principles.

Additional Information:

• Option (c) 1978: Incorrect; the 44th Amendment dealt with other constitutional issues, not environmental provisions.
• Option (d) 2002: Refers to the 86th Amendment, which introduced the Right to Education (Article 21A).
• Option (a) 2011: No relevant amendment concerning environmental directives occurred in this year.
• Articles 48A and 51A(g) form the backbone of India’s environmental jurisprudence and are often cited in public interest litigations.