Mining and Environment — Prelims Strategy

Prelims Strategy

Focus on memorizing specific facts: EIA notification years and amendments (2006, 2020), threshold limits for Category A/B projects, institutional roles (MoEFCC, CPCB, NGT, EACs), constitutional articles (21, 48A, 51A(g)), and act names with years (MMDR 2015, FCA 1980, FRA 2006).

Create a matrix of clearances required for different project types and their approving authorities. Memorize key case names, years, and outcomes - Vedanta-Niyamgiri 2013, Goa Foundation 2014, Godavarman ongoing.

Practice elimination techniques by understanding common traps: confusing environmental vs forest clearance, mixing up committee names (WGEEP vs Kasturirangan), and incorrect threshold limits. Focus on recent policy developments like DMF contributions (30% for new, 10% for existing leases), EIA 2020 amendments, and coal policy reforms.

Use acronyms for pollution control measures and create flowcharts for clearance procedures.

Also build Paper II skills

Climate data, pollution metrics, and treaty timelines are natural practice for CSAT data interpretation and careful reading. CSAT hub.

• Data interpretation
• Correlation vs causation
• Estimation techniques