Review of Indian studies on environmental impact assessment

Environmental clearance in India is a legal instrument that determines potential environmental implication of organized projects in India. It entails an assessment of sensitive projects, focal points, and proposals that have potential and likely effects on social, environmental, and economic matters before they are commenced. The intended goal of this procedure is to detect negative effects on local societies, the environment in this case, so as to foster sustainable development. In India, environmental impact assessment (EIA) is governed by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and EIA Notification, 2006, that outline how and what EIAs should be prepared for different projects. Subsequent research has been executed on various aspects of EIA in a bid to improve the utility of the assessment tool in the Indian environment. This article provides a rigorous synthesis of existing literature on the subject of EIA in the context of India. A total of 47 research papers related to the subject were retrieved and subjected to a rigorous analysis through the PRISMA method. The objectives of the research are (1) to assess existing literature for the effectiveness of EIA processes in different contexts and identify gaps or areas for improvement; (2) to compile and synthesize findings from various studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of EIA research in India; (3) to identify patterns and indicators across different studies; (4) to analyze the evolution of environmental policies related to EIA in India and assess their impact; and (5) to provide recommendations for future research directions, policy enhancements, and practical improvements in the EIA process in India based on the synthesized findings. These summaries the comprehensive characteristic of the EIA studies related to India that might be useful for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners engaged in environmental management and sustainable development interventions in India.