Environmental Movements & Campaigns
India's grassroots environmental movements — from the 18th-century Bishnoi sacrifice to Chipko, Appiko, Silent Valley and Narmada Bachao Andolan — alongside the major international awareness campaigns (Blue Flag, Earth Hour, Earth Day) tested in Prelims.
Table of Contents
1. Why Environmental Movements Matter
- Environmental movements shaped India's conservation laws, forest policy, and the doctrine of public participation in environmental decision-making.
- Many embody ecofeminism (women's central role), Gandhian methods (satyagraha, non-violence), and the idea that livelihoods of forest/river-dependent communities are inseparable from ecology.
- Movements have directly influenced legislation and projects — e.g., Silent Valley's abandonment, the Forest Conservation Act 1980 momentum, and rehabilitation norms for large dams.
2. Bishnoi Movement
- Earliest recorded conservation movement in India — 1730, Khejarli village, Marwar (Rajasthan).
- Led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi, who along with 363 Bishnois sacrificed their lives hugging Khejri trees to prevent the Maharaja of Jodhpur's men from felling them.
- The Bishnoi sect (founded by Guru Jambheshwar) follows 29 tenets protecting trees and wildlife (blackbuck, chinkara) — the philosophical ancestor of Chipko.
- The Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award is given for community conservation.
3. Chipko Movement
- Began 1973 in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh, Garhwal Himalaya); "chipko" = "to hug/embrace" — villagers hugged trees to prevent commercial felling.
- Key figures: Sunderlal Bahuguna (gave it national reach and the slogan "ecology is permanent economy"), Chandi Prasad Bhatt (founded DGSM), and Gaura Devi (led the women of Reni village in the iconic 1974 action).
- Strongly ecofeminist and Gandhian; led to a 15-year ban on green felling in the Himalayan forests of UP and influenced national forest policy.
4. Appiko Movement
- The "southern Chipko" — began 1983 in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka (Western Ghats).
- "Appiko" = "to hug" in Kannada; led by Pandurang Hegde, protesting commercial felling and the loss of tropical forest to monoculture plantations.
- Three-fold message: save (Ulisu), grow (Belesu), use rationally (Balasu) the forests.
5. Save Silent Valley Movement
- Campaign (late 1970s-1980s) to protect the Silent Valley tropical rainforest in the Palakkad district, Kerala, from a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Kunthipuzha river.
- Spearheaded by the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) and poets/scientists; the valley is a habitat of the endangered lion-tailed macaque.
- Success: the project was abandoned; the area was declared Silent Valley National Park (1984/1985) — a landmark victory of science-based conservation advocacy.
6. Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)
- Movement (from the mid-1980s) against large dams on the Narmada river, especially the Sardar Sarovar Dam (Gujarat) — raising displacement, rehabilitation, and ecological concerns across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
- Led by Medha Patkar (with Baba Amte's support and, at one stage, Arundhati Roy's advocacy).
- Raised the doctrine of rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R) of oustees and displaced tribals; the Supreme Court's Narmada judgments allowed dam height increases with R&R conditions.
- A defining case in the debate between large-dam development and displacement/environment.
7. Other Indian Movements
- Jungle Bachao Andolan: 1980s, Singhbhum (Bihar/Jharkhand) — tribal resistance to replacing natural sal forests with commercial teak.
- Tehri Dam Movement: opposition (Sunderlal Bahuguna) to the Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi, on seismic and displacement grounds.
- Navdanya: Vandana Shiva's seed-saving and organic-farming/biodiversity movement.
- Chilika Bachao Andolan: against commercial prawn aquaculture in Odisha's Chilika lake.
8. Movements Comparison Table
| Movement | Year | Place | Leader(s) | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishnoi | 1730 | Khejarli, Rajasthan | Amrita Devi Bishnoi | Protect Khejri trees |
| Chipko | 1973 | Chamoli, Uttarakhand | Bahuguna, Bhatt, Gaura Devi | Stop Himalayan felling |
| Save Silent Valley | 1970s-80s | Palakkad, Kerala | KSSP | Stop hydro dam in rainforest |
| Appiko | 1983 | Uttara Kannada, Karnataka | Pandurang Hegde | Save Western Ghats forest |
| Narmada Bachao | 1985- | Narmada valley | Medha Patkar, Baba Amte | Anti-dam, displacement/R&R |
9. International Campaigns
Earth Day
Observed annually on 22 April (since 1970). A global day of environmental awareness; the 1970 first Earth Day is credited with catalysing modern environmental regulation (e.g., US EPA).
Earth Hour
Organised by WWF (started Sydney, 2007). Held on the last Saturday of March — people switch off non-essential lights for one hour (8:30-9:30 pm local) as a symbol of commitment to the planet.
World Environment Day
5 June — led by UNEP since 1974 (mandated by the 1972 Stockholm Conference); the flagship global environment-awareness day with a host country and annual theme.
10. Blue Flag Certification
Blue Flag
An international eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark, to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating operators that meet ~33 stringent criteria across environmental education, water quality, environmental management, and safety/services.
- India's beaches are certified under the MoEFCC's BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) programme within the ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project.
- Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod & Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), Radhanagar (Andaman) were among the first eight Indian beaches to receive Blue Flag in 2020, with more added later (e.g., Minicoy Thundi & Kadmat in Lakshadweep).
11. Current Affairs
Under the BEAMS programme (MoEFCC/SICOM), India's Blue Flag-certified beaches grew from the first 8 (2020) to a larger tally, boosting sustainable coastal tourism; verify latest count & new sites.
Marking 50 years of Chipko (1973) renewed focus on Himalayan ecology amid Joshimath land-subsidence (2023) and hydro/road-project concerns in Uttarakhand.
WWF's Earth Hour (last Sat of March) & Earth Day (22 April) increasingly linked to biodiversity "30x30," plastic-pollution treaty talks, and LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
Global Fridays for Future / youth climate movements and rising climate litigation (e.g., India's SC recognising right against adverse climate effects, 2024) echo the grassroots legacy of Chipko/NBA.
12. Prelims PYQs
Q: With reference to the ‘Chipko Movement’, which of the following statements is correct?
Ans: (a) — Chipko (1973, Chamoli) was a Gandhian, ecofeminist movement against commercial felling in the Himalayan forests.
Q: The ‘Appiko Movement’ is associated with which of the following states?
Ans: (c) — the “southern Chipko” began in 1983 in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka (Western Ghats), led by Pandurang Hegde.
Q: The ‘Blue Flag’ certification for beaches is accorded by which organisation?
Ans: (b) — Blue Flag is an eco-label of the FEE, Denmark; India’s beaches are prepared under the MoEFCC’s BEAMS programme.
Q: The Save Silent Valley movement led to the protection of a rainforest in which state?
Ans: (c) — the campaign saved the Silent Valley rainforest in Palakkad, Kerala, declared a National Park in 1984/85; habitat of the lion-tailed macaque.
Q: ‘Earth Hour’ is an initiative of which organisation?
Ans: (b) — Earth Hour, started by WWF in Sydney (2007), is held on the last Saturday of March; lights are switched off for one hour.
Q: The Bishnoi community, historically the earliest recorded conservation movement in India, is chiefly associated with the protection of which tree and animal?
Ans: (b) — the Bishnois (1730 Khejarli sacrifice led by Amrita Devi) protect the Khejri tree and blackbuck/chinkara under Guru Jambheshwar’s 29 tenets.
Q: Consider the following pairs: 1. Narmada Bachao Andolan — Medha Patkar 2. Chipko Movement — Sunderlal Bahuguna 3. Silent Valley Movement — Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad. Which of the pairs is/are correctly matched?
Ans: (d) — all three pairs are correctly matched.
Q: World Environment Day, observed on 5 June, is led by which organisation?
Ans: (b) — World Environment Day (5 June) has been led by UNEP since 1974, mandated by the 1972 Stockholm Conference; each year has a host country and theme.
Likely: Chipko’s 50th anniversary (2023) linked to Joshimath subsidence, the growing tally of India’s Blue Flag beaches, and movement↔state↔leader matching are prime material. check for latest update or data
13. Mains PYQs + Model Answers
Questions below are original, exam-style formulations built from real UPSC GS-I / GS-III themes — paraphrased to be copyright-safe. Each framework = intro angle → structured body → way-forward, with examples to quote.
Q: Examine the role of grassroots environmental movements in shaping India’s forest and conservation policy, with reference to the Chipko and Silent Valley movements.
Model Answer Framework
- Introduction — bottom-up ecology: Frame grassroots movements as ecological assertion linking livelihoods, conservation & rights.
- Chipko (1973, Chamoli): Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Gaura Devi; Gandhian, ecofeminist; tree-hugging against commercial felling → influenced the 1980 Forest (Conservation) Act & a 15-year Himalayan green-felling ban.
- Save Silent Valley (Kerala, KSSP): stopped a hydro dam → Silent Valley National Park (1984/85); protected the lion-tailed macaque & rainforest; science-society activism.
- Policy impacts: strengthened EIA culture, forest-conservation law, PIL/environmental jurisprudence, community-forest rights (later FRA 2006).
- Broader significance & limits: gave voice to women/tribals; but localised, personality-driven, unevenly institutionalised.
- Conclusion: These movements were catalytic in mainstreaming conservation in Indian policy & law.
Q: “Large dams involve a trade-off between development and displacement.” Discuss with reference to the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
Model Answer Framework
- Introduction — the NBA lens: Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985, Medha Patkar, Baba Amte) opposed Sardar Sarovar & other Narmada dams over displacement.
- Development case: irrigation (Gujarat/Rajasthan), drinking water, hydropower, flood control, drought relief.
- Displacement case: ~200,000+ oustees (largely tribals/Dalits); submergence of forests/farmland; inadequate Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R); cultural loss.
- Judicial/institutional: SC 2000 allowed construction with R&R conditions & height caps; catalysed the World Commission on Dams debate; land-acquisition reform (LARR 2013).
- Balancing: cost-benefit including social/ecological costs; free prior informed consent; just R&R; decentralised water options.
- Conclusion: NBA reframed “development” to include displaced people’s rights — participatory planning is the way forward.
Q: “Indian environmental movements have been deeply shaped by women and Gandhian methods.” Elaborate with examples.
Model Answer Framework
- Introduction — ecofeminism & satyagraha: Note the twin threads of women’s leadership and non-violent Gandhian protest.
- Women’s role: Amrita Devi (Bishnoi), Gaura Devi (Chipko’s Reni action), Medha Patkar (NBA), Vandana Shiva (Navdanya).
- Gandhian methods: tree-hugging, padyatras, fasts, satyagraha; “ecology is permanent economy” (Bahuguna).
- Why women lead: forest/water dependence for fuel, fodder and household needs makes degradation a lived, gendered burden.
- Way forward: institutionalise community and women-led conservation (JFM, FRA gram sabhas, SHGs).
- Conclusion: ecofeminism and Gandhian ethics remain the moral core of India’s green movements.
Q: Assess how international awareness campaigns and eco-labels complement grassroots movements in advancing environmental goals.
Model Answer Framework
- Introduction — two scales of action: Contrast local movements with global campaigns and standards.
- Global campaigns: Earth Day (22 April), Earth Hour (WWF), World Environment Day (5 June, UNEP) — mass awareness.
- Eco-labels/standards: Blue Flag (FEE, Denmark) via BEAMS/ICZM raises beach-management standards and green tourism.
- Complementarity: campaigns build public pressure and norms; grassroots movements deliver on-ground change; labels create measurable benchmarks.
- Limits: risk of tokenism/greenwashing without enforcement.
- Conclusion: the two scales reinforce each other when linked to policy and accountability.
Q: Trace the continuity between the Bishnoi tradition and the Chipko Movement.
Model Answer Framework
- Bishnoi roots: 1730 Khejarli sacrifice (Amrita Devi, 363 martyrs) to save Khejri trees; Guru Jambheshwar’s 29 tenets.
- Chipko revival: 1973 Chamoli tree-hugging consciously drew on the Bishnoi “embrace-the-tree” ethic across 240 years.
- Shared values: reverence for trees/wildlife, community sacrifice, non-violence.
- Conclusion: Chipko institutionalised an ancient ecological ethic into a national conservation movement.
Likely: In light of Joshimath subsidence and rising climate litigation, evaluate the continuing relevance of Chipko-style grassroots mobilisation for fragile-ecosystem governance. check for latest update or data
15-Minute Revision Box
Must-Remember Facts — Environmental Movements & Campaigns
- Bishnoi (1730, Khejarli, Rajasthan; Amrita Devi; Khejri trees) = earliest.
- Chipko (1973, Chamoli; Bahuguna / Bhatt / Gaura Devi) = anti-felling, ecofeminist, Gandhian.
- Appiko (1983, Karnataka; Pandurang Hegde) = southern Chipko; Ulisu-Belesu-Balasu.
- Save Silent Valley (Kerala, KSSP) = stopped hydro dam → Silent Valley NP; lion-tailed macaque.
- Narmada Bachao (1985; Medha Patkar, Baba Amte) = Sardar Sarovar, R&R.
- Earth Day = 22 April.
- Earth Hour = WWF, last Sat of March, lights off.
- World Environment Day = 5 June (UNEP).
- Eco-label by FEE, Denmark; India via BEAMS / ICZM.
- First 8 beaches (2020): Shivrajpur, Ghoghla, Kasarkod, Padubidri, Kappad, Rushikonda, Golden, Radhanagar.