GOI — India's Supreme Court strikes down policy for retrospective green clearances

India's Supreme Court has invalidated a 2021 government policy that allowed industrial and infrastructure projects to receive environmental clearance after construction had already begun. The court ruled that such a permanent system for post-facto approvals via executive order is unconstitutional. However, the court upheld a one-time 2017 amnesty scheme as an exceptional measure, which had regularized 53 state and central projects worth nearly ₹19,500 crore. Future amnesty schemes will require a valid legal notification under the Environment (Protection) Act.