Ashish Kumar Meher
India’s 176th rank among 177 countries in the recently published 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is not merely an unfavourable international comparison. It is a warning that environmental governance is lagging behind the country’s economic ambitions. India scored 22.46 out of 100, compared with 74.79 for Estonia, which ranked first. Luxembourg and the United Kingdom occupied the second and third positions, while India’s score remained substantially below the South Asian regional average of 31.81. The ranking deserves careful interpretation. India’s population, geographical size, development needs and institutional challenges differ considerably from those of small, high-income European countries. Nevertheless, these differences cannot justify persistent problems of air pollution, ecosystem degradation, resource stress and climate vulnerability.
The EPI, developed by researchers associated with Yale and Columbia University, evaluates countries using 47 indicators across 12 issue categories, grouped under three broad objectives: environmental health, ecosystem vitality and climate change. It covers areas such as air quality, sanitation, drinking water, pollution, biodiversity, forests, agriculture, fisheries, waste and greenhouse-gas emissions. The index provides a useful framework for comparing environmental outcomes, although its rankings should not be treated as an absolute verdict. Composite indices depend on indicator selection, weighting, data availability and methodological assumptions. India’s EPI score has improved by 7.47 points over the past decade, suggesting that some progress has occurred even though its relative position remains extremely low. India’s position points to a significant gap between environmental policy ambition and measurable outcomes.
The country has expanded renewable energy, promoted electric mobility, implemented the National Clean Air Programme and invested in sanitation and afforestation. Yet rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion, rising energy demand and resource-intensive development continue to generate substantial environmental pressures. The experiences of higher-ranked countries demonstrate the importance of policy continui ty, credible regulation, institutional capacity and effective monitoring. India’s challenge, therefore, is not simply a lack of policies but their uneven implementation. Environmental governance should be assessed not by expenditure or projects sanctioned, but by outcomes—cleaner air, safer water, lower emissions, healthier ecosystems and reduced ecological risks. Environmental performance is inseparable from sustainable development.
Poor air quality directly undermines SDG3: Good Health and Well-being, while water pollution, groundwater depletion and inadequate wastewater treatment threaten SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Continued dependence on fossil fuels complicates progress towards SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13: Climate Action. Soil degradation, water stress and climate variability affect agricultural productivity and SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation undermine SDG 15: Life on Land, while marine pollution threatens SDG 14: Life Below Water. Environmental degradation also has a strong social dimension. Pollution disproportionately af fects low-income households, informal workers and communities with limited access to healthcare and clean infrastructure.
Environmental decline can therefore deepen existing inequalities. India needs an outcome-based environmental governance system. Environmental targets should be linked to measurable improvements in air and water quality, emissions reduction and ecosystem health. Environmental data must be transparent, scientifically reliable and publicly accessible. State pollution-control boards, urban local bodies and district administrations require greater financial resources, technical capacity and regulatory autonomy. The clean-energy transition should be accelerated through investment in renewable energy, storage, modern transmission networks, energy efficiency, green jobs and reskilling, while ensuring a just transition for coal-dependent regions. Urban planning must prioritise public transport, wastewater treatment, scientific waste management, green spaces and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Agricultural policies should promote efficient irrigation, soil conservation, crop diversification and sustainable use of inputs. India should also strengthen natural-capital and green accounting so that environmental costs are reflected alongside conventional measures of economic growth. The 2026 EPI ranking should therefore be viewed not simply as a ranking but as a policy warning. India’s development ambitions cannot be separated from environmental sustainability. Cleaner air, safer water, healthier ecosystems and a stable climate are not obstacles to growth; they are essential foundations for productive livelihoods, social equity and long-term prosperity.
The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Development Studies, School of Social Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand.
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