Abstract Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) experience in India dates back since the 70s when it was practiced only as an administrative decision. However, it was not made mandatory until 1994 with the introduction of the EIA Notification under the Environmental Protection Act of 1986. Hence, it's been just over 25 years since EIA was formally introduced in the country and in celebrating this landmark occasion, the paper provides a review of EIA performance in India since its inception. In doing so, it provides a systematic analysis against criteria set by one of the first EIA reviews conducted in the country way back in 1994. The four broad categories of this review include completeness, open and public character, objectivity and verifiability. In conducting the review, the paper consolidates publications on this subject area. This is further complemented with data collected via online survey and interviews with experts in the field. The findings reveal that since its inception days, EIA in India has made significant progress with regards to open and public character. However, this is still in need of further improvements. With regards to the other two criteria of completeness and objectivity, progress is rather limited. However, there has been hardly any improvements made with regards to verifiability of EIA. The new EIA notifications being drafted in the country do not seem to be engaging with the lessons learned over the years. Hence, based on the findings of the review, the paper provides some initial recommendations. In doing so the work further draws comparisons and inspirations from international experiences.

中文翻译：

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印度环评 25 年之后：回顾和前进之路

摘要 印度的环境影响评估 (EIA) 经验可以追溯到 70 年代，当时它仅作为一项行政决定实施。然而，直到 1994 年根据 1986 年《环境保护法》引入 EIA 通知，它才成为强制性的。 因此，自 EIA 在该国正式引入并庆祝这一具有里程碑意义的时刻以来，已经过去了 25 年多。自 EIA 成立以来在印度的表现回顾。在此过程中，它根据 1994 年在该国进行的首批 EIA 审查之一设定的标准进行了系统分析。该审查的四大类包括完整性、开放性和公共性、客观性和可验证性。在进行审查时，该文件整合了有关该主题领域的出版物。通过在线调查和与该领域专家的访谈收集的数据进一步补充了这一点。调查结果显示，自成立以来，印度的环境影响评估在开放和公共性质方面取得了重大进展。但是，这仍然需要进一步改进。关于完整性和客观性的另外两个标准，进展相当有限。然而，在EIA的可验证性方面几乎没有任何改进。该国正在起草的新环境影响评估通知似乎没有吸取多年来的经验教训。因此，根据审查结果，本文提供了一些初步建议。在这样做的过程中，这项工作进一步从国际经验中汲取了比较和启发。