Environment, Ecology & Law
A Certificate Course
This is a course to look at the world around you through the legal lens. You will understand what the Constitution and our environmental laws say, what they expect from us, and how their provisions apply to everyday environmental concerns. You will learn to read Acts and judgements, recognize where the law can help, and use the remedies available to citizens at the local level.
Faculty: Amogh Paralikar (Lawyer)
Frequency:
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Annual
In-person (Pune)
Open
28th November 2026
Graduate in any Discipline
8 Saturdays
Every Saturday, 5–7 pm
Limited to 30
Why this course?
Problem & Vision
The Interest We're Addressing
Environmental problems surround us every day: polluted rivers, burning garbage, illegally felled trees, dust from construction sites. India has a wide body of law meant to deal with these concerns, beginning with the Constitution itself. Yet most citizens never read these laws. When something goes wrong in their neighbourhood, people often do not know which law applies, which authority is responsible, or what action they can take. Even those who work on environmental issues often rely on a second-hand understanding of the law, which limits what they can do.
Our Vision (Theory of Change)
The Environment, Ecology & Law course is founded on the belief that a citizen who understands the law can help themselves and the concerned authorities to protect the environment around them.
By taking participants through the text of the Constitution, the key environmental Acts and the court cases that have shaped them, we enable them to see both the strengths and the limitations of environmental law. Through practical exposure to reading legal documents and petitions, participants learn to turn this understanding into action at the local level, leading to more informed and active citizens.
Understand the Constitutional Framework
Explain what the Constitution of India says about the environment, and the duties it places on the State and on citizens.
Know the Key Environmental Acts
Identify the main laws on air and water pollution, waste management and the conservation of natural resources, and what each one regulates.
Read Cases and Judgements
Follow landmark court cases and understand how judgements have shaped the way environmental law is applied.
Apply the Law to Everyday Concerns
Connect legal provisions to real environmental problems, and recognise where the law works well and where its implementation can be better.
Use Local Remedies
Learn about the practical steps open to citizens, such as filing complaints.