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📌 The Question:

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

(a) Central Water Commission
(b) Central Ground Water Board
(c) Central Ground Water Authority
(d) National Water Development Agency

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✅ Correct Answer: (c) Central Ground Water Authority

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🧠 Classroom Explanation:

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

• Section 3 of the Act empowers the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve the environment.
• Sub-section (3) allows the government to constitute authorities and delegate powers for environmental regulation.

Accordingly, CGWA was established to:
✔ regulate and control groundwater extraction
✔ issue guidelines and permissions for groundwater use
✔ protect groundwater resources from over-exploitation

Other options are not constituted under the EPA, 1986:
• Central Water Commission (CWC) – administrative body under Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) – scientific/technical organization
• National Water Development Agency (NWDA) – set up under Ministry of Jal Shakti

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🔍 Curiosity Raiser:
Why does UPSC often ask “constituted under which Act” instead of asking the function directly?

👉 Because legal parentage = constitutional power source, a favourite UPSC trap.

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📚 Enrich Notes (Prelims Edge):

• EPA, 1986 = Umbrella Act
• Authorities under EPA → strong regulatory teeth
• CGWA = regulatory authority
• CGWB = advisory/scientific body (big UPSC confusion point)

Mnemonic:
👉 Authority = Act
👉 Board = Advisory

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🪶 IAS Monk Whisper:
Laws give birth to institutions, but institutions give life to laws.