"Environmental Governance In Agricultural Law: A Critical Evaluation Of India’s Repealed Farm Laws In Light Of Global Best Practices"

Abstract

The 2020 Indian farm laws, though ultimately repealed in response to widespread protests, marked a significant attempt to liberalize the country’s agricultural markets. However, beyond the debates on market access and federalism, a critical yet overlooked dimension of these laws was their failure to integrate environmental governance. As climate change, land degradation, and water scarcity increasingly threaten agricultural sustainability, the absence of ecological safeguards in such major reforms is a missed opportunity. This article critically evaluates the environmental governance implications of the three farm laws and highlights how they fell short of advancing sustainable agricultural practices. By comparing India’s approach with global standards particularly the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy and the environmental provisions in the United States Farm Bill the paper underscores the need for a holistic legal framework that aligns market efficiency with ecological stewardship. It further explores the role of environmental impact assessments, agri-ecological zoning, and sustainable land-use laws that could guide India’s future agricultural reforms. Ultimately, this article calls for embedding environmental accountability and climate resilience into the core of agricultural policy making to ensure not just productivity, but sustainability and justice for future generations of Indian farmers.