In which year was the Environment Protection Act enacted by the Parliament of India to provide a comprehensive framework for environmental protection?

Introduction / Context:
The Environment Protection Act is one of the most important environmental laws in India. It provides a general framework for the protection and improvement of the environment and empowers the central government to take measures for pollution control. Knowing the year in which this Act was passed is a common requirement in competitive exams related to environment, general awareness, and Indian polity.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Act in question is the Environment Protection Act of India.
• The question asks for the year in which it was enacted.
• The options are 1997, 1986, 2004, and 2012.
• We assume familiarity with major environmental milestones in India.

Concept / Approach:
The Environment Protection Act was enacted in 1986, soon after the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, which highlighted serious gaps in industrial and environmental regulation. This Act gave broad powers to the central government to set standards, regulate emissions, and protect sensitive regions. The other years in the options correspond to other events and laws but not to this specific Act.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred in 1984 and created an urgent need for stronger environmental laws. Step 2: Remember that the Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986 as a response to these concerns. Step 3: Examine the options. Among them, 1986 is the only year that matches this historical timeline. Step 4: Recognise that 1997, 2004, and 2012 are associated with other environmental policies and agreements but not with the enactment of this Act. Step 5: Therefore, select 1986 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple verification trick is to pair 1984 with 1986: major industrial disaster in 1984, followed by comprehensive environmental legislation in 1986. Many textbooks explicitly mention this connection. You can also recall that earlier environment related laws, such as the Water Act and Air Act, came in the 1970s and early 1980s, but the general Environment Protection Act is specifically dated 1986.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1997 is too late for the original Environment Protection Act and may relate to later protocols or environmental decisions, not to this statute. 2004 and 2012 are far beyond the mid 1980s and correspond to other policy developments, not to the enactment of this foundational Act.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the year of the Environment Protection Act with years of other environmental conferences, such as the Rio Earth Summit or later climate agreements. To avoid this, create a short chronological list of major Indian environment laws: for example, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981, and Environment Protection Act 1986. This sequence helps fix the dates clearly in memory.

Final Answer:
The Environment Protection Act was enacted in 1986.