Overexploitation of the country's resources be it land or water and the industrialization process has resulted in considerable environmental degradation of resources along with the pollution of these and the other environmental parameters. The demographics and socio-economic factors have also influenced the environment, though indirectly. Hence, with an aim to provide a comprehensive picture of India's environment pollution and protection scenario, the State section deals with the analysis of extent of environmental degradation in the country over the years; Pressure section analyses the factors responsible for such changes and the Response section deals with the interventions made by the government by way of policy reforms, institutional, legislative and regulatory mechanisms as well as the non-governmental initiatives, if any.
Broadly divided into three chapters - Air, Water and Land, these would almost completely cover the entire spectrum of environment pollution. Land degradation is observed to be largely a rural phenomenon whereas water and air pollution are more pervasive in urban areas. Municipal solid waste too has lately become a major environmental issue of concern especially in the urban areas.
