India Ranks Second From Bottom in Environment Index
The assessment considered forests and biodiversity, climate, waste management and water resources
HYDERABAD: India has ranked 176th among 177 countries in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), placing it second from the bottom, according to the index released by Yale University’s Centre for Environmental Law and Policy.
India recorded an overall score of 22.46, well below the regional average of 31.81. Laos ranked last with 21.78, while Estonia topped the global table with 74.79. The EPI evaluates 177 countries using 47 indicators grouped into 12 categories covering environmental health, ecosystem vitality and climate change.
India’s poor position was attributed mainly to air pollution, coal dependence, forest loss, weak biodiversity protection and shortcomings in waste management. The country ranked 174th in environmental health and 171st in ecosystem vitality, though its climate change ranking was comparatively better at 130th.
The findings highlight the impact of polluted air, inadequate sewage and solid‑waste treatment, increasing pressure on forests and continued dependence on fossil fuels. The 2026 assessment also recorded concerns over tree‑cover loss in biodiversity areas.
Meanwhile, Telangana has emerged as one of the worst‑performing states in the agriculture‑and‑land category of the State of India’s Environment 2026: In Figures report released earlier by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth.
The report placed Goa, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura and Odisha among the better‑performing states in the environment category. Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab and West Bengal were among the weakest performers. The assessment considered forests and biodiversity, climate, waste management and water resources.
The findings suggested that Telangana’s environmental performance is uneven. Water‑quality monitoring and industrial sustainability initiatives are strengths, while sustainable land use, forest protection, waste management and pollution control remain major challenges.
They indicate that Telangana’s environmental issues are closely linked to land and agricultural sustainability. Weaknesses in farmer welfare, dependence on external farm inputs and concerns over sustainable land use have affected the state’s performance.
