Environmental impact assessment purpose – UGC NET Question

Environmental impact assessment is a formal procedure used to identify,predict and evaluate the likely environmental effects of proposed projects or policies before key decisions are taken. It aims to integrate environmental considerations into planning and avoid or mitigate negative impacts. The stem directly describes this process,so environmental impact assessment is the correct term.

Option A:
Cost benefit analysis compares monetary costs and benefits of a project and may or may not include environmental impacts in a systematic way. It is broader economically but not focused specifically on predicting environmental consequences as EIA does.

Option B:
Social audit examines how well an organisation or programme meets social objectives such as participation,transparency and service delivery. While important,it does not primarily address environmental prediction and evaluation.

Option C:
Green budgeting involves integrating environmental objectives and indicators into government budgeting processes. It is a fiscal planning tool rather than a project specific assessment of environmental consequences.

Option D:
Environmental impact assessment produces reports and recommendations that can shape project design,site selection and mitigation measures. This matches exactly the role set out in the question stem.