What is the first phase of the EIA process?

• A. Public consultation
• B. Monitoring and follow-up
• C. Planning and Scoping
• D. Impact assessment and analysis

Answer: (C)

Planning and Scoping is the first phase. This stage sets up the entire EIA by defining the project’s purpose and boundaries, identifying the key issues and potential impacts to focus on, and deciding how detailed the assessment needs to be. It also outlines the data needs, methods, and timeline, and often involves initial stakeholder engagement to understand what information and concerns matter most. Because it establishes what will be studied and how, everything that follows—impact analysis, mitigation, public involvement, and monitoring—builds on this foundation. The other activities happen later in the process: public consultation is typically integrated during scoping and throughout the process, while monitoring and follow-up and the actual impact assessment come after planning and scoping.