This paper attempts to revisit Jevons’ Paradox for the Indian economy by examining whether long-run improvements in environmental efficiency have translated into reductions in absolute environmental pressure. Using ecological footprint as a comprehensive measure of environmental impact, the study analyses three complementary indicators- total ecological footprint, ecological footprint per capita, and ecological footprint intensity- over the period 1961-2022. A phase-wise analytical framework is adopted to align ecological footprint dynamics with major policy and growth regimes in India’s development trajectory. The empirical analysis relies on trend assessment and compound annual growth rates to evaluate the interaction between efficiency gains, economic scale, and consumption patterns. The results reveal a persistent divergence between declining ecological footprint intensity and rising total and per capita ecological footprints across all phases. This pattern becomes increasingly pronounced during periods of rapid economic growth, providing robust descriptive evidence consistent with Jevons’ Paradox. The findings highlight the limitations of efficiency-centric environmental strategies and emphasizes the need for policies that explicitly address consumption dynamics and the scale of economic activity in rapidly growing economies.
