What is distinctive or indistinctive about environmental education in schools and other formal education settings in India? In essence, what is the "ness" of environmental education in the Indian education system? Our responses to these important questions form the focus of this paper, shedding light on the historical, present and future directions (or "ness") of environmental education in India. In effect, we attempt to capture the "ness" of environmental education by considering practice, policy and research developments throughout the various contemporary and traditional environmental education movements. In so doing, we identify a theory-practice gap and a dire lack of research as some of the pertinent issues facing environmental education in India. In conclusion we discuss possible future directions that environmental education might take in addressing these issues. (Contains 2 tables and 1 endnote.)