The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

In force 63 sections Environment, Forest and Climate Change

An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith.

Act 14 of 1981 Enacted 29 Mar 1981 In force 16 May 1981

Administered by. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Other Acts of 1981

Preamble

THE AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1981
ACT NO. 14 OF 1981
[29th March, 1981.] An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, for the establishment, with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected therewith.
WHEREAS decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the preservation of the natural resources of the earth which, among other things, include the preservation of the quality of air and control of air pollution;
AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to implement the decisions aforesaid in so far as they relate to the preservation of the quality of air and control of air pollution;
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:--

What this Act covers

Summary of The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

Objective

Prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution

Key Components

1. Powers and Responsibilities

*Air Pollution Control Areas: Declaration by State Governments in consultation with SPCBs *Emission Regulation:

• Control over automobile and industrial emissions

• Specification of approved fuels and appliances *Consent for Operations: Mandatory in declared areas with pollution control conditions

2. Enforcement and Compliance

*Directions and Orders: Issuance by Boards for compliance *Legal Actions:

• Suing for non-compliance

• Court applications for restraining orders against polluters *Penalties and Recovery: Non-compliance penalties, including expense recovery as arrears

Sections

Type to filter. 63 sections.

Schedules

This Act has 1 schedule. A schedule is published as a document of its own; the text is reproduced on its page where it has been read, and the document is mirrored here either way.

THE SCHEDULE19 words

Rules made under this Act

40 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.

G.S.R. 62(E). In exercise of the powers conferred by section 21A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981), the Central Government, after consultation with Central Pollution Control Board, hereby makes the following amendments in the guidelines of the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R. 84(E) , dated 29th January, 2025, (hereinafter referred to as the said guidelines), namely:- 1. Short title and commencement. (1) These guidelines may be called the Control of Air Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Amendment Guidelines, 20262026
G.S.R. 512(E).amendments in the notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published in the gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R 702 (E), dated 12th November, 20242025
G.S.R. 761(E). In exercise of the powers conferred by proviso to sub-section (1) of section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981), the Central Government, in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board, hereby makes the further amendments to the notification of the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide number G.S.R 702 (E), dated 12th November, 20242025
G.S.R. 84(E) The Control of Air Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025.2025
G.S.R. 85(E). The Control of Water Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025.2025
The Rajasthan Air (Amendment) Rules 2016 to 2025-White Category2025
Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition, Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning) Amendment Rules, 20242024
Exemptions to Industrial Plants from the application of Section 21(1) of the Act2024
G.S.R. 702(E) In exercise of power conferred by the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981), the Central Government, in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board, exempts various categories2024
G.S.R. 81(E) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981),2024
Public Liability Insurance (Amendment) Rules, 20242024
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Manner of Holding Inquiry and Imposition of Penalty) Rules, 2024.2024
G.S.R. 757(E) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (14 of 1981)2023
The Rajasthan Air (Amemdment) Rules 2023 - Related to Green Rating2023
The Rajasthan Air (Amendment) Rules 20232023
Appointment of Sh. Narender Hooda, Scientist B as Board Analyst for the purpose of analysis of samples of Air Pollution/Emission2022
G.S.R. 397(E).—G.S.R. 45(E), dated the 19" January, 2018, wherein sale of petcoke are made only to the industrial units mentioned in the list annexed to the said notification as Annexure and any change in the said list shall be made on the recommendation of the concerned State Government and with the approval of the Central Pollution Control Board;2019
G.S.R. 49 (E).—In the preamble the word “Man-Made Fibre” appearing after “G.S.R. 1241(E).-Whereas, a draft notification, for” and before “was published in the Gazette notification, dated 28" December, 2018” shall be substituted with “Paint Industry”.2019
G.S.R. 651(E).—sub-rule (2) of rule 13 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, is hereby published for information of all persons including organisations or industries likely to be affected thereby2019
G.S.R. 835(E).—Environment (Protection) Rules, 19862019
G.S.R. 906(E).—the industrial units mentioned in the list annexed to the said notification as Annexure and any change in the said list shall be made on the recommendation of the concerned State Government and with the approval of the Central Pollution Control Board;2019
S.0. 1651(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986),2019
S.0. 2522(E).— Notification of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986),InGazette of India, Extraordinary vide number S.0. 5120(E), dated the 3rd October, 2018,2019
S.0. 3023(E).—protecting and improving the quality of environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution, there is a need to take measures relating to certifying instruments and equipments for monitoring air quality.2019
S.0. 4278(E).-powers conferred by section 3 of the Environment (protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986),22™ August, 2019, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.0. 3023(E), dated the 20m August, 2019,2019
G.S.R. 1173(E).—exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) is hereby published, as required under sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986,2018
G.S.R. 263(E).—powers conferred by sections 6 and 25 of Environment Protection Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with sub rule (5) of rule 4 of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Environment Protection Rules, 1986,2018
G.S.R. 492(E).—ational Capital Region (NCR) States, there is a need to take measures relating to sale and use of pet coke in the NCR States;2018
G.S.R. 495(E).—sale and use of petcoke in lime kilns in the National Capital Region (NCR) States was notified vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change number G.S.R 45(E), dated the 19 January, 2018,2018
G.S.R. 94(E).—amend the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986,2018
G.S.R.233.(E).-powers conferred by sections 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 is hereby published,2018
G.S.R.45(E).—Whereas with a view to protecting and improving the quality of environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) States,2018
Gazette notification S.O. 6314(E)2018
Notification2018
S.0. 3243(E).—Notification of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986),2018
S.0. 5120(E).—Whereas in pursuance of the order dated the 7t January, 1998 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No. 13029 of 1985, the Central Government constituted the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority,2018
S.0. 5120(E).—order dated the 7t January, 1998 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (C) No. 13029 of 1985, the Central Government constituted the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (hereafter in this notification referred to as the ‘EPCA’), vide notification of the Government of India,2018
S.0. 6314(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986),2018
S.0. 857(E).—powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 12 and section 13 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), read with rule 10 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986,2018
FAC Composition2017

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The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972166 sections
The Public Liability Insurance Act, 199128 sections
The Biological Diversity Act, 200272 sections
The National Green Tribunal Act, 201039 sections
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 201633 sections

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. 61 of 63 sections have their own page; for the remaining 2 the source gave us a heading and no text, so their pages carry the heading and say so rather than showing words we do not hold. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.