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Act29
Enacted 1986

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

In force 37 sections Environment, Forest and Climate Change

An Act to provide for the protection and improvement of environment and for matters connected therewith.

Act 29 of 1986 Enacted 23 May 1986 In force 19 Nov 1986

Administered by. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · Other Acts of 1986

Preamble

THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986

ACT NO. 29 OF 1986

[23rd May, 1986.] An Act to provide for the protection and improvement of environment and for matters connected therewith.

WHEREAS decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of human environment;

AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary further to implement the decisions aforesaid in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property;

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:--

What this Act covers

Summary of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Objective To protect and improve the environment and address related matters.

Key Components

1. Definitions: - Environment: Encompasses water, air, land, and their inter-relationships.

• Environmental Pollutant and Pollution: Defined in relation to harmful substances and their presence.

• Hazardous Substance: Substances harmful to humans, living organisms, or the environment.

2. Central Government Powers: - Regulatory Measures: Setting standards, regulating industries.

• Investigations and Directions: Power to issue enforceable directions.

3. Pollution Control and Abatement: - Emission Regulations: For industries and substances.

• Inspections and Sampling: Authorized officers' powers.

4. Penalties and Fund: - Penalties for Contraventions: Including corporate and governmental entities.

• Environmental Protection Fund: Established for environmental protection activities.

5. Miscellaneous Provisions: - Good Faith Protection: For actions taken in good faith.

• Rule Making Power: With parliamentary oversight.

Sections

Type to filter. 37 sections.

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  2. 2Definitions
  3. 3Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment
  4. 4Appointment of officers and their powers and functions
  5. 5Power to give directions
  6. 5AAppeal to National Green Tribunal
  7. 6Rules to regulate environmental pollution
  8. 7Persons carrying on industry, operations, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of environmental pollutants in excess of the standards
  9. 8Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards
  10. 9Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases
  11. 10Powers of entry and inspection
  12. 11Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith
  13. 12Environmental laboratories
  14. 13Government Analysts
  15. 14Reports of Government Analysts
  16. 14APenalty for contravention of section 7 or section 8
  17. 14BPenalty for contravention of sections 9, 10 and 11
  18. 15Penalty for contravention of the provisions of the Act and the rules, orders and directions
  19. 15APenalty for contravention by companies
  20. 15BPenalty for contravention by Government Department
  21. 15CAdjudicating officer
  22. 15DAppeal
  23. 15EPenalty amount to be credited to Environmental Protection Fund
  24. 15FOffence for failure to pay penalty or additional penalty
  25. 16Environmental Protection Fund
  26. 16AAccounts and audit of Fund
  27. 16BAnnual report
  28. 17Offences by Government Departments
  29. 18Protection of action taken in good faith
  30. 19Cognizance of offences
  31. 20Information, reports or returns
  32. 21Members, officers and employees of the authority constituted under Section 3 to be public servants
  33. 22Bar of jurisdiction
  34. 23Power to delegate
  35. 24Effect of other laws
  36. 25Power to make rules
  37. 26Rules made under this Act to be laid before Parliament

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.

  • Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 20262026
  • Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 20262026
  • Regarding Chinese Manjha Ban2026
  • S.O. 109(E)Rajauli (Nawada) Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar2026
  • S.O. 119(E) Lippa Asrang WLS Himachal Pradesh2026
  • S.O. 119(E), Lippa-Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh2026
  • S.O. 238 (E) Kumbalgarh WLS Rajasthan2026
  • S.O. No. 401 Jaldapara National Park West Bengal2026
  • S.O. No. 84(E) Final Kaimur WLS Uttar Pradesh2026
  • Solid Waste Management Rules, 20262026
  • Amendment on Thermal Power Plants-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 446(E) dated 03.07.20252025
  • Amendment on Thermal Power Plants-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 465(E) dated 11.07.20252025
  • Amendment: Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (2 PAs) (Madhya Pradesh) S.O. No. 288(E)2025
  • Amendment: Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary (Haryana) S.O. No. 191(E)2025
  • Amendment: Bir Dosanjh Wildlife Sanctuary (Punjab) S.O. No. 150(E)2025
  • Amendment: Gangewadi Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary (Maharashtra) S.O. No. 324(E)2025
  • Amendment: Ghataprabha Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka) S.O. No. 491(E)2025
  • Amendment: Ghatigaon Hukna Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) S.O. No. 597(E)2025
  • Amendment: Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) S.O. No. 239(E)2025
  • Amendment: Khol Hi Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary (Haryana) S.O. No. 148(E)2025
  • Amendment: Kinnersani Wildlife Sanctuary (Telangana) S.O. No. 290(E)2025
  • Amendment: Kyongnosla Alpine Wildlife Sanctuary (Sikkim) S.O. No. 316(E)2025
  • Amendment: Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary (Sikkim) S.O. No. 445 (E)2025
  • Amendment: Melukote Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka) S.O. No. 115(E)2025
  • Amendment: Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary (Telangana) S.O. No. 443(E)2025
  • Amendment: Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (Sikkim) S.O. No. 100 (E)2025
  • Amendment: Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka) S.O. No. 556(E)2025
  • Amendment: Shingba Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary (Sikkim) S.O. No. 621 (E)2025
  • Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 20252025
  • Brick kiln amendment notification-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 70(E) dated 22.01.20252025
  • Clarification on calculating the validity of EC granted excluding the time taken with regard to proceedings before NCLT or Courts2025
  • Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 20252025
  • Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 20252025
  • Environmental Standards for pesticide industry-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 487(E) dated 22.07.20252025
  • G.S.R. 438(E) Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 20252025
  • Notification of Environmental Standards for Pulp & Paper Industry-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 612(E) dated 04.09.20252025
  • Notification on Environmental Standards for Caustic Soda Manufacturing Industries-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 194(E) dated 26.03.20252025
  • Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 20252025
  • Revision of Environmental Standards for Primary Aluminium Industries-Gazette Notification G.S.R. 482(E) dated 21.07.20252025
  • S. O. 1111(E) 10.03.2025 Final Notification declaring Eco Sensitive Zone around Bhoramdeo WLS, Chattisgarh2025

Related Acts

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. Every one of the 37 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.