EnvironmentAct No. 29 of 1986In Force

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

An umbrella legislation enacted in the wake of the Bhopal gas tragedy, empowering the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve the environment. It provides for setting environmental standards, restricting industrial operations, and imposing penalties for environmental damage. Major rules notified under the EPA include Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, Hazardous Waste Rules, and Solid Waste Management Rules.

Sections

Schedules

Ministry

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Last Amended

2023-10-01

Key Provisions

→Power of Central Government to set environmental quality standards

→Prohibition on emission or discharge above prescribed standards

→Environment Impact Assessment (EIA): mandatory for specified projects

→Powers of entry, inspection, and sampling by authorised officers

→Penalties: imprisonment up to 5 years and fine up to ₹1 lakh

→Cognizance of offences: complaint by Central Government or authorised person only

→Hazardous Substances: handling, labelling, and storage

→Citizen suits: 60-day notice before filing complaint against violators

Related Practice Areas

regulatory-compliance real-estate corporate-advisory

environmentpollutionEIAenvironmental compliancehazardous wasteEPA

Section-by-Section Reference

We are building detailed section-by-section breakdowns for Environment Act with plain English explanations. Subscribe to be notified when it is published.

Need Expert Advice on Environment Act?

Corpus Juris Legal advises Delhi NCR businesses and institutions on all matters under Environment Act. Partner-led attention from first advice to resolution.

Free Consultation

Indian government legislation is in the public domain under S.52(1)(q) of the Copyright Act, 1957. This reference is for educational purposes. Laws are amended frequently — verify the current text on the e-Gazette of India before relying on it for legal proceedings.