The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Act No. 29 of 1986 · 23rd May, 1986 · Full text with footnotes.
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:—
Chapter I — Preliminary
Chapter II — General Powers of the Central Government
Chapter III — Prevention, Control and Abatement of Environmental Pollution
- 7Persons carrying on industry, operation, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of environmental pollutants in excess of the standards.
- 8Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards.
- 9Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases.
- 10Powers of entry and inspection.
- 11Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith.
- 12Environmental laboratories.
- 13Government Analysts.
- 14Reports of Government Analysts.
- 14APenalty for contravention of section 7 or section 8.
- 14BPenalty for contravention of sections 9, 10 and 11.
- 15Penalty for contravention of provisions of Act, rules, orders and directions.
- 15APenalty for contravention by companies.
- 15BPenalty for contravention by Government Department.
- 15CAdjudicating officer.
- 15DAppeal.
- 15EPenalty amount to be credited to Environmental Protection Fund.
- 15FOffence for failure to pay penalty or additional penalty.
Chapter IIIA — Fund, Accounts and Audit
Chapter IV — Miscellaneous
- 18Protection of action taken in good faith.
- 19Cognizance of offences.
- 20Information, reports or returns.
- 21Members, officers and employees of the authority constituted under section 3 to be public servants.
- 22Bar of jurisdiction.
- 23Power to delegate.
- 24Effect of other laws.
- 25Power to make rules.
- 26Rules made under this Act to be laid before Parliament.
Source: India Code (indiacode.nic.in), Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (Act No. 29 of 1986), official text with the official footnotes. The arrangement of sections still lists section 17, but the body of the Act has no section 17 (sections 15 to 17 were substituted by Act 18 of 2023).
© 2026 NyayaSaral