The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 – All Sections

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

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has 37 sections in 4 chapters, amended 2 times. Each link below opens the official text of that section. Official PDF on India Code.

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 PDF

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Official copy of the Act from India Code (Legislative Department, Government of India).

All sections of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Chapter I: PRELIMINARY

Section 1 – Short title, extent and commencement
Section 2 – Definitions

Chapter II: GENERAL POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Section 3 – Power of Central Government to take measures to protect and improve environment
Section 4 – Appointment of officers and their powers and functions
Section 5 – Power to give directions
Section 5A – Appeal to National Green Tribunal
Section 6 – Rules to regulate environmental pollution

Chapter III: PREVENTION, CONTROL AND ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUCTION

Section 7 – Persons carrying on industry, operations, etc., not to allow emission or discharge of environmental pollutants in excess of the standards
Section 8 – Persons handling hazardous substances to comply with procedural safeguards
Section 9 – Furnishing of information to authorities and agencies in certain cases
Section 10 – Powers of entry and inspection
Section 11 – Power to take sample and procedure to be followed in connection therewith
Section 12 – Environmental laboratories
Section 13 – Government Analysts
Section 14 – Reports of Government Analysts
Section 14A – Penalty for contravention of section 7 or section 8
Section 14B – Penalty for contravention of sections 9, 10 and 11
Section 15 – Penalty for contravention of the provisions of the Act and the rules, orders and directions
Section 15A – Penalty for contravention by companies
Section 15B – Penalty for contravention by Government Department
Section 15C – Adjudicating officer
Section 15D – Appeal
Section 15E – Penalty amount to be credited to Environmental Protection Fund
Section 15F – Offence for failure to pay penalty or additional penalty
Section 16 – Environmental Protection Fund
Section 16A – Accounts and audit of Fund
Section 16B – Annual report
Section 17 – Offences by Government Departments

Chapter IV: MISCELLANEOUS

Section 18 – Protection of action taken in good faith
Section 19 – Cognizance of offences
Section 20 – Information, reports or returns
Section 21 – Members, officers and employees of the authority constituted under Section 3 to be public servants
Section 22 – Bar of jurisdiction
Section 23 – Power to delegate
Section 24 – Effect of other laws
Section 25 – Power to make rules
Section 26 – Rules made under this Act to be laid before Parliament