The Lok Sabha on December 05, 2025, introduced the Environment (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2025 to further amend the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The following amendments have been sated:
In section 2 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely,–
“(a) “environment” includes the natural heritage including water, air, land, vegetation, bio-diversity and the inter-relationship which exists between the water, air and land vegetation and humans, other living creatures, plants and micro-organisms and the natural heritage and property;”.
•In section 3 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2), after clause (xiii), the following clause shall be inserted, namely,–
“(xiiia) compulsory installation of real time emission monitoring system by all the “red” and “orange” category industries; (xiiib) making data of real time emission by the industries under clause (xiiia) accessible to the general public or Environment Information System (ENVIS); and (xiiic) recognition of drones, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information System (GIS), Internet of Things (IoTs) based technologies as legal evidence in reporting of cause related to environmental pollution.”.
•After section 3 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely,–
“3A. The Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare its National Carbon Budget indicating the net amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emitted by human activities per annum.”.
•In section 15 of the principal Act,–
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words, “or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both, and in case of the failure or contravention continues, with additional fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day”, the words, “or with fine which may extend to fifty lakh rupees, or with both and if failure or contravention continues, for a further fine which may extend to one lakh rupees for every day”, shall be substituted; and
(b) in sub-section (2), for the words, “shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years”, the words, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with fine which may extend upto rupees two crores or with both”, shall be substituted.
It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint.
[Bill No. 94 of 2025]
