MOEFCC notifies the Environmental (Protection) Fund Rules, 2026; lists down the manner of utilization of Environmental Protection Fund

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (“MOEFCC”) has notified the Environmental (Protection) Fund Rules, 2026 (“Rules”). The Rules lists down the purposes for which Environmental Protection Fund (“Fund”) will be utilized. The Rules are effective immediately.

Key Highlights:

1. The Rules lay down the purposes for utilization of the amount of the fund. Some of them are as follows:

1. installation, operation and maintenance of Environmental monitoring equipment for strengthening of environmental monitoring network;
2. research relating to Clean Technologies;
3. development of Information Technology enabled systems and related equipment;
4. conducting studies as directed by various Courts and Tribunals;
5. measures for prevention, control and mitigation of Environmental Pollution etc.

2. There are also provisions listing down the following amounts which will be credited to the Fund:

1. The amount of penalty imposed under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
2. Any other income, as per section 16(2) of the Environment (Protection) Act,1986 and approved by the Competent Authority, received in the fund.

3. The payment of penalty as imposed and any other amount will be made in the Fund through the online Bharatkosh portal of the Central Government by crediting into the Consolidated Fund of India.

4. The Fund will be monitored by a dedicated Project Management Unit that will be created by the Central Government and the State Government or Union territory Administration, as the case may be.

5. Central Pollution Control Board will be responsible for developing and maintaining an online portal for implementation of the Rules which will be an exclusive interface between different authorities and stakeholders

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change