The Union Government in New Delhi, on 29 January 2026, issued a notification streamlining air and water pollution control norms. The move aims to reduce approval delays, support industrial expansion, and simplify compliance procedures while ensuring environmental safeguards nationwide.

• Union Government streamlined air and water pollution consent rules to accelerate industrial growth across all states and Union Territories.
• Industries can operate without periodic licence renewals, reducing compliance burden and avoiding operational delays.
• Approval timeline for Red Category industries reduced from 120 days to 90 days, enabling faster commissioning.
• Consent to Operate will remain valid until explicitly cancelled, removing uncertainty from frequent renewals.
• Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) exempted from mandatory environmental clearance to encourage shared treatment infrastructure.
• Uniform Consent Guidelines under the Air Act 1981 and Water Act 1974 amended for consistent national implementation.
• Reforms aim to balance ease of doing business with environmental protection through clear, time-bound regulations.