Environment Audits Set to Go Pro
New Delhi: India has introduced the Environment Audit Rules, 2025, a set of regulations aimed at improving how companies and projects follow environmental laws, ensuring better protection for the air, water, and land. Notified on August 29, 2025, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), these audit rules create a system of certified auditors to check compliance, addressing gaps in monitoring by government agencies and promoting sustainable development while making it easier for businesses to operate.
The “Environment Audit Rules, 2025” are regulations under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, that establish certified professionals to conduct independent checks on projects and activities for environmental compliance. For the common reader, this means trained auditors will inspect factories, construction sites, or any operation that could harm the environment, ensuring they meet standards for pollution control, waste management, and resource use. The rules aim to prevent environmental damage while supporting business growth, as explained by MoEFCC officials. Challenges include ensuring auditors remain unbiased and handling the costs for smaller businesses, but the system could lead to cleaner rivers, fresher air, and healthier communities.
The rules require the creation of an Environment Audit Designated Agency (EADA), notified by the Central Government, to certify and register auditors. Certification can happen through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced professionals or a National Certification Examination (NCE). Registered Environment Auditors (REAs) must follow a code of conduct, avoiding conflicts of interest, and are assigned randomly to projects to ensure fairness.
REAs’ responsibilities include auditing projects under laws like the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This covers sampling emissions, effluents, and wastes, reporting violations, calculating environmental compensation, and verifying self-compliance reports. Auditors can enter premises, collect samples, and access documents for assigned tasks.
A Steering Committee, chaired by an Additional Secretary from MoEFCC, will oversee implementation, with members from relevant divisions and regulatory bodies like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The committee monitors progress, addresses challenges, and suggests reforms.
The rules emphasise transparency: EADA maintains a public online register of auditors, publishes annual reports, and issues guidelines for operations. Violations of the code of conduct, such as misrepresentation or unauthorised disclosure, lead to debarment, suspension, or revocation of certification.
Expected outcomes include strengthening environmental compliance through independent verification, aligning with frameworks like the Green Credit Rules, 2023, and Ecomark Certification. It supports Extended Producer Responsibility under waste rules and enhances regulatory capacity by sharing the burden with certified auditors. For businesses, it promotes ease of doing business by providing credible compliance checks, potentially reducing delays. For the environment, regular audits could prevent pollution and encourage sustainable practices, contributing to India’s climate goals.
However, the rules’ notification on August 29, 2025, and specific outcomes like improved governance, highlight the need for effective rollout to realise these benefits in practice.
– global bihari bureau
