Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (No. 29 of 1986).

The Act consists of 26 articles divided into the following Chapters: Preliminary (I); General Powers of the Central Government (II); Prevention, Control and Abatement of Environmental Pollution (III); Miscellaneous (IV).The Act regulates the power of the Central Government to take measures to protect and improve the environment through means of planning, establishment of environmental quality standards, examination of manufacturing processes, collection and dissemination of information, preparation of manuals, etc. (sect. 3). Moreover, the Government has the power to issue directions, concerning, inter alia, the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process and the regulation of the supply of electricity or water or any other service. "Environment" includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property (sect. 2). Provisions of Chapter III mainly deal with testing, sampling, inspection, and other control measures by the Central Government.

Implemented by: Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989. (1989-12-05)
Implemented by: Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989. (2000-10-15)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests: Delegation of Powers to the Central Pollution Control Board. (2000-10-15)
Implemented by: Notifications of the Ministry of Environment and Forests regarding public hearings. (2000-10-15)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2009-07-09)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Daman and Diu Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2009-12-21)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2010-04-09)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2011-12-20)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Karnataka Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2009-09-07)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2012-05-01)
Implemented by: Notification S.O. 88(E) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Aquaculture Authority. (1999-08-03)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2012-01-18)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2012-03-19)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2008-07-21)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Lakshadweep Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2009-12-21)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2009-07-09)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Andaman and Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2008-08-11)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the National Ganga River Basin Authority. (2009-02-20)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring Mount Abu to be an Eco-sensitive Zone. (2009-06-25)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring the Mahableshwar Panchgani Region to be an Eco-sensitive Zone. (2001-01-17)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring the Dahanau Taluka, District Thane (Maharashtra) to be an Ecologically fragile area. (2001-06-20)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Taj Trapezium Zone Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority. (1998-05-13)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Uttar Pradesh State Ganga River Conservation Authority. (2009-09-30)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring the Sultanpur National Park to be an Eco-sensitive Zone. (2010-01-27)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary to be and Eco-sensitive Zone. (2012-05-31)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring Vansda National Park to be and Eco-sensitive Zone. (2012-05-31)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring Purna Wildlife Sanctuary to be and Eco-sensitive Zone. (2012-05-31)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve to be and Eco-sensitive Zone. (2012-10-04)
Implemented by: Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2012-03-06)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests declaring Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary to be an Eco-sensitive Zone. (2012-05-31)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Dahanau Taluka Environment Protection Authority. (2001-06-19)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the West Bengal State Ganga River Conservation Authority. (2009-09-30)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the National Coastal Zone Management Authority. (2012-04-16)
Implemented by: E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011. (2011-05-12)
Implemented by: Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986. (1996-04-02)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests regarding coastal zone regulation. (2001-10-03)
Implemented by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests concerning a ban on import of hazardous wastes. (2000-10-15)
Implemented by: Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (S.O.19(E). (2011-01-06)
Implemented by: Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. (2010-11)
Amended by: Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests: Matheran and surrounding region as an Eco-sensitive Zone. (2003-02-04)