Announcements & other updates
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held review meetings with the governments of Punjab and Haryana on 22 October 2026 to address air pollution. The Commission focused on preventing paddy stubble burning through the use of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery and monitoring via drones and satellite alerts.
- Who it affects
- State Departments, District Administrations and enforcement agencies
- When · Where
- On 22 October 2026: Review meetings with Punjab and Haryana governments · Punjab and Haryana
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 22 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 22 October 2026 that the government is using regulatory reforms and digital systems to promote a circular economy. Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav stated that sector-specific rules for nine waste streams have been introduced, with nearly 499.60 lakh metric tonnes of waste processed to date.
- Who it affects
- producers, importers and brand owners
- When · Where
- On 22 October 2026: Circular Economy Conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) · Across India
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 22 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 21 October 2026 that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held a review meeting with Delhi Government agencies. The Commission directed the MCD to improve dust mitigation on roads and open areas, and the DPCC to coordinate efforts across agencies.
- Who it affects
- District Magistrates of GNCTD
- When · Where
- On 21 October 2026: Review meeting on dust pollution (+1 more) · respective jurisdictions in Delhi
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 21 October 2026 that the CAQM Sub-Committee has invoked Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the entire NCR with immediate effect. This decision follows a rise in the daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) to 245, placing it in the 'Poor' category.
- Who it affects
- agencies, industries, and vehicle owners
- When · Where
- From 21 October 2026: invocation of Stage-I of GRAP · entire NCR
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 21 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 17 October 2026 that the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 1.19 crore to 29 State Biodiversity Boards and one Union Territory Biodiversity Council. These funds, collected from companies using agricultural biological resources like maize, rice, pearl millet, and cotton, are intended for biodiversity conservation and community welfare.
- Who it affects
- State Biodiversity Boards and the Union Territory Biodiversity Council
- When · Where
- On 19 October 2026: seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 17 October 2026
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 17 October 2026 that a high-level team from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) visited Firozpur and Faridkot districts. The team reviewed the use of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery and the monitoring of hotspot villages to prevent paddy stubble burning during the current harvesting season.
- Who it affects
- district administrations
- When · Where
- On 17 October 2026: CAQM team visit to Firozpur and Faridkot · Firozpur and Faridkot
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 17 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 17 October 2026 that Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav interacted with start-ups to find affordable and scalable technology to fight air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The initiative aims to use artificial intelligence, drones, and sensors for real-time monitoring of emissions, traffic congestion, and crop-residue burning.
- Who it affects
- technology innovators and policymakers
- When · Where
- On 17 October 2026: interaction between Union Environment Minister and start-ups · Delhi-NCR
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 17 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
- Our check
- Drafted from the release text and checked by software. Not yet reviewed by a person.
Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 15 October 2026 that India now has 103 Ramsar sites. This follows the designation of Sukhna Wetland in Chandigarh and Sauj Jheel in Uttar Pradesh as the latest additions to the list.
- Who it affects
- Ramsar sites in India
- When · Where
- On 15 October 2026: announcement of new Ramsar sites · Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 15 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
- Our check
- Drafted from the release text and checked by software. Not yet reviewed by a person.
Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 15 October 2026 that Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav chaired the 27th meeting of the G.B. Pant Society of Himalayan Environment and Development. During the event, four publications were released covering the Gangotri Glaciated System, Ramsar wetlands, e-PBR governance, and biodiversity conservation in the Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive Zone.
- Who it affects
- Indian Himalayan Region
- When · Where
- Until 1 January 2047: balancing ecological security with sustainable socio-economic growth in the Indian Himalayan region (+1 more) · Indian Himalayan Region
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 15 October 2026
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- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 13 October 2026 that Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav and Delhi CM Smt. Rekha Gupta reviewed pollution mitigation at the Anand Vihar hotspot. They inaugurated 13 new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), increasing Delhi's network to 60 stations, and flagged off 150 electric buses.
- Who it affects
- residents of Delhi
- When · Where
- On 13 October 2026: Review of air pollution mitigation and inauguration of EV stations, buses, and monitoring stations · Delhi
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 13 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
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Announcements & other updates
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced on 10 October 2026 that the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed Rs 2.02 crore to 27 State Biodiversity Boards and 3 Union Territory Biodiversity Councils. These funds, collected as Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) contributions from seed-sector companies for using biological resources like rice and tomato, are intended to support biodiversity conservation and local community livelihoods.
- Who it affects
- State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils
- When · Where
- On 19 October 2026: seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) · Several states
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 10 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
- Our check
- Drafted from the release text and checked by software. Not yet reviewed by a person.
Announcements & other updates
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) conducted field visits and a review meeting on 10 October 2026 in Amritsar and Tarn Taran to assess measures against paddy stubble burning. The commission evaluated the deployment of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery and the use of balers to move straw to industries with boilers.
- Who it affects
- Flying Squads
- When · Where
- From 1 October 2026: deployment of Flying Squads (+3 more) · 18 districts across Punjab
Source details
- Issued by
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Published on
- Press Information Bureau, pib.gov.in (Press releases)
- File hosted on
- www.pib.gov.in, the government's file server for pib.gov.in
- Dated
- 10 October 2026
- The link opens
- The original press release on the government website, in a new tab, unchanged.
- Our check
- Drafted from the release text and checked by software. Not yet reviewed by a person.