MoEFCC notifies 86 White Category industrial sectors for simplified compliance

**On October 17, 2025, the MoEFCC substituted the schedules under the Air Act and Water Act to notify a revised list of 86 White Category industrial sectors, including certain Compressed Biogas plants. The change reduces the compliance burden for low-polluting Indian enterprises and lets pollution boards focus enforcement on higher-impact sectors. **

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified a revised White Category Sectors list on October 17, 2025, substituting the entire schedule under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The updated list now covers 86 industrial sectors. Certain Compressed Biogas plants using non-industrial feedstock without wastewater discharge that produce briquettes or pellets using electricity received a Pollution Index score of 20.0 and White category classification, while higher-impact CBG configurations scored 82.5, 79.0 or 60.0 in the Blue category.

Low-impact and micro-scale industrial operators across India are directly affected, including newly added sectors such as electrical and electronic item assembling, basic blending and packing of tea, and bicycle assembly. Specific capacity restrictions apply to oil mill ghani and small-scale food processing units, with agro-produce processing units included only if capacity stays below one tonne per day and they use clean fuels. Several entries are sub-sectors carved out from the existing Green Category, simplifying licensing for micro and small enterprises classified as virtually non-polluting.

Affected small enterprises should verify whether their activity now falls under the White Category and confirm the applicable capacity thresholds, feedstock and fuel conditions before claiming simplified compliance. CBG plant operators should determine their precise Pollution Index score based on feedstock, wastewater volume and by-product process to confirm category placement. Businesses should consult the notification finalized after Central Pollution Control Board consultation, and monitor state pollution control board implementation of the revised Air Act and Water Act schedules.

Key figure — White Category sectors notified: 86 (effective October 17, 2025)