National Green Tribunal

What is the National Green Tribunal?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized judicial body established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests, and enforcement of environmental legal rights. India became the third country in the world (after Australia and New Zealand) to set up a dedicated environmental tribunal.

The NGT exercises jurisdiction over civil cases involving substantial questions relating to the environment under seven statutes listed in Schedule I of the Act: the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Water Cess Act, 1977; the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Notably, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 are excluded from its jurisdiction.

The NGT is guided by principles of natural justice rather than the Civil Procedure Code, and is mandated to dispose of cases within 6 months of filing. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, and its orders are appealable to the Supreme Court within 90 days.

Key Features

Current Status / Latest Data

• Justice Prakash Shrivastava is the current Chairperson of the NGT (appointed 21 August 2023).
• In 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the NGT cannot abdicate its adjudicatory function to expert committees — the final decision must rest with the Tribunal itself (Indian Oil Corporation Ltd v Deepak Sharma, 2026 INSC 278).
• The NGT continues active case management across all five benches, with annual data published on its official website.
• Key recent areas of NGT intervention include air pollution in Delhi-NCR, solid waste management compliance, river pollution (Ganga, Yamuna), illegal mining, and wetland encroachment.
• The NGT has faced criticism for vacancies in judicial and expert member positions, which hamper its functioning at zonal benches.
• Despite jurisdictional limitations, the NGT has been praised globally as a model for environmental justice and specialized environmental adjudication.
• The NGT has imposed heavy fines and penalties on municipal bodies for solid waste management failures and on industries for pollution violations.
• The Tribunal's orders on Ganga rejuvenation, Delhi air pollution, and wetland protection have had significant policy impact.
• NGT has the power to award compensation and restitution for environmental damage, including directing restoration of ecosystems at the polluter's cost.
• The Tribunal applies the precautionary principle and polluter pays principle as guiding doctrines in its adjudication.
• The NGT has been instrumental in enforcing environmental compensation regimes for industrial pollution and unauthorized construction in eco-sensitive areas.

UPSC Exam Corner

Prelims: Key Facts

• Established under NGT Act 2010; India is the 3rd country with such a tribunal
• Jurisdiction over 7 environmental laws in Schedule I
• 7 laws: Water Act 1974, Water Cess Act 1977, Forest Conservation Act 1980, Air Act 1981, EPA 1986, Public Liability Insurance Act 1991, Biological Diversity Act 2002
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Forest Rights Act 2006 are EXCLUDED
• Principal bench: New Delhi; 4 zonal benches (Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai)
• Disposal mandate: within 6 months of filing
• Appeals go to Supreme Court (within 90 days)
• Guided by natural justice, not bound by CPC
• Chairperson must be a retired SC/HC judge
• Current Chairperson: Justice Prakash Shrivastava (since August 2023)

Mains: Probable Themes

1. Role of the NGT in environmental governance — successes and limitations
2. Exclusion of Wildlife Protection Act from NGT jurisdiction — implications for wildlife justice
3. NGT vs High Courts — overlapping environmental jurisdiction and institutional friction
4. Judicial activism through NGT — balancing environmental protection with development imperatives
5. Vacancy crisis and institutional challenges facing the NGT

Why It Matters for UPSC

The NGT is a high-priority topic for UPSC, tested in both Prelims (establishment, jurisdiction, composition) and Mains (environmental governance, judicial activism, institutional effectiveness). Questions frequently test the seven laws under NGT jurisdiction, the exclusion of the Wildlife Protection Act, and the role of the NGT in landmark environmental cases. The tribunal's relationship with High Courts and the Supreme Court is a recurring analytical theme.

Sources: NGT Official Website, India Code — NGT Act 2010, Verdictum — SC on NGT 2026, Drishti IAS — NGT