- Why in news
- On 19 September 2026, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the NGT's two-day international conference on 'The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics' in New Delhi and launched the NGT Mobile Application.
- What it is
- The National Green Tribunal is a specialised statutory body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. It hears civil cases on environmental protection, forest conservation and compensation for environmental damage. It was set up to give faster, expert redress than regular courts.
- Legal basis
- The NGT is a statutory body created under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, not a constitutional body.
- Principles applied
- The NGT applies the sustainable development, precautionary and polluter pays principles in its orders (NGT Act, 2010, Section 20).
- Appeals
- Appeals against NGT orders lie directly to the Supreme Court.
- Procedure
- The NGT is not bound by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. It follows principles of natural justice.
- Current Chairperson
- Justice Prakash Shrivastava is the Chairperson of the NGT.
- New app
- The PM launched the NGT Mobile Application at the inaugural session.
Don’t confuse with Statutory vs constitutional body: The NGT exists under an Act of Parliament. Bodies such as the Election Commission have their basis in the Constitution.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Gives specialised and faster environmental justice, and lightens the load on regular courts.
- Helps apply principles like polluter pays and precautionary principle in practice.
Problems
- Vacancies and limited benches can cause delays and pendency.
- Enforcement of its orders by State agencies is often weak.
Way forward
- Fill vacancies on time and add regional benches or resources.
- Strengthen compliance monitoring of NGT orders.
Put in your answer
Judicial principles: The Chief Justice noted that the Supreme Court has recognised the right to a pollution-free environment as a fundamental right. It also developed the precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, absolute liability and public trust doctrine.
Climate data point: Non-fossil sources account for 54.18 per cent of India's installed electricity capacity, passing the 2030 target of 50 per cent.
- 2025Mains GS2 · Q2Need for administrative tribunals over courts, and impact of 2021 tribunal rationalisation.
- 2019Mains GS2 · Q2How CAT, set up for service grievances, became an independent judicial authority.
- 2018Mains GS2 · Q12Whether tribunals curtail ordinary court jurisdiction; constitutional validity and competency of tribunals.
- 2012Prelims Q4Which constitutional provisions the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was enacted in consonance with.
- 2018Prelims Q4How NGT differs from CPCB: statutory Act versus executive order, environmental justice role.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: NGT is a lasting statutory body with environmental jurisprudence principles mentioned. Statutory bodies are only 7 of 327 Prelims questions; this release adds no new provisions.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 19 Sep, 14:09 IST · Release 294974
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.