Central-Pollution-Control-Board-UPSC Notes
Central-Pollution-Control-Board-UPSC Notes
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is an organisation under the Government of India
responsible for Air and Water Quality Monitoring Services and any other pollution-related issues. Climate
change is an important topic for Current Affairs and Environment & Ecology for UPSC 2020.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is one of the important government bodies. It can be related to
Polity and Governance from General Studies paper-2 and Environment & Ecology from General Studies
paper-3 of the UPSC Syllabus.
What is CPCB?
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organisation under the Ministry
of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and later entrusted
with functions and responsibilities under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
o Water Pollution:
Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of water bodies. Water pollution
is caused when water bodies such as rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater, and aquifers
get contaminated with industrial and agricultural effluents.
o Air Pollution:
Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the
contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects plants, animals,
and humans drastically. Click here to read about Air Pollutants.
It coordinates the activities of the State Pollution Control Boards by providing technical assistance
and guidance and also resolves disputes among them.
CPCB is led by its Chairman followed by the Member Secretary, and other members. The CPCB performs
its various functions through the following nine major project budget heads.
To read: Gist of Yojana November 2019 Issue: Sanitation for a Healthy Society, Click here
Transport Noise
Neighbourhood Noise
Industrial Noise