The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, celebrated World Environment Day 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 5^th June 2025, with the slogan ‘One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution’. As part of one month long pre-campaign activities undertaken before World Environment Day 2025, around 69,000 events were organized in which around 21 lakh people participated across the country.

The main event for World Environment Day 2025 was celebrated on 5^th June 2025 by the Ministry along with Government of NCT of Delhi. The event saw the participation of members of industry, civil society, students and Government officers from States and concerned central Ministries, following the ‘Whole of Government’ and 'Whole of Society’ approach.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led a special tree plantation initiative with plantation of Banyan sapling under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative on the occasion of World Environment Day (5^th June, 2025) affirming India’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The sapling was planted as a part of the ‘Aravalli Green Wall’ project, which aims to reforest the 700 kilometres of the Aravalli range. He has also flagged off 200 Electric Buses under Delhi Government's sustainable transport initiative, promoting clean urban mobility and symbolizing the nation’s collective responsibility towards ecological balance.

The National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign (NPPRC) which has a series of planned activities was also launched for the period 5th June to 31^st October 2025. The Campaign includes activities to reduce plastic pollution in Tiger Reserves and urban and rural areas under ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ programme. Separate focus will be given in reducing use of avoidable single use plastics in government offices especially during Special Campaign 5.0. A Hackathon on eco-alternatives to single-use plastics and engaging youth through creative competition such as poem writing, slogan writing and skits (Nukkad Nataks) on the theme of Ending Plastic Pollution is part of the campaign.

As per Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, notified on 14^th March, 2024, every urban local body and Panchayat at District Level shall prepare and submit annual report in the prescribed form online by the 30^th June every year to the Urban Development Department and to Rural Development Department, respectively, and also to the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee concerned. The mandatory online submission of annual reports is a transformational step in moving away from multi step physical reporting. The National Plastic Waste Reporting Portal was launched on 5^th June 2025.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12^th August 2021, prohibiting identified Single Use Plastic (SUP) items, which have low utility and high littering potential, were prohibited with effect from 1 July 2022. Regular enforcement drives have been undertaken to enforce ban on identified single use plastic items by CPCB/SPCB/PCC along with local authorities across the country. As per details provided by SPCB/PCC and details available at SUP compliance monitoring portal, a total of 8,61,740 inspections have been conducted and 1985 tonnes of banned single use plastic items have been seized and a total of Rs. 19.82 crores of fine has been levied.

The ban on identified single use plastic items has triggered development of innovative eco-alternatives. Central Government, State Governments and local authorities have taken steps on moving towards eco-friendly alternatives. Based upon the information provided by State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Central Pollution Control Board have prepared a “Compendium of Manufacturers / Sellers of Eco-alternatives to Banned Single Use Plastic Items”, which launched on World Environment Day, 2025. The compendium provides details of nearly 1000 units spread across the country. In keeping with the development of eco-alternatives, Bureau of Indian Standard had earlier notified Indian Standard IS 18267 for Food Serving Utensil Made from Agri By-Products.

As per Centralized EPR portal on plastic packaging around 51000 Producers, Importers and Brandowners and around 2600 Plastic Waste Processors are registered on the portal. Since the notification of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines on plastic packaging on 16^th February 2022, nearly 157 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste has been recycled.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules have a separate provision for imposition of Environmental Compensation based upon polluter pays principle, on persons who are not complying with the provisions of these rules as per Guidelines notified by Central Pollution Control Board. The CPCB has issued the revised Guidelines for Assessment of Environmental Compensation in August 2024. Actions have also been taken by concerned authorities in States/UTs on the deviations, which include seizure of banned single use plastic items and levy of penalty, as per law.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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VM/SK

(Rajya Sabha US Q1333)

(Release ID: 2150783)