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Centre Revises ‘White Category’ Industries List under Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (G.S.R. 761(E))

Overview

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a fresh notification dated 17 October 2025 — G.S.R. 761(E) — under the proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The notification, published in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), substitutes the previous schedule issued under G.S.R. 702(E) dated 12 November 2024. The new notification redefines the list of ‘White Category’ industries — industrial sectors considered non-polluting or having minimal environmental impact.

Purpose and Background

The amendment aims to streamline environmental compliance by clearly identifying industries that do not generate significant emissions or effluents. Such sectors typically involve dry mechanical operations, physical mixing, assembling, or renewable energy production. These industries will require minimal oversight and are generally exempted from complex consent procedures under pollution control laws.

Key Highlights of the New Schedule

Expanded Coverage of Non-Polluting Sectors

The revised Schedule lists 86 specific industrial sectors that qualify as White Category. These include small-scale assembly and fabrication units, renewable energy systems, dry-process manufacturing, and service activities that do not involve emissions, effluent discharge, or the use of hazardous substances.

  • Assembly of bicycles, air coolers, conditioners, and small non-motorized vehicles.
  • Bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide manufacturing without inorganic chemicals.
  • Compressed Biogas plants using organic feedstock such as municipal solid waste, crop residue, or animal waste, producing organic manure or briquettes without wastewater discharge.
  • Hydrogen production through electrolysis using renewable energy under BOO/BOOT/BOT models.
  • Compressed and medical oxygen production, solar power generation, and solar module assembly.
  • Garment manufacturing, jute products, handmade soap, chalk making, bakery units (up to 1 TPD capacity) using only electricity or gaseous fuel.
  • Digital printing (less than 5 machines), distilled water production (below 1 KLD capacity), small hotels or restaurants without accommodation facilities.
  • Manufacture of sanitary napkins, stationery items, and small-scale packaging or assembly processes without effluent generation.

Regulatory Implications

The classification of these units as ‘White Category’ simplifies regulatory requirements. These industries will generally not require consent under Section 21 of the Air Act, provided they adhere to prescribed standards and local environmental norms. The move aligns with the government’s commitment to promote ease of doing business for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in non-polluting sectors.

Official Context and Implementation

The notification clearly states that this amendment replaces the earlier schedule notified under G.S.R. 702(E) dated 12 November 2024, which was last amended through G.S.R. 512(E) dated 28 July 2025. The revised list will guide pollution control boards and industries across India in streamlining registration and compliance processes.

The notification is signed by Neelesh Kumar Sah, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, and comes into effect immediately upon its publication in the Gazette of India.

Complete Schedule: White Category Industries

The detailed Schedule included in the notification lists all 86 sectors under the White Category. For reference, the complete list includes activities such as bicycle assembly, coir processing, detergent powder making, solar energy generation, bakery units, herbal powder products, and sports goods manufacturing (without wood seasoning).

For complete sector-wise list, refer to Gazette Notification G.S.R. 761(E), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, dated 17 October 2025.

Significance and Analysis

This reclassification marks a major step toward rationalizing environmental regulations for clean and green industries. By broadening the scope of White Category sectors to include renewable energy and small-scale dry-process operations, the government reinforces its focus on sustainable industrialization, simplified compliance, and pollution-free production ecosystems. The notification is also expected to help local entrepreneurs and MSMEs operate with greater regulatory clarity and confidence.

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — Notification G.S.R. 761(E), dated 17 October 2025.

 

Schedule: List of White Category Sectors

  1. Assembly of Bicycles, Baby carriages and other small non motorizing vehicles
  2. Bailing (hydraulic press) of waste papers
  3. Bio fertilizer and bio-pesticides without using inorganic chemicals
  4. Block making of printing without foundry (excluding wooden block making)
  5. Flavoured Betel nuts production/grinding (completely dry mechanical operations)
  6. Manufacturing of shoe Brush and Wire Brush
  7. Coir fibre or pith processing and/or Manufacturing of coir products from coir (only dry process)
  8. Assembly of air coolers or conditioners, repairing and servicing
  9. Cardboard or corrugated box and paper products (excluding paper or pulp manufacturing and without using boilers)
  10. Chalk making from plaster of Paris (only casting without boilers etc., sun drying or electrical oven)
  11. Standalone manufacturing of Concrete admixtures up to 1000 MT per Month capacity by physical mixing (without boiler and reactor and no generation of wastewater)
  12. Used cooking oil collection centres
  13. Soap manufacturing (handmade-without steam boiling or boiler)
  14. Diesel pump repairing and servicing (complete mechanical dry process)
  15. Electric lamp (bulb) and Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) manufacturing by assembling only
  16. Electrical and electronic item assembling (completely dry process)
  17. Engineering and fabrication units dry process without any heat treatment/metal surface finishing operations or painting
  18. Carpentry and wooden furniture manufacturing without spray painting (excluding saw mill with electrical machines)
  19. Steel furniture without spray painting
  20. Compressed Bio Gas plants based on feedstock like Municipal Solid Waste, agro-residue, energy crops, grass or weeds, animal waste, press mud etc., producing by-products (Fermented Organic Manure or Briquettes) using electricity
  21. Hydrogen production through electrolysis (using renewable energy) on BOO/BOOT/BOT mode located in end user premises
  22. Compressed oxygen Gas from crude liquid oxygen (without use of solvents, using pressure & temperature only)
  23. Glass ampules and vials making from glass tubes
  24. Glass nut decorticating
  25. Medical Oxygen
  26. Handloom/carpet weaving (without dyeing and bleaching operation)
  27. Manufacturing of scientific and mathematical instruments
  28. Manufacturing of products from jute (without dyeing or boiler)
  29. Leather footwear and leather products (excluding tanning and hide processing)
  30. Leather cutting and stitching (more than 10 machines and using motor)
  31. Organic Manure (physical mixing)
  32. Packing of powdered Milk
  33. Cold rolling mill (without heat treatment)
  34. Wire drawing and wire netting (without pickling and heat treatment)
  35. Manufacturing of metal caps, containers, etc.
  36. Organic and inorganic nutrients by physical mixing (without boiler and reactor)
  37. Biscuits trays, etc. from rolled PVC sheet (using automatic vacuum forming machines)
  38. Fountain Pen manufacturing by assembling only
  39. Glass Putty and sealant (by mixing with machine only)
  40. Manufacturing of Paper Pins, U-clips, etc.
  41. Solar power generation through photovoltaic cells and wind power
  42. Repairing of electric motors and generators (dry mechanical process)
  43. Manufacturing of plastic or cotton rope
  44. Type Retreaders
  45. Collection Centres (Without depollution, dismantling, and shredding)
  46. Surgical and medical products assembled only (without effluent-generating process)
  47. Manufacturing of Solar module or non-conventional energy apparatus
  48. Digital thermometer manufacturing
  49. Blending and packing of tea
  50. Garment and apparel manufacturing industry (dry process without boiler)
  51. Cotton and woollen Hosiery making (dry process without dyeing or washing)
  52. Railway sidings only for defence purpose
  53. Household bio-digesters/gobar-gas plants based on biodegradable wastes
  54. Mini Hydel power plants (Capacity – 25 MW)
  55. Agro-produce processing units (0.5–1 TPD) using cleaner fuels, electricity/gaseous fuel
  56. Assembling units and mechanical workshops (without heat or surface treatment or spray painting)
  57. Bakery, confectionery, and sweets production units (0.5–1 TPD) using cleaner fuels with permission to discharge into municipal sewerage system
  58. Cleaning and other brushes manufacturing through dry mechanical process (without moulding and effluent/emission generation)
  59. Cattle/fish/poultry feed pellet making (only palletisation unit without boiler and effluent generation)
  60. Cement products (without using Asbestos) like pipe, pillar, blocks, tiles, etc. (<1 TPD)
  61. Decoration of ceramic cups & plates by electric furnace
  62. Detergent powder manufacturing (handmade – without steam boiling or boiler)
  63. Digital Printing on flex/vinyl/PVC etc. (<5 machines)
  64. Distilled water using only electricity (<1 KLD capacity)
  65. DPC (paper coating) of copper and aluminium wire (dry process only)
  66. Food and food processing unit (0.5–1 TPD) using cleaner fuels, permission to discharge into municipal sewerage system
  67. Fuel dispensing unit only without automobile servicing, repairing, and painting
  68. Gold Assaying & Hallmarking Centres
  69. Herbal powder products making without extraction (dry process, no emissions/effluent)
  70. Industrial items from engineering plastics by fabrication process only (without moulding)
  71. Manufacturing of all types of threads, cordage, twines (without ginning)
  72. Manufacturing of cotton wicks, tapes, bandages, adsorbent cotton etc. (dry process without boiler and effluent)
  73. Manufacturing of Domestic Hardware and Utensils (without heat/surface treatment/effluent)
  74. Manufacturing of products by only cutting/stitching/gumming (without effluent/emissions)
  75. Manufacturing of products through physical mixing only (floor polish, nail polish, hair oil, shampoo, toothpaste, etc., micro & small scale)
  76. Manufacturing of sanitary napkins/diapers fixing and sealing (small & micro scale without effluent/emission)
  77. Manufacturing of Stationery Items (assembling, cutting, punching, stapling, binding)
  78. Metal fabrication works and hand tool manufacturing (without heat/surface treatment/painting)
  79. Oil mill ghani and extraction, no hydrogenation refining (capacity ≤ 500 kg/day)
  80. Packing of food items (without processing)
  81. Paints and varnishes mixing and blending (without ball mill, only dry process)
  82. Plastic wire, net, nivar, and other products (dry process: looping, twisting, cutting)
  83. Puffed rice/murhi/chura (≤1 TPD per day)
  84. Rice mills holler machine (≤1 TPD per day)
  85. Small scale restaurant or hotel without room/cloud kitchens or resorts (without stay/room facility)
  86. Sports Goods Manufacturing Units (without seasoning of woods)

 

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