Study Guides/General Knowledge/CPCB Full Form — Central Pollution Control Board
Study Guide · General Knowledge

CPCB Full Form — Central Pollution Control Board India

CPCB stands for Central Pollution Control Board. It is the apex statutory body in India responsible for monitoring, controlling, and preventing pollution of water, air, and land. CPCB was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

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What is the full form of CPCB?

Answer

CPCB stands for Central Pollution Control Board. It is India's apex statutory body for pollution control, established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and is headquartered in New Delhi.

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Key Facts

CPCB = Central Pollution Control Board.

Established: 1974 under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Headquarters: New Delhi.

Under: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Functions: pollution monitoring, setting standards, advising government.

Publishes Air Quality Index (AQI) for Indian cities.

State-level equivalent: State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

AQI: 0–50 Good; 301–400 Very Poor; 401–500 Severe.

CPCB — Key Facts

Full Form: Central Pollution Control Board Established: 1974 Legal basis: Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 Headquarters: Parivesh Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office Complex, East Arjun Nagar, New Delhi Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Chairperson: Appointed by the Central Government

State-level equivalent: • Each state has a State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) • Examples: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) • SPCBs work under the guidance of CPCB

Key Acts under which CPCB functions:

  1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  2. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  3. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  4. Hazardous Waste Management Rules

Functions of CPCB

Main functions of the Central Pollution Control Board:

  1. Pollution monitoring: • Monitors water quality of rivers, lakes, and groundwater • Monitors ambient air quality in cities • Operates the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) network • Maintains real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data for Indian cities

  2. Setting standards: • Sets standards for discharge of pollutants into water bodies • Sets standards for emission of pollutants into air • Sets noise pollution standards

  3. Advising the government: • Advises Central and State Governments on pollution control matters • Recommends environmental policies

  4. Research and development: • Conducts research on pollution control technologies • Provides technical guidance to industries

  5. Air Quality Index (AQI): • CPCB calculates and publishes AQI for Indian cities • AQI scale: 0–50 (Good), 51–100 (Satisfactory), 101–200 (Moderate), 201–300 (Poor), 301–400 (Very Poor), 401–500 (Severe)

  6. Environmental Clearance: • Works with MoEFCC for environmental impact assessments • Can recommend action against polluting industries

Notable initiatives: • National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): 2019 — target 20–30% reduction in PM2.5/PM10 by 2024 • Ganga Action Plan: CPCB monitors river water quality • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic waste

Questions and Answers

What is the full form of CPCB?+

CPCB stands for Central Pollution Control Board. It is India's apex statutory body for pollution control, established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and is headquartered in New Delhi.

What does CPCB do?+

CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) monitors water and air pollution, sets pollution standards for industries, advises the government on environmental policy, and publishes the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Indian cities. It also coordinates with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?+

AQI (Air Quality Index) is published by CPCB to indicate the quality of air in Indian cities. Scale: 0–50 = Good, 51–100 = Satisfactory, 101–200 = Moderate, 201–300 = Poor, 301–400 = Very Poor, 401–500 = Severe. It is based on concentration of pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, CO, and Ozone.

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