The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 regulates....
Show Hint
- The discharge of hazardous pollutants into the nation's surface water.
- The emission of hazardous air pollutants.
- Waste disposal of sea.
- The transportation of hazardous materials.
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The question asks about the primary regulatory scope of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. This requires understanding the main objective of this specific environmental legislation.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The preamble of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, states that it is "An Act to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water...".
The Act establishes the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to achieve these objectives. Its main functions include:
- Setting standards for sewage and trade effluents that can be discharged into water bodies.
- Making, varying or revoking any order prohibiting the discharge of any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into streams or wells.
- Establishing and maintaining a system of permits for the discharge of pollutants.
Therefore, its primary focus is on regulating the discharge of pollutants into the nation's surface and groundwater.
- The emission of air pollutants is regulated by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- Waste disposal and transportation of hazardous materials are covered more broadly under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and specific rules made thereunder, like the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Water Act, 1974, primarily regulates the discharge of pollutants into the nation's water bodies, making option (A) the most accurate choice.
Top Questions on Environmental Law
- Which of the following statement is not true regarding the object of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010?
- AILET LLM - 2026
- Legal Studies
- Environmental Law
- The Parliament has enacted an Act to provide for the constitution of the Commission for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the air in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas. The name of the Act is
- AILET LLM - 2026
- Legal Studies
- Environmental Law
Today, in the year 2025, we have been experiencing the drastic consequences of large scale destruction of environment on human lives in the capital city of our country and in many other cities. At least for a span of two months every year, the residents of Delhi suffocate due to air pollution. The AQI level is either dangerous or very dangerous. They suffer in their health. The other leading cities are not far behind. The air and water pollution in the cities is ever increasing. Therefore, coming out with measures such as the 2021 Official Memorandum is violative of fundamental rights of all persons guaranteed under Article 21 to live in a pollution free environment. It also infringes the right to health guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The 2021 OM talks about the concept of development. Can there be development at the cost of environment? Conservation of environment and its improvement is an essential part of the concept of development. Therefore, going out of the way by issuing such OMs to protect those who have caused harm to the environment has to be deprecated by the Courts which are under a constitutional and statutory mandate to uphold the fundamental right under Article 21 and to protect the environment. In fact, the Courts should comedown heavily on such attempts. As stated earlier, the 2021 OM deals with project proponents who were fully aware of the EIA notification and who have taken conscious risk to flout the EIA notification and go ahead with the construction/continuation/expansion of projects. They have shown scant respect to the law and their duty to protect the environment. Apart from violation of Article 21, such action is completely arbitrary which is violative article 14 of the Constitution of India, besides being violative of the 1986 Act and the EIA notification.
(Extracted with edits from Vanashakti v. Union of India, 2025 INSC 718)- CLAT PG - 2026
- Legal Studies
- Environmental Law
With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency frame work (ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received. It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals. This will lead to recommendations for countries to set more ambitious plans in the next round.
Although climate change action needs to be massively increased to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the years since its entry into force have already sparked low-carbon solutions and new markets. More and more countries, regions, cities and companies are establishing carbon neutrality targets. Zero-carbon solutions are becoming competitive across economic sectors representing 25% of emissions. This trend is most noticeable in the power and transport sectors and has created many new business opportunities for early movers. By 2030, zero-carbon solutions could be competitive in sectors representing over 70% of global emissions.
(Extracted with edits from the website UNFCCC.INT)- CLAT PG - 2026
- Legal Studies
- Environmental Law
- Air Pollutant under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 would include: (A) Solid Substance
(B) Liquid Substance
(C) Noise
(D) Chimney Choose the correct answer from the options given below:- CUET (PG) - 2025
- LLM
- Environmental Law
Questions Asked in AIBE exam
- In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court of India hold that the rule of nemo judex in causa sua is subject to the doctrine of necessity?
- AIBE - 2025
- Administrative Law
- According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, what is the fixed amount of compensation payable in the event of death caused by a motor vehicle accident under no-fault liability?
- AIBE - 2025
- General Law
- The grounds for decree for dissolution of marriage under Section 2 of the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 are:
I. whereabouts of the husband have not been known for two years.
II. husband has been sentenced to imprisonment for a period of five years.
III. husband has failed to perform marital obligations for two years without reasonable cause.
IV. husband has neglected or failed to maintain his wife for one year.
Select the correct answer.- AIBE - 2025
- Family Laws
- Statement 1: Under the Indian Penal Code, if a person harbours an offender who has escaped custody for an offence punishable with imprisonment up to 3 years, he shall be punished with imprisonment up to 7 years.
Statement 2: The law provides an exception for harbouring or concealing by the husband or wife of the offender.- AIBE - 2025
- Indian Penal Code (IPC)
- A Statement is followed by two Conclusions, I and II.
Statement: According to the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, the Government credits ₹15,000 to the Rehabilitation Fund for each child or adolescent for whom fine has been recovered from the employer. This amount may be deposited or invested, and the interest is also payable to the child or adolescent.
Conclusions:
I. The child or adolescent is entitled not only to the credited amount but also to the interest accrued on it.
II. The Government is not required to deposit any money other than what is collected as fines from the employer.
Which one is correct?- AIBE - 2025
- Labour & Industrial Law