**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 99 concerning the presence of microplastics in Indian rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, to be answered on December 1, 2025. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change outlines its response to inquiries about studies, ecological impact, regulatory measures, and plans for a national monitoring framework. The Ministry mentions EPR guidelines for plastic packaging to come into force in 2022. World Environment Day 2025 was celebrated.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Microplastic Presence:**
* Studies confirm the presence of microplastics in riverine and coastal zones.
* **Single-Use Plastics Regulation:**
* Identified single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential are prohibited since July 1, 2022.
* 8,61,740 inspections have been conducted.
* 1985 tonnes of banned single-use plastic items seized since July 2022.
* Fines totaling Rs. 19.82 crores have been levied since July 2022.
* **Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):**
* Guidelines on EPR for plastic packaging were notified via Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on February 16, 2022.
* The guidelines mandate targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging, and use of recycled plastic content.
* Aim to move towards sustainable plastic packaging and reduce the plastic footprint.
* 165 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste has been recycled after the EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging came into force in 2022.
* **Solid Waste Management:**
* Swachh Bharat Mission provides central assistance for solid waste management.
* Government supplements efforts with financial and technical assistance for river pollution challenges.
* Includes schemes such as the National River Conservation Plan and Namami Gange programme.
* Pollution abatement works include interception and diversion of raw sewage, sewerage system, and sewage treatment plants.
* **Cosmetics Regulation:**
* Amendment No. 2 of Indian Standard IS 4707 (Part 2): 2017 states plastic microbeads (≤ 5 mm, water-insoluble) used in rinse-off personal care products are not recognized as safe.
* These raw materials should not be added to cosmetic products as per the Cosmetics Rules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
* **World Environment Day:**
* Celebrated on June 5, 2025, in New Delhi.
* The slogan was “One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution.”
* Around 69,000 pre-campaign events were organized with around 21 lakh participants.
* The National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign (NPPRC) was launched for June 5th to October 31st 2025.
* Campaign activities included reducing plastic pollution in urban and rural areas under Swachhta Hi Sewa.
* Focus on reducing avoidable single-use plastics in government offices.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact:** Must continue to enforce regulations on single-use plastics and promote EPR. The Ministry are monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of these measures.
* **Action Required:** Continue to coordinate with State Pollution Control Boards and scientific institutions to develop a national framework for monitoring and mitigating microplastic pollution.
**State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the enforcement of regulations on single-use plastics and the implementation of EPR guidelines at the state level.
* **Action Required:** Continue to conduct inspections, seize banned items, and levy fines for non-compliance. Provide data and cooperate with national monitoring efforts.
**Plastic Manufacturers and Producers**
* **Impact:** Subject to EPR guidelines and must meet mandatory targets for recycling and use of recycled content.
* **Action Required:** Implement strategies to meet EPR targets, including improving recycling processes, using recycled content, and redesigning packaging for sustainability.
**Cosmetic Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** Prohibited from using plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care products.
* **Action Required:** Ensure that their products comply with the Indian Standard IS 4707 (Part 2): 2017 and do not contain plastic microbeads.
**Citizens and Communities**
* **Impact:** Directly impacted by the presence of microplastics in the environment and the measures taken to reduce plastic pollution.
* **Action Required:** Participate in activities to reduce plastic pollution, such as recycling, reducing single-use plastic consumption, and participating in cleanup campaigns.
**Government Offices**
* **Impact:** To focus on reducing the use of avoidable single-use plastics in government offices.
* **Action Required:** Reduce the use of avoidable single-use plastics in government offices, especially during Special Campaign 5.0.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry responsible for regulating single-use plastics and issuing EPR guidelines related to plastic packaging.
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022: Rules outlining the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines for plastic packaging.
Swachh Bharat Mission: A program providing central assistance for solid waste management, including plastic waste.
National River Conservation Plan: A scheme/program providing financial and technical assistance in addressing the challenges of river pollution.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: Act referenced in relation to the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 99
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Presence of Microplastics in Rivers, Lakes and Coastal Waters
99: DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether studies have been conducted on the presence of microplastics in Indian rivers,
lakes and coastal waters;
(b) the extent of microplastic accumulation in aquatic organisms and its ecological and
health impact;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to regulate sources such as single-use plastics,
synthetic textiles and cosmetic microbeads; and
(d) whether the Government has any plan to establish a national framework for monitoring
and mitigating microplastic pollution in coordination with State Pollution Control
Boards and scientific institutions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): Studies undertaken by national institutions have shown the presence of
microplastics in riverine and coastal zones. In order to reduce pollution caused by littered and
unmanaged plastic waste, which includes microplastics, the Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change has already prohibited identified single use plastic items, which have low
utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1 July, 2022. 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, since July, 2022.
Further, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the
Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging vide Plastic
Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022. The Guidelines
stipulate mandatory targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic
packaging and use of recycled plastic content. The guidelines provide for moving towards
sustainable plastic packaging and reducing the plastic foot print. 165 lakh tonnes of plasticpackaging waste has been recycled, after the EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging have come
into force in 2022.
Also, Swachh Bharat Mission provides central assistance for solid waste management
including plastic waste management in urban and rural areas of the country. The Government
of India supplements the efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical
assistance in addressing the challenges of river pollution through schemes/programmes such
as National River Conservation Plan and Namami Gange programme. Different pollution
abatement works inter alia, include interception and diversion of raw sewage, sewerage system,
and establishment of sewage treatment plants, as per scheme guidelines.
Further, vide Amendment No. 2, of Indian Standard lS 4707 (Part 2): 2017, Classification of
Cosmetic Raw Materials and Adjuncts (Fourth Revision) notified in November 2017, under
Annex A at Sr. No. 1373 it has stated that Plastic microbeads: 5 mm or less, water insoluble,
solid plastic particles used to exfoliate or cleanse in rinse-off personal care products are not
recognized as safe for use in Cosmetics. The raw materials specified in Annex A of the Indian
Standard IS: 4707 Part 2, as amended from time to time, shall not be added in cosmetic product,
as per the Cosmetics Rules issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, celebrated World Environment Day
2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 5th 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 National Plastic Pollution Reduction
Campaign (NPPRC) was also launched for the period 5th June to 31st October 2025. The
Campaign included activities to reduce plastic pollution in urban and rural areas under
Swachhta Hi Sewa programme. The activities also included focus on reducing use of avoidable
single use plastics in government offices especially during Special Campaign 5.0.
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