On December 8, 2025, Shri Sachithanandan R. questioned the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change regarding the shortage of field-level staff in the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). The Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, responded, stating that the detail of Scientific & Technical posts (field-level staff) in the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 28 State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and 08 Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are as follows:
| Boards/Committees | Sanctioned | Vacant |
|-----------------------|------------|--------------------------|
| CPCB | 393 | 64 (16.28%) (as on 30/11/2025) |
| SPCBs | 6137 | 2921 (47.59%) (as on 31/08/2025) |
| PCCs | 402 | 176 (43.78%) (as on 31/08/2025) |
| Total | 6932 | 3161 |
The State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees are under the administrative control of respective State Governments/UT Administration and the responsibility to fill up vacancies in SPCBs/PCCs lies with the concerned State Govt./ UT Administration. The appointment of officers and employees is done by the SPCBs/PCCs under their respective regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): A primary line of defense for environmental monitoring and enforcement in India, facing a shortage of field-level staff.
State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs): State-level environmental monitoring and enforcement bodies, also facing a shortage of field-level staff.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry responsible for answering questions regarding the shortage of field-level staff in CPCB and SPCBs.
Pollution Control Committees (PCCs): Similar to SPCBs, these committees also face staffing shortages.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1355
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Shortage of Field Level Staff in CPCB/SPCB
s
1355. SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards
(SPCBs), which are our primary line of defense for environmental monitoring and
enforcement, are critically crippled by a severe shortage of field-level staff, such as
Environmental Engineers and Scientists;
(b) if so, the details of current total sanctioned strength and the number of vacant positions
for field-level staff in the CPCB and all SPCBs combined; and
(c) the details of the concrete plan and timeline proposed by the Government to address this
chronic manpower shortage that is paralyzing our environmental governance?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b): The detail of Scientific & Technical posts (field-level staff) in the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 28 State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and 08 Pollution
Control Committees (PCCs) are as below:-
Boards/ Scientific & Technical posts
Committees Sanctioned Vacant
64 (16.28%)
CPCB 393
(as on 30/11/2025)
2921 (47.59%)
SPCBs 6137
(as on 31/08/2025)
176 (43.78%)
PCCs 402
(as on 31/08/2025)
3161
Total 6932
(c) : The State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees are under theadministrative control of respective State Governments/UT Administration and the
responsibility to fill up vacancies in SPCBs/PCCs lies with the concerned State Govt./ UT
Administration. Further, appointment of officers and employees of the State Pollution Control
Boards and Pollution Control Committees is done by the SPCBs/PCCs under their respective
regulations.
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