National Productivity Council To Act As Designated Agency For Environment Audit

New Delhi : The National Productivity Council, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment to act as the Environmental Audit Duty Authority under the Environmental Audit Rules 2025 notified on August 29, 2025, officials said. The agreement gives the overall management of the environmental audit framework to the National Productivity Council (NPC), including developing eligibility criteria, conducting inspections for certification, registering auditors, monitoring their performance and capacity building.

“The initiative aims to strengthen environmental compliance mechanisms, increase transparency and institutionalize standardized environmental audit practices across the country,” an official said.

According to the designated institution, the NPC will undertake functions such as certification and registration of environmental auditors and the development and management of digital systems for the audit process.

NPC will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Audit Rules 2025 and ensure compliance with established standards, timelines and reporting requirements.

“The establishment of a dedicated agency for environmental audits is expected to improve monitoring, accuracy of reporting and regulatory compliance, thereby contributing to better environmental outcomes,” the official said.