Environment Audit Rules 2025 and its Key Features

The Environment Audit Rules 2025 introduce stricter compliance, transparent reporting, and accountability measures to strengthen environmental governance and ensure sustainable development in India.

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a notification introducing the Environment Audit Rules, 2025.

Key Features of Environment Audit Rules 2025

Environment Audit Designate Agency (EADA): Nodal body responsible for certification, registration, training, and oversight of environment auditors.
Registered Environment Auditors (REAs):
- Only certified and registered auditors are permitted to undertake environmental audits.
- Certification based on qualification & experience review or through an examination.
- Allocation of REAs is done through a random assignment system to ensure neutrality.
Responsibilities of REAs:
- Conduct sampling and analysis.
- Calculate environmental compensation.
- Verify compliance under Green Credit Rules.
- Perform audits under waste management rules and other environment & forest-related laws.
Two-Tier Audit System:
- Tier-1: Traditional compliance reviews by CPCB, SPCBs, and MoEFCC regional offices.
- Tier-2: Independent auditing by REAs.
Institutional Roles:
- MoEFCC: Provides overall supervision and issues guidelines.
- CPCB/SPCBs/Regional Offices: Continue inspections, verifications, and assist MoEFCC in implementation.
Oversight Mechanism: A Steering Committee, chaired by an Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, will track implementation and recommend reforms.