---
title: "Air Act 1981: India's Air Pollution Law | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 empowers India's pollution control boards to regulate air pollution from various sources."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/air-prevention-control-of-pollution-act-1981"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 is an Indian central statute empowering pollution control boards to regulate and abate air pollution from industrial, vehicular, and other sources.
- What is the constitutional basis for the Air Act 1981?
- How does the Air Act differ from the Environment (Protection) Act 1986?
- What enforcement powers does a State Pollution Control Board hold under the Act?
- How did the Jan Vishwas Act 2023 change the Air Act?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 is an Indian central statute empowering pollution control boards to regulate and abate air pollution from industrial, vehicular, and other sources.

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In November 2023, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, acting under powers traceable to the Air Act 1981, ordered the closure of non-compliant industrial units and halted construction during a severe winter smog episode in the National Capital Region.

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