India Defers Compliance Timeline of Emission Standards by Coal and Lignite Power Plants

On July 11, 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India promulgated and enforced the “Environment (Protection) Fourth Amendment Rules, 2025”. The amendment rules include an extension of the compliance timeline for emission standards applicable to coal and lignite-fired power plants, with a particular emphasis on significantly postponing the sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emission limits. Back in December 2015, the Ministry had established emission standards for SO₂, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and mercury and mandated the installation of emission control systems within two years. However, several grace periods have been subsequently granted due to the failure of most power plants to comply.