Pollution Control Board (PCB) Licence — Complete Guide
Consent to Establish (CTE), Consent to Operate (CTO), renewal and environmental compliance support from every State Pollution Control Board / Pollution Control Committee across India.
What Is a Pollution Control Board (PCB) Licence?
A PCB licence is the environmental clearance every state's Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee issues to industries and commercial establishments that generate air, water, noise or hazardous waste pollution.
Under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 — both central Acts that apply uniformly across India — businesses must obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) before construction, and Consent to Operate (CTO) before commencing operations, from their state's board.
While the underlying framework is national, each state and union territory has its own board or committee that issues and renews the licence, so the exact process, fees and contact points differ locally — find your state below.
CPCB Category Classification
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies industries into four categories based on pollution potential — this classification is used by every state board and determines approval process, fees and validity.
Red & Orange Category
Highly to moderately polluting industries — chemicals, pharmaceuticals, distilleries, food processing, stone crushers. CTO typically valid for 5 years.
Green & White Category
Low-polluting and non-polluting units. Green category CTO is typically valid for 10 years; White category needs a one-time registration only.
Find Your State's PCB Licence Page
Select your state or union territory for board-specific guidance, documents and process details.
Talk to a PCB Licensing Expert
Call us or reach out and our compliance team will get back to you within 24 hours.