India Regulates Asbestos Use
India is the largest importer and user of asbestos in the world. In October of 2025, India’s National Green Tribunal passed a judgement on a petition related to stopping use of asbestos in Indian schools.
The judgement had rejected the manufacturer’s claims that asbestos cement roofing sheets lock in the asbestos fibres. Instead, it stated, based on the environment ministry’s submission, that asbestos can be released into air, water and soil from weathering, renovation, or demolition of manufactured asbestos products, and that people are likely to be exposed through inhalation of airborne fibres.
In response to this matter, even before the judgement, the Ministry of Education had ordered the stoppage of use of asbestos roofing in schools that it directly managed, ie, the Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalaya. This is in line with the Central Public Works Department’s submission that no new building by the Central Public Works department has asbestos material used in its construction.
Due to the judgement, the Ministry of Education complied with the limited order by ordering the states to ‘maintain the existing cement-asbestos roofing sheets in good condition, and apply a protective coating of paint or lime on the sheets both sides as a precautionary measure.’ They sent this order to all the 28 Indian States and 8 Union Territories and asked for their road maps and action taken report. The one state that this order is not to be followed in is the State of Kerala which already imposes a complete ban on use of asbestos in Schools.
What the judgement also directed is to create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) or guidelines for disposal of asbestos wastes and its proper use and installation. This work was allocated to the Central Pollution Control Board which has prepared a draft document for public comments.
This document is available here: https://cpcb.gov.in/comment-report1.php
The last date for public comments is 17 September 2026 and the comments have to be sent to prasoon.cpcb@nic.in & vkupadhyay.cpcb@gov.in
This document requires scientific appraisal so that before India eventually bans asbestos, the current usage is done responsibly with minimum harm to people.
Link to October 2025 Judgement by the National Green Tribunal:
https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/gen_pdf_test.php?filepath=L25ndF9kb2Nbr1bWVudHMvbmd0L2Nhc2Vkb2Mvb3JkZXJzL0RFTEhJLzIwMjUtMTAtMzAvY29
1cnRzLzIvZGFpbHkvMTc4NDY5ODM2NjMyMjYwMTAyMzZhNjA1NWZlZGY0NDYucGRm
Link to Article on Judgement by IBAS:
https://www.ibasecretariat.org/2025-judgment-on-use-of-asbestos-cement-roofing-sheets-in-indian-schools.php
India’s Minister stopping asbestos use in Centrally Run Schools, See on Ministers twitter handle, here:
https://x.com/jayantrld/status/1905228992661119406?s=20
Submission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Central Public Works Department:
https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/news_updates/Reply on behalf of the Respondent No. 2 in OA No. 298 of 2023 (Dr. Raja Singh Vs Union of India & Ors.).pdf
Ministry of Education’s Direction to all states on asbestos in schools:
https://www.greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/news_updates/Compliance Report by R 3 in MA No 64 of 2026 in OA No 298 of 2023 Raja Singh Vs UOI and Ors.pdf
News on Kerala stopping asbestos use in schools:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/govt-bans-asbestos-roofs-in-schools/article29678751.ece
Copy of Central Pollution Control Board’s Draft SOP titled ‘Standard Operating Procedure for Installation, Dismantling and Disposal of Asbestos Cement Roofing Sheets, Asbestos Cement Wall Sheets and Asbestos Cement Pipes’:
https://cpcb.gov.in/openpdffile.php?id=TmV3c0ZpbGVzLzEyNV8xNzg4NDM0NTE2X21lZGlhcGhvdG8zMDA5OC5wZGY=
