India's Single-Use Plastic Ban
Legal Framework
India prohibited the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of 19 identified categories of single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022, under the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The ban targeted items with low utility and high littering potential. A second tranche of restrictions also increased the minimum thickness for plastic carry bags to 120 microns (from the previous 75 micron requirement) to reduce the prevalence of thin, difficult-to-recycle bags.
- Legal basis: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 as amended in 2021
- Banned items (from July 1, 2022): Plastic ear buds, balloon sticks, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene decorations, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, straws), trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes/invitation cards, cigarette packets, banners <100 microns, stirrers
- Penalties: Environment (Protection) Act stipulates up to 5 years imprisonment or ₹1 lakh fine or both
- Carry bag thickness: Increased to minimum 120 microns (from 50 microns originally, 75 microns previously)
- Phase-in: One-month pan-India enforcement campaign was conducted in July 2022
● Tracked since March 25, 2026 · last seen April 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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