The National Green Tribunal
A special court that decides environmental cases quickly, with judges and expert members.
What the paper can ask
- Mandate to dispose of applications within six months; principal bench New Delhi, zonal benches Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai.
- Chairperson is a retired Supreme Court judge; the Act fixes between ten and twenty full-time judicial members and between ten and twenty expert members, as the Centre notifies.
- Hears matters under seven laws in its Schedule I, including the Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981 and Environment (Protection) Act 1986, but not the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
- Chairperson: Justice Prakash Shrivastava, since August 2023. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Why exams ask
The founding Act and year, the six-month target and the laws it covers (and does not) are the usual questions.
The full story
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a statutory tribunal that hears cases on environmental protection, forests and natural resources, and to give relief and compensation. It aims to dispose of cases within six months. Its principal bench is in New Delhi with zonal benches at Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. The chairperson is a retired Supreme Court judge, and expert members sit alongside judicial members.
Test yourself
1.The National Green Tribunal was established under an Act of:
Correct. The NGT Act 2010 created a specialised tribunal for environmental cases; its principal bench is in New Delhi with zonal benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
Not quite. The NGT Act 2010 created a specialised tribunal for environmental cases; its principal bench is in New Delhi with zonal benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. It goes into your error book.
2.The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under which Act?
Correct. The NGT, headquartered in New Delhi, was formed in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act.
Not quite. The NGT, headquartered in New Delhi, was formed in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act. It goes into your error book.