In a significant move aimed at simplifying regulations, the Maharashtra government has dramatically expanded the list of industries exempt from routine environmental clearances. On Friday, the state added 628 new types of businesses to the 'White Category', bringing the total to 850 industries that will now face minimal regulatory oversight.
What the New White Category Includes
According to a press note from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the newly included industries are deemed to have a negligible impact on the environment. Consequently, they will no longer need to obtain formal consent to establish or operate under standard pollution control rules. This major regulatory relaxation covers a diverse range of activities.
The expanded list now encompasses:
- IT and software offices along with data processing and back-office centres.
- Garment stitching and tailoring units that do not involve dyeing processes.
- Bakeries and confectionery units, provided they do not use fuel-fired ovens.
- Dry cleaning operations that utilise only non-hazardous solvents.
- Assembly units for electronic and electrical goods.
- Book binding and printing units that avoid chemical processing.
- Light engineering and hand-tool assembly units.
A Boost for Ease of Doing Business
Sanjay Bhuskute, the public relations officer for MPCB, highlighted that the primary goal of this expansion is to promote ease of doing business. He explained that companies falling under the White Category will now only need to submit a simple, one-page application once. Following this submission, they will receive an online response, eliminating the need for continuous inspections or regular reclassification processes.
"With this expansion, Maharashtra will be the state with the highest number of industries classified under the White Category," Bhuskute stated. The colour-coded classification system for industries was originally introduced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2016. It categorises industries based on their pollution potential: Red for highly polluting, Orange for moderately polluting, Green for low-polluting, and White for negligible pollution impact.
The scale of Maharashtra's expansion is notable. While the Centre had identified only 54 industries under the White Category in February 2025, the MPCB first increased it to 222. The latest notification, issued on Friday, has now surged the number to 850, marking a substantial reduction in regulatory oversight for a wide spectrum of commercial activities.
Environmental Perspectives and Concerns
The move has received a measured response from environmental experts. Bhagwan Keshbhat, founder and CEO of the environmental organisation Waatavaran, noted that the expansion seems to be based on a considered assessment. "The list seems carefully curated, with industries correctly identified as having very low emissions. It should help simplify processes for small-scale industries," he remarked.
However, other environmental groups have raised flags regarding practical implementation and enforcement. Nivit Yadav, programme director for the industrial pollution control unit at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), pointed to a major challenge: severe understaffing in pollution control boards across India.
"We need to talk about how these guidelines will be implemented and enforced. Officers need to understand an industry properly before laying down guidelines, but pollution control boards across the country are severely short-staffed," Yadav said. He expressed concern that this might be seen as "an easy way out" when regulatory bodies are already struggling to understand and monitor industries.
Yadav also emphasised that waste management from these newly exempted industries requires closer scrutiny. He specifically cited the inclusion of CFL bulb manufacturing in the new list, an industry that can generate toxic waste, as an example where limited oversight could be problematic if not managed responsibly.
This landmark decision by the Maharashtra government represents a bold step towards deregulation, aiming to foster a more business-friendly environment while balancing ecological concerns through a curated list of low-impact industries.
