Co-processing hides pollution behind smokestacks, burning plastic in cement kilns isn’t a reduction, it’s greenwashing. It poisons our air, fuels climate change, and delays real solutions. Say no to burning. Say yes to reduction and reuse!
The project aims to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of key provisions of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act (MVAA) 2019 by addressing four critical road safety risk factors—speed, helmets, seatbelts, and child safety. Despite national and global evidence highlighting the need for lower speed limits to reduce road fatalities, speed regulations in India continue to be set arbitrarily. With speeding contributing to 70% of road deaths, this project will engage with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS), and other stakeholders to push for scientifically determined speed limits at the national and state levels.
Additionally, while the MVAA mandates helmet use for children above four years of age, the specific standards for child helmets are not referenced in the legislation. The project will work towards integrating these standards into the legal framework. It will also advocate for broader amendments to the MVAA to close existing gaps and enhance road safety regulations.
At the national level, the project will collaborate with coalition partners to advocate for policy changes through strategic engagement with government bodies, media outreach, and joint actions such as letters and representations to policymakers.
In Tamil Nadu, the project will focus on improving MVAA implementation by engaging with state authorities to adopt scientific speed management guidelines and develop a data-driven State Road Safety Action Plan (SRSAP). This will involve working with academic institutions to create evidence-based speed regulations. Additionally, the project will drive public awareness campaigns, stakeholder consultations, and media engagements to ensure sustained focus on road safety priorities.
Through these interventions, the project seeks to bring about policy shifts that align with global best practices, ultimately contributing to reduced road crash fatalities and safer roads across India.
Road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death and injury in India, with speeding identified as a major contributing factor. According to MoRTH, speeding accounts for nearly 70% of road fatalities, yet speed limits in the country are often set arbitrarily without scientific justification. Additionally, while the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act (MVAA) 2019 introduced crucial provisions to improve road safety, gaps remain in its implementation and enforcement. One such gap is the absence of a legally mandated standard for child helmets, despite the existence of an Indian standard (IS-4151-2015). These deficiencies highlight the need for a structured, evidence-based approach to strengthening road safety policies at both the national and state levels.
Tamil Nadu, one of the most urbanized states in India, consistently records high numbers of road traffic crashes. The state government has initiated efforts to revise speed limits in urban areas, but these revisions lack a standardized, scientific approach. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated engagement with policymakers, enforcement agencies, research institutions, and the public to ensure the adoption of best practices in speed management and other critical safety measures.
This project aims to strengthen road safety outcomes in Tamil Nadu by advocating for the effective implementation of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act (MVAA) 2019 and updated state-level road safety policies. With Tamil Nadu reporting one of the highest numbers of road fatalities in India, this initiative seeks to push for institutional, legal, and behavioral changes that can lead to significant reductions in road crashes, injuries, and deaths. The work also contributes to national-level advocacy through coalition partnerships to enhance MVAA enforcement across India.
Tamil Nadu has made notable strides in road safety in recent years, especially through coordinated actions by government departments. However, gaps remain in fully enforcing the MVAA 2019, particularly the sections on increased penalties, helmet and seatbelt use, speeding, and drunk driving. Political hesitancy and lack of sustained engagement with local enforcement agencies have slowed progress. A newly announced state Road Safety Mission presents a timely opportunity to influence policy and practice. CAG's past work and existing relationships with state departments, police, and civil society organizations provide a solid foundation to lead these advocacy efforts.
Consumer Protection is one of CAG's core areas of work and as part of our efforts to educate and inform consumers on various consumer issues and related happenings, including our own activities, we publish "Consumer Update", a bi-monthly e-newsletter.
Sharing rides reduces fuel use, traffic congestion, and air pollution. Carpooling is an easy, social, and sustainable way to cut down your carbon footprint. Fewer cars on the road means cleaner air and big savings. Let’s ride together for a greener future! #CarpoolSmart
Did you get a call asking you to scan a QR code? STOP! Scammers are getting smarter. They pretend to be from banks or delivery services and trick people into scanning codes that steal money or data. Never scan a QR code from an unknown source.
Stay alert. Stay informed. Stay safe online. #CyberCrimePrevention #QRScamAlert #OnlineSafety #ThinkBeforeYouScan #DigitalAwareness
We can’t fight climate change with business-as-usual spending. India’s energy procurement is full of untapped potential, but sustainability is still not a priority. This report shows how we can turn every public purchase into a climate win.
Cyclists deserve more than just space, they deserve respect. On our streets, cyclists shouldn’t constantly have to fear for their lives or keep looking over their shoulders. Let’s build a culture of mutual respect where everyone shares the road space with empathy and care.
May 2024 - March 2025
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with severe implications not only for ecosystems and biodiversity but also for human health, livelihoods, and the climate. The lifecycle of plastic, from fossil fuel extraction to production, consumption, and waste, is deeply interlinked with greenhouse gas emissions, making plastic pollution a key climate issue. Recognising the urgency of global action, the United Nations has initiated a process to negotiate a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty (GPT). However, in India, public discourse on the GPT remains limited, technical, and inaccessible to many, including those most affected by plastic pollution - informal waste workers, marginalised communities, and frontline environmental defenders. Furthermore, there is a noticeable lack of national-level coordination and media engagement on the treaty process, resulting in missed opportunities to shape India’s negotiating position in a direction that is inclusive and just. This project aimed to fill these gaps by building public and stakeholder awareness, enabling inclusive advocacy, and strengthening media coverage on the Global Plastics Treaty in the Indian context.
CAG is partnering with cBalance Solutions Pvt. Ltd. to collaboratively enhance living conditions for inhabitants of informal settlements in Pulianthope, Chennai, by addressing their thermal comfort needs.
The Informal Housing Thermal Comfort Project aims to contribute to both climate crisis adaptation and mitigation by focusing on thermal comfort through active engagement with communities in informal settlements.