New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) eight weeks to submit a further progress report on the development of uniform methodologies for sampling, preparation, and detection of microplastics in different environmental matrices.

A bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad passed the direction while hearing proceedings arising from news reports on the presence of microplastics in Indian salt and sugar brands and their detection in human blood.

The tribunal allowed CPCB's request for additional time to place the progress report on record and listed the matters for further hearing on February 4, 2027.

In its report date...