We describe the diversified National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) set up across 7 major cities of India and covering 70 stations for continuous noise monitoring throughout the year. The annual average Lday (06–22 h) and Lnight (22–06 h) values observed in 2015 for these 70 locations are described. Of these, 25 locations are in commercial zones, 12 in industrial, 16 in residential and 17 in silence zones. Each city has 10 noise monitoring stations installed for analysing environmental noise pollution levels round the clock (24  365 h).

This article provides a retrospective view of noise policies and ordinances in India. It also proposes revisions in them for noise abatement and control based on the available knowledge on noise policies and regulations followed around the world. The work focuses on the inclusion of noise limits for construction activities, household appliances apart from the revision in ambient noise standards and National Building Codes for protection against noise pollution.