This paper evaluates the effectiveness of environmental regulations in India, focusing on air and water pollution and infant mortality. Using comprehensive data on pollution, regulations, and infant mortality from 1986 to 2007, the study finds that air pollution regulations were effective in reducing ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The Supreme Court Action Plans were associated with a modest decline in NO₂ levels, while catalytic converter mandates led to significant reductions in PM, SO₂, and NO₂. However, water pollution regulations, such as the National River Conservation Plan, had no observable impact on water quality. The results contradict the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory, which suggests that environmental quality improves with income, and highlight the role of institutions and politics in environmental policy effectiveness. The study also finds that air pollution regulations were more effective than water pollution regulations, suggesting that bottom-up policies may be more successful than top-down ones. The findings underscore the importance of political will and institutional capacity in achieving environmental improvements.This paper evaluates the effectiveness of environmental regulations in India, focusing on air and water pollution and infant mortality. Using comprehensive data on pollution, regulations, and infant mortality from 1986 to 2007, the study finds that air pollution regulations were effective in reducing ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The Supreme Court Action Plans were associated with a modest decline in NO₂ levels, while catalytic converter mandates led to significant reductions in PM, SO₂, and NO₂. However, water pollution regulations, such as the National River Conservation Plan, had no observable impact on water quality. The results contradict the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory, which suggests that environmental quality improves with income, and highlight the role of institutions and politics in environmental policy effectiveness. The study also finds that air pollution regulations were more effective than water pollution regulations, suggesting that bottom-up policies may be more successful than top-down ones. The findings underscore the importance of political will and institutional capacity in achieving environmental improvements.