Context
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (7 September), designated by the UN General Assembly in 2019, was observed globally. India observes it as Swachh Vayu Diwas, aligning international commitments with national clean-air initiatives.
Understanding Air Pollution
- Definition: Accumulation of harmful substances in the atmosphere at levels that adversely affect human health and the environment; pollutants may be gases, liquid droplets or solid particles from natural and anthropogenic sources.
- Particulate Matter (PM):
- PM10: Particles with diameter of 10 micrometres or less.
- PM2.5: Fine particles of 2.5 micrometres or less; can penetrate deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing greater respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
Air Pollution Monitoring Systems
| System | Features |
|---|---|
| CAAQMS | Automated, real-time monitoring of PM2.5, PM10, SO₂, NOₓ, CO, O₃, NH₃ |
| AAQMS | Manual (24-hour sampling + lab analysis) and automated monitoring |
| OCEMS | Installed in highly polluting industries; transmits data to regulators |
India's Key Initiatives
1. National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)
- Initiated by CPCB; as of March 2026, network comprises 1,646 stations across 603 cities in 28 States and 7 UTs.
- SAMEER app/portal provides near real-time AQI for 292+ cities.
2. Air Quality Index (AQI)
- Calculated using eight pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃ and Lead (Pb).
- Categories: Good (0–50), Satisfactory (51–100), Moderate (101–200), Poor (201–300), Very Poor (301–400), Severe (401–500).
3. National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- Launched in 2019; mission-mode approach covering 130 cities.
- ₹16,423.55 crore provided (FY 2019-20 to FY 2025-26) via performance-linked grants; ₹11,575.54 crore (70.5%) utilised.
- In FY 2025-26, 108 cities recorded reduction in annual PM10 concentration vs 2017-18.
- PRANA Portal tracks physical and financial progress of NCAP.
4. Swachh Vayu Survekshan
- Launched 2022-23 by MoEFCC; annual assessment of 130 NCAP cities.
- 2026 edition: Ward-level survey across 7,400+ wards; winners — Lucknow (Category 1), Rourkela (Category 2), Kalinganagar (Category 3).
Sector-Wise Mitigation Measures
Vehicular Emissions
- BS-VI vehicles nationwide from April 2020.
- PM E-DRIVE scheme and PM E-Bus Sewa promote electric mobility.
- Vehicle Scrapping Policy via RVSFs and ATS; strengthened PUC certification.
- PARIVARTAN programme to replace BS-IV and older trucks/buses in NCR.
- CAQM: Only BS-VI, CNG and electric buses permitted to enter Delhi from 1 November 2026; only electric L5 three-wheelers being introduced in Delhi-NCR.
Industrial Emissions
- MoEFCC notified sector-specific standards under Environment Protection Rules, 1986; CPCB classified 419 industrial sectors by pollution potential.
- 17 highly polluting sectors mandated to install OCEMS.
- CAQM revised PM emission standards for large industries to 50 mg/Nm³ from 1 October 2026.
- CEPI framework identifies Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) and Severely Polluted Areas (SPAs).
- CPCB IV+ standards (2022) for generators up to 800 kW.
Road Dust and Construction
- Anti-smog guns and dust control at sites exceeding 20,000 sq. metres.
- ~70 Dust Control and Management Cells (DCMCs) established across NCR; online monitoring for sites above 500 sq. metres in Delhi-NCR.
Open Waste Burning
- Implementation of Solid Waste (revised 2026), Plastic, Hazardous, E-Waste (2022), Battery (2022) and Biomedical Waste Rules.
- EPR mechanisms for plastic packaging, e-waste, batteries, tyres, used oil.
- Ban on 12 single-use plastic items from 1 July 2022.
Crop Residue Burning
- CPCB assistance for pelletisation/torrefaction plants: ₹37.16 crore for 34 plants (27 Punjab, 7 Haryana).
- 5–10% biomass co-firing mandated in thermal plants within 300 km of Delhi.
- ₹4,233.84 crore (2018-19 to 2025-26) for crop residue management; 3.53 lakh machines distributed; 43,535 Custom Hiring Centres established.
- Impact: Stubble-burning declined 93% in Punjab and 91% in Haryana in 2025 vs 2021.
Afforestation
- Green India Mission: ₹1,019.26 crore released till March 2026.
- CAMPA: 3.20 lakh hectares of compensatory afforestation (FY 2020-21 to 2024-25).
- Nagar Van Yojana (2020): target of 1,000 Nagar Vans/Vatikas by 2026-27; 626 developed with ₹557.62 crore.
- Aravalli Green Wall Initiative: restoration of 6.31 million hectares across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi; 435 nurseries; ~36,025 hectares restored in 2025.
- Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: 262.4 crore saplings planted by December 2025.
Institutions Driving Clean Air Goals
- CPCB: Statutory body under Water Act, 1974; air functions under Air Act, 1981; monitoring, standards, coordination with SPCBs.
- CAQM: Statutory body under the CAQM in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021; coordinates action across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
- GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan): Four-stage emergency framework — Stage I (AQI 201–300), Stage II (301–400), Stage III (401–450), Stage IV (above 450).
- SPCBs: State-level regulation of industrial emissions, consents, compliance and enforcement.
Digital Reforms in Environmental Regulation
- Amendments to the Air Act, 1981 and Water Act, 1974.
- Control of Air Pollution Consent Guidelines, 2025 (29 January 2025) and Water Pollution Consent Guidelines, 2025 (30 January 2025).
- UCAMS (Unified Consent and Authorization Management System) by CPCB — end-to-end digital processing of consents.
Conclusion
India's path to blue skies rests on sustained, science-based, collaborative action through NCAP, strengthened monitoring, cleaner technologies and ecosystem restoration, requiring continued cooperation among governments, industries and citizens.
Mains Practice Question
> "Air pollution in India is not merely an environmental issue but a multidimensional challenge affecting public health, economy and sustainable development." Discuss.
Previous Year Questions (PYQ)
- Prelims 2025: Artificial way of causing rainfall to reduce air pollution makes use of silver iodide and potassium iodide.
- Prelims 2018: NGT vs CPCB — NGT established by an Act (statutory tribunal); CPCB is a statutory body (not executive order); statement 2 on NGT's role is correct.
- Mains 2021: WHO's revised Global Air Quality Guidelines and changes needed in NCAP to achieve revised standards.