Air Quality Challenges in Indian Cities
The National Capital Region and other major Indian cities face persistent issues with poor air quality, as highlighted by a recent study conducted by Climate Trends, a research consultancy. The study spans a decade (2015-November 2025) and covers 11 major cities, revealing that no city achieved a safe air-quality index (AQI) during this period.
Study Findings
- Even cities with relatively better air quality, such as Bengaluru, only managed to maintain a "satisfactory" AQI level, never reaching the "good" category.
- Despite policy interventions, cities like Mumbai and Chennai have only improved their AQI from "moderate" to "satisfactory".
- Mumbai's AQI improved from 120 in 2022 to 83.2 in 2025, while Chennai improved from 115 in 2016 to 74.67 in 2025.
- Natural factors like heavy rain and sea breezes should result in better air quality, yet these cities still struggle.
Challenges and Observations
- Delhi remains in the "poor" category with frequent "severe" and "hazardous" conditions.
- Reduction in farm fires suggests the need for paradigmatic shifts in addressing pollution.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
The NCAP was established in 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, targeting 131 cities to reduce PM10 concentrations by up to 40%.
- The programme's results have been mixed due to the lack of a legal mandate linking funding with performance.
- States with better resources have shown progress, while others have lagged behind.
- Lack of trained technical expertise and integrated data standards has also hindered progress.
- Exclusive focus on PM10 instead of PM2.5, which has more detrimental health impacts, has reduced the programme's effectiveness.
Policy Recommendations
- A reframed national air-quality programme should be all-encompassing and include specific mandates.
- Promote electric-vehicle infrastructure to reduce vehicular emissions.
- Enhance public transport solutions and educate the public to mitigate public-health crises.