Parliament Question: Air Quality and Strategy to Prevent Air Pollution

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 137 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 Air Quality and Strategy to Prevent Air Pollution *137. SHRI MANISH TEWARI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the reasons for the failure to prevent the Air Quality Index in National Capital Region from remaining at severe levels-around 400 or above for nearly three consecutive months-despite the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and the specific lapses identified in its implementation or enforcement; (b) the current status of the national and major city-wise levels of PM 2.5, PM 10 and key pollutants and extent to which these exceed national standards and WHO guidelines; (c) whether the Government has examined successful international air-quality models, including Beijing’s measures such as coal phase-outs, low-emission zones and strict compliance mechanisms, for applicability to India; (d) the measures proposed to be adopted or scaled up in the country to ensure that vulnerable groups are not disproportionately burdened; and (e) whether a review of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act has been planned and if so, whether it is likely to include a time-bound, city-wise action plan with independent monitoring and public disclosure? ANSWER MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ***STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (A) TO (E) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 137 DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING AIR QUALITY AND STRATEGY TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION BY SHRI MANISH TEWARI, HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (a) to (e): The total number of days with Severe AQI levels (AQI>401) in Delhi during the winter season (October-January) in 2025-26 were 10 days as compared to 31 days in 2016- 17. The details of number of days with Severe AQI Level in the cities of Delhi-NCR during last 3 consecutive months is provided in Annexure I. World Health Organisations Air Quality Guidelines serve as only a guidance document and as a non-binding reference for policy makers. These guidelines are recommended values for air pollutants to help countries achieve air quality. Countries are advised to consider their geographical, socioeconomic, and environmental factors before adopting these guidelines as enforceable standards. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the country for 12 key air pollutants to safeguard public health and environmental quality. The annual average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and key pollutants for six major metropolitan cities—Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Delhi for the year 2024 are provided at Annexure II. To provide better air quality for the people living in urban areas, the Government of India has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to address air pollution in 130 non-attainment and million plus cities/urban agglomeration in 24 States/UTs. City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared by all 130 cities under NCAP to implement air quality improvement measures in respective cities. These plans target air pollution sources like soil & road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, Construction & Demolition activities and industrial pollution. Committees at National Level (Apex, Steering, Monitoring and Implementation), State level (Steering and Monitoring) and City level Monitoring and Implementation Committee have been constituted to coordinate, monitor, evaluate the progress and provide guidance for implementation of city action plans. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) enacted the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for preservation of the quality of air and control of air pollution, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for protection and improvement of environment. Section 18 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, empowers Central Government to issue directions to the Central Pollution Control Board for performing its functions and further, Central Pollution Control Board or the State Government to issue directions to State Pollution Control Board. Section 22 of the Air Act, 1981 mandates industrial plants in air pollution control area not to discharge any emissions in excess of the standards.Further, Section 31 A of the Air Act, 1981, provides powers to State Pollution Control Boards to issue directions to any person or authority for performing its functions, which include directions for closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process, stoppage or regulation of supply of electricity, water and any other service. Concerned State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) monitor air pollution through Consent mechanism (Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate) for industries under the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Additionally, specific categories of industries are regulated under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 through grant of Environmental Clearance (EC) and filing of half-yearly compliance reports by the industries. Further, to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR, Government has established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems of air pollution in Delhi- NCR and adjoining areas. CAQM has been provided powers under the Act to take measures and issue directions to the various agencies in the National Capital Region for protecting and improving air quality. So far, CAQM has issued 95 Statutory Directions and 17 Advisories to concerned stakeholders for control of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The Government has regularly reviewed and monitored the actions taken to address air pollution including stubble burning related issues in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas. Some of the recent key meetings are as below: i. Regular review meetings have been held on 08.08.2025, 16.09.2025, 10.10.2025 11.11.2025, 26.11.2025, 03.12.2025, 15.12.2025, 16.12.2025, 17.12.2025, 19.12.2025, 06.01.2026, 12.01.2026, 20.01.2026 and 02.02.2026 under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on the issues relating to air pollution control in Delhi-NCR, to deliberate upon the undertaking of air pollution abatement measures and strategies for further strengthening air quality management across the region. Special meeting has been convened with the Hon’ble Chief Minister and senior officials of Govt. of NCT of Delhi, to expedite pollution control measures under mission mode. ii. Minister level Inter-Ministerial meeting was held on 07.10.2025 under the Co- chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on the issues of management of Crop Residue Burning. In the aforesaid review meetings, State Governments, urban local bodies and implementing agencies were directed to prepare action plans for implementation of air quality improvement measures in expeditious manner along with other important measures such as preparation of integrated waste collection and management plan, identification and repair of stretches with potholes, end-to-end pavement of roads, feeder centres for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste processing facility, steps to improve the offtake of recycled products from C&D waste, monitoring of large construction sites, mechanised road sweeping, decongestion of identified traffic congestion points, increasing the green cover, installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCD) in all air polluting industries in a time bound manner.The focused actions by 130 cities under NCAP have shown positive results with 103 cities showing reduction in PM10 concentration in 2024-25 with respect to 2017-18, out of which 64 cities have shown reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20% and 25 of these cities have achieved a reduction of more than 40%. A total of 22 Cities have met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and have PM10 Concentrations less than 60 μg/m3. With coordinated actions, the average AQI of Delhi has shown improvement at AQI of 201 in 2025 as against 225 in 2018. The details of steps taken to control air pollution are enclosed at Annexure III. *** .Annexure I Daily AQI levels of cities of Delhi-NCR during November-December 2025 and January 2026 St ate Delhi Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Ci ty Delhi Bahadurgarh Ballabgarh Bhiwani CharkhiDadri Dharuhera Faridabad Da Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan te -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 1 303 304 380 254 322 187 319 209 225 114 289 156 375 224 NA NA 299 331 196 221 234 2 366 372 236 313 306 191 319 209 200 256 245 149 288 305 NA 434 341 245 215 248 210 3 309 342 267 202 NA NA 320 209 259 226 258 88 215 303 NA 176 333 256 198 227 222 4 291 304 307 57 NA 187 141 213 250 287 233 114 252 290 235 227 328 322 194 203 215 5 202 327 244 48 335 - 191 234 181 248 256 204 177 252 188 NA 326 242 171 217 185 6 311 330 310 NA 275 - 126 202 258 253 251 300 337 258 291 238 301 251 218 213 220 7 322 308 289 313 NA - 122 307 203 235 270 232 286 226 286 165 295 328 204 199 217 8 361 314 280 325 287 - 129 315 223 253 285 182 302 252 249 152 303 189 264 203 223 9 370 282 345 436 287 - 130 312 295 252 249 77 338 230 248 262 309 348 214 193 174 10 362 259 346 373 254 - 128 308 NA 286 241 100 371 169 260 310 NA 291 231 195 197 11 428 307 291 421 235 - 120 332 225 285 238 NA 355 256 177 NA 275 229 298 253 246 12 418 349 297 332 298 - 119 359 210 340 205 NA 337 217 250 281 293 272 274 204 261 13 404 431 360 466 353 - NA 356 264 345 161 160 349 264 265 299 368 371 288 214 254 14 387 461 353 388 464 - 209 313 338 351 171 202 329 287 300 299 394 320 258 218 241 15 386 427 343 300 374 - 216 328 285 325 150 203 295 253 291 302 336 286 263 211 235 16 377 354 354 439 311 - 219 330 342 317 121 83 282 205 269 261 343 330 257 182 245 17 351 334 400 348 303 - 203 300 326 129 161 72 259 182 313 161 297 364 247 197 253 18 374 373 440 NA 302 - 110 303 256 121 131 118 313 171 291 263 NA 361 212 239 247 19 392 374 410 NA 259 - 91 324 NA 198 163 209 309 174 172 277 332 378 265 251 253 20 391 398 378 NA 360 - NA 305 NA 140 165 210 236 189 339 NA 365 373 255 235 262 21 364 377 330 360 NA - 198 251 NA 316 176 NA 232 202 253 226 326 351 238 235 234 22 370 373 322 292 352 - 191 225 287 324 156 249 214 219 233 243 NA 317 233 234 243 23 391 412 282 392 281 - 205 338 301 328 145 296 396 318 168 235 NA 268 237 239 216St ate Delhi Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Ci ty Delhi Bahadurgarh Ballabgarh Bhiwani CharkhiDadri Dharuhera Faridabad 24 382 271 192 298 NA - NA 237 244 316 151 258 366 197 104 302 256 184 232 216 206 25 353 234 153 276 93 - 272 262 239 295 152 218 320 180 158 320 228 106 220 215 134 26 327 332 241 222 371 - 264 280 276 300 148 197 279 240 256 296 299 234 210 234 174 27 377 385 336 222 NA - NA 303 262 301 176 230 317 298 NA 350 310 315 203 249 191 28 369 390 255 299 NA - 268 334 168 271 156 NA 348 292 313 376 377 324 190 255 136 29 305 401 226 322 NA - 266 274 157 238 160 NA 304 310 235 309 341 213 212 253 129 30 279 388 253 322 NA - 259 280 278 265 146 NA 229 NA 262 269 286 213 176 243 144 31 373 315 224 - 255 247 158 262 270 367 341 221 197St ate Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Ci ty Gurugram Jind Karnal Mandikhera Manesar Narnaul Palwal Da Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan te -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 1 276 275 312 330 224 310 251 194 291 83 129 130 160 323 193 215 188 182 120 100 103 2 357 277 187 314 221 87 348 258 188 140 160 82 289 331 108 216 187 198 120 143 89 3 235 282 244 354 219 92 280 258 163 92 NA 85 340 327 122 217 187 213 119 176 83 4 219 293 333 275 212 85 270 205 192 73 122 116 86 302 222 216 187 296 131 107 89 5 225 298 240 301 265 100 216 258 114 NA 192 101 269 NA 114 216 188 243 NA 132 84 6 257 314 303 324 197 168 169 234 173 78 146 110 269 282 187 218 188 314 192 142 83 7 253 273 294 291 192 178 246 240 188 73 96 101 258 237 211 216 193 266 116 106 85 8 236 278 290 295 210 106 264 167 163 86 106 NA 291 254 NA 215 216 215 126 106 107 9 238 260 373 302 270 111 255 NA 182 74 89 207 270 238 295 204 216 303 192 106 122 10 261 276 349 355 270 180 185 141 198 122 118 256 294 221 232 304 225 322 171 102 136 11 378 268 280 376 296 127 217 232 153 109 126 102 343 304 160 275 NA 289 250 110 98 12 350 286 297 418 189 182 165 306 190 131 142 145 254 313 202 238 218 211 204 114 101 13 300 322 378 333 332 162 164 256 241 109 219 247 246 351 348 203 217 277 NA 189 NA 14 278 291 279 313 333 249 231 120 226 107 264 157 232 356 251 290 217 318 94 207 119 15 305 345 318 NA 215 212 229 273 201 147 248 167 254 325 258 209 216 286 90 177 115 16 301 320 347 273 301 171 170 126 213 215 NA 124 260 278 251 249 217 259 82 154 108 17 253 279 360 NA 218 195 202 216 224 97 102 150 234 238 319 223 216 279 86 110 119 18 272 276 378 NA 196 254 243 158 281 231 123 218 328 304 303 259 216 302 116 135 115 19 300 322 379 260 175 311 162 162 258 187 239 238 183 281 301 252 216 337 120 NA 118 20 302 362 394 275 259 294 302 227 255 199 196 235 312 328 328 240 217 354 107 76 122 21 287 328 358 264 322 249 291 302 182 114 152 177 251 199 316 213 216 337 85 62 112 22 286 331 366 316 289 NA 298 258 184 134 108 146 278 231 307 147 217 343 137 74 110 23 295 364 227 306 NA NA 276 235 191 85 241 102 321 343 200 197 237 201 102 76 101 24 286 236 225 291 151 NA 224 131 55 97 185 89 342 182 179 213 295 111 75 52 96St ate Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Haryana Ci ty Gurugram Jind Karnal Mandikhera Manesar Narnaul Palwal 25 303 239 198 277 157 110 246 153 79 198 95 76 356 NA 132 191 235 135 68 43 82 26 272 312 276 283 280 147 225 117 128 110 142 93 331 260 174 132 232 252 67 94 93 27 317 299 306 243 NA 156 255 178 183 176 171 161 368 290 239 223 255 277 93 96 111 28 320 353 267 219 292 93 183 262 72 215 177 100 368 334 138 85 314 328 91 112 56 29 262 318 232 184 199 104 133 188 32 118 139 93 280 NA 141 176 306 208 63 103 48 30 245 294 268 189 132 151 115 249 32 100 102 101 254 203 152 187 107 197 86 103 42 31 328 300 128 261 71 NA 103 264 296 204 179 103 77St ate Haryana Haryana Haryana Rajasthan Rajasthan Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Ci ty Panipat Rohtak Sonipat Alwar Bharatpur Bhiwadi Baghpat Da Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan Nov Dec Jan te -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 -25 -25 -26 1 287 292 347 389 NA NA 239 329 225 84 86 130 74 138 145 214 314 238 321 NA 349 2 288 236 205 NA NA 115 284 310 198 112 103 114 118 161 113 376 340 176 341 NA 172 3 NA 172 200 NA NA 104 284 308 194 94 108 114 98 202 112 224 310 196 384 363 124 4 NA 145 214 329 NA NA NA 308 194 92 89 NA 78 130 112 236 295 274 279 307 215 5 302 NA NA 244 NA 81 313 288 149 77 93 120 63 167 117 93 290 202 140 311 118 6 217 181 185 348 NA 136 253 278 148 107 176 127 121 126 126 240 294 242 276 248 150 7 309 216 197 NA 151 140 251 278 148 82 102 126 150 156 110 199 216 226 287 210 276 8 282 269 169 374 72 NA 251 280 127 82 103 127 106 161 109 215 227 182 285 226 262 9 252 235 221 323 71 114 251 287 139 104 103 131 164 113 136 296 208 336 308 219 195 10 227 NA NA 324 56 147 345 287 139 114 95 136 189 109 215 350 218 230 381 251 259 11 222 228 170 342 56 NA 381 287 121 120 96 119 189 126 92 373 237 221 299 290 163 12 259 301 203 406 285 NA 372 279 139 109 103 116 144 141 90 318 277 227 NA 383 215 13 249 426 217 430 298 162 347 255 139 97 104 130 196 182 160 336 321 384 297 272 14 207 382 280 307 NA NA 354 276 144 104 122 138 201 174 170 339 351 288 284 429 315 15 224 209 270 102 281 136 370 285 NA 97 124 124 158 166 117 338 300 326 356 NA 242 16 NA 140 243 246 421 179 369 285 136 NA 96 100 127 163 106 315 265 298 335 337 238 17 132 NA 311 237 385 NA 344 286 133 94 82 137 153 127 167 260 219 354 NA 336 282 18 146 138 397 309 NA NA 344 290 136 98 86 143 172 145 98 359 278 348 397 NA 329 19 100 173 379 353 NA NA 332 292 136 103 120 142 196 135 161 335 296 344 335 NA 348 20 276 213 NA 274 279 259 310 299 136 126 113 139 254 138 111 349 332 342 428 329 248 21 NA 246 198 288 337 194 308 299 136 105 117 133 121 111 150 334 270 305 343 266 236 22 115 282 208 301 327 218 311 299 136 102 116 133 222 120 205 338 290 314 403 266 227 23 351 238 204 NA NA 179 343 282 NA 101 118 134 245 99 84 336 336 242 342 240 235St ate Haryana Haryana Haryana Rajasthan Rajasthan Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Ci ty Panipat Rohtak Sonipat Alwar Bharatpur Bhiwadi Baghpat 24 178 165 NA 147 340 147 311 277 NA 98 101 126 158 105 NA 294 222 184 330 186 100 25 229 274 106 326 103 94 291 277 136 101 98 117 165 99 89 312 210 176 294 261 99 26 NA 318 99 325 NA 119 291 294 136 93 105 121 158 114 181 290 270 230 309 339 155 27 NA NA 116 329 217 171 331 NA 148 105 112 134 171 129 160 349 270 288 287 231 213 28 190 NA NA 338 244 142 344 NA NA 131 126 93 188 154 199 350 330 196 294 251 174 29 NA NA 80 NA 178 109 329 225 136 109 134 123 149 132 101 284 350 170 250 267 195 30 239 266 80 NA 151 108 329 225 NA 87 122 117 163 102 97 274 316 230 245 240 226 31 246 151 174 225 99 117 97 78 350 349 233 271St at e Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Ci Muzaffarnaga ty Bulandshahr Ghaziabad GreaterNoida Hapur Khurja Meerut r Noida D No De Ja No De Ja No De Ja No De Ja No De Ja No De Ja No De Ja No De Ja at v- c- n- v- c- n- v- c- n- v- c- n- v- c- n- v- c- n- v- c- n- v- c- n- e 25 25 26 25 25 26 25 25 26 25 25 26 25 25 26 25 25 26 25 25 26 25 25 26 26 28 32 35 29 35 32 26 18 26 26 31 26 22 32 36 1 214 9 8 298 2 6 265 6 2 295 4 9 135 6 5 326 8 9 319 8 0 292 1 7 29 20 36 23 37 23 37 18 24 21 32 21 31 27 39 22 2 348 4 1 351 1 9 340 8 8 346 9 5 302 4 6 381 2 4 339 2 5 348 5 9 22 13 32 26 32 23 36 13 25 20 26 21 27 15 36 24 3 288 4 3 340 4 2 300 4 9 323 3 0 247 3 0 376 3 2 339 2 0 312 5 2 20 23 30 29 28 31 33 23 23 24 24 25 25 25 30 30 4 264 5 8 325 2 8 262 5 6 299 6 6 238 0 1 292 3 3 265 8 3 304 8 7 29 16 32 26 31 23 37 12 24 14 30 18 30 15 33 26 5 207 8 2 207 1 2 187 6 6 205 2 5 189 5 7 152 2 8 160 4 9 215 9 0 29 24 34 32 32 32 33 22 27 16 29 25 30 24 34 31 6 187 3 7 266 3 2 228 1 0 249 6 0 232 5 0 191 5 7 148 0 5 257 4 4 21 21 31 27 29 29 20 17 19 15 27 28 24 23 31 28 7 229 8 4 314 5 6 284 0 8 279 4 9 266 5 8 239 7 8 236 1 2 306 7 8 23 18 30 29 30 29 20 17 19 16 26 21 24 20 33 29 8 307 4 5 339 9 6 336 2 0 334 6 1 312 7 5 318 9 6 278 1 4 354 0 4 17 25 28 34 25 36 13 22 18 14 19 26 27 20 28 36 9 310 9 7 345 6 7 340 2 4 331 3 2 327 4 1 353 0 1 305 5 6 366 5 5 18 27 26 35 22 33 14 24 16 20 22 26 21 24 25 34 10 308 0 0 312 2 1 334 4 8 324 5 8 308 8 3 287 2 9 270 2 5 320 6 8 22 16 34 28 30 27 24 13 23 17 34 21 33 20 32 26 11 358 4 1 390 3 3 406 1 8 332 6 2 381 4 2 271 2 9 240 8 3 425 2 0St at e Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Ci Muzaffarnaga ty Bulandshahr Ghaziabad GreaterNoida Hapur Khurja Meerut r Noida 28 19 36 28 37 25 28 16 29 14 38 24 40 23 38 27 12 340 2 9 362 3 7 387 3 8 351 5 1 378 0 9 315 4 8 205 0 2 408 6 4 32 27 43 35 44 38 35 22 29 23 35 27 30 21 45 36 13 321 5 4 370 0 8 377 2 4 360 5 8 NA 9 8 317 5 8 301 2 4 389 5 7 26 27 45 34 43 35 21 28 21 37 27 35 24 46 33 14 404 3 6 370 9 2 368 5 7 335 NA 4 322 1 6 336 2 0 356 2 6 364 6 8 28 25 44 32 44 34 22 24 20 36 32 28 25 43 34 15 334 4 0 392 4 1 418 7 2 380 NA 3 311 0 7 369 0 0 277 8 0 397 7 4 29 28 33 37 32 35 24 N 25 26 28 29 29 25 35 36 16 320 7 0 419 2 6 419 6 8 376 1 A 284 8 0 326 1 3 310 3 6 385 2 3 27 19 30 39 31 33 28 N 24 12 29 20 28 28 33 38 17 312 3 7 401 8 4 390 0 2 383 4 A 318 3 3 364 2 9 292 4 4 358 1 8 20 28 33 45 34 40 20 29 20 16 24 35 22 32 39 43 18 334 5 7 434 9 8 454 4 2 398 2 9 343 6 0 376 5 2 309 1 2 390 7 0 21 28 35 42 37 37 20 28 18 16 26 31 23 24 41 41 19 336 8 0 422 8 5 420 6 5 378 8 1 311 8 7 339 0 9 311 1 9 409 0 2 20 28 36 39 34 37 22 23 18 N 26 25 26 26 40 38 20 302 3 0 430 1 3 380 4 2 388 1 6 248 3 A 345 2 7 336 7 6 408 1 2 25 23 36 34 32 32 23 23 22 18 28 22 29 18 32 32 21 292 8 3 422 4 7 353 9 0 406 5 1 232 6 1 411 0 8 364 8 6 394 7 9 29 19 36 35 33 31 23 20 26 17 30 23 31 22 36 33 22 338 0 7 434 0 9 364 2 4 380 4 1 NA 1 2 374 2 0 345 3 0 394 6 5 25 17 39 27 38 24 28 20 23 11 32 23 20 25 42 27 23 353 7 9 437 2 8 399 8 9 420 2 8 316 4 6 364 2 5 382 6 3 418 6 0 16 10 24 20 25 17 19 10 16 10 22 22 N 27 18 24 356 9 7 396 4 3 382 9 0 416 2 9 293 9 0 350 7 88 318 7 A 397 3 4St at e Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Ci Muzaffarnaga ty Bulandshahr Ghaziabad GreaterNoida Hapur Khurja Meerut r Noida 19 12 28 17 26 15 22 18 10 23 12 27 14 25 12 25 306 4 0 349 0 3 364 8 5 389 0 67 306 8 6 322 7 0 314 4 2 373 6 0 27 18 38 30 39 22 32 14 25 12 33 14 20 19 37 21 26 279 6 3 329 2 2 322 4 6 366 8 5 309 1 4 306 0 8 322 3 7 350 6 9 29 20 40 37 39 30 26 22 32 12 33 26 23 26 40 33 27 269 6 0 358 4 6 381 5 4 344 5 5 244 1 9 308 0 0 266 5 9 391 9 1 29 41 23 43 18 26 27 29 23 41 21 28 261 5 57 347 4 4 378 4 9 265 4 69 267 9 50 224 5 53 244 5 86 388 9 7 17 14 39 27 35 25 22 18 31 13 21 15 41 24 29 263 2 2 299 3 2 288 6 0 310 7 97 229 1 99 214 6 6 237 6 2 310 0 7 25 13 40 30 36 24 28 12 23 11 34 13 28 19 40 25 30 254 4 5 256 4 3 268 6 8 285 7 1 169 1 1 197 4 8 178 6 5 279 0 7 23 18 31 31 36 32 25 12 20 11 31 16 25 16 38 32 31 2 9 2 3 6 8 7 5 7 0 5 4 1 7 2 4 Note: NA refers to the measurement of Air Quality Index (AQI) on particular day is not availableAnnexure II Air Quality in major Metropolitan Cities of India – Calendar Year 2024 Sl. Annual Average Concentration No Name of UA/City State SO2 NO2 PM10 PM2.5 (µg/m3) (µg/m3) (µg/m3) (µg/m3) 1. Bengaluru UA Karnataka 7 19 70 33 2. Chennai UA Tamil Nadu 8 15 60 27 3. Delhi UA NCT of Delhi 12 45 220 111 4. Greater Mumbai UA Maharashtra 11 26 87 34 5. Hyderabad UA Telangana 10 19 78 30 6. Kolkata UA West Bengal 7 31 96 48Annexure III Steps taken by the Government for controlling air pollution are as follows: • Emission standards for more than 80 industries have been notified • Leapfrogging to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emissions norms from 1st April 2020 • Vehicle Scrapping Policy, Rules for Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities and Automated Testing Stations-MoRTH • Waste management rules for solid waste, plastic waste, hazardous waste, e-waste, battery waste, biomedical waste, fly ash from TPPs • Market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations introduced for waste categories, viz. plastic packaging, e-waste, battery waste, waste tyres, used oil, end-of-life vehicles, construction & demolition waste and scrap of non-ferrous metal • 12 identified Single-Use Plastics (SUP) having high littering potential and low utility were banned from 1st July, 2022 • Mandate for utilization of minimum 5% of crop residue along with coal (pellets/briquettes) in thermal power plants in NCR and adjoining areas. • Based on dynamic air quality models and weather forecasts provided by IMD and IITM, actions under Stages I, II, III and IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are invoked in advance on a day-to-day basis in anticipation of deterioration in AQI levels in Delhi, considering meteorological conditions and anthropogenic activities. • A centralised air quality portal and mobile application – SAMEER is operational for tracking and dissemination of near real-time air quality data and hourly AQI to the public, while CPCB issues a daily AQI bulletin at 04:00 PM for cities across the country including Delhi-NCR; the SAMEER app also functions as a grievance redressal mechanism for pollution-related complaints. • PRANA – Portal for Regulation of Air Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities has been operationalised to manage, monitor and review the progress of implementation of air pollution mitigation activities in 130 targeted non-attainment cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).